Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the tag “leader development”

15 Dec 2025

Long-term Goals vs Short-term Needs

The phrase, “like sheep without a shepherd” is repeated twice in the Gospels.  Here are the references:  Matthew 9:36 ESV – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd,” and Mark 6:34 ESV – “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”

The Matthew event happened before sending out the Twelve in pairs, while the second occurred after they returned from their short-term ministry trip.  Both events evoked a response from Jesus of compassion for the many people who were wandering through life without someone who cared for or protected them.  But note the different applications that followed His compassion for the crowds.

In Matthew, we know that He saw a ripe harvest of souls all around Him and the application was to pray for more laborers for the harvest.  The solution was more workers in the harvest, and the means was prayer to the Father.  Implied in this request was a willingness to personally engage in the harvest as it was immediately followed by Jesus sending them out into the lost crowds in the villages of Galilee (see Matthew 10).

In Mark, after the Twelve returned, on the premise of seeking to get some time away, they once again encountered the many people in the ‘great crowd’ who had followed their boat from the shoreline.  Upon arrival, He saw the crowd, had compassion on them, and responded by ‘teaching them many things.’  And yes, He did eventually feed them – all 5,000 of them! 

As we go about our busy lives, may the Lord make us sensitive to the many lost, wandering souls around us who are living quietly desperate lives.  They may look all ‘put together,’ but we know the truth.  They are harassed and helpless – like sheep without a shepherd.  They have no one who is watching over their souls.

May our response be one of loving care for these lost ones.  May we engage in praying for them, teaching them the truth of the Gospel, and treating them as we would want to be treated – with dignity and respect.  Let’s be careful not to lose our focus on spiritual generations of disciplemakers – for that will ultimately address the eternal needs of the great crowds.  But let’s not be so future focused that we miss the immediate opportunities He brings our way.  Not moved to action by guilt, but from a compassion for the lost. 

Jesus dealt with this same dynamic tension of completing His strategic mission with the Twelve. He was always responding to the daily clamoring crowds immediate needs, who He helped by teaching and healing.  We too must address some short term ‘crowd’ needs and still fulfill our Mission just as He did.

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01 Dec 2025

Greatness and the Servant Leader

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 ESV

The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12 ESV

Note the context of both of these teachings about greatness in the Kingdom.

In Matthew 20 the two Zebedee brothers, James and John, made a preemptive power move involving their mother’s request to sit on Jesus’ right and left when He takes the throne of His Kingdom. Assuming this would be soon, these two positions would be numbers 2 and 3 in authority and power in the new Kingdom. This self-promotion at the expense of the other 10 apostles did not sit well. They became indignant with this ‘all for me, none for thee’ attitude of the two brothers. Not a good way to build trust with your comrades.

Jesus did not rebuke the brothers for their request. Rather, He simply said that those seats were designated for others.

The second context was in a rebuke of the Jewish religious leaders who loved the trappings of their leadership but were not applying what they taught personally. Position, title, and influence were what they desired rather than serving others.

Both lessons contain the same teaching – greatness in the Kingdom of God is found through becoming a servant. Note that Jesus does not say, “Greatness is found in serving.” Rather, greatness is found in becoming a servant. The issue is one of primary identity. Servant leaders have found their identity is being (becoming) a servant who expresses that identity as a leader who serves others. It is identity first, then the actions/behavior of serving flows from that primary identity.

So, don’t pursue greatness. Pursue becoming a servant and that humility will lead to greatness with leadership influence in the Kingdom.

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20 Oct 2025

Doing Good

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, … 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. … 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. Titus 3:1, 8, 14 ESV (italics added)

Note how three times in this short chapter Paul reminds Titus to ‘remind,’ ‘insist’ and help those he is leading in Crete to ‘learn to do good to others.’ These good works were to be done out of obedience to Christ as they submit to rulers and authorities and help others who are in ‘urgent need.’

We note that Luke summarizes Jesus ministry in Acts 10:38 ESV – “… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” We observe that the good Jesus did was the result of his anointing with the Holy Spirit and with power. These works were not simple courtesies like holding open a door for another or picking up after yourself (and others) on a camping trip. They required power from on High!

In Galatians 6:9 ESV we read: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” These good works require perseverance and endurance. They will be tiresome and draining on our leadership. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV says something similar: “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”

In 1 Peter 2:15 ESV we observe that doing good to others is a form of witnessing to them. “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” When returning good to those who intend evil against us, we live the life of Christ, and it silences their accusations. And in 1 Peter 4:19 ESV, Peter summarizes the process of doing good to others with: “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” If we are called to suffer for doing good, so be it.

We do good to others, even those who mistreat or oppose us, because that is Christlike. He suffered and died for us and for those who plotted against Him. We do not seek to earn favor with God by our deeds, but rather, as His disciples, we seek to imitate His example. We thoughtfully lead those entrusted to our care to be ready to do good to others for Christ and His Kingdom, not for us or our organization.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. … For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” 1 Peter 2:12, 15 NIV

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08 Sep 2025

Entangled

And they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. … So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Mark 11:28-29, 33 ESV

The opposition was trying to trap Jesus with this question about His authority to act as He was doing. Note how Jesus answered their question with a question. He told them that if they answered His question first, exposing their unbelief and duplicity, then He would answer their question. They discussed it and refused to give Him an answer. He, being true to His word, also refused to answer their question.

