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Spiritual Leadership
With over 500,000 in print, Spiritual Leadership is the perennial favorite for teaching the principles of leadership. In this classic, J. Oswald Sanders illustrates biblical leadership principles through the lives of David, Moses, Nehemiah, the Apostle Paul, David Livingston, and Charles Spurgeon.This world needs more leaders who are guided by God and devoted to Christ. Christianity needs to put forth a powerful voice to be heard above the cacophony of immorality and deception in much of today's leadership. Spiritual Leadership will encourage you to place your talents and powers at His disposal so you can become a leader used for His glory.This timeless classic will equip leaders of all generations to press on in service for Jesus Christ. Spiritual Leadership has easy-to-understand modern language and a study guide to assist each leader as they grow and successfully apply the principles in this book. Prepare to be stretched, challenged, and motivated to apply the leadership principles of character, passion, and especially godliness. Spiritual Leadership is a necessary tool for today's leaders.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
About the author
J. Oswald Sanders
113 books80 followersJ. OSWALD SANDERS (1902-1992) was a Christian leader for nearly seventy years and authored more than forty books on the Christian life including The Incomparable Christ, Spiritual Discipleship, Spiritual Leadership, and Spiritual Maturity. He left a promising law practice in his native New Zealand to serve as an instructor and administrator at the Bible College of New Zealand. Dr. Sanders later became general director of the China Inland Mission (now the Overseas Missionary Fellowship), and was instrumental in beginning many new missions projects throughout East Asia.
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September 9, 2011
First of all, this book isn't horrible because the things it says aren't true. I think that the things in here are generally ok in terms of what's said - it's a collection of 1-2 page "observations" or "meditations" on small leadership principles. If you're looking for a sort of devotional book or a vague book about how to apply some generally true (regardless of religious affiliation) ideas with biblical language behind them, this book is fine.
But it's precisely that vagueness that kills me. It takes pieces of scripture and simply uses them to arrive at a predetermined conclusion. The context or setting of that scripture is irrelevant. There's no attempt to put the scriptures in their original context. No attempt to try and bridge the gap between an ancient near Eastern culture and a modern or post-modern American one. It's the worst kind of biblical study - the kind that just uses the bible to support what we already think of. I think a lot of us do it, but it's not something we should do.
Like I said - I don't think there's anything here that's terribly untrue or heretical. It's just blah. I would hope spiritual leadership would be better or different than modern or corporate leadership. I would hope that it would help overturn the "powers and principalities" of the world. If that's true, it's not represented here.
But it's precisely that vagueness that kills me. It takes pieces of scripture and simply uses them to arrive at a predetermined conclusion. The context or setting of that scripture is irrelevant. There's no attempt to put the scriptures in their original context. No attempt to try and bridge the gap between an ancient near Eastern culture and a modern or post-modern American one. It's the worst kind of biblical study - the kind that just uses the bible to support what we already think of. I think a lot of us do it, but it's not something we should do.
Like I said - I don't think there's anything here that's terribly untrue or heretical. It's just blah. I would hope spiritual leadership would be better or different than modern or corporate leadership. I would hope that it would help overturn the "powers and principalities" of the world. If that's true, it's not represented here.
December 14, 2020
An excellent book on principles that every Christian should strive for, not just those wanting to be leaders. Christians will always be held to a higher standard whether we like it or not, because we represent all Christians in our actions. So if you're looking for guidance as a Christian, searching for an answer, or even just entertaining the idea of being a leader, this book will help. Sanders gives each chapter a clear cut quality and how to obtain it and what to look for. No excessive preaching or chapters overladen so heavily with verse that you'd be better off reading the bible in this book. It also gives questions at the end of each chapter for reflection. I found myself highlighting and underlining passages every other page. I found the insights into leadership and the essential qualities of leadership particularly helpful. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this book. It was well written and easy to understand. It held my attention throughout the entire thing, and really made you think twice about flippantly deciding on this course. It showed the ups and downs and displayed in depth and in great detail, how Jesus was the best leader because he was the biggest servant. Self-sacrifice is a big part of leadership and Sanders does nothing to diminish this important concept. I highly encourage all Christians to read this book.
September 19, 2023
Here is my official review after my second read-through of “Spiritual Leadership” by J. Oswald Sanders:
Many have written works on leadership in years past, including John Oswald Sanders. His work, “Spiritual Leadership,” is a beloved favorite among most Christians who have read it. With over a million copies sold to date, one would think the content meets the hype. I think otherwise. Though I am a minority in this discussion, I truly do believe this book is deserving of far less value than many have attributed to it.
To begin, some definitions and a disclaimer:
Great leader = effective, whether for good or bad reasons.
Poor leader = not effective, whether for good or bad reasons.
Good leader = morally honorable, whether effective or not.
Bad leader - morally corrupted, whether effective or not.
Biblical/Spiritual Leader (my definition) = A morally-honorable, effective leader who builds their vision and mission off of the paradigm of what God puts forth through His Word and by His Spirit.
Disclaimer: I am aware this book was adapted from Sanders’ teachings for pastors/elders to an arrangement as a leadership book for all to read an access, pastors and layman alike. I do, however, believe this is exactly the reason for my biggest qualm with this book:
Unclear WRITING of a Book
With languishing clarity in both its thesis and definitions of terms, it seems Sanders felt it best to leave the reader with incomplete thoughts to consider, rather than clear-cut direction as to how to be and/or become a “spiritual leader.” Furthermore, the quality of writing this book provides contributes to even more confusion.
An example of which is on page 39 where the book states a good leader is a “peacemaker” yet gives little to follow. No definition is provided concerning what it means to be a peacemaker, no examples of what a peacemaker looks like in action, no contrasting examples of those who aren’t peacemakers—only a call to be one. Readers need more to work with than a high-bar standard for what makes for a leader (and by leader, he means a good one, yet he never delineates between good and bad ones across the entire book. More on this later).
Another contribution to this sort of vague writing involves his fluid bouncing between speaking to pastors or leaders in general. Broadly applying texts clearly for overseers in the Church to “spiritual leaders” in many fields, Sanders teaches eisegetically, for although all can agree that many eldership characteristics are worthy of pursuing, the issue lies in the underlying reality that Sanders is teaching to pastors—not layman. Therefore, when turning one’s teachings into a book for everyone, one must commit to being exegetical and rewrite portions to apply correctly to all.
Beyond just unclear concepts, throughout the book, he makes many confusing statements. He states that natural and spiritual leaders are incredibly different from each other (32), calling the readers to become spiritual (because natural leaders aren’t made, they’re realized, according to him [32]), yet he then spends half the book giving readers non-spiritual traits to pursue, such as humor (77), inspirational power (86), letter writing (88), reading (121), etc., and “spiritualizes” them by taking scripture out of context.
One example is where Paul tells Timothy to “Give heed to reading” (121). Sanders indicates that he knows it refers to the public reading of Scripture but then proceeds to spend an entire chapter defending the idea that true leaders, for at least 30mins a day, read content pertaining to only what fuels their leadership (123). I’m not sure this train of logic computes with Paul’s.
A few other odd statements he makes include:
- Dr. John Geddie made a huge revival-level impact on an island yet Sanders gives no context as to how he accomplished that (34). I’m inspired, but what do I do?
- He says “Spirituality is not easy to define, but you can tell when it is present” (35) I can define it in three words: fidelity to Christ, not an air of influence you claimed it to be in the following sentence.
- He tells the readers to go into “intentional character training” without defining what he means by that (41), which, by the way, I thought that’s what this book is supposed to be? Intentionally training my character as a leader?
- He says leaders will seldom say they don’t have time yet later states leaders must carefully select priorities (112-113). Any good leader knows that when their priorities are lined up they will say “No” to things all the time.
Improper EXPOSITION of the Bible
A second point on Sanders’ work, which ends up being a corollary of the first, is that he manages to misinterpret most of the scriptures he discusses. Wanting to make a surface-level point, he takes what seem like low-hanging fruits from Scripture and gives them to the readers freely without giving context, explanations of meaning, or clarifying of misconceptions.
