A collection of Bible verses about leadership. These scriptures will aid you in your study as you grow in Biblical leadership.
A lot of people have a desire to go into ministry thinking it’s all about serving. And in most cases, serving is vital to what a minister does, but a minister is also a leader.
Good leadership should go hand in with being a minister. And it doesn’t mean you have to be a pastor or a head leader. Even being a small group leader or Sunday school teacher involves leading and influencing others.
I have plenty of articles on Biblical Leadership and Team Development, but this time I wanted to focus on scriptures on leadership.
Now to be clear the Bible teaches a lot through stories. You can read incredible stories that will show you good leadership qualities and bad ones.
For example, we see Kind David have amazing success in his ability to lead but we also see him have some massive failures. The way you would be able to glean Biblical leadership advice through that story is by reading it as a whole and studying it.
Picking a verse here and there isn’t going to work. So, please in your quest to understanding what the Bible says about leaders read the Bible as a whole and study.
Yes, these bible verses on leadership will be helpful and great resource but there is so much more in scripture!
Alright, let’s dive in!
Bible Verses on Leadership
The scriptures below are all taken from the New King James Versions. If you hover over the verses you can see the Amplified version. Keep scrolling below if you are looking for a reference list of the Bible verses about leadership.
Hebrews 13:7 NKJV – 7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of [their] conduct.
Romans 12:8 NKJV – 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Galatians 6:9 NKJV – 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
John 13:13-17 NKJV – 13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for [so] I am. 14 “If I then, [your] Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 “Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
James 1:12 NKJV – 12 Blessed [is] the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Matthew 20:26 NKJV – 26 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
Mark 10:42-45 NKJV – 42 But Jesus called them to [Himself] and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 7:12 NKJV – 12 “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
1 Timothy 5:17 NKJV – 17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
Philippians 2:3 NKJV – 3 [Let] nothing [be done] through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV – 16 All Scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Proverbs 22:29 NKJV – 29 Do you see a man [who] excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown [men].
Matthew 15:14 NKJV – 14 “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
1 Timothy 3:2 NKJV – 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
1 Timothy 4:8 NKJV – 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
Philippians 2:15 NKJV – 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
1 Timothy 3:13 NKJV – 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 13:17 NKJV – 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV – 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV – 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Proverbs 27:23-24 NKJV – 23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, [And] attend to your herds; 24 For riches [are] not forever, Nor does a crown [endure] to all generations.
Titus 1:7-14 NKJV – 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans [are] always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
Quick Reference List of Scriptures on Leadership
To make studying easier here is a reference list of the verses. This way you can easily jot them down if you like.
List of Leadership Bible Verses
- Hebrews 13:7
- Romans 12:8
- Galatians 6:9
- John 13:13-17
- James 1:12
- Matthew 20:26
- Mark 10:42-45
- Matthew 7:12
- 1 Timothy 5:17
- Philippians 2:3
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Proverbs 22:29
- Matthew 15:14
- 1 Timothy 3:2
- 1 Timothy 4:8
- Philippians 2:15
- 1 Timothy 3:13
- Hebrews 13:17
- 1 Timothy 4:12
- 1 Timothy 2:15
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- Proverbs 27:23-24
- Titus 1:7-14
I hope these verses have encouraged you in your venture of becoming a leader. If you would like to read more on the topic of Biblical leadership then check out some of these posts!
Feel free to drop me a comment below! I would love to know how God is training you up to be a leader!
Melissa is a passionate minister, speaker and an ongoing learner of the Bible. She has been involved in church and vocational ministry for over 18 years. And is the founder of Think About Such Things. She has the heart to equip the saints by helping them get into the Word of God and fall more in love with Jesus. She also enjoys family, cooking, and reading.
She has spoken in churches in California, Oregon, Texas, and Mexico and has been featured in Guidepost Magazine and All Recipes Magazine. Read More…