Leaders sometimes are asked questions, often in a public setting, which can be difficult to answer succinctly or without a longer explanation for clarity. Knowing your answer will be quoted by others, sometimes it is best not to answer. A simple, “I’m not sure I have an answer for that,” or “I’ll need to think about that some more” can be sufficient for the moment. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you also must have an answer because you are the leader.

Prudence and discernment can help in determining the motive behind the question and whether it is worthy of a response. Some Kingdom leaders get baited into public opinions they really don’t want to be quoted on. Questions related to politics, social justice, opinions and actions of others, or current news items that have little bearing on the Kingdom or your personal mission are best avoided. An answer like, “I don’t have a public opinion about that,” can silence the curious.

Social media or email is easily forwarded or edited by those who would do harm to the advance of the gospel or tarnish your reputation for evil purposes. Think before you hit the send button. Respond, don’t react. Let emotions settle before you reply. You don’t have to always give an answer. Don’t get baited into a side-issue confrontation that takes you away from your God-given mission. History is replete with many Kingdom leaders who became entangled in other issues.

Remember Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.” NASB20

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11 Aug 2025

Get Some Rest

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. Mark 6:31-32 NLT

Note how after a heavy period of ministry the Twelve regathered with Jesus and reported to Him what had happened and all they did during their short-term ministry assignment in pairs. Jesus listened and realized that the current local demands would not allow them to take a much-needed break. They needed some alone time to recharge their ‘ministry batteries.’

So, at Jesus’ initiative, they separated themselves from the immediate demands to get some quiet and rest. All Kingdom leaders need times of rest, reflection, and restoration. Jesus set the pattern for all who would follow. There are times of ‘push’ and times of ‘pull back.’

With this context, I’ll be taking the month of August to ‘pull back’ from writing this bi-weekly blog. Trusting that you also will be arranging your schedule for periods of rest weekly, quarterly, and annually. There is no glory in ‘flaming out for Jesus.’ Be a good steward of your time and ministry and aim for a long-term, sustainable pace to make your contribution to advancing the Kingdom.

See you in September 2025!

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28 Jul 2025

Trusting Others

In Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT we read, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”  Before we can trust people, we must trust in the Lord and His good and perfect plans for me and for us all.  People will constantly be giving us reasons not to trust them deeply, but if God reigns over all, I can forgive others quickly and move forward without being derailed by bitterness or a critical spirit.

But you say, “Yes, I do trust God deeply because He is good, sinless, and loves me unconditionally.  But that’s not true of people who are often looking out for their own good, do sin against me, and tend to love me only when I do what they approve of.”  I agree.  People can be hard to trust because trust is both given and earned.  And when trust is eroded due to untrustworthy behavior, it can be hard to trust again.  Forgiveness of those who wrong me is key to my freedom from bitterness.

Jesus addressed this when Peter asked Him about forgiving those who wronged him.  In Matthew 18:21-22 NLT we see, “Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”  “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” 

As we co-labor, we will often find others who act in ways that further their personal purposes without thinking about the broader impact on other co-laborers or our organization as a whole.  They may be very convinced about a certain way of ministry to accomplish our mission and vision that is different from yours.  These differences can cause a lack of trust and lead to judgmental attitudes and critical spirits.  Soon, factions and divisions form and trust is lost.

When moving to Indonesia many years ago, we were trained in the saying, “Not wrong, just different.”  Exposure to new cross-cultural norms could cause us to be condemning and critical of the host culture we were trying to impact for Christ.  Better to withhold judgement, be slow to speak and quick to listen, and remember that ‘wisdom is justified by all her children’ (see Luke 7:35).  More exposure and understanding can help us avoid a condemning attitude.

So, rather than presuming that ‘different’ is ‘wrong,’ ask questions with phrases like, “I see this, can you please help me understand…” Don’t presume motives or ignorance until you understand the new context better.  Position yourself as a learner to the new context and ask questions to gain better understanding.  Seek to understand rather than be understood.  Gaining a better understanding often clarifies the “why.”

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30 Jun 2025

Living and Leading at a Sustainable Pace – 1

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. Mark 6:30-32 NLT

Many leaders are chosen to lead because they have a history of getting things done. Goals, deliverables, outcomes are all a part of a leader’s vocabulary and part of their leadership psyche. But I wonder how many Kingdom leaders would have ‘rest’ as a part of their leadership vocabulary?

Now let’s be clear – we are not suggesting that leaders should model or accommodate laziness or lack of anything less than your best. But, in striving to give our best we can move to a striving to prove our worth to God and others or finding our self-worth in our accomplishments. Reproduction and fruitfulness should be a part of a Kingdom leaders’ worldview, but not for our personal value or ego. We seek impact for the glory of God, not our own glory.

