GOD's Practical Leadership Guide
A Topical Study of the Book of Nehemiah
Chapter 1: Introduction
Outline of Topics
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Introduction
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Getting Started
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A Godly Leader's Prayer Life
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Overcoming Adversity
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A Godly Leader's Authority through God
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Character of a Godly Leader
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Planning Ahead with God's Help
Study Approach
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Presentations
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Study Guides
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Instead of Interpretation
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Godly Detectives Searching for God's Clues
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Derivation of Life Principles
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Visualization through the Holy Spirit
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Godly Imagination
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Focus – Real World Applications
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Modern Real Life Situations
Biblical Perspective
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First and Foremost the Bible Serves a Very
Important Purpose
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Do you know what that purpose is?
Second the Bible Serves as a Spiritual Guide
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How to become like whom?
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How who interacts with whom?
Third the Bible Has a Very Practical Side
Outline of Topics
Introduction 
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Getting Started
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A Godly Leader's Prayer Life
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Overcoming Adversity
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Character of a Godly Leader
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A Godly Leader's Authority
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Planning Ahead
Session 1 Outline
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What is a Leader? 
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Historical Summary
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God's Prophesy Concerning Medes-Persia
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The Rise of Medes-Persia
The “So What” Modern Scenarios
What is a Leader?
Category
Definition
Example(s)
Authority Figure
Occupies a position with a
recognized level of
Responsibility and Authority
President of the U. S. A.
Corporate Manager
Military Officer
Situational or
Ad Hoc
Temporarily servers as the
“head” of a group of people.
Fire Fighting Team - 1st one
to arrive is in charge
Meeting Chair
Generational
Elder members of one
Parent – Child
generation has responsibility Grandparents
over family or extended family Family Matriarch/Patriarch
subsequent generations
Frontrunner
Refers to “competitive”
position, i.e. ahead of others
due to earlier start or being
further along
Sports: Racing, league
play, etc.
Political Campaign
Spiritual Marathon
Session 1 Outline
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What is a Leader?
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Historical Summary 
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God's Prophesy Concerning Medes-Persia
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The Rise of Medes-Persia
The “So What” Modern Scenarios
God's Prophesy of Medes-Persia
The Prophets
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Isaiah
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Judean Kings – Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah
(Isa. 1:1) [792 BC – 686 BC]
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Jewish records – Isaiah executed by Manasseh in 6th
year.
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Hypothesize: Prophesied from 750 BC (?) – 680 BC
Jeremiah
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Judean Kings – Josiah, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah
(Jer. 1:1 – 3) [629 BC – 576 BC]
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Kidnapped to Egypt by rebellious Jews, led by Johanan
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Prophesied 616 BC – 575 BC (??)
God's Prophesy of Medes-Persia
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Jeremiah's Prophecy (Around 582 BC)
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Jeremiah's Prophecy: Jer. 29:10 – 14
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Referenced in II Chron. 36:22 – 23, Ezra1:1 – 3,
& Dan. 9:1 – 2
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God's promise to return Judah back to the lands
promised to Abraham after 70 yrs, in Babylon
Isaiah's Prophecy (between 686 BC – 700 BC)
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Isaiah's Prophecy: Isa. 44:26 – 45:4
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God identified Cyrus as God's instrument in
restoring the Jews
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Independent Confirmation: Cyrus Cylinder
The Rise of Medes-Persia: The Empires
Historical Considerations
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Cyrus the Great
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United Medes and Persian – 550 BC
Conquers Babylon – 539 BC
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Cambysus
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Darius the Great
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Defeated Egypt at Pelusium – 525 BC
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Expanded Persian Empire East to Indus River – 515 BC
Began invasion of lands around Aegean See – 510 BC
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Defeated by Greeks led by Athens at Marathon – 490 BC
Ahaseurus (Xerxes)
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Continued preparations for 2nd invasion – 483 BC
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Battle of Thermopylae – 480 BC
Naval Battle of Salamis, won by Athenians – 480 BC
Battle of Plataea, won by Greeks – 479 BC
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Persian Fleet destroyed at Mycale (near Ephesus) – 479 BC
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Extent of Persian Empire
The Rise of Medes-Persia – The Kings
Session 1 Outline
●
What is a Leader?
●
Historical Summary
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–
God's Prophesy Concerning Medes-Persia
–
The Rise of Medes-Persia
The “So What” Modern Scenarios 
The “So What” Modern Scenarios
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A Christian has the opportunity to become a
manager.
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We will try to put ourselves in his/her shoes
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Learn God's leadership principles from
Nehemiah, Moses, Joshua, Jesus, and others
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Consider situations faced by the manager and
apply God's leadership principles that we are
learning
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As is often the case in our own lives may not be
a single right answer, but there is always a
righteous one.
Session 2 Preview: Getting Started
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Finding Purpose
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Overcoming the Fear of Being a Leader
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Be Strong and of Good Courage
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What God Looks for in a Leader