Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the tag “Personal development”

24 Aug 2026

You Will be Quoted!

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12 NIV

Before you assumed the role of leader you freely shared your thoughts and opinions, usually without significant consequences.  But now that you are leading others, your words carry much more weight because the authority of your position stands behind your words.  Now your words really matter to others. 

Someone put it this way.  “As a leader you speak at a volume of ‘2’ but you are heard at a volume of ‘9’!”  Therefore, you must think before you speak!  And choose carefully what you want to have public opinions about.  You will be quoted! 

Because of the gravity with which others hear a leader’s words, you can hurt someone with a flippant remark or bad use of humor.  A leader’s sarcasm can wound others, especially those more sensitive.  They may laugh, but inwardly they are hurting. 

Knowing that your words matter can be used to advantage also.  All team members want to be well thought of by their leader.  Words of affirmation from a leader are also heard loudly and can go a long way in helping individual or team morale.  But if a  leader is always pointing out short-comings or mistakes, team members will be hesitant to take risks or disclose the true nature of a situation for fear of criticism or rebuke.  Never confuse flattery with affirmation.  Flattery is insincere or excessive praise, often used to manipulate others.  “You’re the best!”  “You’re so smart!”  Often these characteristics are things  the person is born with.  But words of affirmation are compliments about something the person developed or did.  “Your wholehearted attitude was exemplary.”  “Your attention to detail really helped us.”  Be sure to affirm, not flatter!

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10 Aug 2026

Come Out With Your Hands Up!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Knowing the will of God is easy, but you do one thing first.  There is a prerequisite for knowing the will of God.  You must be willing to do the will of God – to obey Him completely, first. 

Often we want the opposite.  We cry out to God for guidance  and direction, asking Him to show us what to do.  But we want more clarity so we can then decide whether we want to do His will or not.  But God has a different way.

He says that we must first surrender to doing whatever He desires, then He will show us the plans He has for us.  We must be willing to obey Him completely first, then we will know the will of God – His good, pleasing, and perfect will.  We surrender to His plans much like one who surrenders to the sheriff in the Old West who says, “Come out with your hands up!”  We lay down our lives and surrender to His complete authority over us.

The God-honoring life is always a life of faith.  He says, “My righteous ones will live by faith.” (Hebrews 10:38; Habakkuk 2:4)  A life dedicated to God will be one of daily surrender and wholehearted obedience.  We are perfectly designed to fulfill this plan, but we must commit to it first.  (Ephesians 2:10)

We can have great confidence in God’s plans because He always acts according to His character.  He is love and all He does is from this foundation.  He is sovereign over all things in His creation.  He is good and all that He does is good.  This does not mean a God-honoring life will be an easy life.  Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  Trust Him with your future! 

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27 Jul 2026
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‘No’ Is Not a Four-Letter Word!

The missionary statesman E. Stanley Jones said, “Your ability to say ‘no’ will determine your ability to say ‘yes’ to greater things.”  Learning to say ‘no’ graciously is a skill to be developed as you mature in understanding your God-given design and your calling.

Nehemiah was persistent in declining many invitations to meeting with his opposition.  They then tried to scare him with threats upon his life.  All received the same answer, ‘no.’  (Nehemiah 6:1-14)  Apollos was strongly urged by Paul to leave Ephesus and go to Corinth.  But he said ‘no’ to Paul’s urging, instead promising to visit at a later date.  (1 Corinthians 16:12).  Paul himself said ‘no’ to an open door of ministry opportunity in Troas because he had a higher priority.  He was looking for Titus to bring him word of how his first letter to Corinth was received.  So he said goodbye to Troas and went to Macedonia.  (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)

Even God the Father said ‘no’ to His Son in the garden.  Three times Jesus asked His Father to change the plan and not go to the cross, but His Father said ‘no.’  (Mark 14).

Discerning between good and bad is easy.  But choosing between what is good, better, or best requires guidance from the Holy Spirit.  He will help you discern what is best.  It may be the right choice, but the wrong timing.  Never choose based upon the ministry audience size or the honorarium amount offered. 

And when you decline an invitation, do so with words of affirmation and gratitude first.  Then say, “I’m sorry I won’t be able to do this for you.  I have other commitments.”  No need to explain what those might be – it could be staying home to rest and spend time with your family which also is a real commitment.

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15 Jun 2026

Don’t Compare or Compete with Others!

The Parable of the Talents – Matthew 25:14-30

A ‘talent’ was a measure of weight amounting to approximately 75 pounds and was often used to weigh out large amounts of gold.  For one servant to be entrusted with 5 x 75 lbs. of gold was a very large amount.  Even the servant who received one talent had a sizeable amount of starting capital to invest.   

Note that the Master’s servants were given different amounts of starting capital.  This difference was the sole choice of the Master, and this distribution difference was based upon the individual servant’s ability to manage the assets (v.15). 

