What Is Spiritual Leadership?

Spiritual leadership is the act of serving others, leading by example and guiding others thanks to the blessings of the Holy Spirit. What is a spiritual leader’s main mission? It’s to be a true servant to others and, in doing so, to be a servant of Christ.¹

At Grand Canyon University, a private Christian university, we actively cultivate the spiritual leaders of tomorrow by creating a faith-based community in which our students can thrive. With the Servant Scholars program, administered by GCU’s Spiritual Life office, our campus is nurturing and guiding strong spiritual leaders who can make a positive impact on other students, as well as those in the greater Phoenix community.

“It is a program with the intention of developing young people who are achieving in academics who have a love for the Lord and a love for other people and giving them opportunities to lead on campus,” said Ryan Maguire, who oversees the Servant Scholars program at GCU. Our Servant Scholars work with approved outside ministries to serve the community, participate in regular training sessions, meet with their peers and pray regularly to invite God to lead their lives.

If you are willing to lead a life that emulates a Christ-like character, then you may be interested in learning how to be a spiritual leader. First, take a closer look at common questions such as, What is spiritual leadership and which qualities are essential for it? and Who are the major spiritual leaders within the faith?

A spiritual leader can include pastors, worship leaders, youth ministers and other members of a church leadership team. These are the individuals to whom members of the church community turn in search of spiritual guidance and biblical wisdom. These faith leaders may counsel members of the church community, helping them overcome times of difficulty and leading them to strengthen their faith and grow closer to God.

Spiritual leaders can also include other faith leaders, such as missionaries who seek to spread the Word of God beyond their home communities. Additionally, a faith leader can be a leader in a faith-based nonprofit organization who infuses biblical teachings into the work of the organization.

The Bible talks about the spiritual gift of leadership in multiple places. Romans 12:8 indicates that a ruler or leader is someone who cares for their church flock. 1 Corinthians 12:28 discusses how God places apostles, prophets and teachers in the church, bringing their gifts of healing, helping, guiding and interpreting.

In both of these passages, leaders of church communities are characterized as caretakers and servants. In Matthew 20:26-28, the idea of a leader as a servant is reinforced. It states: “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

It’s important to note, however, that not all spiritual leaders hold positions of authority within church communities and faith-based organizations. It’s possible for any Christian to become a spiritual leader.

A spiritual leader who does not hold an official leadership position within a faith-based organization acts as a steward of the faith, influencing and inspiring others to serve God and to grow in spiritual maturity. Faithful leaders may not only guide others in Christ but can also fulfill important service-based needs within the community, such as feeding the hungry or welcoming refugees.

Spiritual Leaders Within Christianity

There are plenty of spiritual leaders in the Christian faith, most notably Jesus himself. Jesus modeled servant behavior many times in the Bible (Matthew 23:11, Mark 10:45, Luke 22:27). A famous example was in John 13:1-17 when He washed the feet of His disciples. Everyone who strives to be a spiritual leader today should follow the example Jesus set for us within the passages of scripture.

In turn, the apostles, such as Peter and Paul, became spiritual leaders who played a significant role in establishing the church and spreading the Word of God. Another strong leader from the Bible is Priscilla (Romans 16:3-5), a devoted teacher who, alongside her husband Aquila, helped guide early Christians and offered wise counsel to her people.

There are plenty of more recent examples of spiritual leaders of Christianity, as well. Harriet Tubman, for example, was a Methodist whose “faith was central to her courage and compassion for others,” according to Trochia Ministries. Born into slavery in 1822, Tubman not only escaped but continued to risk her own life and freedom again and again by returning to the South to guide slaves to freedom.²

For wisdom and strength, Tubman prayed regularly and sang gospel songs.² She served as a true spiritual leader, risking herself to rescue others.

Another powerful example is Martin Luther, a German theologian and monk who became a central figure in the Protestant Reformation. In the 16th century, Luther challenged the practices of the church, emphasizing that salvation comes by grace through faith alone. His teachings helped countless people understand that God's love is freely given, not earned through works or rituals.³

Through sermons, writings, and translations of Scripture into the common language, Luther empowered believers to engage personally with God's Word and experience His love directly.³

It’s not necessary to major in a certain area to serve as a faithful spiritual leader. The most important steps toward becoming a leader in Christ are to cultivate a Christ-like character, exhibit compassion for others, love and serve others and be a role model (Titus 1:7-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7).

GCU President Brian Mueller, while giving a Chapel talk in GCU Arena, used the story of the Good Samaritan to explain faithful leadership. He pointed out that the two men who passed by the man who needed help were official church leaders, yet the Good Samaritan, who wasn’t, was the only one who stopped to help someone in need.

According to Mueller, this points out that, “We’ve misjudged Jesus’ expectations. There is no difference to Jesus between the sacred and the secular. To Jesus, everything is sacred. All our work is sacred.” In other words, an engineering major could just as readily serve as a leader in Christ as a theology or Christian ministry major could.

There are many important qualities that a spiritual leader should exhibit. These include:⁴

• Spiritual maturity
• Empathy and compassion
• Personal integrity
• Servant leadership
• Communication skills
• Vision
• Humility

In addition, a spiritual leader must be able and willing to serve as a mentor to others.⁴

Each Christian is called to serve others. Thus, all should strive to be spiritual leaders. If aspiring to a church leadership position, a theology or ministry degree may be in your future. For example, if you want to become a pastor, you would typically be expected to earn a bachelor’s degree in theology or Christian ministry, followed by a graduate degree.⁵ You might decide to earn a master’s degree or doctorate at a theological college, such as Grand Canyon Theological Seminary.

If you feel called to serve God and His people by acting as a spiritual leader, you might consider the degree options available at Grand Canyon University. These include the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies with an Emphasis in Worship Leadership, the Master of Arts in Christian Leadership and the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Christian Ministry (Qualitative Research).

Join our Christian learning community and enjoy plenty of opportunities to serve others on campus and in the greater Phoenix community. Fill out the form on this page to speak with a university counselor.