Some of the outlandish, unbiblical things he claims include:
- Mark 10:40 is about leaders being elevated instead of Christ being enthroned (23)
- The guys on the Emmaus Road had their eyes opened because they saw Jesus’ scars, not because they were spiritually enlightened by communion (141), not that Sanders ever even mentions the communion view.
- God’s voice grows quieter through the years as He entrusts more into our own discernment (147)
- God plans temptations for believers to face (159), the most ridiculous, blasphemous thing in this book.
- Moses didn’t get into the Promised Land because Joshua was “better equipped” and God was executing a succession plan, rather than what the Bible says about Moses’ sinning and losing the honor that was his before (175; cf. Numbers 20)
Incorrect PHILOSOPHY of Leadership
I’ve heard it said that this is a great introductory, or “beginner’s,” book to leadership. In this I take issue. This point is much more heady in nature…so for the laymen who love this book, please do not disregard it and say “I’m reading into it too much” because you don’t understand what I’m talking about. I encourage you to hang tight and chew on these as an opinion from another human who is also trying to live and lead well for Jesus.
I believe “biblical leadership” is enveloped in forming cultures and discipling people around Jesus. Therefore, then, the biblical leader must first be a disciple consumed by the ways of Jesus. In this line of thinking, I argue that Sanders puts the cart before the horse and forms none of his readers around Christ’s vision for good leaders who are first followers but instead conveys his own vision, dumping a pantry-worth of random isolated characteristics that he has seemed to observe be “effective” over the years—which, I also take issue with; what measurements of success is he using? Number of converts? People won on your side? He doesn’t clarify that either.
One of the characteristics he puts forth as supposedly effective is “inspirational power” (86). He explains that a leader is one who inspires others to “service, and sacrifice,” citing Nehemiah as such a man (86). Now, I agree with this; however, his unclear writing and definition of “spiritual leadership” leaves me still able to attribute this trait to Adolf Hitler too! This is unfortunate, as biblical leadership, to Sanders, no longer directly models the Bible, but only models those who can influence their circle toward their own personal vision.
On the other hand, a good, Christian leadership book would craft a thesis and argument as to what God’s vision is for His kingdom and mission and call readers to operate and influence others from THAT place and never from any other. Sanders does not do this. By assuming the roots are already grounded, he spends the duration of the book discussing fruit, failing to recognize that most readers have little idea what it really means to be an apprentice of Jesus in practice on the day-to-day.
This plays into where I differ philosophically on what it means to be a leader:
- Firstly, I do believe all are leaders, whether they be good or bad.
- But secondly, I believe leadership begins from the core within, way before it ever goes to the circle of influence without. I must live a certain way personally if I ever want others to live that way too.
- Hitler was a great leader, and yet he did so with a horrendous vision and mission.
- Therefore, a spiritual leader, has to be more than capable of influencing.
- A spiritual leader os one who is first being led by Jesus, under His vision and mission, living from that place.
- Then, and only then, can that person influence others to do the same and be considered a “spiritual leader.”
A good book on biblical leadership, then, would train readers to understand the vision and mission of Jesus from Scripture in a clear and exegetical manner without ever veering of course. This is why I think “Spiritual Leadership” by J. Oswald Sanders is far from a total home run; rather, it’s a strikeout without any foul balls.
P.S. To read my review in a word: “milky.”
Many have written works on leadership in years past, including John Oswald Sanders. His work, “Spiritual Leadership,” is a beloved favorite among most Christians who have read it. With over a million copies sold to date, one would think the content meets the hype. I think otherwise. Though I am a minority in this discussion, I truly do believe this book is deserving of far less value than many have attributed to it.
To begin, some definitions and a disclaimer:
Great leader = effective, whether for good or bad reasons.
Poor leader = not effective, whether for good or bad reasons.
Good leader = morally honorable, whether effective or not.
Bad leader - morally corrupted, whether effective or not.
Biblical/Spiritual Leader (my definition) = A morally-honorable, effective leader who builds their vision and mission off of the paradigm of what God puts forth through His Word and by His Spirit.
Disclaimer: I am aware this book was adapted from Sanders’ teachings for pastors/elders to an arrangement as a leadership book for all to read an access, pastors and layman alike. I do, however, believe this is exactly the reason for my biggest qualm with this book:
Unclear WRITING of a Book
With languishing clarity in both its thesis and definitions of terms, it seems Sanders felt it best to leave the reader with incomplete thoughts to consider, rather than clear-cut direction as to how to be and/or become a “spiritual leader.” Furthermore, the quality of writing this book provides contributes to even more confusion.
An example of which is on page 39 where the book states a good leader is a “peacemaker” yet gives little to follow. No definition is provided concerning what it means to be a peacemaker, no examples of what a peacemaker looks like in action, no contrasting examples of those who aren’t peacemakers—only a call to be one. Readers need more to work with than a high-bar standard for what makes for a leader (and by leader, he means a good one, yet he never delineates between good and bad ones across the entire book. More on this later).
Another contribution to this sort of vague writing involves his fluid bouncing between speaking to pastors or leaders in general. Broadly applying texts clearly for overseers in the Church to “spiritual leaders” in many fields, Sanders teaches eisegetically, for although all can agree that many eldership characteristics are worthy of pursuing, the issue lies in the underlying reality that Sanders is teaching to pastors—not layman. Therefore, when turning one’s teachings into a book for everyone, one must commit to being exegetical and rewrite portions to apply correctly to all.
Beyond just unclear concepts, throughout the book, he makes many confusing statements. He states that natural and spiritual leaders are incredibly different from each other (32), calling the readers to become spiritual (because natural leaders aren’t made, they’re realized, according to him [32]), yet he then spends half the book giving readers non-spiritual traits to pursue, such as humor (77), inspirational power (86), letter writing (88), reading (121), etc., and “spiritualizes” them by taking scripture out of context.
One example is where Paul tells Timothy to “Give heed to reading” (121). Sanders indicates that he knows it refers to the public reading of Scripture but then proceeds to spend an entire chapter defending the idea that true leaders, for at least 30mins a day, read content pertaining to only what fuels their leadership (123). I’m not sure this train of logic computes with Paul’s.
A few other odd statements he makes include:
- Dr. John Geddie made a huge revival-level impact on an island yet Sanders gives no context as to how he accomplished that (34). I’m inspired, but what do I do?
- He says “Spirituality is not easy to define, but you can tell when it is present” (35) I can define it in three words: fidelity to Christ, not an air of influence you claimed it to be in the following sentence.
- He tells the readers to go into “intentional character training” without defining what he means by that (41), which, by the way, I thought that’s what this book is supposed to be? Intentionally training my character as a leader?
- He says leaders will seldom say they don’t have time yet later states leaders must carefully select priorities (112-113). Any good leader knows that when their priorities are lined up they will say “No” to things all the time.
Improper EXPOSITION of the Bible
A second point on Sanders’ work, which ends up being a corollary of the first, is that he manages to misinterpret most of the scriptures he discusses. Wanting to make a surface-level point, he takes what seem like low-hanging fruits from Scripture and gives them to the readers freely without giving context, explanations of meaning, or clarifying of misconceptions.
Some of the outlandish, unbiblical things he claims include:
- Mark 10:40 is about leaders being elevated instead of Christ being enthroned (23)
- The guys on the Emmaus Road had their eyes opened because they saw Jesus’ scars, not because they were spiritually enlightened by communion (141), not that Sanders ever even mentions the communion view.
- God’s voice grows quieter through the years as He entrusts more into our own discernment (147)
- God plans temptations for believers to face (159), the most ridiculous, blasphemous thing in this book.
- Moses didn’t get into the Promised Land because Joshua was “better equipped” and God was executing a succession plan, rather than what the Bible says about Moses’ sinning and losing the honor that was his before (175; cf. Numbers 20)
Incorrect PHILOSOPHY of Leadership
I’ve heard it said that this is a great introductory, or “beginner’s,” book to leadership. In this I take issue. This point is much more heady in nature…so for the laymen who love this book, please do not disregard it and say “I’m reading into it too much” because you don’t understand what I’m talking about. I encourage you to hang tight and chew on these as an opinion from another human who is also trying to live and lead well for Jesus.
