I just returned from a ten day trip with John Burke to Finland, Russia and Estonia.  While there, I had an opportunity to meet with a small group of young adult ministry leaders in the Finnish Lutheran church to talk about developing leaders.  I shared two things with  them.
First is the recognition that most of our understanding of leaders is formed culturally, not Biblically.  I believe our best definition of Biblical leadership comes from Ephesians 4:11-13:

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
for
perfecting of the saints
for
work of the ministry
for
edifying of the body of Christ

Thus, a leader equips God’s people to do more serving that results in more people following Jesus and becoming all God intended them to be.

Next is the need for a framework for developing these kind of leaders.  We are using the following model at ELI in developing church planters.


The order is important.  Being must come first.  Developing skills and knowledge in leaders who lack Christ like character will not multiply the kind of leaders the church needs.  In the same way, doing needs to be prioritized over knowing which means we need more training grounds for practice.  Knowledge is best provided just enough, just in time.  I have added the tools dimension to the familiar heart, hands, head metaphor to acknowledge that leaders in various roles need to to know how to use various tools.  The tools don’t make a leader, but they can help a leader be more effective.

What do you think?  What is your definition of Biblical leadership?  How are you developing those kind of leaders?