For The Church?
Purpose for this chapter is to give an understanding of the development of spiritual leaders in the Bible. The goal is not to make each character look good, but rather give a realistic picture of the church’s life. It has been said that only 20% of all the leaders in the Bible are either good or good and faithful until their death.
An example of the development of a leader is Abraham. Though his faith was credited to him as righteousness, he did not always have enough faith to do everything right. Such should be the encouragement for us as we see his spiritual development as he struggled but, in the end, was one of the greatest people of the faith.
Another example is David. He was given the title of being a man after God’s own heart, but struggled morally and in his family life. God does not pick perfect people. Though we fall at times, these evens do not have to dictate our lives.
Additional character studies are available by contacting WILD.
As found in Chapter 1, there are times a top leadership principle of Jesus appears in a chapter. These are placed to coincide with the chapter’s or section’s discussion or application. These ten (10) principles can also be taught as one unit, if you so choose. The choice is yours.
A. Adam
1. Read Genesis 2:15-20; 3:1-19. What were
Work and take care of the Garden. Free to eat from any tree except the tree of
knowledge of good and evil. Name all the creatures of the earth.
2. How did
Didn’t listen to God about not eating from the one tree. Sin resulted and the land was
cursed. Obey God was simply his accountability.
3. What was the result of Adam’s poor decision making?
Sin entered the world and pain and suffering has resulted, along with death.
4. What amount of courage did
Adam and Eve had some responsibility, but little or no courage. Adam heard directly from God.
5. What can you learn from Adam’s decision that you can apply to your life?
B. Abraham
1. Has anyone ever lost your trust or confidence? Has there been a time when you lied to protect yourself? What occurred?
2. In Genesis 12:10-20, how much did Abram trust God?
Not much; he lied about Sarai so he could keep himself from being killed.
3. What was the result of his poor decision?
Pharaoh’s household almost died.
4. What role does integrity play in the life of a spiritual leader?
Abram was not trusting God, a characteristic that plagued Abram again in his earlier years. We develop integrity by our actions and words, following through on promises, ways we trust God. Abram’s lack of trust in his life may have had an effect on how long he waited for Isaac to come.
5. In Genesis 15:1-6, what was the promise God gave to Abram?
Abram would have an heir, and beyond the number to count of offspring, even though, at the moment, Abram had no son.
6. Read Genesis 16:1-5,15-16;
You take your eyes off of Jesus, not allowing the Holy Spirit to control you. You figure you can help manipulate the situation and look good. We want control.
That is the bottom line. When you depend upon your own strength, timetable and methods, you develop insecurities with God being the one to lean on. Working independently of God causes you to be insecure as a spiritual leader because you don’t trust God.
7. What are results of being an insecure leader, vacillating back and forth?
(from The Maxwell Leadership Bible, page 20)
a.. Believe God is inattentive, absent, or even against them
b. Allow their circumstances to determine their understanding of God’s character
c. See life through a perspective of scarcity rather than abundance
d. Become self-seeking and manipulative
e. Feel intimidated and deal with others through intimidation
f. Resent the success of others and angrily turn on them
g. Think that if one person succeeds, someone else must lose
h. Blame others for their dilemmas
i. See themselves as martyrs
j. Conclude that attempts as control seem more logical than trusting God
8. What was the result of Abram’s and Sarah’s decision?
Ishmael came along and Sarah totally despised Hagar. Ishmael has been a thorn in
9. What have been the consequences of some of your decisions?
10. What does this say about seeking and following the advice of others when in leadership?
Be careful, make sure you are getting sound advice. Keep your relationship with God very strong, to be able to hear from Him.
11. From Genesis 22:1-12, how did Abraham show his faith and trust in God this time?
He took Isaac, his only heir, and trusted God would give him the right sacrifice.
He believed God was sovereign.
12. Would he have gone through with sacrificing Isaac if not stopped? Why or why not?
Yes, Abraham trusted God that, if Isaac was sacrificed, God would raise him from the dead or provide another heir.
