Intimate Leaders are Friends of Jesus
Issue #408, October 1, 2025 Do you consider yourself a follower of Jesus or a friend of Jesus? The difference is profoundly significant. The words Jesus gave His disciples invite us to an intimate friendship: 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does […]
Intimate Leaders Love Like Jesus
Issue #407, September 17, 2025 Most leaders say that their people are valuable. But serving leaders actually love like Jesus. An intimate relationship with Jesus becomes the foundation of the way they treat their teams, make decisions and build culture. Jesus talked about this dynamic love relationship: 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have […]
Intimate Leaders Bring Glory to Jesus
Issue #406, September 3, 2025 Leaders naturally gravitate towards the front of the room. They often enjoy being in the spotlight, recognized and acknowledged as important people. They bring glory to themselves and use their positions to build their own name. But when a leader walks in deep intimacy with Jesus, everything in their life […]
Intimate Leaders are Fruitful for Jesus
Issue #405, August 20, 2025 Leaders love results! They measure progress, celebrate wins and dream of seeing their vision become reality. But serving leaders learn that fruit comes, not from their striving, but because of their intimate relationship with Jesus. Consider His words to the disciples: 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. […]
Intimate Leaders are Transformed by Jesus
Issue #404, August 6, 2025 We naturally view leaders as independent and able to guide and direct on their own. But serving leaders are dependent on an intimate relationship with Jesus that transforms them. In John 15, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the relationship He wants to have with them—one of a deep, life-giving […]
David and Absalom: Intimacy
David is a servant leader that we admire in many ways. He is known as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). And David led well. “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them” (Psalms 78:72).But David’s son Absalom provides a very different picture of leadership. Absalom was […]
Gideon: Sabotaging Potential
We have followed the story of Gideon from the time he was hiding in fear until he led the people to a great victory. It is exciting to watch as Gideon sees his potential, begins to shape it as he grows as a leader and finally how he shares this with others on his team. […]
Gideon: Shaping Potential
In the last issue, we examined how the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and called him a “mighty warrior.” Gideon was just beginning to see his potential to be a leader. But that potential was not yet shaped. Servant leaders can learn how to shape their potential by observing the next steps in […]
Leading to Please
Issue #43, November 3, 2010 All leaders aim to please. They will please their followers, their shareholders, their bosses, themselves, or someone else. The question is not whether we will please but who we will please. Jesus set the example for servant leaders when he said about His Father, “I always do what pleases him.” […]
Branch Leadership
Issue #32, May 26, 2010 Servant leaders recognize and practice ‘branch leadership.’ Jesus described this type of leadership in His last leadership training session when He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can […]