Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the tag “Personal development”

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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22 Sep 2025

Mobility for the King and the Gospel

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.  He first went to Nazareth, then left and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.  Matthew 4:12-13

Having completed the first year of His public ministry in and around Judea, Jesus’ ministry began to grow.  Many of John the Baptist’s followers became disciples of Jesus (John 3:26).  As His popularity grew, opposition formed as He was viewed as a threat to the Jewish leaders.  This initiated a change of ministry location for Jesus as seen above.  He left Judea and moved north to Galilee (John 4:1-3).  He left His childhood home and moved to Capernaum which would now become His home for the final 2.5 years of His ministry (see Mark 2:1).

Mobility is part of a disciplemaker’s lifestyle as we follow Christ.  Jesus modeled mobility when He left His widowed mother (assumed) and family and moved from Nazareth to Capernaum as He launched year two of His ministry (see Matthew 4:13).  It would seem that this was a strategic move away from forming opposition in Judea and family and friends because they did not accept Him or His ministry (Mark 6:1-6).

Jesus does promise reward for those who leave home for His sake and the gospel (see Mark 10:29-30).  But there is no greater spirituality in moving, nor is it less spiritual to stay in one place for many years.  It is simply a matter of obedience to God’s calling on our life.  Some will stay in one location for many years, and some will move many times.  Some circumstances and seasons of life will necessitate us moving.  And it will seem always seem stretching, especially when God says move at ‘inconvenient times.’  Remember, God asked Joseph and Mary to move to Egypt with a young baby!

We note in the Great Commission passage of Matthew 28:19 that ‘go’ literally means ‘as you go.’  But it also implies an attitude of mobility as we go about our daily serving Christ in our mission.  We do not have to go far away to bear much fruit, but neither should we resist if the Lord asks us to relocate to a different part of the harvest field.  He is the Lord of the harvest and we are His servants.

Listen carefully to Him. And when He says “move,” it’s time to pack!

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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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14 Jul 2025

Living and Leading at a Sustainable Pace – 2

Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity. 1 Corinthians 16:12 ESV

Note how in this passage Paul ‘strongly urged’ Apollos to go to Corinth to help address some pressing issues outlined in his letter to them. There was a very pressing need in Corinth. And besides this need, the Apostle Paul was also ‘pressing’ Apollos to go. Yet, despite all the pressure from different sides, Apollos refused to go at this time. He would come sometime in the future, but not now.

That decision took a lot of courage! That decision came from someone who would not be intimidated or driven by an urgent request – even though it was legitimate. Apollos knew that some others could and would go (it appears Titus carried the letter to Corinth – see 2 Corinthians 2:12-13). It just wasn’t going to be him at this time. He had his reasons.

Why do Kingdom leaders move to reaction leadership and a personal drivenness to achieve, rather than staying within their God-given boundaries and saying ‘no’ when appropriate? Here are some of the lies we believe that drive us to live and lead at an unhealthy, unsustainable pace.

o “Success in the ministry depends upon me.” We would never say this, but we often live like it!
o “True commitment equals busyness beyond the limits of normal.” You know, leaders are busy people!
o “If I don’t accept this task or opportunity, then I will be left out or considered uncommitted by others.” Their opinion of me really matters for my sense of well-being!
o “I must model a challenging pace to be a good example for those watching me.” What happens when they are not watching me?
o The Should vs Could voices in our heads – “Should” pushes guilt and “Could” opens opportunity to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
o The ‘Messiah complex’ – “Apart from me nothing will get done.” “Your job is to represent the Messiah, not be the Messiah!” Donald Barnhouse
o “These are my disciples–my people, and they need / want / deserve me, not someone else.” You’re really not that important?
o “The Good Leader Syndrome” – adopting someone else’s pace, especially your heroes or your leaders.
o Climbing the organizational ladder for more power / influence – “My performance determines my future, therefore, I will put in more hours, volunteer for all duties, and be sure to quietly remind others of my sacrifice for the cause/team.”
o Lack of moral courage – “Everyone else is doing it, so I must do it too.”
o Self-martyrdom – “I can get by on less,” “I’m the exception,” or “I’ll be back to ‘normal’ soon.”

All of these lies lead to a ‘crash and burn’ ending that is not pretty. Whether we are burning ourselves out, wrecking our marriage, ignoring our children or driving those we lead to exhaustion – all is dishonoring to God. It is not honoring to Jesus or the cause of Jesus to associate Him with our own failings. That reality should stop us in our tracks and end the folly.

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians 3:23 NLT

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16 Jun 2025

Jesus, His Authority, and Your Boldness

The Gospel of Mark has a recurring theme that notes the authority of Jesus over various entities and in various contexts. Note the following:

[Mark 1:27 ESV] And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

  • Jesus exercised authority in His teaching of the Word and over evil spirits.

[Mark 2:10-12 ESV] But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–he said to the paralytic– “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

  • Jesus has authority to forgive sins and heal physical illnesses.

[Mark 2:27-28 ESV] And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

  • Jesus has authority over the Law and its application.

[Mar 4:39, 41 ESV]  And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. …  And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

  • Jesus has authority over the physical world – the wind and the waves.