13. In looking at Abraham’s complete life, what does this say about mistakes made earlier in one’s life?
We are not necessarily knocked out of the game. It may take time, but we can “prove” ourselves. The consequences can and do linger on, but there is not the unpardonable sin here.
14. How did Abraham become a person “above reproach?”
Time, learned from mistakes, persevered, stayed close in his relationship with God.
“The key was not that Abraham attended the best leadership seminars. The key was that he came to know God and he allowed God to transform him into a leader through his obedience. When people strive to have their hearts right before God, then God promises to ‘show himself strong’
(2 Chronicles 16:9).” Henry Blackaby (p. 53, Spiritual Leadership)
A TOP LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE OF JESUS
Show Security and Strength When Handling the Tough Issues
a. He who masters his time, masters his life.
Mark
b. Remained calm during difficult times. Matthew 8:23-27 - Storm at sea and Jesus sleeping.
Another time, His crucifixion.
c. He agreed with his adversaries quickly when truth was brought to light – Matthew 27:11-14;
d. Handled wrong doings immediately. Jesus and the Money changers – Matthew 5:23-24,
Mark 11:15-17
e. He finished what He started. AYour exit will be remembered longer than your entry.
Prov. 13:19
f. People …
1. Are insecure, give them confidence. Philippians
2. Like to feel special...sincerely compliment them.
One compliment can keep me going for a whole month@ Mark Twain
3. Look for a better tomorrow...show them hope.
4. Need to be understood...listen to them. This is where you can be an influencer!!!
5. Lack direction...navigate for them.
6. Are selfish...speak to their needs first. Philippians 2:3-5
7. Want to be associated with success...help them win.
8. Seek models to follow...be an example.
C. Joseph – Grow in ability to lead
1. Have you ever been tempted to steal or do some immoral act? What happened?
2. Read Genesis 37:3-11. What was Joseph’s problem? How did it become evident?
Perhaps some pride involved as he speaks abaout his dreams.
3. Would anyone have considered Joseph becoming a great leader at this point in his life?
What developed him into a great leader?
Probably not. His development was focused upon his growing relationship with God. Taking one day at a time of what God was giving to Joseph in his life, to mold and shape him the way God wanted to – using the trials as a fire to refine him.
4. Read Genesis 39:1-15,20-23; 41:14-16,37-41. If Joseph had sinned with Potiphar’s
wife, where would Joseph have ended up in the history of
5. When making the godly or right decision, what can we expect? (1 Peter 3:13-17)
Suffering.
6. What is meant by the phrase “The Lord was with Joseph”?
Guiding the person the Spirit was upon – Joseph. Joseph sought God’s wisdom.
7. What perspective did Joseph develop over the years that he could say what he did in
Genesis 50:15-21?
God is in control. We need to make godly choices and allow God to use us as He sees fit. Due to Joseph’s obedience, Joseph influenced all the people in several countries, not just the Israelites. Our influence can be far-reaching.
8. How did God use Joseph being sold into slavery for His glory? What does that say to
us? Genesis 50:15-21
9. What developed Joseph into a godly leader?
Keeping his eyes on the Lord in both good and bad times.
“Spiritual leadership is moving people on to God’s agenda” - Dr. Blackaby
D. Moses – Development with a crutch
1. Have you ever had an experience where you felt God left you by yourself and He was
far away?
2. Read Exodus 2:11-14. Why was killing the Egyptian not the smartest thing to do? What effect did it have on Moses?
Lost integrity with his own people. Got ahead of God’s plan and was gone for many years.
3. How did Moses get ahead of God or take control when he killed the Egyptian?
Leading the Israelites out of
4. How did Moses’ anger haunt him throughout his life? (Numbers
His anger flared up when he smashed the ten commandments, and then in this story, where he did not do what God told him to do.
5. God met Moses at the burning bush and gave Moses the job of rescuing the Israelites from
He didn’t want to do what God wanted from him. He felt very inadequate, plus killing that Egyptian 40 years earlier was still on his mind. He was not trusting God to get him through everything.
