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Biblical Leadership

  1. Lesson One
    A Biblical Overview of Leadership
    11 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Biblical Models of Leadership Development
    7 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Becoming a Redemptive Leader
    9 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    Being an Effective Ministry Leader in a Changing World
    9 Activities
  5. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    3 Activities

Participants 85

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Biblical Leadership A Biblical Overview of Leadership What the Bible Tells Us about the Heart of a Leader
Lesson 1, Activity 7

What the Bible Tells Us about the Heart of a Leader

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When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

– 1 Samuel 16:6–7 NIV

So far we have learned how ministry leaders are called and affirmed to leadership positions in order to meet the needs of specific communities, often at specific times. Additionally, Jesus through His life and teaching, provides clear guidance on the servant-hearted nature of biblical leadership as a service to others. The previous verse about the anointing of David as King of Israel shows that God is very concerned about the hearts of leaders. Let’s learn more what heart attitudes God looks for and expects of ministry leaders.

Why the hearts of leaders matter

Watch this video (courtesy of the Cultivate Leadership Institute at Definition Church) in which Dr. Rodney Cooper explains how important the state of leaders’ hearts are to God (i.e., their inner thoughts, motivations, passions, and desires), and how this can impact the community or organization they lead. He explains how leaders are taken through a developmental process to strengthen and mature their heart attitudes so that they are more concerned with God’s agenda than their own agendas. Fully committed leaders who are transparent about the state of their hearts end up being effective leaders in God’s kingdom.

Lecture Resources

Transcript

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

– Psalm 139:23–24 NIV
Respond

After watching the previous video, use the psalmist’s words to pray and ask God to show you the state of your heart and whether it is prepared for leadership in the way that God requires of a ministry leader. Take the time needed to confess, examine, or change things that God reveals to you during this time.