Leadership Lessons

On Monday I taught a breakout session at the Vous Conference in Miami. Here are the notes from my session on leadership.

1 Samuel 17:31-51
While others saw an impossible task in front of them, David saw an opportunity for God’s power to be on full display.

Leaders see the “impossible” as an opportunity for God’s power to be revealed.

1 Samuel 17:32-37

2 Perspectives

1. Saul – God sends him someone to defeat his giant. God often answers our prayers by sending someone to help us.
2. David – David’s decision to go after the lion and bear prepared him for bigger challenges. David went after the lion and bear.

Leaders respond with action even when it’s scary.

Many things come our way that either ignite fear and no action, or those things trigger us to effectively do something about it. How we handle those things, often determines how God will use us in the future.

Fears are learned, so we must unlearn them.

Leaders approach situations not confident in themselves, but completely confident in God. “The Lord delivered me…”

David did not allow the lion or bear to define him. Let’s not allow challenges to define us.

1 Samuel 17:38-40

David approaches the situation the only way he knows how, with the gift that God has given him.

David never used a sword or wore armor. He was going to defeat the giant the same way he defeated prior challenges.

Leaders know who they are and equally as important, know who they are not.

God desires leaders to overcome challenges by being who God created them to be.

David’s weapon was a sling shot. Know your weapon.

1 Samuel 17:41-47

David is not using God as a means to an end. The story is about David’s approach to God when faced with a challenge. This is about David not allowing the giant to define him, but allowing God to define him.

Matthew 16:25 – For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

It’s by becoming nothing that we become something.

Leaders are more concerned about God’s glory, than their own glory.

What should our approach be to God when faced with challenges?

Luke 18:15-17

We approach God like a child. We feel the weight of our desperation to be saved, protected, and defined by God.

Leaders are completely dependent on God.

1 Samuel 17:48-51

A defining moment for David did not define him. He was not defined by what he did, but who he was and whose he was.

Leaders are defined not by what they do, but who and whose they are.
David is described as a man after God’s own heart.

If you’re defined by what you do, who are you when you aren’t doing that?