Spiritual Leadership

There are Christian leadership books that give leadership principles and try to attach a Bible verse to the idea.  And then there is Spiritual Leadership.

Written by J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadershipis an incredible read for anyone who wants to impact another.

Favorite Quotes

  1. After all, is it not better for the position to seek out the person rather than the person to seek out the position (13)?
  2. It is motivation that determines ambition’s character (14).
  3. Often truly authoritative leadership falls on someone who years earlier sought to practice the discipline of seeking first the kingdom of God (18).
  4. A leader cannot allow a secret indulgence that would undermine public witness (41).
  5. A domineering maner, an unbridled ambition, an offensive strut, a tyrant’s talk – no attitude could be less fit for one who claims to be a servant of the Son of God (49).
  6. Before we can conquer the world, we must first conquer the self (52).
  7. A problem is often half-solved when it is stated (75).
  8. New birth in Christ does not change natural qualities, but when they are placed under the control of the Holy Spirit, they are raised to new effectiveness (83).
  9. We always find the time for important things (86).
  10. In all our prayers the paramount motive is the glory of God (92).
  11. The character and career of a young person depends on how he or she spends spare time (93).
  12. Each of us has the time to do the whole will of God for our lives (94).
  13. The first step toward improvement is to recognize weaknesses, make corrections, and cultivate strengths (109).
  14. If a Christian is not willing to see early and work late, to expend greater effort in diligent study and faithful work, that person will not change a generation (119).
  15. Insisting on doing a job oneself is a result of simple conceit (138).
  16. The true test of a person’s leadership is the health of the organization when the organizer is gone (143).
  17. To become proud of spiritual gifts or leadership position is to forget that all we have is from God, all the position we occupy is by God’s appointment (154).
  18. The test of spiritual leadership is the achievement of its objective (166).

Book Overview

What does God look for in a leader?

The need for talented, vigorous leaders in the church cannot be overemphasized. Such times demand active service of men and women who are guided by and devoted to Jesus Christ.

With more than 1 million copies sold, Spiritual Leadership stands as a proven classic for developing such leadership. In these pages, J. Oswald Sanders presents the key principles of leadership in both the temporal and spiritual realms, illustrating his points with examples from Scripture and biographies of eminent men of God (Moses, Nehemiah, Paul, David Livingstone, Charles Spurgeon, and others). He holds that even natural leadership qualities are God-given, and their true effectiveness can only be reached when they are used to the glory of God. Featured topics include:

  • The cost of leadership
  • The responsibility of leadership
  • Tests of leadership
  • The qualities and criteria of leadership
  • The art of reproducing leaders
  • The one indispensable requirement of leadership

Let this proven classic be your guide for leadership, and watch how God works through you to do great things for His glory.