#304 Serving leaders ask those who follow: “Who are you becoming?”
July 7, 2021 Serving leaders ask themselves hard questions about who they are becoming. As they gain clarity and direction about their focus, they also serve those they lead by encouraging them to walk the same journey of discovery. They desire that Paul’s instructions are helpful not only for their own lives but also for […]
#303 Serving leaders ask themselves: “Who am I Becoming?”
June 23, 2021 Serving leaders use questions to probe their own leadership journey and to encourage those who follow to do the same. The posture of asking questions helps keep serving leaders aware that they don’t have all the answers and that they are also on their own leadership journey. They ask “Who am I?” to establish their identity […]
#290 Jesus: Raise the Bar
December 9, 2020 In the last issue we looked at the first action of the The Serving Leader ModelTM*,Run to Great Purpose, which determines our vision or why we lead. In addition, effective leaders raise the bar for those who follow by identifying the values that guide their work. They call everyone to behave in […]
The Sound of Silent Leadership…in Life
January 8, 2020 What does leadership sound like? We usually think of leaders as strong, forceful personalities, loudly proclaiming their God-given vision and their amazing plan to change the world. They speak loudly and influence by declaration and proclamation. They grow in influence by taking courses in public speaking. Speaking well is certainly an important […]
Joseph: The Unfolding of the Dream
Issue #220, November 15, 2017 Joseph is leading at last! He’s a national leader overseeing the process of collecting and storing grain during the seven years of abundance. In the evening he goes home to a wife and two sons! All seemed well. Joseph had settled for the “dream job” without accomplishing the dream. But […]
Joseph: A Substitute Dream
Issue #219, November 1, 2017 After 13 years of bitter disappointments everything changes for Joseph when he is called by the king to interpret another dream. In the morning he is a prisoner but by evening he’s the prime minister of the most powerful nation on earth! Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has […]
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 […]
David: Following an Insecure Leader
Issue #137, September 3, 2014 David seemed ready to lead! He had a shepherd’s heart, a sense of identity, a clear life purpose, the anointing of God, and a true friend. But God had at least two more difficult leadership lessons that he needed to learn before he was ready for the throne. First, he […]
Nehemiah: Visions are Specific
Issue #80, April 25, 2012 Nehemiah’s vision was large but it was not general. Notice the first words he speaks to anyone else about his call. The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and […]
Advance through Retreat
Issue #34, June 23, 2010 Leaders are by nature action oriented and assume that doing more equals achieving more. But servant leaders learn the power of retreating from Jesus, the master leader. Mark records a profound incident during a busy season of Jesus’ ministry. “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they […]