6. Did Moses really want the job? Why grab Aaron?
No. Aaron was security for Moses. Aaron was a crutch. We do that when we do something for God and not fully follow in faith, being able to fall back on something or someone.
7. Was Aaron a help or a liability? (Numbers 12:1-3, 9-12; Exodus 32:1-6, 21-25)
Moses took on a liability when h e didn’t have guts to do what he knew he needed to do in Chapters 3 and 4. Aaron wasn’t the leader Moses needed, and the golden calf incident showed just how much a liability Aaron was. (Even Miriam caused problems.) Best be careful of the crutches we pull in with us as leaders that can eventually trip us up. Moses had a hard time with God’s agenda and it cost him something.
8. Do we have crutches, things, ideas we hold on to while serving God? Why do we hold on to such things?
9. Was Moses ready in the first third of his life to lead
E. Saul/Samuel
1. Read 1 Samuel 8. What kind of guys were Samuel’s sons?
Ungodly.
2. How did those sons influence the nation of
They wanted nothing to do with those sons and thus said, “Give us a king.”
3. How would a king change their lives?
Be taxed, and their children would be sent to war and be servants to the king.
4. Was it God’s will for those people to have a king?
(Good discussion question, but basically the answer is “no.”)
5. How personally should you take it when the people you are leading do not follow God’s direction?
Examine yourself, but know that every human has free will, the right to choose; that we do not control.
6. Read 1 Samuel 9:1-6, 15-17; 13:9-14. How was Saul selected?
By human reasoning; not a man after God’s heart.
7. Was Saul set up to fail simply because of the peoples’ attitude? (1 Samuel 12:16-17)
Basically, yes.
8. How spiritually in tune with God was Saul?
Very limited.
9. How courageous was Saul?
Not much at all.
10. Why did God let people have a king, and especially Saul?
If we harden out hearts toward God, we are opening ourselves up for terrible consequences.
F. David
1. Read 2 Samuel 11:1-17. What was David supposed to be doing?
Going out to war.
2. At what point(s) could David have reversed his ways?
Not looked longingly at Bathsheba; not invited her over; confessed the sin and not have gotten Uriah killed.
3. Have you ever made a bad decision? What do you do with a poor decision? Confess it or cover it up? If you did confess it, how did you feel as you confessed it and afterwards?
4. How can you protect yourself so you don’t make bad decisions? (Psalms 38; 51;
119:9-11)
Accountability; let the Word speak to you; keep your relationships with God, your spouse and others very sharp.
5. How do I respond when confronted by God on my life? How did David respond?
(2 Samuel 12:1-14)
Angry, and then remorseful.
6. How often and in what way(s) did David pay for this sin? Fourfold.
a. 2 Samuel 12:15-18. Baby died.
b. 2 Samuel 13:12-14,23-29. Ammon.
c. 2 Samuel 15:10-14;
d. 1 Kings 1:5; 2:22-25. Adonijah
7. From 2 Samuel 24:1-2, 10-17 and 1 Chronicles 21:1-15, how did the decision of David affect
Some of the people died due to his decision, basically of not trusting God.
8. What things in my life do I do the same as David?
Using numbers as success; relying more on what I see than trusting God to provide.
G. Solomon
1. Read 1 Kings 3:5-14. What did Solomon request when God asked him what he wanted
from God?
Wisdom.
2. How would I respond?
3. What effect did this decision have on the people?
He gave great advice and benefited all the people.
4. What did he receive in addition to wisdom? Matthew 6:33
Material blessings.
5. Read 1 Kings 10:14-15ff, 26-29; 11:1-13. What were Solomon’s downfalls?
Wealth, wives, material items like horses and chariots.
6. Are possessions in and of themselves evil? What makes them evil?
No. How you handle or possess them can make them evil.
7. What was the ramification of Solomon’s choices?
The kingdom would be split up and never be the same. The seeds were sown in David’s administration, and it was carried through to Solomon.
H. Esther -
1. Share a time when you believed God was working very strongly through you.
2. Read Esther 4. What were Esther’s options?
Keep quiet and eventually die with the rest of her people and God would deliver them differently; or trust God and go tell the king what the truth was.
