Leadership Articles
Learn to work effectively among the highs and lows of leading others.
- Caves
- Challenges of Siblings
- Character: It’s Been Buried Long Enough
- Creativity and Tenacity
- God Is Faithful Why did God propel the young girl named Esther to the position where she alone could influence the fate of the Jewish people? Chuck Swindoll suggests that it’s because God knew Esther had a teachable heart and a humble and obedient spirit. He knew she would not be swayed by the trappings and all the temptations of kingdom life but would remain grounded in the teachings and faith that Mordecai had modeled to her. How would you do today if God tested you? Would you have a teachable spirit as Esther did?
- Innovative Planning
- Servant-Hearted Leaders Those who have reached the pinnacle of achievement in their careers are often seen as “having arrived.” But Chuck Swindoll suggests that these individuals need to never lose their teachable spirit and desire to listen and learn. Esther is an example of one who didn’t let her position as queen end her obedience to a higher authority.
- Seven Building Blocks for Leaders Using the Jewish leader Nehemiah as an example, Chuck Swindoll outlines seven characteristics that all effective Christian leaders should exhibit. Anyone who aspires to leadership or who is currently in a leadership role can be challenged by this article and can use it to pinpoint areas of growth on which he or she needs to concentrate.
- Spiritual Leadership Citing Moses’s, Peter’s, and David’s ragtag followers as examples, Chuck Swindoll reminds us that the people God uses in significant ways don’t always fit the world’s mold of a natural-born leader. When a leader’s heart belongs to God and he or she is allowing the Holy Spirit to work through him or her, personal eccentricities and weaknesses cease to matter; this leader will be able to accomplish the ministry God has set before him or her. That should be good news to all of us!
- Ten Essential Characteristics of a Healing Church
- The Dark Side of Greatness If you truly want to be remembered as a great leader, Chuck Swindoll advises you to be careful what you wish for. He recalls in this article that the best preparation a leader can have for greatness are all of the painful, cruel, and unfair things life can offer. No one displays the resilience, wisdom, and depth of a good leader without having gone through the furnace of affliction first. The painful life of Abraham Lincoln serves as the backdrop for this truth that we often don’t want to hear.
- The Reckless Phony Anyone who is overly concerned about his or her image or reputation is in danger of exchanging genuineness for phoniness in order to protect that image. Chuck uses the example of King Rehoboam’s life—as well as the legacy left to him through the compromises made by his father and grandfather—to caution us against hiding our sin and growing comfortable with it. We must instead conquer our sin and not let it separate us from God.
- The Surprise of Victory in Christ David Carl explains how the self-reliance and individualism that bodes well for worldly success doesn’t translate well into the Christian’s walk with God. Jesus Himself made His dependence on His Father and on His disciples very clear. To follow His example, we must learn how to be vulnerable and transparent with other believers and realize how much we can learn from one another that we could never learn on our own.
- The Three-Second Pause
- What Should I Say to Hurting People?
- What to Do When A Leader Falls This article addresses the sad, unfortunate situation when a Christian leader is willingly violating God’s standards without a repentant heart. It outlines how, when, and why to discipline the offender and thus helps you to go beyond the conflicting emotions involved. The apostle Paul gave some specific directions on this topic so that the sacredness of God’s ministry and His calling could be protected.
- What We Need to Help Us through Trials
- You Can Make a Difference Swindoll describes well the smallness anyone who’s in Christian service can sometimes feel when up against the enormity of our calling to reach the world for Christ. Chuck shares the words of comfort that God gave him when he was burdened by the enormous task of leading a church. Let these words help you renew your focus also.