The Making of a Leader

A nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders. (Proverbs 28:2, GNT)

...with wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is stability. (Proverbs 28:2, NLT)

6 Laws of Leadership:

1. Nothing happens until somebody provides leadership for it.

- Everything rises and falls on leadership. -John Maxwell

-In those days Israel had no king [leader], so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. (Judges 21:25, NLT)


2. Leadership is influence

-A "leader" is someone with God-given ability and responsibility to influence a group of God’s people to accomplish God’s purpose for that group.


3. The test of leadership is: Is anybody following?

-My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [Jesus] (John 10:27, NLT)

-Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. [Paul]
(1 Corinthians 11:1, NCV)

- If you have to remind people that you’re the leader, you’re not.


4. The foundation of leadership is character, not charisma.

It is a true saying that if someone wants to be an elder, he desires an honorable responsibility. For an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exhibit self_control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, peace loving, and not one who loves money. He must manage his own family well, with children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

An elder must not be a new Christian, because he might be proud of being chosen so soon, and the Devil will use that pride to make him fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not fall into the Devil’s trap and be disgraced.

In the same way, deacons must be people who are respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers and must not be greedy for money. They must be committed to the revealed truths of the Christian faith and must live with a clear conscience. Before they are appointed as deacons, they should be given other responsibilities in the church as a test of their character and ability. If they do well, then they may serve as deacons.

In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not speak evil of others.

They must exercise self_control and be faithful in everything they do.
A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
(1 Timothy 3:1-13, NLT)

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about how their lives turned out, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7, GWT)

3 Characteristics of a good leader:
* They have a message worth remembering.
* They have a lifestyle worth thinking about.
* They have a faith worth imitating.

5. Leadership can be learned.

Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9, NLT)

6. The moment you stop learning, you stop leading

If an ax is blunt and the edge isn’t sharpened, then one has to use more strength. But wisdom prepares the way for success. (Ecclesiastes 10:10, GWT)