Everyone involved in leadership will pay a price in personal sacrifice.  Read Jeremiah 1:18-19.

John Maxwell addresses the concept of Jeremiah’s personal sacrifice in his notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Maxwell says:

Every competent leader knows the importance of building a team. Read 1 Chronicles 11:10-23.

The Bible offers an impressive list of military leaders connected to David, calling them his “mighty men” and describing several of their incredible exploits. David’s mighty men formed a loyal, committed and capable team who supported, encouraged and protected David in the years before and after he was anointed king of Israel.

Few things are more difficult for a leader than to give a firm rebuke to a team member. Yet there are times when confrontation is the most loving thing a leader can do for another person. Read 2 Kings 20:16-19a.

Hezekiah was one of only two kings in Judah who completely followed the Lord. In the days of Esarhaddon, King of Assyria, Hezekiah became ill to the point of death. Hezekiah poured out his heart to God in prayer and God graciously granted him an extra 15 years of life.

A leader’s character is always on trial. If we do not build character and keep working at maintaining that character we will become ineffective and unproductive in our leadership. Read 1 Kings 11:1-13.

1 Kings 10:23 says, “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings on earth. The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.” There has never been another leader that had the splendor Solomon had during his reign as king of Israel. Yet, at the height of his leadership, Solomon compromised his commitments to God through his marriages to foreign women.