One measure of a leader’s effectiveness is their problem-solving skills. Read Nehemiah 6:1-14.

While the walls were taking shape in Jerusalem, Nehemiah’s enemies Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, themselves powerful leaders, tried to sidetrack him with a number of different strategies: Read more »

Effective leaders have a vision for their destination before a project begins and they know the strengths of their team to achieve that vision. Read Nehemiah 1:1-3:32.

The Jewish people had returned from exile and had been living in Judah for about 80 years. The temple had been rebuilt and worship restored; Ezra the priest had returned approximately four years earlier and brought religious revival to the people and in God’s timetable, it was time for Jerusalem, the city housing His temple, to have the walls rebuilt and the people’s trust in Him renewed. God chose Nehemiah, the Persian King’s cupbearer for the job. God gave Nehemiah the desired result before he allowed him to start the project. Read more »

Decision making is one of leadership’s core competencies. The ability of a leader to make good decisions in a timely manner differentiates between poor and good, and between good and great leaders. Read Nehemiah 1:1-11.

Nehemiah was faced with a huge challenge. The walls of Jerusalem were in disrepair, and the returned exiles were vulnerable and disheartened. Nehemiah used some elements of decision making that can help any leader facing the next major decision: Read more »

One of the most fundamental leadership truths is that your team will do what they see you model. Read Ezra 9:1-10:44.

After a journey of several months Ezra and the other Jewish exiles arrived in Jerusalem from Babylon. Their first acts were to be accountable to the local officials for the money and gifts they had been given for the city and temple and then to make proper offerings to God at the temple for a safe trip and for His favor. Within just a few days of viewing Ezra’s leadership, knowing Ezra was a teacher of the law and seeing his dedication to give offerings and make sacrifices some of the leaders approached Ezra with a problem. Those most responsible for religious leadership, the priests and Levites, had not kept God’s law to stay separate from those who worshiped false gods and had actually taken pagan wives and allowed their sons to marry women who worshiped false gods. Read more »

Effective leaders know that encouragement precedes mobilization. Read Ezra 6:13-15.

Cyrus, the king of Assyria who had given the Jewish exiles free reign to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple was no longer king. When Artaxerxes became king the local opposition living near Jerusalem pulled a political end game and convinced the new king the Jews would be a threat to Assyria if the temple construction continued. “Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill (some 14 years) until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia” (4:24).

The people living in Jerusalem were afraid to restart construction even though Artaxerxes was no longer king. God sent two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage the people to finish construction of the temple. Despite continued opposition, Haggai and Zechariah inspired and encouraged the people to resume work and the temple was completed and dedicated to the Lord in 516 BC. Encouraging leaders are able to help their team follow through on what they have begun. Read more »