Leadership Temptation: Using Calling for Provision
Leaders face temptations like everyone else, but they also face unique temptations because of their leadership gifts, calling and roles. Jesus faced these temptations at the beginning of His leadership journey, and shows all servant leaders how to identify these tests and how to resist them. In the first of three temptations, Matthew records the […]
Gideon: Seeing Potential
The Book of Judges tells the story of a difficult time in Israel’s history. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 17:6). In this context God raised up a series of leaders to deliver the people from their enemies. When the Midianites oppressed Israel, God called Gideon. […]
Will I Be Willing? A Question of Intent
Issue #211, July 12, 2017 God answered all of Moses’ questions and objections. Still, Moses is not willing to lead! But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. […]
Will I Be Able? A Question of Impact
Issue #210, June 28, 2017 Even after God answers the first three questions, Moses is not willing to go. Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him, […]
Who Are You? A Question of Intimacy
Issue #208, May 31, 2017 The first question Moses asked God was a question of his own identity. He needed to know who he was as a leader. We saw in the last issue that God answered Moses’ question, “Who am I?” with “I am with you” (Exodus 3:12). For servant leaders, the key to […]
Who Am I? A Question of Identity
Issue #207, May 17, 2017 Moses had a life-changing encounter with God who appeared to him in the burning bush. God called Moses to become a leader and to bring the people out of slavery. “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). […]
A Sense of Timing: Getting Personal
Issue #186, July 27, 2016 Jesus had an amazing sense of timing as John records in the following incident. Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me […]
John the Baptist: Suffering with Purpose
Issue #183, June 15, 2016 We all love stories of victory and triumph, when truth wins and justice triumphs. But life and leadership do not always end this way, and John’s leadership certainly did not. His life ended with pain and suffering when Herod threw him into prison after John rebuked the king for his […]
John the Baptist: Clarifying His Identity
Issue #175, February 24, 2016 The first recorded words of John the Baptist focus on his identity. The Jews sent people to ask John who he was. They thought perhaps he was the Messiah for whom they were waiting with expectation. But John quickly said he was not the Christ, Elijah or the prophet. They […]
Watch Over Yourself
Issue #168, November 11, 2015 Paul gave instructions to the church leaders in Ephesus, which are good advice for servant leaders in any position of responsibility, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). This simple instruction calls us to “keep watch” over ourselves […]