Busyness is not bad in and of itself. Leaders are busy people. But in our busy lives are we living and leading at a pace that is sustainable for the long term? We are not drawing a false dichotomy between ‘rusting out for Jesus’ or ‘flaming out for Jesus.’ Neither of these seems God-honoring. What seems to be a biblical pattern is a regular day for rest (Sabbath) and a period of time away for the leadership demands after intense times of ministry (see Mark 6 above). The demands of the work will still be there when you return from your time away. You’ll be better able to serve those you lead after getting some rest.

As a younger leader I was given some great advice that has served me well for many decades. “A mark of maturity is being able to live with unfinished tasks.” The To-Do List is never-ending for leaders. Put in a good days work and lay down at night knowing you have done your best for this day. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 ESV

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19 May 2025

Responding to Praise

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised. Proverbs 27:21 NLT

When a leader is younger and inexperienced they sense their inadequacy and their personal prayer life is intensified. They cry out to God for help and His anointing for the tasks ahead and freely admit their own vulnerabilities. God hears their requests and answers above and beyond what they had hoped for. And then the test comes.

As the writer of this proverb states, one is tested by being praised. How you receive the accolades that come when you succeed will determine what comes next. The principle of Luke 16:10 is true – if you are faithful in little, you will be trusted with much. But, if you take credit for your success, do not admit that it was your leadership team’s effort that brought the results, of somehow steal the spotlight from God and put it upon yourself, you will pay a price.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Anyone can handle adversity; it’s success that’s the true test of a man.” And this taking credit for yourself can be very subtle. Your too smart to do it overtly; but when praise comes your heart swells with a secret arrogance that says, “Look what I did! Yes, you have identified the right person for this praise. Now everyone will know that I’m a great leader.” Oh, it is so subtle!

Be careful! Be very, very careful! For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. If God is opposing (actively working against) you, the outcome is not in doubt.

Proverbs 29:23 NLT says, ‘Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.’

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05 May 2025

Taking Advice

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15 ESV

By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom. Proverbs 13:10 ESV

One does not have to be in leadership for long before you encounter a decision or situation that is beyond your experience or ability to discern a way forward. Thus, those on your leadership team are vital for you to move forward in your mission, if you listen to their counsel. The wise leader selects wise team members and then listens to their advice.

But often leaders don’t heed the advice of those on their team. Yes, they will ‘listen’ but they won’t apply the advice given. Personal desires, personal insecurities, and pride all combine to make a leader unteachable and unwilling to follow the advice of those closest to them. They push through their agendas and the result is often disaster!

Does that mean that the best approach is a consensus decision-making model? If so, what kind of consensus? 100% consensus must agree or the decision is, no? This can lead to a tyranny of the minority. Or is a ‘super majority’ of 80% better (wiser)? Perhaps, but maybe the team is in an ‘echo chamber’ with little objectivity? What to do?

We’ve now moved from the ‘science’ of leading to the ‘art’ of leadership. Kingdom leaders are leading with a team of others who all have the Holy Spirit within. It seems that the best model is a leader and a team, not team leadership, with all team members seeking the Spirit to guide and direct their decisions. Decisions need not be 100% consensus, but those not in agreement must be listened to and taken seriously rather than dismissed out of hand for their contrarian views. Then, once the decision is made, the leadership team moves forward with one voice.

Wise leaders listen to the counsel and advice of others and freely admit they do not have the wisdom needed for all decisions and situations. Listen to your team members!

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21 Apr 2025

There’s Still Much to Do

Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess. Joshua 13:1 ESV

It had been quite the life for Joshua! He had apprenticed under Moses for 40+ years, most of those spent in the desert as God led Israel’s wanderings until they finally reached the east side of the Jordan River. Here his mentor, Moses, died and Joshua was commissioned by God to take his place.

After finishing the mourning period for Moses, the nation moved out, miraculously crossing the Jordan at flood stage just as Moses had led Israel through the Red Sea. They conquered Jericho with a shout and then learned major lessons through the defeat at Ai and the deception of the Gibeonites. Then came the campaign to occupy the land promised to Abraham, renewed to Moses, and now realized by Joshua.

Caleb’s life story gives us a great overview of the entire process. He says to Joshua in 14:7, “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.” Then he follows with vs. 10, “And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.” It had been 45 years since the spies had viewed the land – 40 years of desert wanderings and 5 years of warfare to occupy the major cities and subdue their kings.

The promise still had to be acted upon – yes, the cities had been conquered, but there remained the towns and villages and the coastal cities to the west. As the Lord had said, “there remains much land to possess.’ The journey of faith is one where we must act upon what God has promised. Yes, we plead His promises and ‘claim’ their fulfillment, but we still must act in faith to ‘possess the land.’

We must share the gospel with the lost, disciple those who are young in the faith, and equip disciples to become disciplemakers that we might ‘possess’ the third and fourth spiritual generations from our efforts. May we see the Lord going before us as we step out in faith trusting His faithfulness to His promises.

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