RARE leadership is BIBLICAL Leadership
In RARE Leadership,[i] Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder provide a framework for leaders to build emotional resilience and thriving teams. By integrating principles from neuroscience and theology to offer strategies that enhance leadership effectiveness, RARE Leadership emphasises that emotionally mature leaders cultivate trust and engagement, creating environments where individuals and organisations flourish. Warner and Wilder structure their framework around four habits summarised in the acronym RARE:
R: Remain Relational
A: Act Like Yourself
R: Return to Joy
E: Endure Hardship Well[ii]
Each habit reflects a commitment to emotional maturity, which the authors argue is foundational for effective leadership. Their insight challenges the traditional focus on technical competence or charisma, determining that leadership rooted in emotional and relational strength is far more sustainable and impactful. Before looking at the Biblical application of the acronym and its principles, the connection between Neuroscience, Theology, and particularly Joy is worthy of exploration.
One of the book’s unique strengths is its integration of neuroscience.[iii] Warner and Wilder draw on “joy capacity,” which refers to an individual’s ability to remain relational and return to joy, even during challenges. The authors link this capacity to brain science, explaining how emotionally mature leaders can calm themselves and others, fostering environments of trust and safety.
This neuroscience foundation is paired with biblical principles, particularly the idea that humans are designed to connect with God and others. Leaders are encouraged to model Christlike character, acting humbly, authentically, and gracefully. The synergy of these perspectives creates a robust, scientifically grounded, and spiritually resonant framework.
In a practical sense, Warner and Wilder offer tools for cultivating RARE habits. While the book’s repeated encouragement for readers to access a deeper understanding and development of RARE leadership through the Life Model Works[iv] program is somewhat tedious, their claims that leaders regularly assess their relational circuits, mental pathways that determine whether they remain relational or reactive under stress, holds merit. Practices like pausing to reflect, praying for guidance, and seeking community accountability are essential for sustaining relational engagement.
Moreover, the book’s emphasis on the importance of identity-based leadership, which is leaders who “act like themselves” and align their behaviour with their core values and identity in Christ, is a wholly welcome addition to the leadership narrative. Building on the truths surrounding identity in books such as Yasha Mounk’s Identity Trap[v]and Leading Out of Who You Are [vi]by Simon Walker enables the truly discerning leader to foster authenticity and thereby reduce the emotional dissonance that often leads to burnout. This authenticity enhances trust, as teams tend to follow leaders who exhibit consistency and integrity.
The habit of “returning to joy” is not entirely new. There is a lot of insight into the refreshing aspect of joy in leadership. Wilder himself and Michel Hendricks write further on this topic in their book, The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation.[vii]This book integrates brain science with Christian leadership, focusing on the role of joy as a critical element in spiritual and relational growth. It explores how joy fuels effective leadership and fosters a healthy community.
Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box[viii] by The Arbinger Institute explores overcoming self-deception and building authentic, joy-filled relationships. By shifting from a self-centred to an others-focused perspective, leaders can cultivate a culture of trust and joy in their teams. Other resources include Emotional Intelligence 2.0[ix] and Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts,[x] and The Joy Switch: How Your Brain’s Secret Circuit Affects Your Relationships and How You Can Activate It.[xi] Joy is particularly relevant in today’s volatile leadership contexts.
Biblically and theologically speaking, RARE leadership is found throughout the Old and New Testament teaching. Without commentary (for the sake of word count), the following bible passages are just a small portion of the Bible that leans into RARE leadership.
Remain Relational
- “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Act Like Yourself
- “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
Return to Joy
- “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
- “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him” (Romans 15:13).
Endure Hardship Well
- “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-4).
- “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).
The RARE habits reflect core biblical values. Leaders who embody these principles cultivate emotional health and relational strength and mirror Christ’s example of servant leadership. Christian leaders CAN create environments of trust, joy, and resilience, enabling their communities to thrive in faith and purpose. RARE Leadership’s habits are not just strategies for leadership success; they are pathways to becoming more like Christ in our relationships and responsibilities.
