Biblical Leadership W1 Taking Advice – 2 Chronicles 10

This week we are beginning a 4 week study on Biblical Leadership. Each lesson will highlight some scriptural example of leadership. This first week we are looking at one of the poorest leaders in the Bible, Rehoboam.

The dilemma: Jeroboam said, "Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you."

Elders Advice: "If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

Young Men: Thus you shall say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins! 'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'

Did King Rehoboam demonstrate any wisdom in his approach?
What do you think motivated him to choose his response?
How did the people of Israel respond?
Were there any other options King Rehoboam could have considered?
How did this decision affect his future as a leader?
How did this decision affect the Israelites?
When you get conflicting advice, how do you evaluate it to see what is the best decision?
What can we learn about leadership from Rehoboam?

Week 5 Power as an Idol

Week 5 Power as an Idol
This week we will be talking about Power as an Idol. This is another one of those good things, that taken too far (to become the ultimate thing) can be an idol.
What are some synonyms for Power?
Control, Pride, In-charge, Command.
How do people demonstrate their power?
What are some symbols of Power? Air Force One
1981 Alexander Haig – After the assassination attempt on Reagan, V.P. George Bush was not around and Al was in the White House, so he told reporters, “ I am in control here”.
Richard will be preaching on this using Nebuchadnezzar, so I thought we would look at a different passage this morning.
1 Samuel 13:8-14 Saul
Saul decided to take charge and make the burnt offering sacrifice.
What do you think motivated him to do this?
What were the consequences of Saul’s actions?

What is the opposite of Power – Humility, Weakness, ….
One other scripture on Power:
Luke 22:24-27
How does Jesus describe the kings of the Gentiles?
Jesus – the most powerful – is the one who serves the most.
What could you look for to find out if someone held Power in the position of an Idol?
Can an everyday person (like us) elevate the desire for power above our desire to know God?
What would that look like?
How can we avoid it?

Week 4 Success as an Idol

Week 4 Success as an Idol
This week we are going to consider Success as a potential Idol.
Who are the 5 most successful people in America in the last 30 Years?
Why?

Examples Malcolm Gladwell – Outliers – The story of success – 10,000 hours
Beatles 1960 (Hamburg) 1964 (US)
Bill Gates (1968 Junior High – Mother’s club – leased computer time)
Beatles – Hamburg

Keller says that something becomes an idol when it becomes the ultimate thing instead of just a good thing.

In what ways do you attempt to be successful?
What would your reputation be if you never attempted success in anything?

How important is success to you? Rhetorical

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
Solomon’s success (watch for them, Note them)
Ultimately 12:13 – Fear the Lord.
This concept is easy to see from Solomon’s perspective, but the closer to home we get, the more difficult it is to see.

What would you look for in someone’s life to determine that they put too high a value on success?
Spend a lot of time at something
Achieve something at the cost of something else (relationships, etc.)
Value Position so that others see them as successful