Like love defined, true leadership is the sacrificing of oneself for the betterment of others. In no other context do we find such an excellent example of this kind of selfless, compassionate, and inspiring leadership than the pages of the Bible. The Gospel work of Jesus Christ, his development of the disciples, and the longevity and impact Christianity has had across the globe transcending generations, and cultures, is by far the most remarkable story of leadership the world has ever known.
Now, in the newly revised and updated edition of the NIV Leadership Bible, the publisher promotes great lessons for leading straight from the stories of the Good Book. God’s Word is timeless and is perfect for edifying, correcting, coaching and teaching believers and leaders alike in the nature and qualities of the kind of leadership that honors the Lord. With character profiles of faithful men like Abraham, David, Moses, and Paul, a topical index of character traits, book introductions, and a bibliographical reference, this study Bible proves to be an essential tool for the shelf of every church leader, business person, or public servant.
Included in the principles discussed in the NIV Leadership Bible are fifty-two “Home Pages” which frame the Bible’s many features. Topics covered range from accountability, to conflict management, and decision making. Each Old Testament book and New Testament letter includes insights for personal and organizational leadership, gleaned from the Holy Scriptures directly. In addition to the spiritual lessons provided, the NIV Leadership Bible also contains snippets of several bestselling classic business books such as Robert Greenleaf’s “Servant Leadership”, Peter Drucker’s “The Effective Executive”, and Max DePree’s “Leadership is an Art”. Other contributions more directly applicable to the ministry include excerpts from spiritual sages like Richard Foster, Thomas Merton, and C.S. Lewis.
In my favorite passage on leadership from the New Testament, Paul exhorts the Philippian church to imitate Christ’s humility. In chapter two of the apostle’s letter, Paul tells the believers to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests of the others” (Phil. 2:3-5). Out of this passage of Scripture, the editors make two points about the servant leader: 1.) That the servant leader must define what their leadership is going to produce and 2.) The servant leader is accountable to those the lead and ultimately to the Lord. Insights from these “Daily Studies” and “Home Pages” abound throughout the pages of the NIV Leadership Bible and are sure to refine the leadership of anyone looking to better their influence for serving God’s people.
Advertising that Ignites Action 