Though not stated in this parable, but assumed, the servants were instructed to put the starting capital to work and grow it.  The first two did so and were rewarded by the Master for their obedience.  The third servant was punished because he disobeyed the Master’s instruction to increase the initial amount.  He was judged ‘wicked’ (disobedient) and lazy (he could have simply made a bank deposit).  His talent was given to the servant who had greater capacity to manage more. 

Any self-satisfaction measured by the number of people involved in your ministry is a foolish exercise.  You may be one who started with a large amount and are comparing yourself to another who started with less.  Your results could be deceptive given your starting assets.  “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48).  We are simply to work as if to the Lord and let the results rest with Him (Colossians 3:23-25). 

Those who compare themselves to others are very unwise (2 Corinthians 10:12).  Keep your focus on Christ and do your best for His sake and for His glory alone. 

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01 Jun 2026

Two Are Better Than One and Three Is Even Better!

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him–a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

Note that when the Holy Spirit launched the pioneering ministry to the Gentiles, He set apart Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work.  It was the Holy Spirit who created the team concept for pioneering the work.  These two men then added John Mark as their helper on the first missionary tour (Acts 13:1-5). 

Pioneering a new ministry takes much effort.  Many unexpected obstacles appear and must be dealt with.  Some tasks are operational and some are more ‘spiritual.’  But all must be done.  It’s so helpful to have several to join in helping shoulder the workload.  Don’t seek to go alone!  Two are better than one and a three-cord strand is not easily broken.  No one individual has all the gifts or abilities needed to establish a sustainable initiative.  Ask God to bring you help – men and women of like-heart and vision who are skilled in the task.

Some have concluded that the number one reason for cross-cultural missionaries returning home is conflict with other team members.  Many serve with teammates they did not select but were assigned.  Many also are seeking to expand the Kingdom in high stress environments with formidable opposition.  Any character ‘cracks’ are soon amplified under the work pressure and become ‘chasms’ due to the efforts of our adversary. 

Ideally, working as a team in a familiar environment before moving into the pressure cooker of cross-cultural stress can be of great benefit.  Note that Barnabas and Saul served together in Antioch before being sent to the Gentiles.  While this does not always guarantee a successful team experience, it can greatly help.  We see that John Mark deserted the team and before the second missionary tour even Barnabas and Saul separated.  Both took others with them and formed new teams as they went out again.

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04 May 2026

The Foundation Determines the Superstructure!

“In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles…” Luke 6:12-13 ESV

Having spent a year since His baptism around Jerusalem and recruited the two sets of brothers to full-time discipleship, Jesus now creates a ‘leadership team’ called the Apostles.  The Twelve were chosen by Jesus as He looked ahead two years knowing that He would be leaving them to carry on His mission to reach the world. 

These Twelve would become the model for others who would come.  Anyone who wondered what following Jesus was like only had to look at the example of His inner circle to know what discipleship meant.  The Twelve were both catalyst and model for the disciplemaking movement.  They were the foundation on which Jesus would build. 

Within two years from their designation a ‘messengers’ (apostles), they were given the final command to ‘make disciples of all the nations’ (Matthew 28:18-20).  They would take what they knew and experienced, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, seek to conquer the world.  Local leaders commented, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  (Acts 6:13)

As others are attracted to your disciplemaking they will evaluate the quality of your influence by the lives of those already involved.  Especially those designated as disciplemaking leaders act as a living advertisement of what discipleship means. 

In the case of the Twelve, it was undeniable that they had ‘been with Jesus’ and no other schooling experience could explain their behavior.  The first generation determines all who follow. 

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06 Apr 2026

God Himself Will Provide the Lamb

In Genesis 22:1-18 we read of the faith trial Abraham faced when God directed him to sacrifice his son. Abraham had waited 25 years for the fulfillment of the promise that through his offspring the entire world would be blessed, and they would multiply like the sand on the seashore or the stars in the sky.  Isaac was born at age 100 and now a few years later the young man and his father were off to make a sacrifice.  Isaac carried the wood, but no sacrificial lamb was found.

Isaac noted the lack of the sacrificial lamb and asked his father about it.  Abraham’s prophetic response was simply, “The Lord Himself will provide the lamb.”  Romans 4 tells us Abraham reasoned that even if God did allow him to plunge the knife into the neck of his son, God had the ability to raise him back to life.  What amazing faith and trust!  Of course, God stopped Abraham and as he looked up, there was a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.  It was the perfect sacrifice at the perfect time! 

Your leadership will be full of trials of faith where there is no visible means of deliverance.  The storm clouds will surround you, lightening will crackle, and the peals of thunder will rattle the walls.  You will fear all is lost.  But remember, God is never in a hurry, but always on time.  At the perfect time and in a way that brings glory and honor to Him, you will see His answer.  Stay the course.  Do not give way to fear.  Trust Him and His promises.

