Effective leaders look for opportune moments and use clear examples to communicate their vision. Read Matthew 9:35-38.

As Jesus expanded His ministry He saw clearly the spiritual condition of the everyday citizen in Israel. He saw the feeling of helplessness they had in their situation, their lack of hope without a deep faith in God, and their missing core truth that relationship and commitment to God is the only answer to a peace-filled life. Jesus used the example of a shepherd caring for his sheep and harvesters in a field to illustrate His single, clear vision for His followers.

Christian leaders get to demonstrate their faith in God through dependence on His provision in the difficult days. Read Matthew 6:9-13 and 25-34.

In the early days of His public ministry Jesus was teaching His disciples some core truths that would shape their future leadership. He personally was totally dependent on God as His source of truth, strength, and provision and testified to this truth several times in public to the masses and in private to His closest teammates. When His team asked Him how to pray, Jesus gave them a model prayer with elements that demonstrated reverence for God, an unshakable belief in His purposes for their life and dependence on His provision. Later, on the topic of worry, He simply pointed out that the birds, who neither sow nor reap, enjoy God’s provision of food and that the wild flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow are beautifully clothed by God without a moment’s worry.

Leaders give their attention to what they value most. Read Matthew 6:1-7:27 focusing on 6:19-21.

In the first of Jesus’ recorded sermons, He puts a major emphasis on values. Without values any action to achieve the goal would be an acceptable action, but for Christ’s team that would not be acceptable. Jesus made His vision clear when He said they would be “…fishers of men” but in chapter 6, He established the acceptable values that would drive His team’s behavior as they accomplished that goal. Jesus’ words got His team to confront foundational core truths early in their time on His team and verses 19-21 were the focus of His lesson. He insisted that their heart’s focus, attention, and affection center on pleasing God, a heavenly focus, not on pleasing the religious leaders of the day.

Leaders must do the right thing for the right reason. Matthew 6:1-34.

Jesus challenges the people claiming to serve the One True God saying they were doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. In verse one He says, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Jesus called people who practice this kind of morality hypocrites. He used the word three times in this chapter (vv. 2, 5, and 16). Three times people are cited for violating their integrity by doing something only for the appearance.

Leaders must clearly articulate the values they want each person on their team to possess. Read Matthew 5:1-16.

As Jesus public ministry expanded, larger crowds began to follow after Him to hear His teaching. In Matthew 5 Jesus articulated the values he expected every one of His followers to possess. He made it clear that the values of His followers must be different from the other religious and government leaders. He wanted only followers who demonstrated humility, sorrow over sin, gentleness, a desire for purity, a devotion to peace, a desire to relieve suffering of others and people who would even endure persecution for doing what is right. These are values that opened His team to everyone; they didn’t need external qualities such as power, special skill, prestige, position, and wealth but rather internal values that any person could possess.