David Bahn – Reflections

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Leadership 101

Numbers 27:15-23

Moses said to the Lord, 16 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.

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Moses has been told that he will not lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. He had disqualified himself by failing to honor the LORD as holy before the people. He realized that someone would need to lead them into the new land the LORD was giving them. The people, without a leader, would wonder aimlessly and be susceptible to predators, enemies, and their own group foolishness. People need leaders.

Two other significant insights occur to me as I consider this episode in the life of Israel’s wilderness wanderings. First of all, those who lead best are those who have been tested and shown themselves to be full of faith. Joshua was one such full-of-faith man. He had brought the good report regarding the land, and asserted that they could surely go in and take the land because the LORD had given it to them. Joshua saw things from God’s perspective as a default orientation.

Secondly, leaders need good and godly advice. There would be times when decisions need to be made that require greater insight than human wisdom can provide. Sometimes decisions will need to be made that defy logic. Godly advice will be given through Eleazar the priest. The LORD makes that clear, with the clear implication that Joshua would not only need that advice, but would willingly seek it.

Many years ago I attended a workshop on pastoral leadership led by Lyle Schaller. He put it this way:

  • Leaders lead.
  • Leaders frame the question.
  • Leaders speak first.

While I’m certain he said much more, and offered invaluable insights on leadership in the church, those three things stuck with me, from a human standpoint on effective leadership.

Here we learn – from this leadership baton-passing event in THE STORY of God’s people – three spiritually foundational truths:

  • People need a leader
  • The best leaders are faith-filled leaders
  • The best faith-filled leaders need godly advice, and will certainly seek it out.

While each of these are worthy of further illumination, they form what I would consider the foundation for leadership: Leadership 101.

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