Wright Track Ministries

6675 Moondance Drive

Olive Branch, MS 38654

(662) 890-6398

Sunday School Leadership

Advice from Noel Wright

When the term "Sunday School Leadership" or  "Christian Leadership" is mentioned,  people automatically think this applies to the pastor, associational and denominational leaders. While this is true, the scope and definition of a "Christian Leader" does not stop there. Anyone one who serves God in any capacity is a leader! Am I saying that everyone is a boss and that no one is a follower? No, that is not what is meant by leadership. Too many people in today's world think of leadership as either being the BOSS or the #1 person in an organization. The fact of the matter is that all too often in our churches many Christians never consider the subject of or give time to seeing what the Word of God says about leadership. The servant-leader style of leadership Jesus portrayed is a foreign concept even in some churches. The study of leadership principles is not a secular subject relegated to be studied at a secular university.

It is important for us to realize that everyone from the Minister of Education and Sunday School Superintendent down to the assistant teacher in the Nursery is a leader in the Sunday School. The levels of responsibility and the actual work and ministry that is done is different, but the fact remains that as a worker in Sunday School, you fill a leadership role. The subject of leadership then becomes an important component in the training of all teachers and workers.  

All workers in the Sunday School need to take an account of the ministry God has given to them and to ask God to help them to become the leader they can be through prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. There are many different theories and approaches on how to develop an individual's leadership abilities. One of the first steps in becoming a leader is to learn what it means to be a follower. This brings us to the first, foremost and mandatory step, repentance! A leader must be a born again Christian and know that he or she is saved through the blood Jesus Christ! Any discussion of Christian Leadership cannot even begin until this is established in a worker's life!

The lessons, resources, and other materials in this section will deal with leadership as a broad subject. We hope this material give some guidelines in different areas to get you started along your journey of being a Godly leader. It is our prayer that this material will provide encouragement and inspiration to seek God in becoming the leader He would have you to be.

Books and Resources for Sunday School and Christian Leaders

• The Day of Teaching and the Week of Ministry by Noel M. Wright III, Wright Track Ministries. A superb overview of what the duties and responsibilities of a teacher truly are. This book will help the teacher catch the vision of what a true biblical teacher is.

• The Making of a Christian Leader by Ted Engstrom, Zondervan Publishers. This book is a classic in the area of Christian Leadership. This book was first published in 1978 and has been in print ever since. It has been widely used in conservative Bible Schools and Seminaries alike for many years. This book would be especially valuable to the Minister of Education, Sunday School Superintendent and the Departmental Leader. 

• Jesus on Leadership by C. Gene Wilkes, Lifeway Press. This book is a study in leadership as Jesus taught it and a look at the concepts of leadership and service in the New Testament. A great tool for personal inventory, introspection and learning. 

• Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders, Moody Press. This work treats spiritual leadership as dependent upon the leader's spiritual character and reliance on spiritual principles. We must never loose sight of the fact that in Christian leadership there is a spiritual dimension that the world does not comprehend. The writer exhorts men and women in ministry into a deeper dependency on Christ, and a greater sense of obligation to the Word of God. This work focuses heavily on the "Spiritual" aspect of leadership not just the managerial side of it.

• Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, Broadman Holman. I included this book here even though it does not deal specifically with leadership, however it does deal with a facet of leadership that is absolutely crucial and that and that is" finding and following the will of God." If person is not in God's will then how can he or she be Christian Leader?  This book has been on the recommended list of many conservative evangelical denominations and not just Southern Baptists!

•  Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be by  Leroy Eims,  Victor Books.

•  Transforming Leadership: Jesus’ Way of Creating Vision, Shaping Values & Empowering Change, by  Leighton Ford Inter-Varsity Press. 

• 30 Days to Confident Leadership, by Bob Biehl, Broadman and Holman.

Links to Internet Resources

Leadership University

Tips and Ideas for Sunday School and Christian Leaders

JER for NMW3  10-15-2000