I believe “biblical leadership” is enveloped in forming cultures and discipling people around Jesus. Therefore, then, the biblical leader must first be a disciple consumed by the ways of Jesus. In this line of thinking, I argue that Sanders puts the cart before the horse and forms none of his readers around Christ’s vision for good leaders who are first followers but instead conveys his own vision, dumping a pantry-worth of random isolated characteristics that he has seemed to observe be “effective” over the years—which, I also take issue with; what measurements of success is he using? Number of converts? People won on your side? He doesn’t clarify that either.
One of the characteristics he puts forth as supposedly effective is “inspirational power” (86). He explains that a leader is one who inspires others to “service, and sacrifice,” citing Nehemiah as such a man (86). Now, I agree with this; however, his unclear writing and definition of “spiritual leadership” leaves me still able to attribute this trait to Adolf Hitler too! This is unfortunate, as biblical leadership, to Sanders, no longer directly models the Bible, but only models those who can influence their circle toward their own personal vision.
On the other hand, a good, Christian leadership book would craft a thesis and argument as to what God’s vision is for His kingdom and mission and call readers to operate and influence others from THAT place and never from any other. Sanders does not do this. By assuming the roots are already grounded, he spends the duration of the book discussing fruit, failing to recognize that most readers have little idea what it really means to be an apprentice of Jesus in practice on the day-to-day.
This plays into where I differ philosophically on what it means to be a leader:
- Firstly, I do believe all are leaders, whether they be good or bad.
- But secondly, I believe leadership begins from the core within, way before it ever goes to the circle of influence without. I must live a certain way personally if I ever want others to live that way too.
- Hitler was a great leader, and yet he did so with a horrendous vision and mission.
- Therefore, a spiritual leader, has to be more than capable of influencing.
- A spiritual leader os one who is first being led by Jesus, under His vision and mission, living from that place.
- Then, and only then, can that person influence others to do the same and be considered a “spiritual leader.”
A good book on biblical leadership, then, would train readers to understand the vision and mission of Jesus from Scripture in a clear and exegetical manner without ever veering of course. This is why I think “Spiritual Leadership” by J. Oswald Sanders is far from a total home run; rather, it’s a strikeout without any foul balls.
P.S. To read my review in a word: “milky.”
July 9, 2024
Loaded with insight and challenging material to force you to consider where you need to grow as a leader. Love when he gets all fired up about very specific topics - like one hot take per chapter which makes it more fun. I don’t often enjoy books that don’t seem to be in a specific order, which this one doesn’t, but too much quality content and counsel pushes it to four stars.
February 28, 2024
These short chapters are filled with helpful and memorable examples of what godly leadership is to look like. A great starting place for those wanting a picture painted for them of what leadership looks like and how to grow as a leader.
June 10, 2021
This classic work is worth every leaders time. It’s my third time reading it. In my opinion is the best overview book on leadership. Many of the chapters are brief and broad. I’m not a fan of the switching of Bible versions from the original. Some of the editor “meditation/application” questions were helpful, but some were obvious or contrived.
January 17, 2024
A classic on Christian leadership. Sanders served as the director for OMF (a large missions organization) throughout the 1950s and 60s.
Each of the brief 22 chapters tackles a principle important to the Christian leader. As the title suggests, Sanders emphasizes the ‘spiritual’ side of leadership, e.g. character, alignment with God’s agenda, and servant-leadership. He regularly draws out leadership principles from Jesus, Moses, Paul, and Nehemiah.
The chapters often overlap as he returns to issues like pride and the need to develop the next-generation of leaders. His examples are dated and often limited to pastors/missionaries from Britain and the US in the early 20th century, as well as British greats like Whitfield, Wesleys, Mueller, and Spurgeon.
Each of the brief 22 chapters tackles a principle important to the Christian leader. As the title suggests, Sanders emphasizes the ‘spiritual’ side of leadership, e.g. character, alignment with God’s agenda, and servant-leadership. He regularly draws out leadership principles from Jesus, Moses, Paul, and Nehemiah.
The chapters often overlap as he returns to issues like pride and the need to develop the next-generation of leaders. His examples are dated and often limited to pastors/missionaries from Britain and the US in the early 20th century, as well as British greats like Whitfield, Wesleys, Mueller, and Spurgeon.
May 14, 2024
An excellent overview of some of the principles involved in spiritual leadership. This most applies to pastors I think, but it could easily apply to any other type of leader who is a Christian. The chapter on the Leader and Reading is some of the best stuff I’ve ever come across on the subject of reading.
May 6, 2024
An excellent manual for leadership. So many tips, bits of wisdom, and boxes to check. Everyone is called to be a leader, the question is if they'll embrace the call. If they do, this very dense book will help tremendously!
May 31, 2023
Great foundational book on leadership. The author structures the book where the first section of the book gives an overview of leadership, the middle portion covers qualities of leadership and what what it takes to be a leader, and the last section covers things that come with leadership. Overall, this book was simple and a great place to start when studying biblical leadership. The author ties in biblical stories and principles every well. At times it does get repetitive though and not many provoking thoughts/insights are presented.
Read
July 23, 2011I have heard of this classic previously but have not had the opportunity to read it until now. Having thus finished the book, there were parts of the book that was profitable for me spiritually.
Among the thing that convicted me was the chapter on “The Leader and His Timeâ€, particularly this quote: “We have each been entrusted with sufficient time to do the whole will of God and to fill out His perfect plan for our lives†(114). The author Oswald Sanders gave examples of Godly men whose greatness also meant that they were disciplined with their time. This is an area I have been grown much in the last few years being in Seminary, yet I also realize that I can still improve in the area of time management. Of course, in order to accomplish this requires self-discipline. As I grow more in the Christian faith, I realize more and more of how God’s grace in a sanctified Christian is also seen in how the believer has discipline in his or her life.
What at first seem like an unlikely area of Christian leadership is also covered in its own chapter: The Leader and his reading. There is a sense where leaders in the natural realm must read, and Sanders makes the point of how much more should those who are leaders of the spiritual realm must be well-read. Christians who doubt this should read some of the benefits of reading that Sanders listed.
Sanders also discussed the importance for Christian leaders to be continiously improving their leadership in chapter fourteen. He lists some general areas, and one of the areas that caught my attention was on problem solving. I can work on resolving conflicts better, especially those that seem out of control to me, or something that I have not experienced before.
True Christian leadership is also not easy, and in chapter fifteen Sanders discusses about the cost of leading. A point that stuck out to me was how leadership can be a lonely experience (144-145). This was a good point to know prior to being a Pastor. The discussion about criticism and rejection was a great encouragement, since it ministered to my heart knowing that there is an aspect that this is part of the will of God.
So much of leadership focuses on the individual who is the leader, but this book managed to balance things out towards the end. For instance, chapter eighteen tackled the topic of leadership and delegation based primarily upon Exodus 18’s account of Moses delegating authority to others. Given that “it is a mistake to assume more duties than we can adequately and satisfactorily dischargedâ€, the leader’s role of delegation make sense (171). Chapter 19 of the book reminds leaders that their position will one day be replaced by the next group of leaders, which leaves a sobering note that no leader is truly “irreplaceableâ€. This should be a note of encouragement, knowing that God can raise the next generation’s leadership, but that also means Christian leaders should already be involved in reproducing the next leaders. Chapter Twenty discusses about that, of how leaders are produced through discipleship and not mass production (184).
The book ends with a short chapter on the Christian example of leadership found in the character of Nehemiah. This is a fitting devotional to end the book with, with an example of someone to emulate from the Bible, and Sanders touches on various aspects of his leadership that ought to be modeled in the life of contemporary Christian leaders as well.
Among the thing that convicted me was the chapter on “The Leader and His Timeâ€, particularly this quote: “We have each been entrusted with sufficient time to do the whole will of God and to fill out His perfect plan for our lives†(114). The author Oswald Sanders gave examples of Godly men whose greatness also meant that they were disciplined with their time. This is an area I have been grown much in the last few years being in Seminary, yet I also realize that I can still improve in the area of time management. Of course, in order to accomplish this requires self-discipline. As I grow more in the Christian faith, I realize more and more of how God’s grace in a sanctified Christian is also seen in how the believer has discipline in his or her life.
