If you want to participate in this Bible Study, here is the link.

Bible in One Year Alpha : Today’s Lesson. Some of it is below the rest of it is on the website.

How to Lead Like Jesus by Nicky Gumbel

Wisdom Psalm 18:1-6

New Testament Matthew 21:1-17

Old Testament Job 19:1-21:34

Introduction

Few people have shaped the day-to-day management of people and companies more than Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager, which has sold more than 13 million copies. The book was so successful that he had trouble taking credit for its success. He began to think about God. He started to read the Bible. He went straight to the Gospels. He wanted to know what Jesus did. He became fascinated with how Jesus transformed twelve ordinary, and unlikely, people into the first generation of leaders of a movement that continues to affect the course of world history 2,000 years later. He became aware that everything he had ever taught or written about effective leadership, Jesus had done to perfection way beyond Ken’s ability to portray or describe. Jesus is more than just a spiritual leader. He gives a practical and effective leadership model for all organisations, for all people, for all situations. You may not think of yourself as a leader, but leadership is about influence. You do have influence, therefore, in a sense, all of us are leaders. Jesus is the greatest leader of all time. In the passages for today, we see some of the characteristics of Jesus’ leadership together with those of two other great influencers in the Bible – David and Job.

Wisdom

Psalm 18:1-6

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

  ¹ I love you, Lord, my strength.   ² The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,   my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.   ³ I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,    and I have been saved from my enemies.  ⁴ The cords of death entangled me;    the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.   ⁵ The cords of the grave coiled around me;
   the snares of death confronted me.   ⁶ In my distress I called to the Lord;    I cried to my God for help.
  From his temple he heard my voice;    my cry came before him, into his ears.

Commentary

A leader’s worship

David was one of the greatest leaders in the history of Israel. He also wrote some of the most beautiful songs of worship ever written. Thousands of years later, his Psalms continue to be used in worship by God’s people. In this psalm, we see that David’s worship and prayer was the bedrock on which his leadership was founded. In the midst of difficulties and opposition he says, ‘I called to the Lord, I cried to my God for help’ (v.6). The result was a great reversal in circumstances followed by success, which led David to express his thanksgiving in song. Whether in difficulty or success, follow David’s example by seeking to build your life on the foundation of prayer and worship. The starting point of worship is love for God: ‘I love you fervently and devotedly, O Lord, my Strength’ (v.1, AMP). David goes on to express his love, praise and thanksgiving to God. He faced enemies (v.3b), death and destruction (vv.4–5) and distress (v.6a). When he looks back he can see how God heard his cry and saved him from his enemies (vv.3–6). For the last few years, I have written down a list of cries ‘for help’ (v.6a) in the margins of my Bible in One Year. It is amazing to see the ways in which God has heard my cry. So many of the prayers (although not all quite yet) have been answered. Keeping a record helps me not to forget to thank God. Prayer O Lord, my strength, thank you so much for the many times when I have called to you for help and you have heard my voice. With all the challenges ahead, again I cry to you for help…

New Testament

Matthew 21:1-17

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” ⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:   ⁵ “Say to Daughter Zion,    ‘See, your king comes to you,   gentle and riding on a donkey,    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” ⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,   “Hosanna to the Son of David!”   “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”   “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” ¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” ¹¹ The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Jesus at the Temple ¹² Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ¹³ “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” ¹⁴ The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. ¹⁶ “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,   “‘From the lips of children and infants   you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” ¹⁷ And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Prayer

Lord, help me to lead like Jesus with authority, gentleness, humility, courage and power. Like Jesus, may my strength come from my personal relationship with you.

Listen to the rest of today’s devotional here