Leaders are dealers in hope. This does not mean controversial challenges or issues are eliminated from leadership. Also, it does not mean problems in relationships disappear.

If anything, these will always continue to plague the lives of leaders and followers.

The difference is found in that measure of hope leaders provide.

Let us not be quick to rebuke. Never be the first to look at the negative. May we not be involved in seeking to condemn.

Spiritual leaders have the great privilege of providing the greatest answer for the ills so characteristic of humanity…hope!

A measure of hope lifts the spirit out of the pits of despair and aids the healing of brokenness.

A measure of hope drives us through each day with the promise of something better.

A measure of hope strengthens the will to survive and reach into the future with anticipation.

A measure of hope encourages the oppressed who suffer with the temporal nature of life.

We all need hope. The world is searching for hope.

Leaders have an opportunity to share a message to move others from hopeless to hopeful.

“Leaders are not, as we are often led to think, people who go along with huge crowds following them. Leaders are people who go their own way without caring, or even looking to see, whether anyone is following them. “Leadership qualities” are not the qualities that enable people to attract followers, but those that enable them to do without them. They include, at the very least, courage, endurance, patience, humor, flexibility, resourcefulness, stubbornness, a keen sense of reality, and the ability to keep a cool and clear head, even when things are going badly. True leaders, in short, do not make people into followers, but into other leaders.” ~ John Holt

While others have made similar statements, the prevalent thought is significant to leadership. The task is about helping others become leaders. Only then, through the reproducing of ourselves, can Christians fulfill the Great Commission and change the world by teaching those who are faithful to teach others also, the great concept of spiritual leadership.

Let us lead with the qualities and purpose of biblical leadership.

Recently, Dr. Scott Sunquist at Fuller Theological Seminary spoke about an interesting connection between these two words: suffering and glory. Take time to look through God’s word and see how they relate and the connection of them to the life of Jesus.

Certainly, we are all aware of how Jesus suffered while here on earth. The persecution he endured, the despising of shame he encountered, and the ultimate sacrifice at the cross.

What is amazing is how John describes the glory of Jesus in the Revelation. Of all the terms that could have been used: sovereign Lord, Prince of peace, Mighty God, Creator, or Christ; John uses the term “Lamb.” Why Lamb? Because He was the sacrifice for the world. Suffering cannot be separated from the glory.

No one longs for or anticipates suffering. We long for and anticipate the glory to come, but we must realize the suffering related to that glory and lead with an understanding of such.

Paul identifies that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared to the glory to be revealed to us, but the suffering does come first.

Kenneson describes the character of faithfulness as rooted in the very character of God. Reliability, steadfastness, constancy, fidelity, dependability, trustworthiness are all words describing the character of God’s faithfulness and must be the character of leaders demonstrated toward others.

Because of the increasing instability of our culture, we find several obstacles to faithfulness.

Nurturing the temporal and disposable elements of life challenge a lasting faithfulness. Shunning commitments and learning the proper objects of our loyalty are also obstacles to our faithfulness as leaders.

However, we cultivate faithfulness in the following ways:

Celebrating God’s abiding presence: When we lift up our God in worship, it serves as a reminder of His faithfulness to us.

Making and keeping promises demonstrates to others the example we are following in the faithfulness of God.

Telling the truth also strengthens the confidence of others in our faithfulness in all areas.

Kenneson raises several powerful questions and provides suggestions to the other-directed nature of faithfulness worth the time to read (194-195).

The idea of excelling involves being exceptionally good at or proficient in an activity or subject.

The apostle Paul encouraged the church at Thessalonica in the love they were demonstrating to others and then urged them to “excel still more.”

A number of thoughts come to mind when considering the nature of this word in the realm of leadership.

First, leaders should always strive to excel in their leadership, to continually work on improving their character and influence in the lives of those being led.

Second, leadership needs to involve encouragement in the areas where followers are working with an appeal to continue to work at excelling still more.

Third, we should all remember that striving for excellence does not mean we believe or teach we are going to be perfect and sinless.

The idea of excelling is the desire to improve who we are and what we do, no matter how good we are or how well we are able to achieve any task.

