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Biblical Leadership: Becoming a Different Kind of Leader
There are many different types of leaders—leaders in the business world, in government, in the home, and in the local church. Sadly, many times leadership has been completely contrary to what the Bible teaches.
Many leaders are focused on what they can get from their positions of authority rather than on what they can give to the works in which they are involved. While some view it as a tool for popularity and power, leadership is a privilege. Leadership requires responsibility.
Biblical Leadership teaches biblical leaders how to be people of integrity and humility—leaders who are willing to be different.
Many leaders are focused on what they can get from their positions of authority rather than on what they can give to the works in which they are involved. While some view it as a tool for popularity and power, leadership is a privilege. Leadership requires responsibility.
Biblical Leadership teaches biblical leaders how to be people of integrity and humility—leaders who are willing to be different.
184 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2004
18 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 1, 2024
For the masters!
June 13, 2020
This book is a practical, God-honoring philosophy of leadership. I like it’s simplicity; it’s understandable and applicable for older kids, teens, and adults.
“God’s plan is for us to live by His Word...In doing this, we will be God’s change agents wherever we are; this is leadership.”
“God’s plan is for us to live by His Word...In doing this, we will be God’s change agents wherever we are; this is leadership.”
February 28, 2026
Biblical Leadership addresses an important question: how should a follower of Jesus Christ influence others, and how does that differ from secular leadership? In many ways, the book succeeds. It is thoughtful, pastoral, and well written. Collier and Williams emphasize service and humility as essential to Christian influence. For that emphasis alone the book is worth reading.
However, that being said, I believe the book also suffers from two significant weaknesses: first, it never follows its own logic to its natural conclusion; second, it lacks a clear method for how they selected and organized the biblical principles they rely on.
My most fundamental issue is the book’s unexamined use of the word leadership. Early on, the authors define leadership as influence, a definition borrowed largely from contemporary business literature. Yet throughout the book, “leadership” is also used in its more common sense: occupying a position of authority, power, or office. These two meanings are not the same, and the authors regularly slide between them without acknowledging (or not noticing??) the difference.
The Bible itself has remarkably little to say about “leadership” as positions of authority or power (as it is usually understood). It is always dangerous to import a modern term into our descriptions of the Bible’s teachings because we can accidentally import modern ideas that (strictly speaking) are not in the Bible. So here, Scripture speaks often about following, about serving, about imitation, but rarely about holding positions of authority over others. When Jesus directly addresses such authority structures, his language is abolitionist: “It shall not be so among you.”
Nowhere is this clearer than in passages like Mark 9:33–37 and Mark 10:42–45. In both scenes, Jesus confronts his disciples’ desire for rank, status, and authority. He does not offer them a "better leadership model"; he rebukes the very pursuit of greatness defined by authority. “Whoever would be first must be servant of all.” This is not leadership reimagined. It is “leadership” (as usually understood) dismantled.
The book comes very close to acknowledging this but pulls back. Instead of allowing Jesus’ words to overturn such authority-based understandings of leadership, the authors soften them by introducing distinctions the text itself does not make, such as limiting Jesus’ prohibition to the "selfish" use of authority. The result is a servant-leader concept that sounds biblical but quietly reimports secular leadership categories under Christian language.
Ironically, the book itself demonstrates that this move is unnecessary. Everything Collier and Williams commend can be explained perfectly well in terms of service and influence without invoking “leadership” at all. In fact, the book reads less like a theology of leadership and more like a theology of Christian service applicable to every believer, whether or not they hold any office.
A related issue is methodological. The latter half of the book offers a series of biblical principles supported by Scripture and illustrated with practical examples. Many of these are wise, helpful, and spiritually formative. But the authors never explain how these particular principles were chosen from all possible candidates. Are they exhaustive? Representative? Especially important? How do they know? We are not told.
This left me unsure whether key biblical material has been overlooked, if principles have been cherry picked, or whether the conclusions would change if other passages were given equal weight. The problem is not the principles themselves, but the absence of a clearly articulated framework for why these principles, in this arrangement, deserve to be privileged above others. [Note: this methodological problem is endemic to Christian literature today.]
