Effective Christian leaders make long range plans and give God room to actively direct or change those plans. Read Romans 15:22-29.

In today’s verses the Apostle Paul is in process of taking a love offering from the churches in Macedonia to the church in Jerusalem that had fallen on hard times. While on his way to Jerusalem, Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome discussing some long range plans to visit their church on his way to preach the Gospel in Spain.

Our society tends to prop up one kind of leader as the prototype we should all model our lives after. Business, and even ministries, have determined that certain personality styles are significantly more effective and look for individuals with those traits when hiring and promoting. Some personality styles may give the illusion of effectiveness but if we revert to the definition of leadership as the “ability to influence others,” individuals with each of the personality styles i.e. dominate, steady, influencing and compliant can serve as extremely effective leaders. Read 2 Kings 4:1-44.

Elisha’s name sounds a lot like his mentor Elijah. Both prophets lived during the same time period in Israel’s history and both struggled against the idolatrous Baal cult. Both Elijah and Elisha were appointed to their leadership position by God, both had great influence and both are viewed by history as significant and very influential leaders in Israel. But Elijah and Elisha were very different in how they carried out their leadership duties.

Often leaders are isolated. Being too alone, too isolated, has a world of pitfalls for a leader. As we leave 1 Kings, it will benefit any leader to take one more look at the importance of developing interpersonal relationships. Read 1 Kings 19:19-21.

This passage marks a permanent transition in the lives of two men. When Elijah approached Elisha they both knew that their lives would never again be the same. Elijah became a mentor and Elisha his disciple. The relationship continued to grow until Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. After years of walking together, Elisha witnessed his master’s glorious departure, took up Elijah’s cloak, and inherited a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:1-15).

A fact that we all know but never really want to speak out loud is that sometimes selfish, angry, bullies become leaders in positions of authority. Read 1 Kings 19:1-2 and 1 Kings 21.

King Ahab of Israel married Jezebel, daughter of the King of Tyre. To put it mildly, Jezebel was not the kind of woman one would feel comfortable taking home to meet mother. This wicked queen was a power-hungry, abusive, scary woman. To get the complete picture of this leader read 1 Kings 16-21 and 2 Kings 9 but the assigned passages will give a quick overview.

It cannot be stated too strongly or too often that living a godly life and demonstrating godly leadership requires extraordinary courage. Read 1 Kings 17:1 and 18:16-40.

Elijah was a prophet of the one true God and he lived in the northern kingdom during the time of King Ahab’s rule. Since Ahab had chosen to serve other gods, there was continual conflict between Elijah and Ahab. Even though Elijah knew he served the one true God, he was also aware that prophets then, as Christians are today, can be martyred for the one they serve. Once Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, had imported prophets of the god she served from her home country of Tyre, the conflict between Elijah, God’s spokesperson, and Ahab escalated.