leadership
Maxwell
bi bl e
V
Second Edition
The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Second Edition Copyright 2002, 2007 by Maxwell Motivation, Inc.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. The text of the New King James Version (NKJV) may be quoted or reprinted without prior written permission with the following qualifications: (1) up to and including 1,000 verses may be quoted in printed form as long as the verses quoted amount to less than 50% of a complete book of the Bible and make up less than 50% of the total work in which they are quoted; (2) all NKJV quotations must conform accurately to the NKJV text. Any use of the NKJV text must include a proper acknowledgment as follows: Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. However, when quotations from the NKJV text are used in church bulletins, orders of service, Sunday school lessons, church newsletters, and similar works in the course of religious instruction or services at a place of worship or other religious assembly, the following notice may be used at the end of each quotation: NKJV. For quotation requests not covered by the above guidelines, write to Thomas Nelson Publishers, Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, Tennessee 37214-1000.
introduction to
John
ohns Gospel provides a wealth of material on Jesus life and ministry not found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, or Luke. His work is considered the simplest yet most profound of the four Gospels. Only John is written from a divine perspective, in which Jesus is portrayed as the Son of God. In the beginning was the Word, John writes, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (1:1, 2, 14). John writes as a leader attempting to persuade his readers to believe in Jesus. He writes that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name (20:31). He tells certain stories from Jesus life for a particular purpose and details many of Jesus teachings concerning His identity. Like the other Gospels, much of this book focuses on the final week of Jesus life; in fact, almost half of it does so. We can learn much from this concentration. For one thing, we see that the strength of ones leadership is magnified during ones most difficult times. Almost anyone can lead with momentum on his or her side, but it takes a true leader to lead with death staring you in the face. As John focuses on Jesus critical climax, we see what a great leader does under pressure. We catch a glimpse of a Leader in the most stressful situation imaginable, yet one who displays more peace than ever before. He communicates vision more vividly than ever before. He assures His staff of His love and belief in them more than ever before. He speaks of the future and lays a track for His men to run on more clearly than ever before. And He prays more intensely than He ever has before.
Leaders in John
Jesus, John the Baptizer, chief priests, Pharisees, Pilate
Introduction to J
Read this Gospel and see Jesus, not only as the King of kings, but as the Leader of leaders, who led under pressure better than anyone ever did before . . . or since.
Lessons in Leadership