Leadership Lessons from the Wisdom of Proverbs

The 8th-Day Leader...

1. Seeks honesty in all human interactions. Prov. 11:1
2. Remains humble to remain wise. Prov. 11:2
3. Follows integrity. Prov. 11:3
4. Prioritizes righteousness over riches. Prov. 11:4; 28
5. Is delivered from trouble. Prov. 11:8
6. Has far-reaching positive influence. Prov. 11:9-11; 30
7. Seeks peace. Prov. 11:12
8. Is Not a gossiper. Prov. 11:13
9. Seeks multiple counselors. Prov 11:14
10. Protects his or her honor. Prov. 11:15
11. If a man, seeks a grace-filled, grace-giving wife as a life-partner.
Prov. 11:16; 22
12. If a woman, seeks to be a grace-filled, grace-giving wife for her life-partner. Prov. 11:16; 22
13. Is a generous giver. Prov. 11:16; 24-26
14. Leads well at home. Prov. 11:28
15. Is rewarded. Prov. 11:31

Leadership Lessons from the Resurrection of Jesus

1. There is a solution to every problem. Luke 24:1-6
2. Every problem is temporary. Luke 24:6
3. Successful leaders are innovative leaders. Note: Through Jesus' work Sunday became Resurrection Day rather than just the first day of the Jewish calendar. Luke 24:1
4. The belief of the few is crucial. Note: A base - an inner circle of support - must exist if any leader is to be successful. Luke Chapter 24
5. Sacrifice must proceed victory. Note: There is no resurrection story without the suffering of the cross. Luke Chapters 23-24
6. Long-lasting success will only occur as a result of follow through. Question: Jesus kept his word and finished what he started. Do you? Luke 24:6
7. The goals of every successful leader must be internationally focused. Question: Why is the thinking of the average leader so small? Matthew 28:18-19
8. Effective leaders continually comfort the led through times of change and uncertainty. Luke 24:36-45
9. True leaders continue to give throughout good and bad times.
Luke 24:49
10. Effective leaders prepare the organization for their eventual departure. Luke 24:50-53

Leadership Lessons of John the Baptist

1. John went because he was sent. Question: Where is God sending you? John 1:6
2. John was bold. Question: What is preventing your personal leadership boldness? John 1:15
3. John knew who he was. Questions: Who are you? What type of leader are you? John 1:23
4. John's message was simple and consistent. Question: How simple and consistent is your message? Are your followers able to tell you your message? John 1:16-18;29-31;35-37
5. John had followers. Question: Who is following you? John 1:35-37; Matthew 3:5-6
6. John kept his needs simple. Matthew 3:4
7. Like John, effective leaders are not easily swayed. Matthew 3:7-10
8. Like John, effective leaders do not avoid necessary confrontation. Matthew 3:7-10
9. Like John, effective leaders preach progress. Questions: Are you and your organization moving forward? How are you defining "forward movement"? Matthew 3:12
10. John was willing to reevaluate his motives. Matthew 11:2-5
11. John defended the right. Matthew 14:4
12. Like John, effective leaders hold to certain absolutes.
Matthew 14:4
13. Like John, effective leaders have personal enemies--those who want their heads on a platter. Matthew 14:6-11
14. John was task-driven. Luke 1:14-17
15. John enjoyed the presence of his superior. Questions: Do you honestly enjoy the presence of your boss? Why or why not? What can you personally change to improve the situation? Luke 1:41-42

Leadership Lessons of Noah the Boat Builder

1. One man can indeed change the world. Genesis 6:8
2. Noah completed the larger task (saving the human race) by completing the numerous smaller tasks required (gathering materials; building a boat; gathering animals...). Genesis 6:13-22
3. World-changing leadership requires a leader-changing relationship with God. Genesis 6:9
4. Effective leaders attend to the details. Genesis 6:13-17
5. Effective leaders effectively lead their home. Genesis 6:18
6. Effective leaders are faithful to God (6:22); to family (6:18); and to others (6:19-20).
7. Old age does not exclude one from effective leadership.
Genesis 7:6
8. Leaders prepare for the world to fall apart. Genesis 6:21-22
9. Leaders worship. Genesis 8:20
10. Leaders bless the future through their present service.
Genesis 8:21-22
11. Leaders live the law of multiplication. Genesis 9:7
12. Leaders are covenant-people. Genesis 9:12-17
13. Leaders use symbols to communicate. Genesis 9:12-17
14. Leaders work; refusing to rest on past success. Genesis 9:20
15. Leaders are human; prone to human weakness and failure. Genesis 9:21

