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Leaders give of themselves liberally – at least, they did in the New Testament. The whole church enjoyed unity and generosity, and it all started at the top. The example of the apostles spread a spirit of generosity throughout the whole church. Unfortunately, a couple of pretenders, Ananias and Sapphira, sold some land and gave part of the proceeds to the apostles, reporting that they had given…

Acts 2 marks a pivotal point in the New Testament. One hundred and twenty men and women become charter members of the church when it is born in an upper room somewhere in Jerusalem. Yet by the end of the chapter, it explodes into a body of more than three thousand members. After the Holy Spirit falls on the believers (Acts 2:1-4), those visiting Jerusalem begin to wonder how these disciples of…

The Gospels demonstrate that Jesus embodied each of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It’s good to see them all together to process how you can apply them in your life. Great organization by John Maxwell. The Law of the Lid: Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness. John 1:35-37 – John the Baptizer knew Jesus could lead his disciples further than he could. John…

John 8 depicts one long showdown between two conflicting worldviews. It begins with the woman caught committing adultery (vv. 1-11), then moves to an argument between Jesus and the Pharisees about their fleshly judgment (vv. 12-30). Next, the Lord explains what it means to truly be born of Abraham (vv. 31-47). Finally, He debates the synagogue leaders about His identity (vv. 48-59). The flawed…

Luke records a stark contrast between the commitment of two leaders, Jesus Christ and Simon Peter. While Jesus remained resolutely committed to His cause and His people in the face of betrayal and rejection, Simon Peter ran away. Although the big fisherman claimed he would never deny his Master, he did so three times before the night ended. While Peter emphatically denied Christ around a little…

President Harry Truman was right when he said, “The buck stops here.” Leaders cannot pass the buck. We cannot lead without taking responsibility. It comes with the territory. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Israel, gives us a sad example of a leader who failed to take responsibility. When Jesus appeared before him for judgment, he could find nothing wrong with Him. Yet instead of judging…

The Tremendous insecurity of King Herod became apparent when strangers announced Jesus’ birth. Upon hearing the news, Herod grew angry, impatient, self-consumed, and disturbed – all signs of an insecure leader. Insecure leaders share several common traits: They don’t provide security for others. They take more than they give. They continually limit their best people. They continually limit or…

One earmark of a true leader is the display of initiative. By definition, leaders cannot wait for someone else to move; if they do, they are really followers, not leaders. Initiative requires an element of risk, faith, and foresight. When did you last initiate something significant? If you haven’t pushed yourself lately and left your comfort zone, you may need a jump-start on initiative. Why Do…

King Rehoboam’s dysfunctional leadership split the nation of Israel in two. His hunger for power, unreasonable demands, poor decision-making, and lack of compassion for those who worked under him all conspired to doom his leadership. But probably the root of his problem can be found in 2 Chronicles 10:15: “So the king did not listen to the people…” Listening is one of the 21 Indispensable…

NOT ONLY did the crowds see the fire of God in Elijah, they soon saw it in his ministry – literally. Elijah grew tired of his people’s spiritual rebellion and angry with the false prophets of Baal. He confronted both forces atop Mt. Carmel and there defeated the devil’s henchmen, although they outnumbered him 850 to 1 (1 Kings 18:19). No one had seen anything like his courage since the day David…