Noah: Faith
Taking a leap of blind faith, Noah wasn’t afraid of looking foolish in front of a crowd. He was obedient to God’s command to build a huge boat, despite the fact that it had never rained before on earth. And thanks to his leadership, he almost single-handedly saved the entire human race!
Joseph: A positive attitude
Enduring a series of unfortunate events—being sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape and left to rot in a dingy prison for 14 years—Joseph kept a positive attitude. Through his struggles, he allowed God to teach and shape him into the leader that Egypt needed.
Moses: Patience
Doing any single task for 40 years takes a lot of grit and patience, let alone leading millions of complaining people through a desert. Moses’ ability to lead the Israelites calmly and confidently was thanks to his close and personal relationship with God.
Joshua: Courage through learning
When Moses died, the Lord promised to be with Joshua “just as he was with Moses” and asked him to be “strong and courageous”. Joshua had some big shoes to fill, but thanks to God’s guidance and observing Moses’ leadership closely while he was alive, he was able to lead the Israelites into the promised land.
David: Vision for the future
Being crowned future king by the prophet Samuel when he was just a boy, David was destined to one day lead the Israelites. Believing this gave him the courage to march into battle and defeat Goliath despite how crazy it looked. He knew that God wouldn’t let him die.
Daniel: Integrity
Despite multiple tests and threats to his faith in God—the king’s diet, a golden statue, a lions’ den—Daniel demonstrated time and time again that no matter the political or social consequences, it is always better to have integrity and serve the King of Kings than any earthly king.
John the Baptist: Telling it like it is
John the Baptist wasn’t afraid to tell the truth, calling the Pharisees and religious leaders “a brood of vipers”. By being brutally honest, John set an important precedent that Jesus continued throughout His ministry: that the gospel wasn’t about appearing righteous. Rather, it was good news for the unrighteous.
Jesus: Servant leadership
During His time on earth, Jesus demonstrated a leadership style that captivated crowds. By genuinely loving others, healing their diseases and ministering to their needs, it was Jesus’ service that made people follow Him. This was perhaps demonstrated best when He washed His disciples’ feet.
Paul: Passion
True leaders are passionate about the cause they support, and Paul is a fantastic example of this. Through his prolific writings, he helped transform the beliefs and culture of the modern world. And thanks to his interpretation of the gospel, millions have found eternal life thanks to his words.
Peter: Recovering from failure
Despite denying Jesus three times and totally misunderstanding what the kingdom of heaven actually was, after Jesus’ ascension and being asked to “feed my sheep”, he became one of the most influential leaders in early Christendom.
