Ultimately a leader’s credibility comes from results. Read John 5:1-14.

As a Jewish man Jesus obeyed the established requirements of the faith to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate specific feasts. On one such trip He went to a pool near the Sheep Gate where people who were blind, lame and paralyzed came to be healed. While talking to the crowd Jesus encountered a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. Jesus healed him and sent him home. Because Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath, a day set aside for rest, the religious leaders were angry with Jesus. Normally the religious leaders could have discredited Jesus but because Jesus got results. He continued to gain credibility and His influence grew as God’s anointed leader.

The best leaders know their identity. Read John 1:1, 14.

What Jesus taught and what Jesus did are tied inseparably to who Jesus is, and the same is true for all leaders. John deliberately opened his Gospel with an allusion to the opening words of the creation account in Genesis 1. John shows Jesus as fully human and fully God. Although Jesus took upon Himself full humanity and lived as a man, He never ceased to be the eternal God who has always existed, creator of the universe, the binding force that holds creation together.

A leader’s character is obvious even to those who may not agree with their values, leadership style or philosophy. Read Luke 20:19-26.

As Jesus became more widely known among the people of Judea He drew the attention of some of the religious leaders who felt threatened by His popularity with the people. Much like what happens in an election year in America, the first order of business by Jesus’ opponents was to discredit Him before the crowds. Individuals were sent with specific questions that were designed to entrap Jesus. Interesting that they prefaced their questions with “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth…” God-honoring leaders demonstrate such integrity with their character that even those seeking to do them harm can’t discredit their example.

Even a negative example can teach leaders positive lessons. Read Luke 16:1-16.

As Jesus spoke with the crowd described in Luke 15:1-2, He told a perplexing story in chapter 16:1-13 that appeared at first glance to encourage dishonesty. Jesus’ real message is that Christian leaders should mimic the steward’s shrewdness, not his dishonesty. This story of the unrighteous manager teaches leaders lessons about shrewdness in business and a few subtle truths about leadership:

Effective Leaders do all they can to prepare their team for the future. Read Matthew 10:1-42.

Jesus’ public ministry had flourished. Large crowds were coming to hear him speak and many highly qualified individuals desired to become His disciple. Out of His many choices, Jesus chose a team of 12 that He would mentor very closely. Jesus developed these leaders by working closely with them, helping them understand the inner-hidden-deeper-secrets of God-honoring leadership by training them, and by sending them out to do the work of the kingdom. Jesus was very clear that He intended to reproduce His own leadership in them. As part of this preparation, He even prepared them for some of the hardships they would face.