October 2nd, 2009 in 1 Samuel, Acts, Character, Courage/Risk-Taking, Encouragement, Leadership Principles, Motivating, New Testament, Old Testament, Relationships | No Comments »
Leaders set the emotional environment for those who follow them and will give their team courage or fear. Read 1 Samuel 31:7.
During a battle between the Israelite army and the Philistine army, King Saul and all of his sons were killed. In one battle the accepted leadership of the nation was gone. Without a trusted leader to give direction, the people were overcome with fear and anxiety. They actually took their families, left their homes and possessions behind, and ran for safety. Read more »
September 25th, 2009 in Ecclesiastes, Encouragement, Humility, Leadership Principles, Listening, Old Testament, Relationships | No Comments »
Relational skills are very important to godly leaders. A godly leader’s faith doesn’t simply revolve around religious creeds or doctrines even though God-honoring creeds and doctrines are important. God designed us to have vertical relationships with Him and horizontal relationships with the people around us. Developing good relationships is critical to any leader’s long-term success. Review again 1 Samuel 25 this time making comparisons between the approach to relationship building of Abigail and her husband Nabal.
As you review Abigail’s actions think about the following relationship building skills: Read more »
September 21st, 2009 in 1 Samuel, Commitment, Encouragement, Leadership Development, Leadership Principles, Mentor, Old Testament, Personal Development, Relationships | No Comments »
Nothing tests a leader more than to realize that God is going to elevate someone on their team to a higher position in the organizational chart or that God is going to move them down in the organizational chart. Read 1 Samuel 18:1 and chapter 20 and 23:15-18.
Normally a king’s son would do everything within his power to possess his father’s throne, but not Jonathan. He was a prince who knew and accepted that somebody else would be the next king. Why? Because he understood that God had chosen a man other than himself to occupy his father’s throne. Read more »
September 18th, 2009 in 1 Samuel, Encouragement, Hebrews, Leadership Principles, Loyalty, New Testament, Old Testament, Philippians, Relationships | No Comments »
Leaders that encourage their team have some characteristics in common. Read 1 Samuel 20:1-41.
Jonathan was King Saul’s oldest son and a leader in Israel. Jonathan knew David had been anointed the next king and even though Jonathan was the royal prince, he exalted and encouraged David’s leadership. He knew he risked his future throne with his support of David but Jonathan was so confident in what he had seen God do in David’s life that he became a source of strength and encouragement to David. Read more »
September 17th, 2009 in 1 Samuel, Courage/Risk-Taking, Encouragement, Healthy Alliances, Interpersonal Relationships, Leadership Principles, Old Testament, Relationships | 1 Comment »
Effective leaders use all their strength by recognizing, developing and utilizing the people around them. They know how to develop healthy relationships and healthy alliances with those on their own team and those on other teams. Read 1 Samuel 19:1-23:18.
In the dark days when David scrambled from cave to cave to escape death at the hand of King Saul, he turned to his friend Jonathan for strength and encouragement. At great risk to himself, Jonathan warned David and told him to hide out from his father’s wrath for a time (19:2). Each time Saul’s animosities against David resurfaced, Jonathan would again risk his life to help his friend David. Even though Jonathan knew God had chosen David – and not him – to rule Israel, even though he was the king’s oldest son, Jonathan remained faithful to his friend until the very end of his life. Read more »