QUALITIES OF GOOD LEADERSHIP.

GOD'S WORD ON LEADERSHIP.

Leadership comes in many varieties and intensities. It is sometimes defined as the ability to create in others the desire to follow. People tend to follow men and women who know where they are going and why. Whenever others will follow your direction or your thinking, you are in a leadership role. Therefore, leaders need to know what they believe and why. As a Christian witness, you are a leader, one who shows others how to follow Christ. God is our leader in all that relates to spiritual life-providing his Word for direction, his Son to show us the way, and his wisdom and help through the Holy Spirit.

WHAT ARE SOME QUALITIES OF A GOOD LEADER?

1Timothy 3:1-12 . . . An elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against.

Titus 1:6-9 . . . An elder must live a blameless life.

In these verses Paul lists numerous characteristics for anyone in church leadership.

Nehemiah 7:2 . . . I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani . . . for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.

1. Good leaders show faithfulness and reverence.

Matthew 20:26 . . . Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.

2. Good leaders have a servant's heart.

2 Chronicles 32:20 . . . Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah . . . cried out in prayer to God in heaven.

3. A good leader has a heart for prayer.

1 Chronicles 21:8 . . . Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly and shouldn't have taken the census."

4. Good leaders accept responsibility for their actions.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 . . . No one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have-Jesus Christ.

5. Good leaders keep their eyes on Jesus.

Daniel 6:10 . . . He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done.

6. The words and actions of a good leader are consistent. Daniel was vocal about his faith in God, even in a pagan land, and his actions backed that up.

Joshua 1:9 . . . Be strong and courageous! . . . For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

7. Good leaders show courage based on the assurance of God's presence.

John 3:30 . . . He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

8. Good leaders do not emphasize themselves.

1 John 4:1 . . . Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit.

2 John 1:10 . . . If someone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don't . . . encourage him in any way.

9. Good leaders recognize false teaching and boldly combat it.

Micah 3:1-11 . . . Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong.

10. Good leaders are consumed with doing what is right.

Hebrews 6:1 . . . Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.

11. Good leaders demonstrate maturity, both in their actions and in their knowledge of God's Word.

1Chronicles 12:1-2 . . . The following men joined David . . . They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle. All of them were expert archers.

12. Good leaders are not threatened by skilled subordinates. They gather skillful people around them.

Proverbs 12:15 . . . Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others.

13. Good leaders have others who hold them accountable.

WHAT ARE SOME KEYS TO EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP?

Genesis 12:1, 4 . . . The Lord told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. . . ." Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him, and Lot went with him.

1 Kings 22:14 . . . "As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what the Lord tells me to say."

1. A good leader follows the Lord's leadership.

Numbers 20:12 . . . The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!"

2. Godly leaders demonstrate God's character through their leadership.

Deuteronomy 1:12-13 . . . How can I settle all your quarrels and problems by myself? Choose some men from each tribe who have wisdom, understanding, and a good reputation, and I will appoint them as your leaders.

3. A wise leader delegates some of his responsibilities to trustworthy subordinates.

Deuteronomy 31:7 . . . Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to give their ancestors.

Nehemiah 2:20 . . . The God of heaven will help us succeed.

4. Leaders should lead with righteousness and justice.

Nehemiah 5:9 . . . I pressed further, "What you are doing is not right!"

5. Courageous leaders stand up to those who are doing what is wrong.

Luke 22:25-26 . . . Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called ‘friends of the people.' But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant."

6. Christlike leaders lead by serving, not by ordering others around.

Hebrews 2:10 . . . Through the suffering of Jesus, God made him a perfect leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation.

7. A truly effective leader will be acquainted with difficulty and suffering.

HOW DO WE KNOW IF AND WHEN WE SHOULD EXERCISE LEADERSHIP?

Deuteronomy 3:28 . . . Commission Joshua and encourage him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them the land you now see before you.

1. If you have been commissioned to lead, then lead!

Ezekiel 3:17 . . . Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, pass it on to the people immediately.

John 15:16 . . . You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last.

2. You don't need to have an official position to lead, but God's calling is essential.

HOW DO WE GO ABOUT CHOOSING A GOOD LEADER?

1 Samuel 16:7 . . . People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person's thoughts and intentions.

1. Look for the qualities of a good leader listed in the above section. Don't be swayed by physical appearance, but look deep into the person's heart.

WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD OUR LEADERS?

Hebrews 13:17 . . . Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls.

Romans 13:1-5 . . . Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there.

1. Work with leaders rather than against them to effect change.

HOW SHOULD WE TREAT OUR LEADERS?

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 . . . Honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work . . . Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work.

Exodus 17:10-13 . . . They stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset.

1. Encourage them.

Hebrews 13:18-19 . . . Pray for us . . . I especially need your prayers right now.

2. Pray for them.

Romans 14:10 . . . Why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian?

3. Don't be quick to criticize.

2 Samuel 12:1-13 . . . The Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story.

4. Hold them accountable.

PROMISES FROM GOD:

Proverbs 29:14 . . . A king who is fair to the poor will have a long reign.

Jeremiah 3:15 . . . I will give you leaders after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.