Leaders do more than merely point people in the right direction; they create conditions that will empower them to do the job. Read 2 Kings 2:7-15.

Elisha boldly asked Elijah for a double portion of the older prophet’s spirit. In doing so, he would assume the position of Elijah’s firstborn son. God granted his request when Elisha was allowed to pick up the cloak that dropped down from his mentor Elijah as he was being carried up to heaven by the hand of God. Read more »

Great humility keeps a leader from abusing great power. Read 2 Kings 1:1-17.

Ahaziah became king of Israel after his father Ahab died. He suffered a serious injury from a fall and was so concerned that he may not live that he sent messengers to inquire of the false god Baal-Zebub concerning his recovery. This act of inquiring of a false god angered the Lord who sent Elijah to intercept the messengers and send a message to Ahaziah that he in fact would not live. Ahaziah wanted to hear this directly from Elijah so he sent some soldiers to physically escort him to his bedside. Read more »

A fact that we all know but never really want to speak out loud is that sometimes selfish, angry, bullies become leaders in positions of authority. Read 1 Kings 19:1-2 and 1 Kings 21.

King Ahab of Israel married Jezebel, daughter of the King of Tyre. To put it mildly, Jezebel was not the kind of woman one would feel comfortable taking home to meet mother. This wicked queen was a power-hungry, abusive, scary woman. To get the complete picture of this leader read 1 Kings 16-21 and 2 Kings 9 but the assigned passages will give a quick overview. Read more »

Every human being has leadership responsibility. Sometimes the sphere of influence is as small as our personal life or our family but the same principles apply for successful leadership at every level. Read 2 Samuel 16:1-18; 18.

It is hard to find a more tragic case study in the Bible of leadership-gone-bad than the story of David’s son Absalom. For all of David’s strengths as a leader, he failed as a leader in his own home. We see no indication from what is written in the Bible, that as a father, David helped Absalom acquire a heart for God. Read more »

A leader’s integrity is judged not only by what they say and do but also by what their subordinates say and do. Read 2 Samuel 3:26-30 and 4:5-12.

David’s words and actions revealed his integrity and commitment to both Saul, “The Lord’s anointed,” and to the people in the nation of Israel. David personally refused to usurp power from those in authority over him by manipulation or violent action and grew angry when those on his team took actions that discredited his values and integrity. Read more »