Monthly Study
June 2023Unlikely Leaders
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.— 2 Timothy 2:15
I am convinced that our most influential leaders are the ones we know very little about—the teacher in the inner-city school, the parent who has so much to juggle, or the grandparent, passing down wisdom from one generation to the next. You may not realize it, but you are a leader too! Whether in your family, church, neighborhood, or workplace, God is calling you to make a difference for His kingdom. In this study, we will:
- Learn about unlikely leaders in the Bible
- Understand how to become a better leader
- See how you can show God to the people you lead
Your devotional author,
Chris Rappazini
Volume 36Edition 6
Managing Editor: Jamie Janosz, Senior Editor: Elena Mafter, Contributing Editor: John Koessler, Writer: Chris Rappazini, Art Director: Lynn Gabalec, Graphic Designer: Rachel Hutcheson, Marketing & Production: Paul B. Currie
About the Author
Chris Rappazini
Dr. Chris Rappazini believes "the Bible is still relevant, leadership is essential, and the church's best days are still ahead."
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Podcasts
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Lead Like Jesus
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What do you look for in a leader? For generations, God’s people hoped for a leader to take them into battle. They wanted a problem-solver, winner-take-all, charismatic leader. Instead, God gave someone they did not expect...His Son Jesus. In direct contrast to the characteristics of popular leaders then (and now), Jesus was known for humility.
June 1, 2023
Drought and Doubt
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Ask any farmer, and they will tell you the word they fear the most is drought. Without rain, their crops and livelihood are in peril. Farmers plant their crops with hope that rain will come soon. But a couple of seasons of drought, sprinkled with a period of doubt, is a combination even the most optimistic farmer never wants to face. When rain does come it is viewed as a blessing, restoring life to the withered land.
June 2, 2023
An Unlikely Journey
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Do you ever yearn for adventure? For some this might mean a winding road trip and camping out under the stars. For others it means trying exotic foods or exploring a new city. Most of us find it exciting to go where we’ve never gone before. In Genesis 12, God told another one of His unlikely leaders to venture into the unknown. Even better, God promised that the entire world would be blessed one day through him and his journey.
June 3, 2023
Interceding for Others
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For nearly ten years, lawyer Randy Schoenberg represented Austrian Maria Altmann in her quest to recover her family’s paintings that had been stolen by the Nazis during World War II. The exquisite paintings, valued at more than $325 million, were discovered in museums where they had been displayed for decades. Schoenberg persisted on Altmann’s behalf, appealing to many judges, including the U.S. Supreme Court, before winning her case.
June 4, 2023
Right Words at the Right Time
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A well-known comedian observed that the number-one fear for most Americans is speaking in public, while the second fear is death, which means that at a funeral, people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy. There is some truth to this humor. Having the right words at the right time can be challenging. We fear offending others or embarrassing ourselves. We aren’t the only ones to be timid with our tongues.
June 5, 2023
Leaders Can’t Do It Alone
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In the most despicable and wicked manner, the Amalekites attacked the Israelites from the rear, focusing on attacking the women, children, and elderly (Deut. 25:17–18). The Israelites had never experienced a battle before. Yahweh fought the Egyptians for them. But in today’s text, the Lord was teaching the Israelites to rely on the Lord and take matters into their own hands.
June 6, 2023
Succeeding a Legend
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Being selected to follow an outstanding leader can be difficult, if not downright impossible. How do you prevent comparisons? The book of Joshua begins with news that would have made headlines for weeks: “Moses my servant is dead” (v. 2). Without a doubt, it was the topic of conversation at every dinner table. But while Moses’ life may have been over, God’s commitment to the Israelites was not.
June 7, 2023
Counted Out or Counted On
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Do you remember learning about Alexander the Great? At a certain point in his world conquest, he and his leaders became concerned. Examining their maps, they realized they had come to the very edge on each side. How could they proceed when it was all unknown? The people of Israel faced a similar situation. Joshua had brought them to the banks of the Jordan River looking into the land God promised. But this was unchartered territory.
June 8, 2023
Leadership Starts at Home
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The pandemic changed typical home life in both good and bad ways. Families were forced to work alongside each other, sharing more spaces and meals than before. Children observed their parents’ ability to problem-solve and trust God during challenging times. Time will only tell the spiritual impact that unexpected “time together” had on our families.
June 9, 2023
Leaders Take Initiative
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The receptionist responded, “Are you crazy, lady?” and immediately hung up the phone. But that didn’t stop Judy Sheindlin. Three years later, in 1996, Sheindlin convinced CBS television producers to run a daytime reality court show starring her in the main role. For the next 25 years, Judge Judy became one of America’s most famous judges and personalities.
June 10, 2023
Leaders Find Strength in God
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When you’re up against an enemy, most people will agree there is strength in numbers. The more people on your side, the more likely you are to win. But in Judges 7, we learn that numbers are meaningless when God is involved.
June 11, 2023
Leading with Empathy
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Tragedy keeps a sloppy appointment book. There is no way to avoid it, and it is never welcome. But when difficult things happen to us, do we consider ourselves first or the needs of others? In the book of Ruth, we find three women facing extreme heartbreak.
June 12, 2023
Leaders Show Courage
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The Righteous Among the Nations was established to honor non-Jews who took great risks to save Jewish families during the Holocaust. Over half of these are women, known as “The Women of Valor.” Some hid people in their homes. Others helped them flee to safety. In the face of pure evil, they found the strength to lead. But World War II was certainly not the first time evil threatened the Jewish people. Around 479 B.C., King Xerxes decreed “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children —on a single day” (Esther 3:13). Who would step in to save God’s people?
