What Are the Goals of Spiritual Leadership?

The goal of spiritual leadership is discipleship, which we have seen is the developmental process of the local church. This process progressively brings Christians from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity, so that they are then able to repeat the process with someone else (see Matt. 28:19–20). Discipleship does not occur at a point in time, rather it occurs over time. Church leaders are able to maximize the discipleship within the local church by increasing the opportunities for spiritual growth to occur (see 1 Cor. 2:15, 3:1–2; Heb. 5:12).

Leadership and Discipleship Go Together

The goal of discipleship in the corporate body of local believers has not been fully completed until the disciple becomes a discipler, thus assuring the multiplication of God’s people and the expansion of God’s kingdom. We see this when Paul wrote to Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

The Greek word translated as “men” in this passage is actually anthrōpos which refers to “a human being, whether male or female.” God expects the area of discipleship to be done by both men and women for both men and women.

A church will only be as strong as its leadership because God will not skip over the leaders and move to the congregation. But I’m not saying that God may not bless and develop the individual believers in a church even if the leaders are not all they are supposed to be. But a situation like that is comparable to a person who is in a miserable marriage. God can give that married person grace, but it’s still going to be an unpleasant environment because God’s appointed leader isn’t leading well.

That’s why the church is not just a place to become inspired by a sermon. It’s a place where God’s leaders oversee the process of discipleship so that His Word and His blessings may flow out to the congregation at large and disseminate from them out into the community and ultimately into the world.

The role of spiritual leadership is also to oversee the effective ministry organization (see 1 Tim. 3:15; Titus 1:5) and biblical proclamation of the local church for the advancement of God’s kingdom agenda (see 1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 2:1). Spiritual leaders are critical because they are God’s representatives, and throughout history God has always worked through the principle of representation. The principle of representation means that the person who has been placed over you can act for you. Within that “proxy,” there can be great joy or great disaster, depending on the identity and effectiveness of your representative.

Biblical Examples of Spiritual Leadership

We see this principle at work with the first Adam bringing sin into the world and the second “Adam,” Jesus Christ, bringing redemption through the cross. We can also see this principle at work in Genesis 18:16–33, where Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. God told Abraham that if he could find ten people who were God’s representatives in that wicked culture, He would change His mind about destroying Sodom and Gomorrah.

[The church] is a place where God’s leaders oversee the process of discipleship so that His Word and His blessings may flow out to the congregation at large and disseminate from them out into the community and ultimately into the world.”

Let me show you how this principle of representation works today in the church. Paul wrote these words to Timothy, his spiritual son and disciple, who was pastoring in Ephesus:

Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you. . . . Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Tim. 4:13–16)

Paul told Timothy that his ministry will determine not only his own spiritual fate but the fate of those in his congregation. In other words, Paul was speaking representatively. Timothy was God’s representative leader to the saints at Ephesus.

Paul used the word “salvation” in verse 16 but not in the narrow sense of being born again. That was already true for Timothy and the believers at Ephesus. Paul was using this word in its broader sense of deliverance. Essentially, Paul told Timothy, “If you want to deliver yourself and your people and ensure God’s blessing on the church, you must make sure you are functioning properly as God’s representative through whom His blessings, power, and presence will flow.”

Learning From Peter

The representative nature of God’s work in history is a profound principle. It has enormous implications at every level of life, from our personal lives to our families and on to the church and the culture at large. As God’s representatives, what we do as church leaders doesn’t just impact us or the people to whom we minister; it has an impact on future generations and on the future of this nation and the world.

In 1 Peter 5, the apostle Peter wrote, “I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight” (vv. 1–2a). The Word of God calls a church congregation a “flock,” and the leaders are to be its shepherds. Now you probably already know that calling someone a sheep is not a compliment. Sheep are easily led astray. In fact, if one sheep starts walking around in circles, another sheep will come follow it and start walking around in circles too. Another trait of sheep is their vulnerability. Sheep are an easy target for a predator. Once you become a member of God’s flock, you become a target for the enemy’s attack.

“Leaders exist to protect and preserve the sheep, not lead them astray.”

Before you came to Christ, you belonged in Satan’s realm. So he didn’t have to target you. He owned you. But when you came to Jesus Christ, you became Satan’s target. Now he wants to keep you distracted from pursuing the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. That’s why Paul told the elders at Miletus in Acts 20:28–29, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock. . . . I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”

Peter told church leaders to shepherd God’s flock because they might not know when the wolves were out there. The elders didn’t know that the particular circumstance or situation had been designed for their destruction. So Peter reminded them that as shepherds, they needed to watch for wolves who, as Jesus said, come in sheep’s clothing (see Matt. 7:15).

Peter went on to tell leaders to shepherd the flock of God “not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (vv. 2b–3). True leaders serve with an eagerness and commitment that comes from knowing they are doing God’s will as well as from a heart that truly cares for the well-being of those being served. True leaders are humble and others-centered.

Protect and Serve

Leaders exist to protect and preserve the sheep, not lead them astray. God calls leaders to shepherd His flock because sheep are prone to wander and are vulnerable to attack. Leaders also serve as role models, illustrating in their lives what they teach so that the flock can follow not only their words but also their actions (see 1 Tim. 4:12).

wants to keep you distracted from pursuing the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. That’s why Paul told the elders at Miletus in Acts 20:28–29, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock. . . . I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”

Peter told church leaders to shepherd God’s flock because they might not know when the wolves were out there. The elders didn’t know that the particular circumstance or situation had been designed for their destruction. So Peter reminded them that as shepherds, they needed to watch for wolves who, as Jesus said, come in sheep’s clothing (see Matt. 7:15).

Peter went on to tell leaders to shepherd the flock of God “not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (vv. 2b–3). True leaders serve with an eagerness and commitment that comes from knowing they are doing God’s will as well as from a heart that truly cares for the well-being of those being served. True leaders are humble and others-centered.

Leaders exist to protect and preserve the sheep, not lead them astray. God calls leaders to shepherd His flock because sheep are prone to wander and are vulnerable to attack. Leaders also serve as role models, illustrating in their lives what they teach so that the flock can follow not only their words but also their actions (see 1 Tim. 4:12).