Reclaiming the spiritual foundation of church leadership …

Leadership books, conferences, and coaching sessions promise to equip church leaders with strategies to grow the churches they serve, manage the staff, and refine their vision. They offer insights from successful CEOs, highlight “best practices,” and emphasize technology-driven solutions. While some of these tools have their place, an undeniable and troubling pattern has become entrenched among many church leaders: church leadership is being shaped by marketplace wisdom rather than by the Spirit of God.

Church leader, yours is a spiritual work.

You are not a corporate executive. You are not called to be a brand manager. You are a shepherd of souls, entrusted with the eternal weight of guiding people in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. The great need of the church you serve is not better organizational flowcharts, cutting-edge technology, or sleek communication strategies. Your church has a great need for leaders who are deeply immersed in the presence of God, leaders who minister in utter dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

The core of ministry is profoundly spiritual, yet it is easy to drift into treating it as a professional occupation rather than a divine calling. How can church leaders keep their ministry rooted in its spiritual foundation? It begins with rediscovering the essence of what it means to be a minister of Christ.

Shepherding, not strategizing. Jesus did not call Peter to “run an effective ministry operation.” He called him to “… feed My sheep” (John 21:17). The Apostle Paul did not tell Timothy to ensure his church had the latest methods for membership retention, he exhorted him to “Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). The primary call of a church leader is to shepherd God’s flock, to teach the Word with faithfulness, and to equip and nurture believers in their walk with (and service for) Jesus Christ. No strategy can replace this.

The word and prayer as your first labors. Many church leaders are drowning in administrative responsibilities, leaving little time for deep study of scripture and prayer. But when the apostles faced mounting needs in the early church, they declared, “… We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program” (Acts 6:2). They delegated administrative tasks so they could devote themselves to “… prayer and teaching the word” (Acts 6:4). Church leaders today must make the same choice. Immersing yourself in scripture is not a secondary task, it is primary. Before you prepare messages for others, let the Word of God shape your own heart and life. And prayer is not a preliminary step before getting to “real” work, it is the work.

The power of the Holy Spirit, not human effort. The growth of a church is not dependent on how skilled, innovative, or charismatic its leader is. The only power that transforms lives, brings revival, and sustains a faithful ministry is the power of the Holy Spirit. If church leaders invest more time in leadership theory than in seeking the Spirit’s guidance, they will inevitably produce churches that are rich in programs but poor in power.

KEEPING MINISTRY A SPIRITUAL WORK
Rediscover the power of spiritual discipline in ministry. In a world constantly distracted by leadership strategies and management tools, it’s easy to forget that spiritual disciplines form the very foundation of effective ministry. These practices, rooted in scripture, are not mere religious obligations but the lifeblood of your calling. When church leaders prioritize spiritual disciplines over administrative efficiency, they reclaim the essence of their ministry: the work of the Spirit.

Engage deeply with the word of God. For pastors, true leadership begins with the scriptures — not merely as a tool for sermon preparation but as a guide for your own spiritual life. If the Word of God does not first shape the pastor, then it’s impossible for that leader to effectively guide others. Pastors must be deeply committed to the study of scripture, not only for preaching but for personal spiritual formation. Without this deep engagement with the Word, a pastor’s leadership will lack spiritual depth.

Build unseen foundations through personal holiness. The unseen work of personal holiness is the root of all effective ministry. A church leader who lives in daily repentance, humility, and spiritual vigilance creates a spiritual atmosphere that welcomes God’s presence and allows His work to manifest. The longer a church leader neglects his own soul care, the more his leadership will falter under the weight of ministry demands. True strength comes from the hidden work of the Spirit within. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world,” James 4:8. This relational closeness to God serves as the foundation for spiritual leadership.”

Prioritize the presence of God over productivity. It’s easy to become entangled in the metrics of success: attendance numbers, community involvement, and program development. But these are not the ultimate measures of ministry success. Church leaders are called to a life marked by intimacy with God, not busyness. This does not mean neglecting responsibilities, but recognizing that productivity for its own sake is a trap. The real success of your ministry is found in the degree to which God’s presence is manifest in your life and work. “… for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5b) is not just a warning but a reminder that it is only in in Christ that we bear lasting fruit.

Lead with a heart of service, not control. Ministry is often described as “leading with a servant’s heart,” but this should not be a mere slogan, it must be the driving force of how church leaders engage with congregations. The temptation to control and micromanage can undermine the very spiritual work you are called to do. True leadership is exemplified in the life of Christ, who led not by exerting authority but by serving others. The disciples, too, were taught that leadership in the Kingdom of God operates on an entirely different principle: humility over dominance. “The greatest among you must be a servant,” Matthew 23:11.

Allow the Spirit’s power to shape your ministry, not your effort alone. It’s tempting to measure the success of your ministry by what you can accomplish through your own effort and ingenuity. But church growth and spiritual transformation are not within your control. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts, transforms, and sustains. It’s not about your charisma or your ability to lead, it’s about yielding to God’s sovereignty and allowing His Spirit to shape the lives of those you shepherd.

Embrace a shared ministry with elders and leaders. While you are called to shepherd a flock, the burden of leadership is never meant to be carried alone. The health of your ministry depends on a collaborative, spiritually aligned leadership team. This isn’t about administrative cooperation; it’s about spiritual unity. Pastors should be actively cultivating relationships of mutual accountability and prayer with elders and ministry leaders. When leadership teams are unified, they provide a stronger spiritual foundation for the church.

Delegate to focus on spiritual leadership. As a church leader, your time and energy are precious resources that must be directed toward the heart of your calling. You are not called to manage every detail of church operations or be burdened with every administrative task. Delegate these responsibilities to deacons, church staff, and other trusted members of your congregation who can handle the functional aspects of ministry. This will free you to focus on what truly matters to you carrying out your ministry responsibilities: leading your local church spiritually, praying, studying the Word, and nurturing the souls entrusted to you.

By empowering others to handle the administrative and operational demands of the church, you enable them to take ownership of the ministry, while you remain steadfast in your role as a shepherd. This delegation is not about abdicating responsibility, but about wisely stewarding your calling and ensuring that your spiritual vitality remains the priority.

Jesus entrusted His disciples with the task of feeding His sheep, and likewise, as a church leader, you must entrust others with tasks that will allow you to devote yourself fully to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Your spiritual leadership is your highest ministry priority. Let the work of others support that priority, not distract from it.

Church leaders, resist the drift toward a business-driven approach to ministry. Yours is not a secular enterprise. It is a divine calling, requiring divine power. Do not trade the supernatural work of the Spirit for the wisdom of the world. Return to the presence of God. Drink deeply from His Word. Lead from your knees.

Because yours is a spiritual work.

Scotty