Our prayer should always be to seek God’s help to be more like our Savior each day.

Nothing is more comforting than the thought of going home after being away.

The thought of a place where one abides or lives permanently is significant to the nature of home. However, it is the defining qualities of home that makes the difference.

Home is a place of permanence, but what makes it special is the fact it is where one is a member of a family or household. Home is where we belong, and nothing is better than going home.

Consider this in relationship to the desire we have to be with our God, where we belong. Here is where we are members of His family. Perhaps this is why the Bible speaks of the comforting nature of the eternal dwelling God has prepared for us.

While on earth, the church provides the same expression of home. I am not referring to the physical structure where the church meets, but the value of relationships that bring us together as a family, where we belong.

Opposite of the corporate body often connected to the church, leaders need to encourage and strengthen the idea of the church as home.

“If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn’t need motivation to speed him up. What he needs is education to turn him around.” Jim Rohn

Leadership definitions abound, and they have for centuries of time. The idea expressed by Rohn is one that provides an incredible thought.

The basic understanding of a leader is someone who is able to move others from point A to point B.

A biblical development of leadership is prescriptive of helping those who are outside of Christ (point A) in turning from a self-directed life to obediently follow the Savior (point B).

A key element of this prescriptive help is teaching built on biblical truth.

The wrong road is one that will only lead to destruction. The need is urgent and relevant to every soul we encounter each day.

These precious souls need encouragement to turn around and pursue a different course, a course that enables them to find eternal hope in Jesus.

The list of leaders throughout the Bible is extensive. Each leader selected would hold significance for a variety of reasons, depending on the individual.

One such leader in the Old Testament is Moses. An examination of his life indicates the grooming of a godly leader who represents wisdom, strength and tenacity.

A key thought expressed by Moses as he neared the end of his life is found in the last sermon of Deuteronomy.

As Moses addressed the nation of Israel he presented them with a blessing and a curse, life and death. He urged them to choose life that they might live.

Amidst the challenges of leadership in this postmodern, excessively individualistic world, perhaps the simple approach to the choices offered by Moses can redirect our attention to the heart of the matter.

God extends the same offer now as He did through Moses: a blessing and a curse, life and death. The choice is made by each individual.

As leaders, our task is an appeal to choose wisely. Choose life that you might live.

Kenneson’s approach to goodness involves a fruit that is cultivated in the midst of a self-help culture. Three significant thoughts introduce the idea of goodness in this chapter.

One, the consistent testimony of God’s word is that God alone is unequivocally good. Jesus indicates this in his discussion with the rich young ruler in Mk. 10:18.

Two, human bondage to sin makes us incapable of goodness apart from God, we are nevertheless created with the capacity and potential for goodness, stemming from our being created in His image.

Three, if God alone is good and humans are capable of good only through Him, then knowing what counts for good can also only be determined under the guidance of God’s Spirit.

In the midst of the obstacles to goodness, several avenues of cultivating goodness are noteworthy.

Learning to name our sin, attending to God’s word and imitating the saints are three ways the cultivation of goodness encourages a greater other-directed approach to leadership.

When leaders are characterized by goodness; a self-awareness, an upward attention and an outward activity describe the cultivation of this fruit.

When leaders are instrumental in creating a movement, a group of people are involved in collective action to advance political, social, artistic, or religious ideas.

In a recent class on “Organic Organizations / Churches,” the following material was presented to describe a movement.

A movement exists when individual experience, or passion, takes on a life of its own within a diverse array of individuals and grouping in such a way that it sustains and reproduces itself as it works to bring about a common end.

Six characteristics are critical to success of a movement.

First, movements are made up of individuals and independent groupings that come together to achieve a common goal.

Second, what holds these individuals and independent groupings together are personal, structural and ideological ties.

Third, committed individuals at all levels use existing, significant social relationships to recruit others.

Fourth, members of a movement have had an identity-transforming experience that brings about a lifestyle change.

Fifth, overall unity in such a diverse collection of people requires a common ideology.

Sixth, opposition is part of the glue that holds this diverse collection together.