3. How does God handle things when we oppose or refuse to carry out what He is leading us to do? What can we lose?
He will still accomplish His will. We lose the blessings from being obedient.
4. From Esther
5. Read Esther 7:1-10;
The truth came out and the people were spared; Haman was killed.
6. What were the long term effects?
The Israelites were safe.
7. Think of a time when you made a leadership decision and the effects were long lasting. If you have one, share it.
I. Daniel
1. Read Daniel 6:1-9. What stood out in King Darius’ mind about Daniel?
He was trustworthy; could be given anything and be totally loyal, especially to a foreign king.
2. What kind of life did Daniel lead?
Complete integrity and transparent to the world.
3. How does a person develop a distinguished life where adversaries are unable to find anything corrupt in one’s life?
a. Daniel 1:6 - Spiritual foundation and transformation (through Word, prayer,
other believers).
b. Daniel 1:8-16 - Through problems and had possible alternatives for his authorities.
When you have a disagreement with those in authority over you, how do you handle it, what do you do? Are there times when you simply have to go against authority? Any examples? If you would think through the conflict and offer an alternative idea or solution, rather than simply complaining or grumbling, what would the outcome potentially be? How important is communication here?
c. Daniel
d. Daniel 2:17-19 - Relationship with God when he could sense God’s
leading.
e, Daniel 6:1-4 - Totally full of Godly integrity.
f. Daniel
to God.
4. Who or what was Daniel’s moral and ethical compass? God
5. When your life is on the line, will you bow to pressure or hold firm to your faith?
6. Why do people get angry or mad at people who are leading lives of integrity?
They make people look “bad” who can’t live consistent, moral lives.
7. Was Daniel a humble person? How do we stay or work at being humble?
Yes. Accountability, applying scripture.
8. Will God always save His godly servants from “the mouths of lions”?
No! And that does not mean you have sin in your life or are not being blessed.
J. Jonah
1. Read Jonah 3. What was Jonah’s message?
Repent, or else perish.
2. How did the King of Nineveh respond?
Repented, and issued the decree that all his kingdom should do the same.
3. What was God’s response when Jonah saw the people repenting?
He relented.
4. Read Jonah 4:1-3, 10-11. How did Jonah respond to what he saw?
Was angry because he had no love, mercy or compassion for those people.
5. Why was this his response? What was Jonah’s problem?
Jonah was not seeking after God’s heart.
6. How does God respond to a nation when the leadership turns to Him? What does that say to us as the Body of Christ?
His patience is longsuffering and His mercy and love are available for all. The leadership is the key. The people so often go as the leadership goes. Being a leader in God’s sight is a great responsibility and accountability to God. A leader must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. That is the number one job of a leader – to follow the leading of the Spirit.
K. The Life of Hezekiah
1. Hezekiah cleanses the kingdom of idolatry that his father established.
a. Hezekiah’s background -dad – (2 Chron. 28:24-25) - godly or ungodly?
mom - (2 Chron. 29:1) - godly or ungodly?
related to David
b. Psalm 78:72 - What three components did David share?
1) Character that was godly.
2) Competence to get the people where he felt God wanted them to go.
3) Connected to the people to influence them.
c. 1) Character – 2 Chron. 29:2-3; 31:20-21; 2 Kings 18:1-8.
What were attributes and qualities Hezekiah possessed?
Did what was right in God’s sight, obedient, faith and sought God wholeheartedly.
2) Competence Vision 2 Chron. 30:1-5, 6-9; 29:24; 31:3-6.
He knew where the people had to go.
Reality 2 Chron. 29:6-9
He knew where the people were at
3) Connected – People had to buy-in to Hezekiah before they would
buy-in to the plan – he first dealt with himself.
a) 2 Chron. 29:4-5, 12-15 – spiritual leaders (came after
Hezekiah)
b) 2 Chron. 29:20 – city leaders
c) 2 Chron. 29:28-31 – whole assembly (all leaders)
d) 2 Chron.30:1-5 - all of
2.. Sennacherib threatens
a.. Hezekiah did several things when he heard the Assyrian king was coming to conquer him.