What at first seem like an unlikely area of Christian leadership is also covered in its own chapter: The Leader and his reading. There is a sense where leaders in the natural realm must read, and Sanders makes the point of how much more should those who are leaders of the spiritual realm must be well-read. Christians who doubt this should read some of the benefits of reading that Sanders listed.
Sanders also discussed the importance for Christian leaders to be continiously improving their leadership in chapter fourteen. He lists some general areas, and one of the areas that caught my attention was on problem solving. I can work on resolving conflicts better, especially those that seem out of control to me, or something that I have not experienced before.
True Christian leadership is also not easy, and in chapter fifteen Sanders discusses about the cost of leading. A point that stuck out to me was how leadership can be a lonely experience (144-145). This was a good point to know prior to being a Pastor. The discussion about criticism and rejection was a great encouragement, since it ministered to my heart knowing that there is an aspect that this is part of the will of God.
So much of leadership focuses on the individual who is the leader, but this book managed to balance things out towards the end. For instance, chapter eighteen tackled the topic of leadership and delegation based primarily upon Exodus 18’s account of Moses delegating authority to others. Given that “it is a mistake to assume more duties than we can adequately and satisfactorily dischargedâ€, the leader’s role of delegation make sense (171). Chapter 19 of the book reminds leaders that their position will one day be replaced by the next group of leaders, which leaves a sobering note that no leader is truly “irreplaceableâ€. This should be a note of encouragement, knowing that God can raise the next generation’s leadership, but that also means Christian leaders should already be involved in reproducing the next leaders. Chapter Twenty discusses about that, of how leaders are produced through discipleship and not mass production (184).
The book ends with a short chapter on the Christian example of leadership found in the character of Nehemiah. This is a fitting devotional to end the book with, with an example of someone to emulate from the Bible, and Sanders touches on various aspects of his leadership that ought to be modeled in the life of contemporary Christian leaders as well.
January 5, 2021
When the Lord is teaching you about leadership, this book is worth picking up. I'll be recommending it for a long while and most certainly rereading it.
Three helpful quotes.
1. Leaders must know where they ae going, so that the sheep may follow. A leader "hears the voice of God and beckons on as God calls him and them."
2. Leadership requires constant humility. After all, it is God's flock. "Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more."
3. "Sometimes we are faced with the decision of being a popular leader or an unpopular prophet. "Always be a prophet of God before a mere leader of men.
I was really struck by the fact that leadership is clearly "God-ordained suffering servitude." A leader must be able to find their center of gravity, wherever they find themselves: alone or in community, in easy or difficult times, in simple or complex matters. They must be abe to suffer and serve so that God is glorified. Leadership must lead to discipleship, which leads to leadership of more disciples ("Multiply"). And ultimately, leadership requires constant humility. All good things from the Lord.
That's a lot of jumbled thoughts, but that because this book is packed with an incredible amount of insightful statements and points! Each of those sentences above has a lot more to unpack, but that's what the book is for. I definitely recommend.
Three helpful quotes.
1. Leaders must know where they ae going, so that the sheep may follow. A leader "hears the voice of God and beckons on as God calls him and them."
2. Leadership requires constant humility. After all, it is God's flock. "Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more."
3. "Sometimes we are faced with the decision of being a popular leader or an unpopular prophet. "Always be a prophet of God before a mere leader of men.
I was really struck by the fact that leadership is clearly "God-ordained suffering servitude." A leader must be able to find their center of gravity, wherever they find themselves: alone or in community, in easy or difficult times, in simple or complex matters. They must be abe to suffer and serve so that God is glorified. Leadership must lead to discipleship, which leads to leadership of more disciples ("Multiply"). And ultimately, leadership requires constant humility. All good things from the Lord.
That's a lot of jumbled thoughts, but that because this book is packed with an incredible amount of insightful statements and points! Each of those sentences above has a lot more to unpack, but that's what the book is for. I definitely recommend.
October 14, 2015
Spiritual leadership is an amazing book with tremendous insight on what a Spiritual Leader is. It also shows what temptations are present with leadership and how a Leader must uphold himself in the context of his Church, Life & Ministry. As you work thru the book you start with how being a Spiritual Leader is an honorable ambition and work thru qualifications and then lifestyle choices and imperatives that should be the ear mark of a Spiritual Leader. It's a great book that challenges the reader to closely examine oneself and to be honest and transparent in their pursuit of God. Don't let the title fool you, this is not a Self-Help or Text book, it has plenty of helps and is littered with scripture that will challenge your thinking and help steady you for the course of Spiritual Leadership. This book would be great for anyone who is seeking a place of leadership, has been acting in a leadership position, runs a company built on the principles of God or even desires to know more about the life a Spiritual Leader genuinely comes to. Great read, I would recommend this to all my friends.
October 1, 2016
I LOVE THIS BOOK~ This book is an excellent resource for leadership. Every serious Christian should read this. This was a library book. But I am going to buy it.
January 7, 2021
Best leadership book I’ve ever read and one I will read yearly from now on. Every Christian leader should read this!
November 25, 2021
This leadership classic was most helpful for me when read slowly and considered deeply. Chapters and sections are quite short and concise. It would be easy enough to skim this book, but if you do, it will come across trite as there aren’t many “new” insights here. There are a lot of quotes to be pondered - ones that you could post in your study or write in your journal as constant reminders.
I particularly valued the thoughts on the perils of leadership, prayer, and potential weak areas.
Some of the language is a bit old-fashioned, which might make it a laborious read depending on your vocabulary.
But a focus on honoring God first and developing character in a leader is refreshing. In an age of endless how-to-manage books, Sanders emphasis Godliness as paramount and presumes that the daily details will derive naturally.
I particularly valued the thoughts on the perils of leadership, prayer, and potential weak areas.
Some of the language is a bit old-fashioned, which might make it a laborious read depending on your vocabulary.
But a focus on honoring God first and developing character in a leader is refreshing. In an age of endless how-to-manage books, Sanders emphasis Godliness as paramount and presumes that the daily details will derive naturally.
October 1, 2024
Moin zusammen,
ich bin begeistert von diesem Buch. Oswald Sanders spricht in seinem Werk viele verschiedene Themen an, was ich zum einen gut finde, da es mir gezeigt hat, wie facettenreich die Aufgabe der geistlichen Leitung ist. Zum anderen finde ich es etwas schade, da mir in vielen dieser Themen die Tiefe fehlt. Es fällt mir schwer zu sagen, was für mich neu ist, da ich nicht mehr genau weiß, was ich aus dem Buch gelernt habe und was aus unseren Gesprächen stammt. Rückblickend muss ich jedoch sagen, dass mir der Aspekt, dass Leitung Dienen bedeutet, besonders bewusst geworden ist. Viele Aussagen aus dem Buch kann ich voll und ganz unterstützen, doch einige Ansichten, wie z. B. sein Zeitmanagement, teile ich nicht.
ich bin begeistert von diesem Buch. Oswald Sanders spricht in seinem Werk viele verschiedene Themen an, was ich zum einen gut finde, da es mir gezeigt hat, wie facettenreich die Aufgabe der geistlichen Leitung ist. Zum anderen finde ich es etwas schade, da mir in vielen dieser Themen die Tiefe fehlt. Es fällt mir schwer zu sagen, was für mich neu ist, da ich nicht mehr genau weiß, was ich aus dem Buch gelernt habe und was aus unseren Gesprächen stammt. Rückblickend muss ich jedoch sagen, dass mir der Aspekt, dass Leitung Dienen bedeutet, besonders bewusst geworden ist. Viele Aussagen aus dem Buch kann ich voll und ganz unterstützen, doch einige Ansichten, wie z. B. sein Zeitmanagement, teile ich nicht.
January 30, 2023
“Given the importance of leaders in the church- and in business and government too- we might expect that the Bible would use the term more often. In fact, the King James Bible uses Leader only six times. Much more frequently, the role is called servant. We do not read about “Moses, my leader,” but “Moses, my servant.” And this is exactly what Christ taught.”
April 27, 2024
Full of lots of simple and practical steps to take to improve as a spiritual leader
May 10, 2024
Some minor areas of perhaps imprecise theology, but good leadership principles overall. Good use of scripture narrative.
