Table of ContentsDay 1: Leadership ChallengesDay 2: Leaders Celebrate MilestonesDay 3: Leaders Build a Circle of TrustDay 4: Leaders ServeDay 5: Qualifications for LeadershipDay 6: Lessons in Leadership

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Day 1: Leadership Challenges

Moses learned what countless leaders throughout history have discovered: life is hard at the top.

Lacking water, the people complained bitterly to their leader as if he had caused the situation or had the power to fix it.

This incident reminds us that our correctly exercising authority does not guarantee that others will treat us favorably. A good leader often must make a trade-off between being steadfast and being popular. When we are in charge, we should not be shocked when people complain despite our attempts to do right or simply to do our best.

Think About It: What other leadership principles definitely don’t work? What are some redemptive ways you have found to manage complaints?

Exodus 17:2

Day 2: Leaders Celebrate Milestones

Effective leaders appreciate the value of celebrating momentous things that God has done. When a task is completed, results achieved, or people served, they make time to rejoice.

When the people finished the wall, Nehemiah launched a celebration (Neh. 8:1, 10). Ezra led off by reading from the Law—the motivation behind Nehemiah’s mission.

The words kindled both godly sorrow (9:1–3) and genuine joy (8:10–12). Then with heartfelt praise, choice food, and even an “Amen” chorus (8:6), the community applauded the work they had accomplished with God’s help (6:16).

Nehemiah also sent portions of the food “to those for whom nothing is prepared” (8:10). He brought the party to the poor, sharing the wealth, because no one should be deprived of joy.

As leaders we must create ways to celebrate milestones. Rejoicing opens the door to worship the Lord, the source of all good gifts. Let us praise Him for giving us a task and the means to accomplish it.

Think About it: What milestones can you celebrate in your life? Who deserves the most praise for these events?

Nehemiah 8:1

Day 3: Leaders Build a Circle of Trust

Distinguishing truth from falsehood challenges people in positions of authority forseveral reasons:

• Subordinates often pursue personal agendas. Some might filter the truth to further their own goals.

• Subordinates often hesitate to tell their superiors bad news.• Subordinates may be reluctant to voice ideas or opinions that they think that their boss is likely to disagree with.• People often see the same thing in different ways.

Given these realities, perhaps a leader’s greatest challenge is to create an atmosphere that respects and rewards openness and honesty. The first step toward achieving this type of environment is to encourage subordinates by describing truth-telling as a high priority and an appreciated code of behavior. Think About It: How can you encourage an atmosphere of respect and openness in your daily life?

Proverbs 29:12

Day 4: Leaders Serve

When Jesus’ disciples quarreled over who among them was greatest, He called their attention to His new style of assessing importance. He told them that attaining greatness required becoming a slave. Leading would mean taking the role of a servant. Jesus’ own example shows us what servant-leadership looks like:

• We are called by God to serve and lead.• We intimately know the people we serve and lead.• We care deeply about those we serve and lead.• We willingly sacrifice our own convenience to meet the needs of

people we serve and lead. Think About it: How can you better apply the concept of servant leadership in your life?

Matthew 20:25-28

Day 5: Qualifications for Leadership

When Paul outlines the qualifications for leadership within the church, every checkpoint has to do with character.

God seems far more concerned with personal integrity than with education, eloquence, or personal charisma. Without question, the standards are high. But that does not imply that church leaders necessarily have better character than any other Christian. God calls all of us to these same measures of Christlikeness.

The point is not to create a class of spiritual elites but to urge the church to select leaders from among people who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (1 Tim. 1:3–13; Gal. 5:22, 23).

Think About It: What Christlike attributes do you exemplify? In what areas can you improve?

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Day 6: Lessons in LeadershipBusiness literature is cluttered with how-to books profiling famous people who achieved success through power, ambition, and manipulation. The Roman empire was similarly dominated by dynasties guilty of tyranny, greed, and violence. Jesus modeled a style of leadership that was entirely unique in both His time and ours. His methods are free of distortion and abuse. He is a true leader, a priest who . . .

• Focused on people and their connection with God (Heb. 5:1).• Showed compassion to the weak and ignorant (5:2).• Faced sin head-on (5:3).• Refused to promote Himself but let God call Him into His role (5:4).

Jesus was the perfect priest (Heb. 5:5–10)—a portrait that the writer admits may be difficult to grasp (5:11–14). But those who seek to grow into Christlike maturity need to consider it carefully. Jesus provides for all who seek His help. All we need to do is ask (4:14–16).

Think About It: In what ways can your leadership benefit from Scripture rather than worldly means?

Hebrews 5:1-14