[Mar 3:14-15 ESV] And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.

[Mark 6:7 ESV] And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

  • Jesus can delegate His authority to His followers.

Now, given this reality of delegated authority, what do you need authority to accomplish in your life and ministry? You have that His authority as a Christ-follower and His servant leader. Do not let the world intimidate you into silence or shy away from faith initiatives you know the Lord has asked you to undertake. Act boldly, in the power and authority of the One who has called you and empowers you to accomplish all He desires in and through you.

[Proverbs 28:1 ESV] The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

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02 Jun 2025

Decisions and Learning from Others

I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. Proverbs 24:30-34 NIV

Note that the author of the proverb above was making observations as he ‘walked’ through life. He was observant. He reflected on what he saw and drew some conclusions as a result.

Good leaders are teachable. A teachable attitude and learner’s heart will mean that you accept counsel from others. It can come from the direct counsel or advice of others. It can also come from making observations, reflecting on what you see, and then applying lessons learned from the observations to your life and leadership.

It was Otto von Bismarck who said, ““Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” In addition to learning from the mistakes of others you can also learn from what they did right. Do not hesitate to ask other leaders if they have experienced similar challenges to those you are currently facing and if so, what they did that was helpful or not.

If you are the senior leader, remember that the counsel from others on your leadership team can be invaluable in difficult decisions. You don’t have to figure it all out yourself! Rely upon the wisdom of your leadership team members when confronting complex issues.

And always remember that Kingdom leaders have The Counselor – the Holy Spirit within you and He will guide and direct you. Pray and ask Him for insight, wisdom, discernment, and the ability to anticipate future consequences of your decisions. The saying is true, “Today’s problems are yesterday’s solutions.” The Spirit’s counsel may come from His voice within (Isaiah 30:21) or perhaps He will direct you through the Scriptures (Psalm 119:105).

Many difficult decisions will need more time to see a way forward. But never ignore tough decisions hoping they will solve themselves. They most often get worse, not better. When the time to decide arrives you will almost always feel that you need more time or data to make a good decision. Make the decision and live with the results! And on a day when the decision is to be made, do it early in the day, otherwise it will be a ‘low hanging cloud’ over all other activities until completed.

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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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07 Apr 2025
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Big Shoes to Fill

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Joshua 1:1-2 ESV

How would you like to be the one chosen to lead after Moses? Talk about a challenge! Oh, my!

God clarifies His calling to Joshua by reminding him that Moses is dead! It’s time for you to lead now! So be strong and courageous and ‘put on your big boy pants’ because it’s time to occupy the land I promised you all forty years ago. Let’s get moving!

And then notice the first leadership challenge Joshua faces – they must cross the Jordan River. But there’s a problem – it’s in flood stage. I’d guess Joshua is wondering about the Lord’s timing in it all. Why now? Why not wait a little for the water level to recede and we walk across the shallows like normal. Why move out when it’s flooding? But Joshua told the people to make ready to break camp and cross over. “When you see the priests carrying the ark, follow them,” he said. And we know what happened – God stopped the flow of the river upstream and all Israel walked across the riverbed on dry ground!

The Lord knew that it would be difficult for the people to follow Joshua’s leadership having served under Moses’ guidance for 40 years. The people knew Moses talked with God personally, but what about Joshua? “The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.'” (Joshua 3:7) God was setting up Joshua’s authority to lead by using the crisis of crossing the flood staged river as a means to establish his leadership.

When Kingdom leaders assume new roles, especially if you are following a ‘rock star,’ count on the fact that God has your back. He knows that people will have a tough time transitioning their trust to you as the new leader. Thus, He will create opportunities for you to gain their trust and confidence in your leadership. But remember, this process of transferring trust to you will often come cleverly disguised as a major crisis! Don’t shrink back from it. Engage with it and watch God do what only He can do as He establishes you to lead.

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24 Mar 2025

Leading from Fear or Faith?

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:40 ESV
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 ESV

Kingdom leadership demands a reliance upon the faithfulness and power of God, rather than self. As we have noted, fear is not condemned for it is a God-given emotion. But when our behavior is controlled by fear instead of faith in God then we are on dangerous ground.

The word is only used three times in the NT, twice in the synoptic gospels (Matthew and Mark) in describing Jesus calming the storm and His rebuke for their lack of trust in Him. The third use is found in Revelation 21, and we note that it leads the list of characteristics of those who will experience the ‘fiery lake of burning sulfur… the second death.’

The inclusion of cowardice in the Revelation 21 list at first glance may appear out of place. Certainly John did not mean to equate murderers or idolaters with the cowardly, did He? Yes, He did! For those controlled by fear trust their own abilities and resources to protect themselves and seek their own safety. Kingdom leadership is casting off from the safety of the known into threatening unknown because Jesus said to. It is obeying Him with our whole heart, not just when it’s easy or convenient.

The Lord launches Joshua into his new leadership role with this exhortation (Joshua 1:6-7 ESV): Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

May we all be courageous leaders who lead from faith, not fear, confident in the truth that the Lord is faithful to His promises.

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