02 Our Vision For Leadership

“Our Vision For Leadership”

February 22nd, 2026

Justin Marbury

Intro: The Leadership of the Holy Spirit in the Church in the NT

I. Character Over Charisma

II. Example Over Expertise

III. People Over Performance

IV. Influence Over Insistence

V. Consensus Over Convenience

VI. Facilitation Over Function

The Take Away

Jesus is the head of the Church. We are his body. The Holy Spirit is the functional leader (The Spirit of Christ). The Spiritual Gifts and the Spiritual Personalities, infused with the Holy Spirit’s presence would be sufficient. But we are fallen. We have two natures that complete and confuse us. So formal human church leadership is God’s accommodation for us. It is necessary and therefore good. But ineffective and counterproductive when instead of preserving and protecting the leadership of the Holy Spirit, it gets in the way or even replaces it. In order for this kind of leadership to flourish there needs to be maturity, humility, a high level of trust and mutual care between leadership and those being led. It requires walking in the Spirit rather than the flesh. These leaders must be spirit-filled. And, for this to fluoride, so must the lives of those being led…be spirit-filled.

Our focus has been on the leader’s side of the relationship. If you are a leader of any kind, not just in the church, the principles that we’ve covered can certainly guide you in your growth in becoming a more Christ-like leader. The take away for leaders is obvious.

But I would be remiss not to spend a few minutes considering the other side. The side of those being led.

First of all, it speaks to the kind of people we should look up to. It reforms what we value in our leaders. We often admire things that we shouldn’t. So there’s that. 

And there’s this. We are called by God to submit to the leaders He has established. 

In Ephesians, Paul writes to the Church that we are to be “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21. He then goes on to give three applications of this overarching principle: marriage, family, and the workplace. He doesn’t include the church in Ephesians, but the principles are the same. Submitting to one another means that we each do our part, all of us submitting, ultimately, to God’s design. 

But we can build from two other passages, an Ephesians-like application of mutual submission in the relationship between leader and led in the church. Take 1 Peter 5:1-3, which we’ve already considered and add Hebrews 13:7 and 17 and this is what you get:

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:1-3

 “7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Hebrews 13:7, 17

With this, then, I leave us with something to consider on both sides of this most unique of relationships. The Church is unique in so many ways. But it is especially unique in its vision for leadership.