December 13, 2021
Introduction
Spiritual Leadership was borne out of a series of lectures that J. Oswald Sanders delivered to the leaders of Overseas Missionary Fellowship in 1964 and 1966 as the organization—which had been known as China Inland Mission for a century—attempted to discover its identity in the wake of newly-Communist China expelling all missionaries. Sanders served as general director of the organization as it made this transition, leading the organization into a new era of faithfulness and fruitfulness. Those lectures were an integral part of that transition and remain relevant and useful to this day. Sanders’ ministry transcended a number of cultures and nations and now also transcends the generations with timeless advice based on his experiences, observations, and study.
Originally published in 1967, Spiritual Leadership quickly proved to be popular and beneficial. Even as leadership studies as an academic discipline began to flourish and other popular-level works on leadership were published, Sanders’ work continued to be revised and reprinted as each generation discovered his words of wisdom. In 2017, Moody Publishers significantly revised the work, updating the language for clarity and relevance to the contemporary reader, ensuring that Sanders’ insights were not lost amid generational changes.
Structural Overview
Spiritual Leadership has been broadly constructed into a sequential order that moves from the reason for the book—a need for strong spiritual leadership—to a concluding exhortation to persevere in such spiritual leadership. As the book progresses, the tone moves from exhorting individuals to leadership (chaps. 1-2), to training young leaders in leadership (chaps. 3-13), to encouraging established leaders to improve in leadership (chaps. 14-17, 21), to outlining how leaders can create new leadership (chaps. 18-20), then concluding with a case study of Nehemiah as an archetype of spiritual leadership (chap. 22).
Because of the book’s genesis as a lecture series, there are points at which Spiritual Leadership feels repetitious or seems superficially incohesive. For example, one chapter refers to Paul as lonely (143) while another says he had “a genius for friendship” (82). While not inherently contradictive, Sanders offers two contrastive views of Paul that, if originally written in a single work, might have been better reconciled. That occasional lack of definitional clarity is probably the book’s singular structural weakness. In one chapter, “every Christian is a leader” (131) but in another there is a dearth of Christian leadership (18). A careful reading can gather that Sanders means that there is a lack of qualified, willing leaders—a fact made ironic in the light that all Christians are called to be leaders—but more could have been done in the editing process to ensure greater precision and clarity for the average reader.
The positive aspect to the structure is that one is able to see how common themes and emphases emerge from various chapters. Usually, a single book is written in a singular context. This book, as a compilation of disparate lectures, gives readers a view of Sanders’ philosophy at different times and in different contexts. For example, two chapters focus on leadership insights from Paul and Peter, while the chapters that follow cover essential leadership qualities. As Paul and Peter have informed Sanders’ philosophy of essential leadership skills, there is some repetition in these chapters, but this allows readers to see how Sanders gets to the same principles through different perspectives, giving them a panoramic focus on leadership rather than through a single lens.
Strengths of Spiritual Discipline
Spiritual Discipline is a classic work that has meant a lot to many Christian leaders throughout the past half-century. Its big-picture view has helped it maintain relevance and allowed leaders to apply its principles to their specific contexts. There is much to commend about this book, but it is these three principles that ring strongest—both as core principles of the book and as vital lessons to remember today.
The Need for Discipline. The primary theme of Spiritual Leadership is that leadership requires a disciplined life. Sanders holds this quality of leadership as foundational to all the others: “Before we can conquer the world, we must first conquer the self” (60). Throughout the book, he builds on this theme, noting that this discipline is Spirit-led (40) and extends to all areas of one’s life. Too often, “discipline” is given a negative connotation and made into a synonym of “punishment.” This takes away from what can be positively gained by a life that is controlled, restrained, and guided by the Spirit. Sanders grasps the positive influence of discipline and returns to that theme continually. Above all, Spiritual Discipline is about creating habits of self-discipline or submitting to the Lord’s discipline through Scripture and the Spirit.
The Divine Ordination of Leadership. Sanders boldly claims that not all placed into positions of leadership are true leaders. Leaders are not “elected, appointed, or created by synods or churchly assemblies. God alone creates them” (18). This fits with Sanders’ assertion that leadership should not be sought for selfish purposes, but only as part of fulfilling God’s calling. By situating leadership as a divine calling, Sanders makes it clear that while the leader may answer to a board above him or followers under him, his primary obligation is to the Lord. This makes leadership more than just a vocation, transforming natural leadership into spiritual leadership (chap. 4). Sanders also ensures that his readers understand that spiritual leadership is accessible to anyone. Leadership is influence, and we all have influence over others in our particular contexts (131). Even if our leadership is not recognized by a job title, those whom God has called to lead must lead. Christians can be spiritual leaders without being in traditional leadership roles.
The Community of Leadership. While Sanders does not commit to this ethic entirely, the overall tone of Spiritual Leadership appears to view leadership within the context of community. The Kingdom of God is seen as a “community where each member served the others” (21). In another chapter, he spends some time talking about the value of friendship (82-84). When leadership is viewed as something in which the community participates, authoritarian power structures give way to a community of friends gathered in mutual service for a common goal. This is the leadership model exemplified by Jesus through his disciples (Jn. 15:15). Sanders illustrates this model by making liberal use of quotations, anecdotes, and stories from other leaders. The tenets of Spiritual Leadership are not Sanders’ alone, but part of a common tradition of leadership values—values shared by great Christian preachers and missionaries, with specific focus on those connected to China Inland Mission. Sanders preaches and models leadership based in community, servanthood, and relational connection. While all of these facets are at the forefront of modern leadership studies, this was not the case in the 1960s. Sanders, by offering timeless truths mined from Scripture and the Spirit, was truly ahead of his time.
Weaknesses of Spiritual Discipline
Though there is much to be commended about Spiritual Leadership, there are elements to the book that are a product of their time or are not given enough nuance and clarification within the confines of such a small volume.
Leaders Must Be Tired. In his chapter on the cost of leadership, Sanders states bluntly that “Fatigue is the price of leadership” (143). This is a dangerous statement. While leaders should be willing to work hard, we should not make an idol out of hard work or tiredness. Fatigue is not proof of success or evidence of holiness. Tiredness can leave leaders physically vulnerable to illness and spiritually vulnerable to temptation. It can impede our decision-making abilities, causing us to be less productive. Most of all, chronic work-related fatigue is evidence that God’s command to sabbath is not being taken seriously. Rest is holy (Genesis 2:1-3), yet while Sanders mentions work repeatedly throughout the book, the concept of Sabbath is not once discussed. While God may lead us through seasons of busyness, chronic busyness is a failure of leadership whether as a failure to delegate responsibility or a failure through taking on too much responsibility. Scripture says to “redeem,” (Eph. 5:16) not regiment the time. Allowing space for rest and living in the shalom of God is part of that redemption.
Leaders Must Be Better Than Their Followers. A second area of concern is the language that Sanders uses to describe the divide between the leader and the follower. For Sanders, “A true leader influences others spiritually only because the Spirit works in and through him to a greater degree than those he leads” (30). They should “outpace the rest of the church” (98) in prayer and have “strength and faith beyond the merely average” (18). This language separates the leader from the communal group of followers, creating a competition of sorts as it encourages the leader to evaluate themselves on the basis of their followers rather than their faithfulness.
Leaders Must Achieve Their Objective. Sanders concludes the book with an overview of the ministry of Nehemiah and, in the final sentences of that chapter, suggests that “The test of spiritual leadership is the achievement of its objective” (203). This seems to suggest that success is the metric on which spiritual leadership is measured, which is problematic without clarification of what comprises success. In context, Sanders is talking about Nehemiah and the earthly, tangible, immediate success of rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. Leaders who gauge their spiritual faithfulness around tangible successes (e.g. size of congregation, financial status) may find themselves feeling like failures. Sometimes God raises leaders who are faithful, obedient, and unsuccessful in their intended goals. William Borden, a one-time member of China Inland Mission, died of spinal meningitis before he could go on the missionary field. Was he a spiritual failure? Not at all. He was obedient and obedience to God is success, whatever the results may be.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a careful reading of Spiritual Leadership makes it obvious why it has endured while so many others books on leadership have come and gone. Though Sanders writes to a specific context and audience, he works hard to make his lessons universally applicable and treats leadership as an elementary spiritual discipline rather than a complex academic exercise. Spiritual Leadership is the result of a lifetime of leadership submitted to God’s calling. Decades after his death, J. Oswald Sanders continues to lead and grow the next generation of leaders.
