Leaders training notes/outline at Newtownbreda baptist

Leadership lessons from King David

A lack of leaders is found in our society everywhere. The outline below is taken from a leaders talk at Newtownbreda Baptist (12th April 2010) and is part one of a six session study on leadership…

Introduction: Read 2 Samuel Chapter 9 verse 1-13

Background to story… this is a brutal time in the History of Israel some 3,000 years ago. Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle and it was customary in those days to seek out and destroy any remaining family members.
Jonathan had a son called Mephibosheth and during the battles a nurse had fled carrying him in her arms and dropped him (2 Sam 4:4). As a result of the fall he was now crippled in both feet. He lived in Lo Debar, a barren place. Geographically it describes the condition of his life… physically, mentally and emotionally.

1, as leaders we need to be people of integrity, people of the covenant and people who keep our word.
For some reason David remembered the covenant he had made with Jonathan and he acts on it (verse 1). What promises have we made? Are there things that we said we would do that have been left undone? Integrity is about honesty and wholeness; it involves completing those things we said we would do.
Let’s not be leaders with empty words… I am sure we can all think of disappointments when a leader has not kept his/her word… make it our goal to a leader of principal.

2, as leaders we need to be people who are willing to connect with, bless and restore those who are not our type.
Ziba the servant is quick to point out that Mephibosheth is crippled in both feet (verse 3). Notice David did not ask his condition, but Ziba felt it important to mention, perhaps hinting that Ziba was not the right kind of person to have around the Royal palace. However, David a man of grace, a man after God’s own heart is willing to bless and welcome in those who are different.

Leaders too often invest and connect with only those who are like-minded. The result is that the expression of their leadership is two dimensional and bias towards a particular persona. Let me give an example… At our summer camp if the sporty leaders only connect with the sporty kids where does that leave the others? How does the non-sporty kid feel? If our leadership only invests in those who are ‘our type’ we are missing the beauty and power of diversity. Just look at Jesus disciples and those who were members of the early church!

Let’s look for people to bless, people who are not necessarily our type. Watch out for those who feel isolated, or ‘left out’. Thanks God that His love is for all people ‘Red and yellow, black and white…’

3, as leaders we need to be people who intentionally bring people to the Kings table.

David not only blesses Mephibosheth but he gives him a seat at the kings table like one of his sons. (Verse 11). Once Mephibosheth is sitting at the table his brokenness is covered, from the waist up he is just like everyone else.
We need to be leaders who not only have integrity and show blessing to others but we must seek to bring them to the Kings table; in other words, seeking opportunities to bring people into a relationship with Jesus. Mephibosheth seen himself as a dead dog but he found value at the kings table; likewise it is in a relationship with Jesus that we find our value.

We can be great role models and good life coaches but we will never be great leaders unless we are leading them to the Kings table.