A Flourishing Culture: Servant Leadership
Issue #414, January 14, 2026 Flourishing things are attractive. We love to look at a well-manicured flower garden where all the plants are healthy and strong. The same is true for organizations that flourish—they are attractive. Flourishing plants require healthy soil; flourishing organizations require a healthy culture. In this series we’ll examine 6 elements of […]
Leading with Gratitude
Issue #412, November 26, 2025 Many leaders live in tomorrow—and miss the blessings of today. While looking ahead and solving problems is a needed component of leadership, it can lead to a lack of appreciation for what is. Serving leaders learn to lead with gratitude. Consider Paul’s leadership: 33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all […]
#366 Secure Leaders Encourage
January 31, 2024 In the previous issue we looked at how Jesus was a secure leader because He knew His authority, identity and destiny. His security allowed him to serve His disciples. Now, we’ll look at several ways that secure leaders serve those they lead—first by encouraging. The story of Barnabas gives us a beautiful […]
#352 Timothy: Clarifying the Call
June 28, 2023 Timothy had a gifting and calling to the leadership roles in which he served, especially in his leadership of the church at Ephesus. But there were many years of growth and development that preceded this assignment and during that time Timothy was clarifying his calling. Consider these instructions Paul gave to Timothy: […]
#348 Paul’s Leadership Pipeline: Encourage Them
April 19, 2023 We have reflected on several deliberate actions that Paul took to develop his leadership pipeline strategically moving people from one level to the next in their capacity. One action that Paul continually practiced was encouraging those he wanted to develop. Consider these examples from his communication with Timothy: For this reason […]
#335 Barnabas: Serving with Character
October 12, 2022 We have observed several of the actions that made Barnabas an effective serving leader. As we conclude this review of his life, we’ll look below the surface to observe where these actions were rooted. In one of the first mentions of his life we learn that he was a ‘good man.’ 22 News […]
#328 Barnabas Serving with Encouragement
July 6, 2022 If I asked you to name the top 10 leaders in the New Testament church, I doubt that Barnabas would be on the list. Yet, he served the church in amazing ways. He was the catalyst for Paul’s acceptance into the church. Barnabas helped establish the church where followers of Jesus were […]
Don’t Stop!
Issue #22, January 4, 2010 At the beginning of the year I want to shift my focus and write you a personal note of encouragement. Leadership is a demanding and challenging task. Giving to others, serving them, laying down our lives, developing our own gifts and abilities, keeping our relationship with God fresh and growing, […]
An Encouraging Word
Issue #15, September 24, 2009 The need for affirmation and encouragement is so vital to our existence that physician George Adams called encouragement “oxygen to the soul.” The leaders of a Jewish synagogue were so eager for encouragement that they told Barnabas and Paul, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, […]