All who you lead will be looking to you for strength and hope.  You must point them to God who promises to deliver in times of trouble. (Psalm 50:15)  God Himself will provide the ‘lamb’ you need.  Don’t be like Israel who tested God in the desert, and  said in their unbelief, “Can God spread of table in the desert?” (Psalm 78:19).  Yes, He can!  And yes, He did!  He will do the same for you as you trust Him.  Plead the promises to Him!

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23 Mar 2026

Bigger Does Not Mean Better!

It can be natural for some ministry leaders to think that the more people involved in our ministry the better.  We can assume that ‘more’ is better and a sign of God’s favor and blessing on the work.  Maybe or maybe not?

The disciples assumed that the rich man was favored because he had more money that others.  They assumed that his wealth was a sign of God’s blessing on his life.  But Jesus’ summary as he walked away from an invitation to join Him was that it is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.  Their resources make it easy to depend upon themselves and not on God. 

The disciples were amazed by this statement, for this was counter to a basic belief regarding God’s blessing on people.  Abundance is a sign of blessing and scarcity is a sign of His disfavor.  Don’t make the same mistake and assume that bigger is better! 

The vision of investing deeply in the lives of a few requires that we ignore the temptation to build some big ministry.  Building a  big ministry is not the goal.  Big ministries require great effort to manage.  Chasing after ‘bigness’ in ministry is not our focus. 

Having many people involved in your disciplemaking ministry is not necessarily bad.  We must avoid the other extreme of small numbers being an excuse for lack of effort or laziness.  We note that Jesus had thousands who He fed on at two occasions.  But caring for the hunger of the masses was not His primary focus.  It was an occasional endeavor. 

Don’t make the pursuit of many your aim.  Your aim is to equip a few people with vision and skills to make more disciples, thus changing the world one person at a time.  Go deep with a few for the sake of the many!

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23 Feb 2026

Watch Out for the Little Foxes!

Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom. Song of Songs 2:15 ESV

The Bible has a lot to say about money and how to handle it in in a God-honoring way.  Jesus says that how we handle our money will determine how much God entrusts His Kingdom assets to us. 

We remember that money in and of itself is morally neutral – not good, bad, or purple.  But it is the love of money which is the root of all kinds of evil. 1 Timothy 6:10  For those who love money will love this world and its values.  They will seek to accumulate as much money as possible, finding their hope and security in their net worth.  And this then can lead to taking advantage of others, cheating on tax returns, pursuing get rich quick schemes, leading to being distrusted by God.  For He says, “…if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” 

It is the small compromises in money manners that trip us up.  When dealing with money, be careful to avoid any appearance of impropriety.  And be on your guard when you hear an internal voice say, “Oh, that such a small thing, don’t worry about it” or “Don’t be so obsessive about that.  Everyone else is doing it” or “It’s just not that big of a deal.”  There are no small matters when it comes to integrity!

Do you want to have a legacy that reaches to the ends of the earth for the glory of God?  If so, Jesus reminds us that much integrity we have when handling money will determine whether God can entrust us with much more important, eternal things like the souls of men and women.

Watch for the ‘little foxes’ that creep in and spoil the vineyard!

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29 Dec 2025

Launching the New Year!

2025 has ended and now we launch 2026!  As we end one and begin a new calendar year, it’s good to pause and reflect upon what was and what we hope will be.  It is through reflection that we can gain perspective and see more clearly the overarching, God-orchestrated, macro-movements of our lives.

Leaders are often too busy to stop and reflect.  We always have more things to do and people to see.  We take one item off the do-list and add three more!  Who has time to stop and think?

Today…..now is the time to stop and reflect upon who you are becoming and what you are doing!  Your personal diary, journal or devotional notebook can be of great help to you as you look back and observe themes or topics the Lord has been addressing in you.  Here are some questions to get you started in this reflection time.

Are you satisfied with your own personal spiritual walk and growth?  More importantly, is Jesus pleased with your pursuit of Him?  How’s your current pace of life?  Is it sustainable long-term?  Do you have a margin in your schedule?  Are you living and leading from an overflow?  How’s your family doing?  Are you paying the price to experience the marriage you committed to on your wedding day?  Are you investing deeply in your children and grandchildren, knowing that the years for significant influence are rapidly passing you by?

What fears are you trying to ignore related to your leadership?  Are you leading with faith and courage?  Are you more concerned about your reputation or God’s glory?  Is the vision of where you are leading to focused or foggy?  Do you have a team that is unified and empowered around a shared vision?  Are you making progress in the God-given mission that you intended to accomplish?

These and many more questions are helpful for taking stock of where you are today and where you intend to be/go tomorrow.  Use this season for reflection and refocus as you start a new year full of new hope and new beginnings.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.    Hebrews 12:1-2  NIV

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!

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