Effective leaders create structure that addresses the methods by which resources flow through the organization to accomplish work. Read Numbers 11:1-35.

When Moses couldn’t handle all of the responsibilities of leading Israel, God told him to enlist seventy qualified persons, empower them and allow them to help to carry the burden. Moses was overwhelmed and the people under-served so God took action. The existing system wasn’t working so He changed it. It wasn’t about “who’s the boss”, it was about who would serve the people.

There will be times every leader must take risks to further the mission. Read John 2:12-22.

Following His miracle at the wedding in Cana (Verses 1-11) Jesus traveled with His family and disciples to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Upon His arrival He went to the temple and became disturbed by the way religious leaders had allowed venders to turn the temple courts into a marketplace. Jesus’ passion for His Father’s house rose to the surface and He drove the vendors, cattle, and sheep from the courts and in the process tipped over the tables of the money changers and sent the coins flying onto the floor.

The ultimate test of any Christian leader’s willingness to obey God comes when obedience has a high cost to them personally. Read Matthew 26:36-46.

It is just hours before Jesus is arrested by the Jewish religious leaders, put on trial for trumped up charges and His physical death. He is spending these last hours with His disciples and also finding some time to be alone in prayer. They have eaten their final meal together and now in a remote garden, Jesus is alone with God His Father. During these private moments Jesus expressed His personal desire that the horrible agony of physical torture and death be removed from His future. In the ultimate statement of obedience to God Jesus said, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done” (v. 42). Jesus was fully aware of what lay ahead but, professed His conviction that God’s will was best.

A God-honoring leader’s life will demonstrate integrity, not hypocrisy. Read Matthew 23:1-36.

Jesus continued to prove He was the promised Messiah by daily giving additional information to His disciples and the crowds. At the same time, He became more and more at odds with the religious leaders of the day. These leaders had established positions of power and authority and had chosen to enforce only selected portions of the laws God had given through Moses and the prophets. The Pharisees did not match their personal actions to the known scriptures of the day and, in fact, twisted them for their own personal gain.

Every leader needs someone who will give them wise counsel rather than a rebuke even when they need to vent. Read Matthew 11:1-6.

John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, had been imprisoned by King Herod for publicly holding him accountable for a moral failure. Prison stripped John’s inner circle of support from him and left him emotionally empty. John had a firm grip on his personal identity and mission; he knew he was called to prepare the people for Jesus’ message, but in a moment of weakness questioned Jesus’ identity. He sent his disciples to present his question to Jesus. Instead of reprimanding John for having doubts, Jesus provided the prophet with the information he needed to be strengthened and have his faith renewed.