Spiritual Leadership was borne out of a series of lectures that J. Oswald Sanders delivered to the leaders of Overseas Missionary Fellowship in 1964 and 1966 as the organization—which had been known as China Inland Mission for a century—attempted to discover its identity in the wake of newly-Communist China expelling all missionaries. Sanders served as general director of the organization as it made this transition, leading the organization into a new era of faithfulness and fruitfulness. Those lectures were an integral part of that transition and remain relevant and useful to this day. Sanders’ ministry transcended a number of cultures and nations and now also transcends the generations with timeless advice based on his experiences, observations, and study.
Originally published in 1967, Spiritual Leadership quickly proved to be popular and beneficial. Even as leadership studies as an academic discipline began to flourish and other popular-level works on leadership were published, Sanders’ work continued to be revised and reprinted as each generation discovered his words of wisdom. In 2017, Moody Publishers significantly revised the work, updating the language for clarity and relevance to the contemporary reader, ensuring that Sanders’ insights were not lost amid generational changes.
Structural Overview
Spiritual Leadership has been broadly constructed into a sequential order that moves from the reason for the book—a need for strong spiritual leadership—to a concluding exhortation to persevere in such spiritual leadership. As the book progresses, the tone moves from exhorting individuals to leadership (chaps. 1-2), to training young leaders in leadership (chaps. 3-13), to encouraging established leaders to improve in leadership (chaps. 14-17, 21), to outlining how leaders can create new leadership (chaps. 18-20), then concluding with a case study of Nehemiah as an archetype of spiritual leadership (chap. 22).
Because of the book’s genesis as a lecture series, there are points at which Spiritual Leadership feels repetitious or seems superficially incohesive. For example, one chapter refers to Paul as lonely (143) while another says he had “a genius for friendship” (82). While not inherently contradictive, Sanders offers two contrastive views of Paul that, if originally written in a single work, might have been better reconciled. That occasional lack of definitional clarity is probably the book’s singular structural weakness. In one chapter, “every Christian is a leader” (131) but in another there is a dearth of Christian leadership (18). A careful reading can gather that Sanders means that there is a lack of qualified, willing leaders—a fact made ironic in the light that all Christians are called to be leaders—but more could have been done in the editing process to ensure greater precision and clarity for the average reader.
The positive aspect to the structure is that one is able to see how common themes and emphases emerge from various chapters. Usually, a single book is written in a singular context. This book, as a compilation of disparate lectures, gives readers a view of Sanders’ philosophy at different times and in different contexts. For example, two chapters focus on leadership insights from Paul and Peter, while the chapters that follow cover essential leadership qualities. As Paul and Peter have informed Sanders’ philosophy of essential leadership skills, there is some repetition in these chapters, but this allows readers to see how Sanders gets to the same principles through different perspectives, giving them a panoramic focus on leadership rather than through a single lens.
Strengths of Spiritual Discipline
Spiritual Discipline is a classic work that has meant a lot to many Christian leaders throughout the past half-century. Its big-picture view has helped it maintain relevance and allowed leaders to apply its principles to their specific contexts. There is much to commend about this book, but it is these three principles that ring strongest—both as core principles of the book and as vital lessons to remember today.
The Need for Discipline. The primary theme of Spiritual Leadership is that leadership requires a disciplined life. Sanders holds this quality of leadership as foundational to all the others: “Before we can conquer the world, we must first conquer the self” (60). Throughout the book, he builds on this theme, noting that this discipline is Spirit-led (40) and extends to all areas of one’s life. Too often, “discipline” is given a negative connotation and made into a synonym of “punishment.” This takes away from what can be positively gained by a life that is controlled, restrained, and guided by the Spirit. Sanders grasps the positive influence of discipline and returns to that theme continually. Above all, Spiritual Discipline is about creating habits of self-discipline or submitting to the Lord’s discipline through Scripture and the Spirit.
The Divine Ordination of Leadership. Sanders boldly claims that not all placed into positions of leadership are true leaders. Leaders are not “elected, appointed, or created by synods or churchly assemblies. God alone creates them” (18). This fits with Sanders’ assertion that leadership should not be sought for selfish purposes, but only as part of fulfilling God’s calling. By situating leadership as a divine calling, Sanders makes it clear that while the leader may answer to a board above him or followers under him, his primary obligation is to the Lord. This makes leadership more than just a vocation, transforming natural leadership into spiritual leadership (chap. 4). Sanders also ensures that his readers understand that spiritual leadership is accessible to anyone. Leadership is influence, and we all have influence over others in our particular contexts (131). Even if our leadership is not recognized by a job title, those whom God has called to lead must lead. Christians can be spiritual leaders without being in traditional leadership roles.
The Community of Leadership. While Sanders does not commit to this ethic entirely, the overall tone of Spiritual Leadership appears to view leadership within the context of community. The Kingdom of God is seen as a “community where each member served the others” (21). In another chapter, he spends some time talking about the value of friendship (82-84). When leadership is viewed as something in which the community participates, authoritarian power structures give way to a community of friends gathered in mutual service for a common goal. This is the leadership model exemplified by Jesus through his disciples (Jn. 15:15). Sanders illustrates this model by making liberal use of quotations, anecdotes, and stories from other leaders. The tenets of Spiritual Leadership are not Sanders’ alone, but part of a common tradition of leadership values—values shared by great Christian preachers and missionaries, with specific focus on those connected to China Inland Mission. Sanders preaches and models leadership based in community, servanthood, and relational connection. While all of these facets are at the forefront of modern leadership studies, this was not the case in the 1960s. Sanders, by offering timeless truths mined from Scripture and the Spirit, was truly ahead of his time.
Weaknesses of Spiritual Discipline
Though there is much to be commended about Spiritual Leadership, there are elements to the book that are a product of their time or are not given enough nuance and clarification within the confines of such a small volume.
Leaders Must Be Tired. In his chapter on the cost of leadership, Sanders states bluntly that “Fatigue is the price of leadership” (143). This is a dangerous statement. While leaders should be willing to work hard, we should not make an idol out of hard work or tiredness. Fatigue is not proof of success or evidence of holiness. Tiredness can leave leaders physically vulnerable to illness and spiritually vulnerable to temptation. It can impede our decision-making abilities, causing us to be less productive. Most of all, chronic work-related fatigue is evidence that God’s command to sabbath is not being taken seriously. Rest is holy (Genesis 2:1-3), yet while Sanders mentions work repeatedly throughout the book, the concept of Sabbath is not once discussed. While God may lead us through seasons of busyness, chronic busyness is a failure of leadership whether as a failure to delegate responsibility or a failure through taking on too much responsibility. Scripture says to “redeem,” (Eph. 5:16) not regiment the time. Allowing space for rest and living in the shalom of God is part of that redemption.
Leaders Must Be Better Than Their Followers. A second area of concern is the language that Sanders uses to describe the divide between the leader and the follower. For Sanders, “A true leader influences others spiritually only because the Spirit works in and through him to a greater degree than those he leads” (30). They should “outpace the rest of the church” (98) in prayer and have “strength and faith beyond the merely average” (18). This language separates the leader from the communal group of followers, creating a competition of sorts as it encourages the leader to evaluate themselves on the basis of their followers rather than their faithfulness.
Leaders Must Achieve Their Objective. Sanders concludes the book with an overview of the ministry of Nehemiah and, in the final sentences of that chapter, suggests that “The test of spiritual leadership is the achievement of its objective” (203). This seems to suggest that success is the metric on which spiritual leadership is measured, which is problematic without clarification of what comprises success. In context, Sanders is talking about Nehemiah and the earthly, tangible, immediate success of rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. Leaders who gauge their spiritual faithfulness around tangible successes (e.g. size of congregation, financial status) may find themselves feeling like failures. Sometimes God raises leaders who are faithful, obedient, and unsuccessful in their intended goals. William Borden, a one-time member of China Inland Mission, died of spinal meningitis before he could go on the missionary field. Was he a spiritual failure? Not at all. He was obedient and obedience to God is success, whatever the results may be.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a careful reading of Spiritual Leadership makes it obvious why it has endured while so many others books on leadership have come and gone. Though Sanders writes to a specific context and audience, he works hard to make his lessons universally applicable and treats leadership as an elementary spiritual discipline rather than a complex academic exercise. Spiritual Leadership is the result of a lifetime of leadership submitted to God’s calling. Decades after his death, J. Oswald Sanders continues to lead and grow the next generation of leaders.