[i] Warner, Marcus, and Jim Wilder. 2016. Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits For Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead. Moody Publishers.
[ii] Ibid, 14-16.
[iii] Ibid, Chapter 1, 19-38 & Chapter 3, 61-75
[iv] Ibid, 221.
[v] Mounk, Yascha. 2023. The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time. New York: Penguin Press.
[vi] Walker, Simon P. 2007. Leading Out of Who You Are: Discovering the Secret of Undefended Leadership: No. 1. Piquant Editions.
[vii] Wilder, Jim, and Michel Hendricks. 2020. The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation. Illustrated edition. Moody Publishers.
[viii] Institute, The Arbinger. 2018. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box. Expanded edition. Oakland, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
[ix] Bradberry, Travis, Jean Greaves, and Patrick M. Lencioni. 2009. Emotional Intelligence 2.0. First Edition. San Diego, CA: TalentSmart.
[x] Brown, Brené. 2018. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. First Edition. New York: Random House.
[xi] Coursey, Chris M. 2021. The Joy Switch: How Your Brain’s Secret Circuit Affects Your Relationships–And How You Can Activate It. Northfield Publishing.
About the Author
Glyn Barrett
I am the founding & lead Pastor of !Audacious Church in Manchester, England. I was born in Manchester, but moved to Australia at the age of two. My wife and I were married in Australia and began married and ministry life in England 29 years ago. After serving as youth pastors for 12 years, we moved to Manchester to pioneer !Audacious Church. As a church we now have 7 locations. 3 in Manchester, Chester, Cardiff (Wales), Sheffield, and Geneva (Switzerland). In 2019 I became the National Leader of Assemblies of God in Great Britain. We have over 650 churches in our movement and have planted 98 new churches since May 2022 with a goal of planting 400 new churches between May 2022 and May 2028. I am the Global Chair for Church planting for Assemblies of God which currently has 420,000 churches and also chair Empowered21 Europe. I'm happily married to Sophia, with two children, one dog and two motorbikes. I love Golf, coffee and spending time with friends. I love to laugh, make friends and create memories!5 responses to “RARE leadership is BIBLICAL Leadership”
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Great blog, my friend. I appreciate the biblical references and examples.
You referred to a number of other books. What would be your top recommendation and why?
Thank you! If I had to pick one book as my top recommendation, it would be “The Other Half of Church” by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks. Here’s why: This book goes beyond leadership principles; it looks into how the brain and spiritual transformation intersect. It’s incredibly practical in showing how joy, relational circuits, and emotional maturity shape not only leadership but also church culture. The book helps leaders understand why some communities thrive while others struggle with spiritual stagnation. It connects brain science with discipleship, offering a framework that’s deeply biblical and neurologically sound. For leaders looking to build emotionally healthy, joy-filled, and resilient teams, this book provides insightful, research-backed, and faith-driven solutions. It’s a game-changer for those serious about integrating emotional intelligence with spiritual leadership.
Hi Glyn, I really appreciated your concluding thoughts—especially the emphasis on CAN in majuscule. Yes, I completely agree. Christian leaders CAN cultivate environments of trust, joy, and resilience, empowering their communities to thrive in faith and purpose.
I’m curious about your thoughts on the authors’ distinction between management and leadership. Do you think church leadership today is mistaking management for true leadership? This isn’t meant to be a trick question—it’s something I’ve been wrestling with in my own context overseas. In my short four years in North Africa, I’ve witnessed a high turnover of overseas workers who struggled to return to joy. It makes me wonder—are we sending too many managers to the field and not enough emotionally mature leaders?
Hey Glyn! I appreciate how you make the strong ties to biblical leadership! This book is a great resource for bringing balance and understanding to anyone who aspires to leadership. Of the four Rare Principles, which do you see as the number one-and why?
Glyn, you and I have read many of the same books. 🙂
As you reflect on these leadership skills, can you share a personal experience where you had to apply the principles of emotional resilience and relational strength in your leadership role? How did it impact your team?