1) 2 Kings 18:13-16 – Gave a lot of money.
2) 2 Chron. 32:2-5 - Fortified the city.
3) 2 Chron. 32:20; 2 Kings 19:5-7, 14-19, (Isa. 37:1-20) Hezekiah
consults Isaiah and prays.
b. Sennacherib did a couple of things to Hezekiah and the Lord.
1) 2 Chron. 32:10-15; (2 Kings
Threatened and mocked Hezekiah and God.
2) 2 Kings 18:26-28; (2 Chron. 32:18; Isa. 36:11-12)
Spoke in a language all the people understood so all could be intimidated.
3) Isa. 37:36-38; (2 Chron. 32:21; 2 Kings
What happened to Sennacherib? Died. Who got the praise? God
3. Hezekiah is told he is going to die. - 2 Kings 20:1-11; 2 Chron. 32:24-30; Isa. 38
(This was during the siege of Sennacherib.)
a. 2 Kings 20:1-3; 2 Chron. 32:24; Isa. 38:1-3 -
What did Hezekiah do when he was told he would die?
Prayed – reminded God how faithful he was.
b. 2 Kings 20:4-11; Isa. 38:4-22 (4-8, 21) -
How did God show Hezekiah he would live, and for how long?
Backed up the shadow of the sun. (15 years)
c. 2 Chron. 32:25-30 -
What happened to Hezekiah’s heart? Got hard. Was it wise to ask for his life
to be extended? How should we pray, or what should we pray for?
4. Babylonian envoy visits - Isa. 39; 2 Kings 20:12-20; 2 Chron. 32:31
a. 2 Kings 20:12-15; Isa. 39:1-4 -
What went on with the Babylonians and Hezekiah?
He showed them all the riches he had.
b. 2 Chron. 32:31 -
Why would Hezekiah show them this wealth?
God was testing Hezekiah to reveal what was in his heart.
c. 2 Kings 20:16-18; Isa. 39:5-7 -
What was the result, according to Isaiah?
Everything and many people would be hauled off to
d. 2 Kings 20:19; Isa. 39:8 -
What was Hezekiah’s response to Isaiah’s prophecy? What does that say to you about Hezekiah?
It is good and peace and security in his lifetime. How hard is it to finish strong, well in the Lord?
Could the last 15 years that he requested have been too much for Hezekiah to handle? With great power and victory comes great responsibility. Might that success and power have been more than Hezekiah’s character could keep under control. God is sovereign – because of His sovereignty and greatness, could He allow us to receive things in our lives that are not the best for us, yet still accomplish His will?
Would God allow non-spiritual godly leaders to be “in control” of churches/governments to accomplish His ultimate will and purpose? So then how do we pray for leadership, and getting people pla
2 Chronicles 29-32 (Verse by verse)
29:1-25 - Hezekiah, when he took the throne – reigned 29 years (Ahaz, father (28:24-25)
Verse 1 - Godly man
Verse 3 - First year – repaired the doors of the temple after opening them – he knew he
had to make things right with God; first, himself and then the people.
Verses 4-9 - Brought the priest back into the temple to clean up the place and restore
worship, for God had punished them in captivity.
V.10-11 - Wanted to make a covenant with God so His wrath would turn from them.
V. 20-24 - Once cleansed, the temple was used for sacrifices; being used for worship; they
reestablished the offerings (sin and burnt offerings).
V. 25-30 - Hezekiah had the musicians of the Levites, that David had set up, play during
the burnt offering sacrifice to sing praises to the Lord.
V. 31-36 - Once the Levites were sanctified, the people were to bring their sacrifices. The
sacrifices were too m any for the priests to handle, so the brethren helped in
skinning the animals until the work ended.
30:1-5 - Hezekiah then instructed all the tribes to come to the temple and have Passover.
He established the key spiritual markers in the lives of the people.
V. 6-9 - Repent and turn from your evil ways, so that God may be gracious to you
(2 Chronicles 7:14).