July 29, 2019
Very good and comprehensive collection of valuable lessons and reminders. Some will be familiar to all who care about leading well, but other lessons are unique to the counter-cultural vision of leadership Jesus displayed and passed on to the church. However, this is not a book. Rather it is a collection of many unconnected 3-10 page meditations. Probably best read in very small doses, since there is little connection from one chapter to another.
October 23, 2018
This is the second time I've read the book and am not sorry it's an "updated version," but I had no trouble reading it in its original form. For anyone involved in service to their community and to others in the Church, the book is simply one of the best for learning to be the leader God meant for us to be.
Sanders quotes many leaders from the past. Some names will be recognizable, but not every spiritual leader became a household word. Nor should they have. The idea of being an effective leader is to carry out God's agenda on Earth. Jesus Christ is always the model for how it's done.
As I read this, I realized there are parallels to the secular world. God's ideas are simple ones and God isn't so picky as to whether his ways are practiced by a Christian or someone who hasn't come to know him.
Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders is one the best I've read on the subject. I was convicted a few times about areas of my life that need cleaned up to be an effective and efficient leader. I was especially happy to read the asides about leaders preparing others to replace them. For years I've been saying, "No one is indispensable." If anything, Sanders reminds us to always look to God for answers to every little and big aspect of leadership. And, whether we want to admit it or not, we are all leaders. Parents lead their children. The librarian behind the desk leads. The proprietor of a Mom-and-Pop is a leader. I think you get the idea.
I don't read non-fiction as much as I used to, but this one was chosen by our pastor for a leadership workshop this past summer. When I found out this was the book he chose, I let him know I'd certainly be a part of the group. I had the privilege of discussing each chapter along with the pastor's notes with others who were as eager as I was to learn how we can improve our service to everyone around us. It was worth every minute I spent there.
Sanders quotes many leaders from the past. Some names will be recognizable, but not every spiritual leader became a household word. Nor should they have. The idea of being an effective leader is to carry out God's agenda on Earth. Jesus Christ is always the model for how it's done.
As I read this, I realized there are parallels to the secular world. God's ideas are simple ones and God isn't so picky as to whether his ways are practiced by a Christian or someone who hasn't come to know him.
Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders is one the best I've read on the subject. I was convicted a few times about areas of my life that need cleaned up to be an effective and efficient leader. I was especially happy to read the asides about leaders preparing others to replace them. For years I've been saying, "No one is indispensable." If anything, Sanders reminds us to always look to God for answers to every little and big aspect of leadership. And, whether we want to admit it or not, we are all leaders. Parents lead their children. The librarian behind the desk leads. The proprietor of a Mom-and-Pop is a leader. I think you get the idea.
I don't read non-fiction as much as I used to, but this one was chosen by our pastor for a leadership workshop this past summer. When I found out this was the book he chose, I let him know I'd certainly be a part of the group. I had the privilege of discussing each chapter along with the pastor's notes with others who were as eager as I was to learn how we can improve our service to everyone around us. It was worth every minute I spent there.
December 17, 2019
This book is a MUST read for anyone who has a position of responsibility within the Christian church or within a Christian organisation!
The book is filled with practical wisdom, sound advice and quotable quotes! For me, perhaps, the best one (among so many) is ...
"'Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many' (Mark 10:44-45). Each of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 was called to sacrifice as part of his or her service. Those who lead the church are marked by a willingness to give up personal preferences, to surrender legitimate and natural desires for the sake of God. Bruce Barton quotes a sign at a service station: 'We will crawl under your car oftener and get ourselves dirtier than any of our competition.' That is the kind of service the Christian seeks to give.
"Samuel Zwemer remarked that the only thing Jesus took pains to show after His resurrection were His scars. On the Emmaus road His disciples recognised neither Him nor His message. Not until Jesus broke the bread and they possibly saw the scars did they know the person for who He was. When Jesus stood among His demoralized band in the upper room after the resurrection, He showed them 'both his hands and [His] side.'
"Scars are the authenticating marks of faithful discipleship and true spiritual leadership ... Nothing moves people more than the print of the nails and the mark of the spear. Thos marks are tests of sincerity that none can challenge ..." (Pages 116-117).
I recommend this book to all. But note this fact ... the Bible nowhere use the word 'leadership'! Its preferred word is 'servant' or 'slave'!
The book is filled with practical wisdom, sound advice and quotable quotes! For me, perhaps, the best one (among so many) is ...
"'Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many' (Mark 10:44-45). Each of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 was called to sacrifice as part of his or her service. Those who lead the church are marked by a willingness to give up personal preferences, to surrender legitimate and natural desires for the sake of God. Bruce Barton quotes a sign at a service station: 'We will crawl under your car oftener and get ourselves dirtier than any of our competition.' That is the kind of service the Christian seeks to give.
"Samuel Zwemer remarked that the only thing Jesus took pains to show after His resurrection were His scars. On the Emmaus road His disciples recognised neither Him nor His message. Not until Jesus broke the bread and they possibly saw the scars did they know the person for who He was. When Jesus stood among His demoralized band in the upper room after the resurrection, He showed them 'both his hands and [His] side.'
"Scars are the authenticating marks of faithful discipleship and true spiritual leadership ... Nothing moves people more than the print of the nails and the mark of the spear. Thos marks are tests of sincerity that none can challenge ..." (Pages 116-117).
I recommend this book to all. But note this fact ... the Bible nowhere use the word 'leadership'! Its preferred word is 'servant' or 'slave'!
April 7, 2013
I am really enjoying going through this book with my Pastor as a type of discpileship training, but the one thing that I really do not like is that Moody Publishers take the liberty to add, subtract, and even completely change the content. I would much prefer to read what Oswald Sanders originally wrote. They preface the changes with the hope of making the book more understandable via modernazation, but in some cases they just completely change what was said. I love the book, but would love to have access to the original, unedited version. The newer the version of this book you have, the more alterations you will find.
June 3, 2021
This was a men's bible study that we've been working through for the year, and I'm missing the last two meetings in June so finished reading tonight.
This was a really good spiritual study in leadership. Exploring great leaders in the bible, in church history, etc. and exploring good traits, common pitfalls, critical training. Did a great job explaining its not about one deciding to be a leader, but answering the call. Being a servant leader, and "feeding the lambs".
I enjoyed this book a lot.
This was a really good spiritual study in leadership. Exploring great leaders in the bible, in church history, etc. and exploring good traits, common pitfalls, critical training. Did a great job explaining its not about one deciding to be a leader, but answering the call. Being a servant leader, and "feeding the lambs".
I enjoyed this book a lot.
November 23, 2020
One of my favorite books of the year I’ve read! As I’m training to be a missionary this book was a capsulized version of every missionary leadership quality I’ve been taught elsewhere, so wise and helpful. Biggest part that I love is how practical and spiritual it is, the emphasis on missions is wonderful and finally pushing being a servant and not just a manager when you lead.
April 12, 2018
One of my favorite short paragraphs of this book:
“Leadership training cannot be done on a mass scale. It requires patient, careful instruction and prayerful, personal guidance over considerable time. “Disciples are not manufactured wholesale. They are produced one by one, because someone has taken the pains to discipline, to instruct and enlighten, to nurture and train one that is younger.””
“Leadership training cannot be done on a mass scale. It requires patient, careful instruction and prayerful, personal guidance over considerable time. “Disciples are not manufactured wholesale. They are produced one by one, because someone has taken the pains to discipline, to instruct and enlighten, to nurture and train one that is younger.””
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2024
To be fair, just so you know from what phase of life i am approaching this book - im young student of theological seminary in central europe, aiming to serve in my church as leader and to become psychotherapist.
