Skilled leaders will urge their team to take appropriate risks and then offer them a hand if they begin to falter. Read Matthew 14:22-36.

Not only did Jesus repeatedly demonstrate courage and take risks but He also encouraged His followers to take risks. After John the Baptist’s death, Jesus took some time to minister to crowds that had followed Him into a remote region of Judea and when they dispersed, He sent a few of His closest team members away by boat while He took some time alone to pray, grieve, and find personal renewal. Jesus’ closest friends had been in the boat all night, but with the wind against them, still hadn’t reached the other side of the lake. To their great surprise, and terror, just before dawn, they saw a figure they believed to be a ghost, walking on the water coming toward the boat.

Every leader needs someone who will give them wise counsel rather than a rebuke even when they need to vent. Read Matthew 11:1-6.

John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, had been imprisoned by King Herod for publicly holding him accountable for a moral failure. Prison stripped John’s inner circle of support from him and left him emotionally empty. John had a firm grip on his personal identity and mission; he knew he was called to prepare the people for Jesus’ message, but in a moment of weakness questioned Jesus’ identity. He sent his disciples to present his question to Jesus. Instead of reprimanding John for having doubts, Jesus provided the prophet with the information he needed to be strengthened and have his faith renewed.

When leaders express vision their team will be encouraged. Read Zechariah 2:1-13.

Zechariah was writing to people who had recently experienced a seventy-year exile from their homeland to Babylon. The small contingent who had returned to Judah and Jerusalem were being challenged to finish the temple construction when Zechariah gave them this message of hope and encouragement. Zechariah encouraged the people to complete the rebuilding project by giving them a vision of the Messiah who would come to this temple and bring salvation to the people.

Wise Christian leaders will find ways to offer encouragement and hope to their team even during a process of correction. Read Amos 9:11-15.

For eight and one half chapters Amos had given warnings of God’s coming judgment to the people of Israel. Amos’ sharp declarations required a response; Israel’s sin had to be dealt with and that meant some very difficult times ahead. But, the book concludes with hope for the future. In the last half of chapter 9, Amos’ words were full of hope, healing and the vision of a positive change that once again would bring God’s blessing. Through Amos’ closing words, God illustrates how much people need both admonishment and affirmation.

Wise leaders use rewards as a natural part of positive reinforcement for accomplishments and they also have a system that applies appropriate consequences for failure. Read Lamentations 4:6-8.

Over the years God had blessed the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. Under David and Solomon’s rule no other nation knew such business or military success. God had blessed the nation with abundance through their agricultural system and had established such a military power under David’s leadership that Solomon knew almost 40 years of peace. Even during these most prosperous days God detailed a consequence should the kings, priests and people of the nation fail to keep their covenant.