None of this negates the book’s real strengths. Biblical Leadership is challenging and often illuminating. It will push readers to think more carefully about humility, service, and Christlike influence. But readers should also approach it with discernment, recognizing that the language of leadership as positional authority may obscure more than it clarifies.
If you want to learn how to dominate less, serve more, and imitate Christ more faithfully, this book will help you. If you are looking for a robust biblical defense of hierarchical leadership (or positional authority in general in the church), you will not find it here, and in my view, that is not a failure of Scripture, it’s a feature.
However, that being said, I believe the book also suffers from two significant weaknesses: first, it never follows its own logic to its natural conclusion; second, it lacks a clear method for how they selected and organized the biblical principles they rely on.
My most fundamental issue is the book’s unexamined use of the word leadership. Early on, the authors define leadership as influence, a definition borrowed largely from contemporary business literature. Yet throughout the book, “leadership” is also used in its more common sense: occupying a position of authority, power, or office. These two meanings are not the same, and the authors regularly slide between them without acknowledging (or not noticing??) the difference.
The Bible itself has remarkably little to say about “leadership” as positions of authority or power (as it is usually understood). It is always dangerous to import a modern term into our descriptions of the Bible’s teachings because we can accidentally import modern ideas that (strictly speaking) are not in the Bible. So here, Scripture speaks often about following, about serving, about imitation, but rarely about holding positions of authority over others. When Jesus directly addresses such authority structures, his language is abolitionist: “It shall not be so among you.”
Nowhere is this clearer than in passages like Mark 9:33–37 and Mark 10:42–45. In both scenes, Jesus confronts his disciples’ desire for rank, status, and authority. He does not offer them a "better leadership model"; he rebukes the very pursuit of greatness defined by authority. “Whoever would be first must be servant of all.” This is not leadership reimagined. It is “leadership” (as usually understood) dismantled.
The book comes very close to acknowledging this but pulls back. Instead of allowing Jesus’ words to overturn such authority-based understandings of leadership, the authors soften them by introducing distinctions the text itself does not make, such as limiting Jesus’ prohibition to the "selfish" use of authority. The result is a servant-leader concept that sounds biblical but quietly reimports secular leadership categories under Christian language.
Ironically, the book itself demonstrates that this move is unnecessary. Everything Collier and Williams commend can be explained perfectly well in terms of service and influence without invoking “leadership” at all. In fact, the book reads less like a theology of leadership and more like a theology of Christian service applicable to every believer, whether or not they hold any office.
A related issue is methodological. The latter half of the book offers a series of biblical principles supported by Scripture and illustrated with practical examples. Many of these are wise, helpful, and spiritually formative. But the authors never explain how these particular principles were chosen from all possible candidates. Are they exhaustive? Representative? Especially important? How do they know? We are not told.
This left me unsure whether key biblical material has been overlooked, if principles have been cherry picked, or whether the conclusions would change if other passages were given equal weight. The problem is not the principles themselves, but the absence of a clearly articulated framework for why these principles, in this arrangement, deserve to be privileged above others. [Note: this methodological problem is endemic to Christian literature today.]
None of this negates the book’s real strengths. Biblical Leadership is challenging and often illuminating. It will push readers to think more carefully about humility, service, and Christlike influence. But readers should also approach it with discernment, recognizing that the language of leadership as positional authority may obscure more than it clarifies.
If you want to learn how to dominate less, serve more, and imitate Christ more faithfully, this book will help you. If you are looking for a robust biblical defense of hierarchical leadership (or positional authority in general in the church), you will not find it here, and in my view, that is not a failure of Scripture, it’s a feature.
May 7, 2019
Amazing book on the model of Leadership. The title should have been enough of a hint for me to know that it would all be based on the Biblical Model. The shocking thing for me was the depth and scope of leadership as shown in the book. It had so much that can be gleaned from it and requires much thought and meditation. Three things that stood out.