This book, as it says on its cover, is written as a "proven classic" for leadership development. Sanders "represents key principles for leadership in the secular and spiritual realms."
From my personal reading of the book, it seems to me that this is not the case. It seemed to me more like Sanders' ideal vision of spiritual leaders. The book lists the characteristics and criteria for a spiritual leader to be a true "spiritual leader". My main problem with the book is that it doesn't offer many useful ideas on how to practically become such a leader. Unfortunately, quite often it is not even described what the author means by some qualities (e.g. Humility, chapter 8). Additionally, the author did not share what spiritual leaders do as spiritual leaders.
Even so, I take something away from her study:
First of all, I take away the importance of the perception of attitudes and motivations for service. Is it a desire to be known and recognized in the church? Or is it a desire to serve others out of love for them? I realized that I really want to serve others in the church and outside the church. I want to do it because I care about others and I care about God. The more I get to know God personally, the more I perceive his love for people, which gradually absorbs me more and more. I perceive that the Holy Spirit gifted me to work with people and lead. People who work with me in the service have also shared with me that they perceive my gifting. I must say that my attitude towards service has definitely changed. But I believe that I am where God wants me to be and where I want to be.
I further take away that God's service comes from the position of a servant who is surrendered to God's guidance, God's will and God's services. However, this attitude cannot be chosen by oneself. I think that only with personal knowledge of Christ comes such an understanding.
I have mixed feelings about the natural and spiritual guidance part. This idea appealed to her the most: "We can only lead others to where we ourselves have reached. Just showing the way is not enough. If we do not go ourselves, no one can follow us, and so we lead no one” (p. 22). It seems to me, the longer I serve, that one can really serve without God, without understanding his heart, and without understanding the Bible as a big story, and without consistent theology. It is possible to talk about things that I do not understand and have not personally experienced. I experienced such an inner conviction with this idea that some of the programs I had I did not live personally.
At the same time, the author's dichotomy of spiritual and natural guidance is still strange to me. Like I understand the idea; I also see that there is a difference when there is a leader who has a personal relationship with Christ and when he does not. I see the difference between leading "from the Spirit" and from the "flesh" (like the sarx, the negative carnality). It's just that the relationship with Christ and following him turns everything, including leadership, upside down. At the same time, it seems to me that the author may be pre-spiritualizing this idea. In my former church, I saw people who exhibited most of the signs of spiritual leaders and they were actually dangerous people, religious people and untrustworthy people. They hurt my family for many years and in the end they asked my parents to apply for cancellation of membership and to stop going to this church. So this whole thing is a bit off for me. It seems to me that this "spiritual guidance" can be done even in spasms, if one does not live it, one imitates it on one's own strength. It seems to me that a believer who is a good spiritual leader is simply more human than somehow "pious". He can think healthily, love from a sincere heart and accompany devotedly and inspires (Spirit). In contrast - it seems to me that the author divides it almost dualistically. But it doesn't feel right to me. They are "natural", some might say "unspiritual" qualities that are absolutely essential in service and leadership regardless of environment.
Finally, the question I take away from reading the book is: is spiritual leadership a question of style/methods of leadership or is it a question of character and lifestyle? In other words, can a leader who matches the characteristics of a spiritual leader, as envisioned by Sanders, run a chip company, a coffee roaster, a community center in Prague, or a hair salon - and still be a true spiritual leader? Is it a question of the qualities and lifestyle that a person has regardless of the environment, or is it a question of the methods and principles that a person chooses in a specific environment?
From my understanding of the author's concept, I perceive that for him the question of spiritual guidance is rather a question of environment and exclusive methods. In the book, I did not notice that he was talking about spiritual leadership in a secular environment. I personally believe that spiritual leadership is a matter of character and lifestyle.
In my view, this book is not useful for people who are trying to become a better leader and who are trying to better understand the difficulties and challenges of spiritual leadership. I understand the effort to outline the qualities and traits of a leader, but the chosen way of sketching seems non-specific, inapplicable and therefore useless. But I think that another culture is also to blame for how I received the book - the book was published 30 years ago...
Rating 1/5
This book, as it says on its cover, is written as a "proven classic" for leadership development. Sanders "represents key principles for leadership in the secular and spiritual realms."
From my personal reading of the book, it seems to me that this is not the case. It seemed to me more like Sanders' ideal vision of spiritual leaders. The book lists the characteristics and criteria for a spiritual leader to be a true "spiritual leader". My main problem with the book is that it doesn't offer many useful ideas on how to practically become such a leader. Unfortunately, quite often it is not even described what the author means by some qualities (e.g. Humility, chapter 8). Additionally, the author did not share what spiritual leaders do as spiritual leaders.
Even so, I take something away from her study:
First of all, I take away the importance of the perception of attitudes and motivations for service. Is it a desire to be known and recognized in the church? Or is it a desire to serve others out of love for them? I realized that I really want to serve others in the church and outside the church. I want to do it because I care about others and I care about God. The more I get to know God personally, the more I perceive his love for people, which gradually absorbs me more and more. I perceive that the Holy Spirit gifted me to work with people and lead. People who work with me in the service have also shared with me that they perceive my gifting. I must say that my attitude towards service has definitely changed. But I believe that I am where God wants me to be and where I want to be.
I further take away that God's service comes from the position of a servant who is surrendered to God's guidance, God's will and God's services. However, this attitude cannot be chosen by oneself. I think that only with personal knowledge of Christ comes such an understanding.
I have mixed feelings about the natural and spiritual guidance part. This idea appealed to her the most: "We can only lead others to where we ourselves have reached. Just showing the way is not enough. If we do not go ourselves, no one can follow us, and so we lead no one” (p. 22). It seems to me, the longer I serve, that one can really serve without God, without understanding his heart, and without understanding the Bible as a big story, and without consistent theology. It is possible to talk about things that I do not understand and have not personally experienced. I experienced such an inner conviction with this idea that some of the programs I had I did not live personally.
At the same time, the author's dichotomy of spiritual and natural guidance is still strange to me. Like I understand the idea; I also see that there is a difference when there is a leader who has a personal relationship with Christ and when he does not. I see the difference between leading "from the Spirit" and from the "flesh" (like the sarx, the negative carnality). It's just that the relationship with Christ and following him turns everything, including leadership, upside down. At the same time, it seems to me that the author may be pre-spiritualizing this idea. In my former church, I saw people who exhibited most of the signs of spiritual leaders and they were actually dangerous people, religious people and untrustworthy people. They hurt my family for many years and in the end they asked my parents to apply for cancellation of membership and to stop going to this church. So this whole thing is a bit off for me. It seems to me that this "spiritual guidance" can be done even in spasms, if one does not live it, one imitates it on one's own strength. It seems to me that a believer who is a good spiritual leader is simply more human than somehow "pious". He can think healthily, love from a sincere heart and accompany devotedly and inspires (Spirit). In contrast - it seems to me that the author divides it almost dualistically. But it doesn't feel right to me. They are "natural", some might say "unspiritual" qualities that are absolutely essential in service and leadership regardless of environment.
Finally, the question I take away from reading the book is: is spiritual leadership a question of style/methods of leadership or is it a question of character and lifestyle? In other words, can a leader who matches the characteristics of a spiritual leader, as envisioned by Sanders, run a chip company, a coffee roaster, a community center in Prague, or a hair salon - and still be a true spiritual leader? Is it a question of the qualities and lifestyle that a person has regardless of the environment, or is it a question of the methods and principles that a person chooses in a specific environment?
From my understanding of the author's concept, I perceive that for him the question of spiritual guidance is rather a question of environment and exclusive methods. In the book, I did not notice that he was talking about spiritual leadership in a secular environment. I personally believe that spiritual leadership is a matter of character and lifestyle.
In my view, this book is not useful for people who are trying to become a better leader and who are trying to better understand the difficulties and challenges of spiritual leadership. I understand the effort to outline the qualities and traits of a leader, but the chosen way of sketching seems non-specific, inapplicable and therefore useless. But I think that another culture is also to blame for how I received the book - the book was published 30 years ago...
Rating 1/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2013
This was one of the most helpful and insightful reads on leadership I've found to date!
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