Reaching for Leadership

David C Cook COVID-19 Response

High School

Lesson 2
Summer 2022
By: RLD Editorial Team
June 12, 2022

Lesson Focus:

God sets high standards for leaders.

Bible Basis:

1 Timothy 3:2-3; 4:6-13

Materials Needed:

Step 1:

Internet access

Step 4:

None

Summary & Links:

Students will consider the most important qualities we look for in a presidential candidate as a way of introducing them to the high standards God sets for leaders.

Memory Verse:

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority.
—Hebrews 13:17a

Students will consider the most important qualities we look for in a presidential candidate as a way of introducing them to the high standards God sets for leaders.

Materials Needed:

Internet access

Some of you will be able to vote in the 2024 presidential election. Although it is a long way off just now, the field is flooding with candidates already. Regardless of what political party or qualifications you look for in a candidate, you’ll need to sort out a way to choose who would be the best presidential leader for our country today.

Each election, the political parties have a whole host of people running. These lists will eventually get whittled down to one party nominee. There are many people in the race, so those who believe themselves to be the strongest candidate need to find a way to get ahead of the pack, and present themselves as the best leader for the American people.

Although there are many qualifications voters look for in a presidential candidate, there are also several requirements for candidates to even run for office. Let’s take a look.

Play this video [7:46; stop at 2:49]:
How to become president of the United States

All these requirements are just the beginning of a presidential election campaign. Once candidates are officially in the running, they still have to convince voters to vote for them.

Each candidate’s team will have a different strategy for success. Candidates may have to balance what they think makes them the best leader for the U.S. vs. what qualities voters will respond to.

If you were running for office, what qualities would you try to show to the voters? (Accept all reasonable answers: character, charisma, relatability, authenticity, policy, experience, values, uniqueness, etc.)
What do you think is the most important quality in a president? (Accept all reasonable answers. Any of the above answers or others.)
What qualities are important in a church leader? Are these qualities similar or different to that of a U.S. president? (Accept all reasonable answers. Perhaps the qualities are similar, or for a church leader, character and values may be more important than other qualities. Some may mention affirming certain doctrinal statements or lifestyle covenants.)

The Bible includes a standard for church leaders. One way to sum it up is that a church leader should lead by example, or lead with their life. Let’s discover more.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Materials Needed:

None

Based on what we’ve learned today, maybe you are wondering whether you have what it takes to be a good leader. Maybe you have natural leadership qualities but have never intentionally considered who or how you are leading. Maybe you are in an official leadership position but have new understanding about what leadership truly means. Maybe you are a leader to friends or younger siblings but never realized this before. What will you do now that you know?

Where are you already in a position of leadership? What does that look like for you? (Accept all reasonable answers. This could be a more official role, like team captain, student council, or school newspaper editor—or something more natural such as older sibling, or finding that you’re the one to set the plans or trends for your friend group.)
What personality qualities do you have that would translate to good leadership? (Accept all reasonable answers. This could be more traditional qualities such as clear decision making, inspiring speaker, or assertiveness, or more subtle qualities such as good listener, faithfulness, selflessness, etc.)

Paul’s advice to Timothy, as a young person, was both general and specific. He encouraged Timothy to live his life, as himself, in his context, following God’s wisdom. By doing this, he would set an example for others—an authentic model of leadership. For Paul, a leader was not defined by being powerful or controlling, but by demonstrating their ideals and being unselfish.

How is Paul’s advice relevant to you today? (Accept all reasonable answers. Students will be able to self-reflect on how they demonstrate their speech, love, life, faith, and purity in all of their interactions all day and consider opportunities to improve, be bolder, or more intentional.)
How would you like to grow as a leader? (Accept all reasonable answers. Some may want to focus on an area such as speech. Others may want to be bolder about sharing their faith. Others may want to learn to look to the interests of others as they lead. Others may want to seek out a leadership position for the first time, among their peers or with younger children. Others may want to find a mentor to learn from their example.)

Leaders need to talk with, work with, and receive help from others. Have your teens get into small groups of two or three to share about how God might be calling them to lead and what help they’ll need to grow and lead well. Encourage them to select one area they will intentionally pursue this week. Having shared, ask them to take a moment to pray for each other.

Close in prayer with the larger group.

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David C Cook is a nonprofit organization dedicated to publishing and distributing leadership and discipleship resources to help Christians all over the world grow in their faith and pass it on to the next generation. We call this “DiscipleShaping”.

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David C Cook COVID-19 Response

High School