Biblical Leadership requires a different spirit. The heart behind it can only be one that is in tune with the will and heart of God. This is the only way to fight against the desires of the flesh that want everything to be about self service and self elevation. A life that is being transformed by the renewing of the mind is one that will love others and honor them as image bearers of the almighty and people the Lord has placed in your care.
Friendship is a crucial aspect in understanding the Biblical Leadership model. We are called to relate well to all manner of friends and the book shows how friendship applies to the friends at all three levels. These levels may be generalizations but they hold true and the principles can and should be applied to better enrich God glorifying friendships.
Lastly the practical aspects of servant leadership in the home. Husband to wife. Wife to husband. Parents to children. And children to parents. As well as giving practical examples of the outworking of this the book provides further case studies that require the reader to go to the scriptures for the answers which should be the mentality of all who wish to follow the Biblical Leadership model. A fantastic read!
Biblical Leadership requires a different spirit. The heart behind it can only be one that is in tune with the will and heart of God. This is the only way to fight against the desires of the flesh that want everything to be about self service and self elevation. A life that is being transformed by the renewing of the mind is one that will love others and honor them as image bearers of the almighty and people the Lord has placed in your care.
Friendship is a crucial aspect in understanding the Biblical Leadership model. We are called to relate well to all manner of friends and the book shows how friendship applies to the friends at all three levels. These levels may be generalizations but they hold true and the principles can and should be applied to better enrich God glorifying friendships.
Lastly the practical aspects of servant leadership in the home. Husband to wife. Wife to husband. Parents to children. And children to parents. As well as giving practical examples of the outworking of this the book provides further case studies that require the reader to go to the scriptures for the answers which should be the mentality of all who wish to follow the Biblical Leadership model. A fantastic read!
October 24, 2023
I had to read this book for a class in college and didn't think much of it. Most of the principles seemed very basic. However, going back to it again as a youth pastor, these are just the principles that Christian teens need to be taught, so I give it 5 stars for that reason. The book is not extremely well-written or deep, but the principles are very pertinent to Christian teens in my setting, which makes the book useful to me as a youth pastor.
Me and some teens read this book together for a leadership development group this summer. We especially enjoyed reading through, discussing, and laughing about the "Serving My Parents" appendix. Some of the examples were so dated that me and the other youth leader had to explain to the kids what was meant by the phrases, but it was still a great exercise!
Me and some teens read this book together for a leadership development group this summer. We especially enjoyed reading through, discussing, and laughing about the "Serving My Parents" appendix. Some of the examples were so dated that me and the other youth leader had to explain to the kids what was meant by the phrases, but it was still a great exercise!
October 26, 2022
The authors make the case that biblical leaders are different from secular leaders in all areas of their lives. The common picture of a leader is the one that is out front and there are others behind. However, this is not the picture the authors want us to have. Their advice to the reader is to be following the perfect example, Christ. This different kind of leader is sometimes besides encouraging the others, sometimes in front setting an example, and sometimes behind, gently prodding in a desired direction. In each situation, the leader should always be pointing followers to a deeper relationship with their Creator and Lord.
May 19, 2024
Did not finish. I had to read this for a Bible Study I did through student council. I hated this book tbh. Personally it says a lot of stuff that I disagree with and I am a Christian ok so like idk why I’m disagreeing with a Christian book but it was just so terrible for me. But if you are a Christian who has different beliefs than I do, then you’ll probably love this book. Soo it’s really up to how traditional you are.
February 25, 2026
Good, but not my favorite. Each author wrote every other chapter and that became choppy and distracting for me. One quote I did love however … “just two choices on the shelf, pleasing God or pleasing self.” Good take on biblical leadership, but seemed to fast forward through some topics and provide way too much detail for others.
October 31, 2013
I used this book for my high school Sunday school class. This is a great book to use with teens and young adults, but the material might be a little soft for older adults. The leadership lessons taught in this book, that great leaders are great followers, are biblical and applicable to anyone in a position of leadership.
January 14, 2015
Excellent book on leadership for teens and young people. There are so many great, practical recommendations for leadership in this book. Highly recommend this book to be used in a small group setting for teen leadership.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews