Cross-shaped leaders differ from worldly leaders in that they do not manipulate others.  This involves both means and ends. Cruciform leaders have ultimate aims to bless others, to give them life, to see to it that God’s goodness, love, and grace are always arriving into others’ lives. Worldly leaders, on the other hand, have selfish ends […]

Cruciform leadership is marked by a determination to live authentically and relate honestly.  Jesus-shaped, cruciform leaders don’t hide their weaknesses, inadequacies, and failures.  They aren’t self-promoting, they don’t seek power, and they don’t trumpet their strengths. Their ultimate goal is the blessing of others, the arrival of God’s transforming grace and overpowering love into their […]

I’ve been contrasting Jesus-shaped, cruciform leadership with worldly leadership.  Key texts that shape my reflections are Phil. 2:5-11 and Mark 10:37-45. Worldly leaders are captivated by a craving for more and more influence.  Cruciform leaders, on the other hand, are content with current responsibilities given by God and seek to grow in faithfulness. I had […]

Cruciform leaders do not view people as the means to achieve other goals.  The people to whom we minister are the goal.  The whole point of Jesus-shaped leadership is to take the initiative to see that God’s grace and love arrive into the lives of others. Christian leaders are servants of others on behalf of God, so […]

Cross-shaped leadership constantly adjusts to God’s agenda.  This is significantly different from worldly forms of leadership, which are oriented by the leader’s agenda. Worldly leadership is leader-determined.  It’s all about “my dream,” or “my vision for this church.”  Churches with charismatic leaders are often compelling communities for a time, but they seldom manifest cruciformity. I remember […]

I came across this bit of speculation as to what Paul would’ve looked like by Martin Luther. It’s just priceless. “I think that Paul was a pathetic, ugly, and scruffy little man — like Philipp,” referring, of course, to his friend, to that point, anyway, Philipp Melanchthon. Brilliant! I’ve written before on what Paul might have […]

The Bible has much to say about leadership generally, but two specific texts contrast God’s aims for leaders of his people with corrupted forms of leadership—Mark 10:42-45 and Deut. 17:14-20. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and […]

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about leadership recently and I thought I would revise some previous meditations on the topic from a cruciform perspective. The cross of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith, and it shapes  and determines everything about being Christian. Cruciformity — or, being “cross-shaped” — means having our lives and church […]

I’ve been reading and re-reading Mark 3:13-19 in which Jesus appoints the Twelve “that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” I recall wandering through an airport bookstore and flipping through a book titled something like “Leadership Lessons from Jesus.” One […]

From Joel Marcus’s commentary on Mark 3:14-15 — “He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” But the Twelve are not only summoned to perform acts of proclamation and exorcism; those acts flow out of a prior […]