V. 10-12 - Some of the people repented, others mocked the messengers (and God).
V. 13-20 - So many had not sanctified themselves (v. 17) and ate the Passover. So
Hezekiah prayed for them (v. 19) that they, too, would be atoned. God listened
and healed the people.
V. 21-27 - They worshipped (partied) for two more weeks.
31:1 - The people cleansed the land of idolatry and idolatrous items.
V. 2-8 - Hezekiah tithed his possessions and commanded the people to do likewise.
V. 9-19 - The temple housed the overabundance of the tithe of the people, so all priests
and Levites had sufficient, as things were given out fairly and justly.
V. 20-21 - Hezekiah sought God with all his heart, doing what was right, just, good and
true.
32:1-8 - Hezekiah fortified his stronghold around
V. 9-19 - Sennacherib boasted against God, that God could not protect them.
V 20-23 - God sent an angel after Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed. The angel defeated the
Assyrians. Hezekiah was given gifts and much praise was heaped upon him
V. 24-26 - Pride got in the way, and the wrath of God was knocking on his door – but
Hezekiah humbled himself.
V. 27-33 - How power and wealth corrupts. Babylonian princes showed up to check out
all about Hezekiah, and God withdrew from him to test him to see what was in
his heart.
2 Kings 18-20
18:1-8 - Hezekiah cleans up
V. 9-16 - Sennacherib carries
V. 13-16 - Hezekiah pays a duty to Sennacherib – Hezekiah had to pay a lot of gold and
silver.
V. 17-37 - Sennacherib boasts against the Lord.
19:1-7 - Isaiah gives assurance that Hezekiah will be delivered.
V. 8-13 - Sennacherib boasted against God again.
V. 14-19 - Hezekiah goes before the Lord and pleads – sought God wholeheartedly.
V. 20 - Because he prayed, God heard – because he went to God.
V. 21-34 - God speaks out against Sennacherib.
V. 35-37 - Sennacherib’s defeat and death. The angel did the work.
20:1 - Hezekiah was sick and Isaiah told him to get his life in order.
V. 2-7 - Hezekiah prayed for healing; God granted the request with 15 years.
V. 8-11 - The sign was the sun dial going back 10 degrees.
V. 12-13 - Babylonian envoy shows up and Hezekiah graciously shared and shows them all
his wealth.
V. 14-20 - Isaiah indicates that Hezekiah opened the “door” for the Babylonians to come
on in to
Isaiah 36-39
36 - Sennacherib threatens
37:1-13 - Isaiah is asked what to do and he says Sennacherib will be destroyed.
V. 14-20 - Hezekiah prays.
V. 21- 35 - Because he prayed (trusted in God) they are saved (v.30-32 (sign for Hezekiah).
V. 36-38 - Angel of the Lord killed 186,000 troops and Sennacherib dies back in
38:1-8 - Hezekiah is to die, prays and given 15 years. A sign with the sun dial. (during
the siege of the Assyrians).
V. 9-22 - Hezekiah praises God.
39:1-7 - Babylonians show up. Hezekiah shows them the wealthy stock. Isaiah
prophesies that the Babylonians will destroy
palace – but after Hezekiah is gone.
V. 8 - His thoughts were – there will be peace and security in my lifetime.
A TOP LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE OF JESUS
Persistence Or Call to Great Commitment
a. Read Genesis 12:1-2 - To have great commitment, you have to give up something to gain something
greater. Leadership costs something. Are you willing to pay the price?
b. After Jesus fed the 5000, He spoke on commitment. Read Luke 9:23-25,57-62. What am I willing to
give up to go to the next level of my spiritual maturity?
c. Jesus had faith in Peter. He persisted with him.
1. John 1:35-42
2. Matt 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20
3. Luke 5:1-11 - Peter stuck it out, but after the resurrection, he was found fishing again – John 21.
When is it time to give up on someone who you see has great spiritual potential?
“God’s purpose is to turn His people away from their self-centeredness and sinful desires and to draw them into a relationship with Himself.” Henry Blackaby (page 23, Spiritual Leadership)
