Leadership Rooted in Life, Not Labor
True leadership is not about control but about abiding in Christ, the true Shepherd.
John 15:16 (WEY)
"It is not you who chose Me, but it is I who chose you and appointed you that you might go and be fruitful."
The Heart of Biblical Leadership
Church leadership is often measured by action—strategies, programs, attendance numbers, and outreach efforts. Yet, in God's design, leadership is not about what is done but about who is abiding. True spiritual leadership is not a title, a responsibility, or even a calling in the conventional sense; it is the outflow of Christ’s life through yielded vessels.
When leadership is approached as a task to accomplish rather than a life to express, the focus shifts from Christ to effort. But Scripture makes it clear: ministry is not self-initiated; it is born in us by the Spirit and flows outward as we abide in Christ. As T. Austin-Sparks pointed out, God does not place work above character. The measure of leadership is not activity but the presence of Christ in the leader and in the church.
J.C. Metcalfe reminds us that the Gospel’s power is not in human eloquence, strategies, or modern techniques. The strength of church leadership does not lie in well-crafted vision statements or innovative programs but in the spiritual reality of those leading. If leadership is separated from the abiding life of Christ, even the most ambitious efforts amount to nothing more than “a fanfare of trumpets or the crashing of cymbals” (1 Cor. 13:1).
Leadership as an Expression of Christ’s Life
If ministry is the natural fruit of abiding, then church leadership must reflect the same principle. Leaders are not called to make things happen—they are called to yield to Christ and let Him lead through them. When this happens:
The church is shepherded by Christ Himself. The leaders become conduits of His love, wisdom, and direction rather than managers of ministry.
There is no striving to produce results. Just as a branch does not force fruit to grow, leaders do not need to manufacture spiritual growth through relentless effort.
Discipleship shifts from programs to life-sharing. The goal is not to fill seats or execute plans, but to cultivate an environment where people encounter the living Christ in the leaders.
The apostles did not establish the early church through dynamic strategies; they simply yielded to the life of Christ within them. Paul did not consider his effectiveness based on numbers but on whether Christ was being formed in people (Gal. 4:19). That must be the measure of leadership today.
When Leadership is Misaligned
Unfortunately, many churches today function more like corporations than the organic body of Christ. Leadership is often driven by:
Performance-based expectations rather than Spirit-led guidance
Man-made strategies instead of dependence on Christ’s indwelling life
The pressure to be successful rather than resting in God’s sovereign work
A leader who tries to sustain ministry apart from abiding in Christ will experience burnout, frustration, and spiritual emptiness. The fruit may look impressive from the outside, but if it is produced through human effort rather than the Spirit’s work, it will not endure.
The Abiding Leader
A leader who abides in Christ understands that ministry is received, not achieved. Their leadership is marked by:
A deep, personal fellowship with Christ – Leadership begins in the secret place of abiding, not in the boardroom or pulpit.
A posture of rest rather than pressure – They trust that Christ will accomplish what He desires through them, rather than striving to make things happen.
A willingness to let go of control – Instead of managing people and outcomes, they trust the Spirit to do the work of transformation in the body.
A focus on spiritual reality rather than external success – They are not consumed by numbers, events, or popularity but by the presence of Christ in the church.
The Leadership of Christ Through Us
Jesus, the Head of the Church, is fully capable of leading His people. He does not call leaders to take charge but to yield—to recognize that leadership is not about orchestrating ministry but about letting His life lead through them.
This is not passive; it is the most active kind of trust. It is not idleness; it is participating in what God is doing, rather than initiating what He never called for. The role of a leader is not to drive the church forward but to remain so connected to Christ that His life flows through every word, decision, and relationship. That is the only kind of leadership that will last into eternity.
Personal Journal Entry
Lord, You are the true Shepherd of Your people. Any leadership I have is simply a reflection of You at work in me. It is easy to think that success depends on plans, strategies, and efforts, but You remind me that fruitfulness is not the result of trying harder—it is the result of abiding in You.
How freeing it is to know that I do not have to create ministry, manage outcomes, or force people to grow! You are the One who produces fruit in Your church. My role is not to generate spiritual life but to stay yielded to Your life within me. You are fully capable of leading, and my greatest responsibility is simply to walk in fellowship with You.
I do not need to measure effectiveness by numbers, influence, or results. The true test of leadership is whether You are being seen, known, and experienced through me. Let my leadership be an overflow of abiding. If I organize but do not abide, I have missed the mark. If I strategize but do not reflect Your life, it is meaningless. But if I rest in You, trust in You, and remain available to You, I know You will accomplish exactly what You desire.
You are the Head of the Church. You are the source of all wisdom. And You are enough. I trust You to lead Your people through me, not by my effort, but by the power of Your life.
Prayer
Father, I trust You as the true Shepherd of Your church. I rest in the certainty that You are fully capable of leading through me as I abide in You. I reject the pressure to manufacture results, and instead, I embrace the simplicity of yielding to Your Spirit. May my leadership be measured not by activity, but by the presence of Christ in all that I do. I am confident that You will accomplish Your work in Your people, and I rest in the joy of participating in what You are already doing. Amen.
Credits
Inspired by Abide Above’s March 8 devotional, "In-Born Ministry."
Photo credit: Unsplash