#337 Serving with Authority: Accept It
November 9, 2022 Serving leaders respect the authority of those over them but they also accept the authority invested in them. They recognize and accept that every legitimate leadership role brings with it the authority to carry out the expectations of that role. Paul spoke clearly about his authority as an apostle. So even if […]
# 326 A Flourishing World: Accountability is Natural
June 8, 2022 God’s flourishing world included clear standards as we have already observed. God told Adam that there was one tree from which he was not to eat. Sadly, it wasn’t long before that command was broken. 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to […]
#323 A Flourishing World: Standards are Defined
April 27, 2022 God’s creation was awesome, a beautiful place filled with life and beauty. People were valued, diversity was affirmed, and work was purposeful. Animals, plants and humans flourished as they interacted freely. In this environment, God added some clear instructions. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from […]
A Sense of Timing: Time to Grow
Issue #187, August 10, 2016 It’s always time to grow! Your personal growth has a major impact on your leadership. The writer of Hebrews shares a strong warning about the issue of timing and growth. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In […]
Position and Privilege
Issue #173, January 27, 2016 What challenges did you face when you were 16 years old? Most 16-year olds are more concerned about finishing High School or learning to drive a car than leadership. But in Israel, 16-year old Uzziah became king soon after his father, the previous king, was killed. Two words summarize his […]
Inspecting the foundation
Issue #157, June 10, 2015 The strength of a building lies in the hidden foundation, and periodically an engineer is called to inspect the foundation for any hidden weaknesses. Since leadership is an inside job, servant leaders are not concerned only with external appearances; they are equally alert to the hidden parts of their lives. […]
David: Needing a Nathan
Issue #147, January 21, 2015 David’s repentance recorded in Psalm 51 is a beautiful picture of a leader who is truly remorseful for his sin. But his repentance happened when, “The LORD sent Nathan to David” (2 Samuel 12:1). David was a king, a mighty warrior, and a successful leader in so many ways, but […]
David: Failing Forward
Issue #146, January 7, 2015 After Adam and Eve’s first sin, David’s affair with Bathsheba is perhaps the most widely known failure of all time. It is ironic that after all the great lessons we have learned from David’s life, we read in 2 Samuel 11-12 the sad story of lust, adultery, and murder. Yet […]
David: Building a Team of Giant Killers
Issue #143, November 26, 2014 When Goliath challenged Saul’s army there were no soldiers in the kingdom able to kill a giant until David led the way to victory. Later, as king, he developed a whole team of giant killers! 2 Samuel 8:15-18 lists some of David’s key team leaders. Later, over 30 of David’s […]
Passing the Baton: How to Do It
Issue #114, September 18, 2013 Relay races are often won or lost in the process of passing on the baton. If the baton is dropped or fumbled at this point valuable time is lost. Servant leaders aim for a smooth transition as expressed in our key verse for this series: “Your sons will take the […]