June 13, 2023
The Heart of a Leader
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What makes a great leader? Many people choose leaders because they “look the part” or “had the most success.” However, according to the Scriptures, the mark of a great leader goes much deeper. God taught this lesson to His prophet Samuel when he was tasked with anointing the new leader of Israel.
June 14, 2023
Lead by Example
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Evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody was passionate about pouring into the next generation. In Chicago, he gathered orphans to begin his first Sunday School. Then, after founding Bible training schools in New England and Chicago, Moody determined that even poor and less-privileged students should be able to learn about God and His Word. While he asked supporters for help, he also paid the tuition for needy students out of his own pocket. Godly leaders practice what they preach.
June 15, 2023
Standing Tall
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Peer pressure isn’t constrained to the halls of high school. It can find its way into the nooks and crevices of our work, friends, and culture. We give into peer pressure for many reasons. We may feel the need to be accepted. Or we would rather “go along” so we can “get along.” But the leaders whom God uses are those men and women who are willing to stand up for what they believe.
June 16, 2023
Following in the Dark
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We value leaders, but what about followers? It is a topic often overlooked, but followership is at the very heart of leadership. Imagine Harriet Tubman, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or Winston Churchill without any followers. Their many faithful followers demonstrated their ability to lead well. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the ideal follower. When God surveyed all creation, He appointed Mary to look after His one and only Son.
June 17, 2023
Leading in Grace and Truth
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As a professor, I am sometimes asked to introduce guest speakers in chapel and at conferences. I sometimes struggle with finding the right words to say, sorting through all the things I know about the person to phrase the perfect introduction. Imagine, for a moment, that you were asked to introduce Jesus. How would you describe Him?
June 18, 2023
Step Out of the Spotlight
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Do you have a lot of followers on Facebook? Did your last post get dozens of likes? In our social media obsessed world, it is easy to become self-focused. Who among us doesn’t enjoy being the center of positive attention? But God desires leaders who are willing to step out of the spotlight.
June 19, 2023
Leading from Your Weakness
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In his book, Leading with a Limp, Dan Allender goes against the norm. He encourages leaders not to hide their weaknesses, but to use them! He recognizes that all leaders are broken, and God can use our brokenness to help others. Instead of protecting our image, Allender suggests that God can use imperfect yet authentic leaders to accomplish amazing things.
June 20, 2023
Leaders Take Risks
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For some of us, risk taking is part of our DNA. According to a groundbreaking new study, more than 100 genetic variants are linked with those who take risks. But even if we are the cautious type, being a godly leader may require us to step out of our comfort zone and into the arena. That was the case with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15.
June 21, 2023
Authentic Leadership
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Pick any year, and you can easily name a corporate scandal, whether Enron, the Volkswagen emissions, or, more recently, the corruption of the cryptocurrency FTX Trading company. It’s no wonder we find it difficult to trust leaders! By contrast, authentic leadership encourages leaders to be self-aware, transparent, and lead from the heart. For the next three days, we will read the same text considering three different types of leadership. First, we’ll understand what it means to lead with authenticity by learning from Mary.
June 22, 2023
Servants Who Lead
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The phrase “servant leadership” was coined by Robert Greenleaf in the 1970s. While working at AT&T, Greenleaf recognized that individuals and organizations ought to be known as servants who lead instead of leaders who happen to serve. He said the best test to determine if one is a true servant leader is asking, “Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?” In Luke 10, Jesus visits the home of Mary and Martha. Today, we turn our attention to Martha.
June 23, 2023
Transformational Leadership
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After receiving an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, the late Fred Rogers asked the crowd, “Would you just take along with me10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are?” He concluded, “How pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they’ve made.” Rogers understood that transformational leaders leave a lasting impact on others. They inspire others to accomplish great things by listening, advising, cheering, and by example.
June 24, 2023
Loving by Serving
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Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, was determined to turn around the struggling fast-food chain. The leadership team focused on improving the company’s relationship with their 340 franchise owners. By choosing to serve and even love these individuals, they saw dramatic results. Their change of behavior was spurred by one question: “Do you love the people you lead?”
June 25, 2023
Carry Others’ Burdens
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Boston College runner Madeline Adams was just 200 feet away from finishing the ACC cross country championship race. Just as she was achieving her personal best time, she felt her body collapse due to exhaustion. Her rival Evie Tate from Clemson noticed Adams struggling to stand. In a display of extraordinary sportsmanship, Tate sacrificed her finishing position to put her arm under Adams. Louisville’s Rachel Pease saw both women stumbling, took Adams’s other arm, and assisted until all three competitors crossed the finish line.
June 26, 2023
Going Public with Your Faith
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In the first century, it was illegal for family members to retrieve the crucified bodies of their loved ones. Dead bodies typically hung for days, if not weeks, so the message was clear: Do not mess with the Roman Empire! After some time, the Romans would pry the bodies off the cross, carry them in a wagon, cart them down to the Valley of Gehenna, and dump them into a rat-infested mass grave. The same would have happened to Jesus’ body if not for the boldness of two unlikely leaders, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
June 27, 2023
Leaders Open Doors
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Jesus charged the disciples with making disciples throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Still, they never imagined that would include reaching out to the Pharisees and religious elites. So, when word spread that Saul, a Pharisee trained under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and persecutor of Christians, had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, it would certainly have been hard for them to believe it.
June 28, 2023
Leaders Learn from Trials
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It has been said that you are either in a trial, exiting out of a trial, or entering into a trial...you just aren’t aware of it yet. We can either whine and complain when trials come or learn to become the men and women God wants us to be. We aren’t the first ones in history to ever face trials. Trials are part of the DNA of the church.
June 29, 2023
Be a Trusted Leader
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Leadership begins and ends with trust. Followers must be able to trust their leaders, and leaders must be able to trust their followers. One without the other is a lopsided relationship. Booker T. Washington said, “Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him.”
June 30, 2023