The Characteristics of a Leader

Genuine spiritual leadership seems to be rare these days. There are so many different factors and sets of expectations at work that people seem to forget what real leadership looks like. On top of this disregard for genuine leadership, there also seems to be an inability to recognize potential leaders when they are in our midst. This begs the question, what are we to look for in prospective leaders? Or, if we desire to lead, what should we be looking to develop in our own lives?

Acts 18 records the story of Apollos. We are told several things about him that would lead to his effectiveness in ministry. There are certain characteristics that he had that any potential leaders should have as well. Here is a list of these characteristics:

He had a natural competency – Verse 24 says, “He was an eloquent man.”

He also had a working knowledge of the Scriptures – Verse 24, “He was competent in the Scriptures.”

He was passionate – Verse 25, “Being fervent in spirit.”

He was careful – Verse 25, “He spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus.”

He was bold – Verse 26, “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue.”

He was teachable – Verse 26, “When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

He was available – Verse 27, “He wished to cross to Achaia.”

He was helpful – Verse 27, “When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed.”

He was powerful – Verse 28, “He powerfully refuted the Jews in public.”

While all of these characteristics may not currently be evident in our lives, they certainly give us a standard to attain to. Also, if we are looking for potential leaders in our midst, these characteristics provide us with a test of sorts to recognize qualified candidates. If the church is going to fulfill her mission, we must return to a biblical model and mindset of leadership.

Making the Wrong Thing the Main Thing

There is no small amount of discussion about purpose and vision these days. If one was to purchase all of the books about living with purpose or leading a church to pursue vision, they likely would not be able to obtain enough storage space to house them all. However, have we fallen into the cliché-ic trap of not being able to see the forest for the trees?

When we consider the birth of the church we discover that there was not a complicated formula. In fact, the formula given by Jesus was painfully simple. Jesus told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for promise of the Father (Acts 1:4). Jesus went on to say, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).

Even the early disciples struggled with this discipline of waiting. The questions they asked indicate an impatience on their part. They asked, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus’ answer once again is simplistic, but calls for faith. Jesus said, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:7-8).

It occurs to me that we may spend too much time trying to figure out “times and seasons,” formulas and methods, and approaches that will lead to the success we desire. We focus on the very sort of things that Jesus was encouraging us not to worry about. Jesus did make one simple thing clear, “you will be my witnesses.” Not only did Jesus make our purpose clear, He told us how it was to be, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

The disciples’ response to all Jesus has said is one that deserves our attention. The Bible tells us, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14). Instead of rushing to the task, they remembered that Christ first said wait. They were to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit and then to pursue the task. Their method of waiting was praying. Through this time of prayer they were prepared for the task ahead.

We must learn from those who have gone before. We must learn what to worry about and what not to concern ourselves with. We must learn to wait for God in prayer. However, when God has moved, we must go. The core of our purpose does not have to be discovered. It has been given to us. We are to be witnesses of all that Christ is and all that He can do.