Category: Christian Leadership

3 Tips from the Bible for Stress Management

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  – Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

For Week 8, the NIV Leadership Bible focuses on stress management—an important skill for leaders and their teams alike.  In his 1997 book Shoulder to Shoulder, Dr. Rodney Cooper describes stress as “the way our body responds to perceived of actual danger.  Our blood pressure skyrockets and our muscle strength increases.  We’re ready to fight or fly.  Stress isn’t the cause but the effect.”

Got stress?  Well, let’s see what we can learn from a few different Biblical perspectives on stress.

Click here for 3 tips to manage your stress as a leader.

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. - Stephen Covey

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (The Message):  What do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I’m commanding you today—live a good life.

For Week 7, the NIV Leadership Bible focuses on obedience to God.  As a disciple of Jesus Christ, that is my “main thing.”

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about obedience.  Our Pastor is currently leading a 40-week study of the Ten Commandments, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary as a church.  We’re in the midst of a 4-week study about the First Commandment–having “no other gods” before our God.  Through the Ten Commandments, we see how important the concept of obedience is to God.  According to Holman’s Bible Dictionary, biblical obedience is “to hear God’s Word and act accordingly.”

Deuteronomy 11:26–28 sums it up like this:  “Obey and you will be blessed.  Disobey and you will be cursed.”

Click here to explore three examples of obedience to God.