by Susan Barnes | 4 May 2026 | Short Devotion>People
“King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.” 2 Chronicles 27:6 Jotham and Josiah survive as the only good kings of Judah who end their reigns well. Yet we don’t have a detailed account of Jotham’s life. The only...
by Susan Barnes | 31 Oct 2025 | Short Devotion>People
Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:17 NLT) Twice, Saul disobeyed Samuel’s instructions (13:8-14; 15:18-19). Perhaps the reason for Saul’s...
by Susan Barnes | 25 Aug 2025 | Short Devotion>People
“When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves.” (Judges 5:2) This chapter records Deborah’s and Barak’s account of their surprising victory over Jabin, king of Canaan, when the Israelites were...
by Susan Barnes | 8 Aug 2025 | How God Sees Us
“Aren’t you living like people of the world? When one of you says, ‘I am a follower of Paul,’ and another says, ‘I follow Apollos,’ aren’t you acting just like people of the world? After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you...
by Susan Barnes | 4 Aug 2025 | Short Devotion>People
“Be strong and courageous … Be strong and very courageous … Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” … “Only be strong and courageous!” (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9 & 18) Why is Joshua told so many times to be strong and courageous? (see also...
by Susan Barnes | 20 Mar 2025 | Articles
One of the largely undervalued aspects of leadership in churches, is the need to train others. When we look at Jesus’ leadership model, we notice he regularly gives leadership roles to the seemingly unqualified. “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them...
by Susan Barnes | 3 Oct 2022 | Short Devotion
“You know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God.” 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 Christian leaders are to be known for their gentleness, not for their resolve or...
by Susan Barnes | 9 Sep 2022 | Bible Study
This week I was reading about leadership: “’Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task’” (1 Timothy 3:1 NIV). Paul is about to outline the qualifications for leadership in our churches and begins by emphasising...