Leadership Lessons of St.Mark

1. The first work of any leader must be the establishment of his or her identity. As leaders we must ask, "Why would I follow me?"
Mark 1:1
2. Effective leaders purify an organization. Mark 1:8
3. Effective leaders refuse to be rushed by external pressures.
Mark 1:12-13
4. Every leader has a desert experience. Mark 1:13
5. Effective leaders know that everything and everyone has the potential to prosper. Mark 1:16-18
6. Leaders establish and work with teams. Mark 1:16-20
7. Leaders provide growth opportunities for those they lead.
Mark 1:17
8. Leaders truly appreciate the gift of "quiet". Mark 1:25
9. Leaders know their purpose; their reason for living leadership. Mark 1:38
10. Leaders must refuse to be swayed by the masses. Mark 1:37-39
11. Effective leaders establish patterns of success. Mark 1:21;39; 6:1
12. Leaders encourage and celebrate innovation. Mark 1:1-12
13. Leaders walk. Mark 2:14
14. Leaders always recruit for the cause. Mark 1:16-19; 2:13-17
15. Leaders understand the divine law of stewardship. Mark 4:24
16. Leaders never underestimate the day of small beginnings.
Mark 4:31
17. Leaders understand that long-lasting growth is usually slow and consistent growth. Mark 4:26-32
18. Leaders want the best. Question: Do you want your people, teams, and organization to be the most prominent, productive, and influential? Mark 4:32
19. Leaders work to transform their enemies into friends. Mark 4:32
20. Faith allows leaders to see the best in every situation.
Mark 5:35-43
21. Leaders must reject recognition as the primary motivator to lead others. Mark 5:43
22. Leaders know the long-term impact of oaths. Mark 6:14-29
23. Leaders know the power of repetition as a teaching tool.
Mark 8:14-21
24. Leaders clarify; helping others to see. Mark 8:22-25
25. Leaders pray. Mark 9:29
26. Leaders value children. Mark 9:35-36; 10:13-16
27. Leaders constantly self-evaluate. Mark 9:42-48
28. Leaders value and celebrate marriage. Mark 10:1-5
29. Leaders recognize and reward the sacrifices of others.
Mark 10:28-31
30. Leaders pay all their taxes. Mark 12:13-17

Leadership Lessons of St.John the Beloved(Part 5)

66. Leaders live with rejection; yet lead anyway. John 12:37-41
67. Leaders see the God-picture. John 12:44-45
68. Leaders enlighten; creating "Eureka-moments" for others.
John 12:46
69. Leaders are cautious in their judgements. John 12:47-48
70. Effective leaders know that love is a verb. John 13:1-17 (vs1)
71. Legacy leaders lead others toward service. John 13:13
72. Leaders bless. John 13:17
73. Leaders re-new by giving the new. John 13:34
74. Leaders recognize and challenge shallow allegiances. John 13:34
75. Leaders build. Question: What and Who are you building with your life? John 13:37-38
76. Leaders know that people do not follow programs, ideas, or organizations; but rather, people follow people. Question: Who are you following and why? John 14:4-6
77. Effective leaders seek to develop not only new leaders but better leaders. John 14:12-14
78. Leaders understand the importance and necessity of obedience. John 14:15
79. Leaders know that what they have belongs to another. John 14:24
80. Leaders must cut away the unproductive. John 15:1-2
81. Leaders know that people are watching; they as the leader are the pattern of reference. John 15:12
82. Leaders create an atmosphere of friendship. Question: Is your places of influence friendly places? John 15:12-15
83. Leaders speak plainly. John 16:25
84. True leaders pray for their people. John Chapter 17 (verses 9; 20)
85. Leaders reveal the hidden. John 17:25-26
86. Leaders have their quiet places. Questions: Where is your quiet place? How often do you visit it? John 18:1-4(vs2).
87. The truly influential leader rejects violence as a solution.
John 18:10-11
88. Leaders will never be able to convince everyone. John 18:19-23
89. Leaders must sometimes go beyond service to sacrifice.
John 19:28-30
90. Leaders live a compelling story. John 20:1-18
91. Leaders leave the tomb; the dead places behind. John 20:17
92. Leaders restore. John 21:15-19
93. Leaders show favoritism. John 21:22-23
94. Leaders repeat themselves. Question: Do they understand your message? John 21:15-19
95. Leaders face gossip head on. John 21:22

Leadership Lessons of St.John the Beloved(Part 4)

51. Leaders work. Question: Are you avoiding the necessity of personal involvement because you view yourself a visionary leader instead of a manager? John 9:1-5
52. Leaders are resourceful; opening their eyes to useful resources usually discarded and trodden on by others. John 9:6
53. Leaders get dirty. Question: What necessary job has your pride prevented you from doing? John 9:6
54. Leaders protect their place of influence. John 10:1-10
55. Leaders know the names of those they lead. Question: What do you know about those you lead? John 10:3
56. Leaders can only lead from the front. John 10:4
57. Leaders give above and beyond. Question: When have you performed at a level that you knew was not your best? Why?
John 10:10-11
58. Leaders reject money as the sole motivator of their actions.
John 10:13
59. Leaders create a sense of security for those they lead.
John 10:28-29
60. Leaders are moved by suffering and loss. John 11:35
61. Leaders gather the scattered. John 11:52
62. Today's leaders are mobile. John 11:54
63. Leaders defend the Givers from the accusations of the Jealous. John 12:1-7
64. Leaders describe and proclaim victory in detail. Questions: Has your organization struggled to grasp hard won victory because you failed to clearly define it? As a leader, what does victory look like for you? John 12:30-33
65. Wise leaders wisely seek the praise of God. John 12:43