Core for More Bible Study October 28, 2026
The 7 Types of People Every Leader Needs
A major mistake in leadership is expecting one person to meet your every need. Your encourager may not be your strategist. Your mentor may not be your administrator. Your most loyal friend may not be qualified to advise you on every decision.
Healthy leadership requires a diverse circle.
1. The Spiritual Anchor and Strategist | They keep you grounded.
Biblical example: Moses and Jethro
Exodus 18:13-27 (MSG)
13-14 The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What’s going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?”
The Crisis of Solo Leader
15-16 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me with questions about God. When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God’s laws and instructions.”
17-23 Moses’ father-in-law said, “This is no way to go about it. You’ll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you—you can’t do this alone. Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do. And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They’ll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They’ll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they’ll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you’ll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also.”
24-27 Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said.
You need people who remind you of God's Word, help you maintain spiritual integrity, and encourage you to protect your relationship with God.
Ask: Who can challenge my spiritual life without being intimidated by my position?
2. The Mentor | They have the experience you need.
Biblical example: Moses and Joshua — Exodus 24:13; Deuteronomy 31:7–8.
Exodus 24:13 (NLT)
13 So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God.
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (NLT)
7 Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. 8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Mentors help you avoid costly mistakes because they have already traveled some of the road you are walking.
Ask: Who has achieved something I am trying to achieve and is willing to teach me?
3. The Truth-Teller | They challenge your blind spots.
Biblical example: Nathan confronting David
2 Samuel 12:1-14 (MSG)
1-3 But God was not at all pleased with what David had done, and sent Nathan to David. Nathan said to him, “There were two men in the same city—one rich, the other poor. The rich man had huge flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. The poor man had nothing but one little female lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up with him and his children as a member of the family. It ate off his plate and drank from his cup and slept on his bed. It was like a daughter to him.
4 “One day a traveler dropped in on the rich man. He was too stingy to take an animal from his own herds or flocks to make a meal for his visitor, so he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared a meal to set before his guest.”
5-6 David exploded in anger. “As surely as God lives,” he said to Nathan, “the man who did this ought to be lynched! He must repay for the lamb four times over for his crime and his stinginess!”
7-12 “You’re the man!” said Nathan. “And here’s what God, the God of Israel, has to say to you: I made you king over Israel. I freed you from the fist of Saul. I gave you your master’s daughter and other wives to have and to hold. I gave you both Israel and Judah. And if that hadn’t been enough, I’d have gladly thrown in much more. So why have you treated the word of God with brazen contempt, doing this great evil? You murdered Uriah the Hittite, then took his wife as your wife. Worse, you killed him with an Ammonite sword! And now, because you treated God with such contempt and took Uriah the Hittite’s wife as your wife, killing and murder will continually plague your family. This is God speaking, remember! I’ll make trouble for you out of your own family. I’ll take your wives from right out in front of you. I’ll give them to some neighbor, and he’ll go to bed with them openly. You did your deed in secret; I’m doing mine with the whole country watching!”
13-14 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I’ve sinned against God.” Nathan pronounced, “Yes, but that’s not the last word. God forgives your sin. You won’t die for it. But because of your blasphemous behavior, the son born to you will die.”
You need people who can tell you the truth without trying to destroy you and who care more about your character than your comfort.
Ask: Who has permission to tell me I am wrong?
4. The Encourager | They strengthen you when you are tired.
Biblical example: Jonathan strengthening David
1 Samuel 23:15-18 (NLT)
15 One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. 16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” 18 So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.
Leadership can be lonely. You need people who remind you of who you are when the pressure of leadership makes you forget.
Ask: Who strengthens me when I have nothing left to give?
5. The Peer and Accountability Partner | They walk beside you.
Biblical example: Paul and Barnabas — Acts 15:36–40.
Acts 15:36-40 (NLT)
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.
You need trusted peers who understand the demands of leadership, share wisdom, hold you accountable, and help you maintain perspective.
Ask: Who can walk alongside me without competing with me?
6. The Builder | They turn vision into execution.
Biblical example: Nehemiah and the people rebuilding Jerusalem's wall — Nehemiah 3.
Nehemiah 3:1-5 (NLT)
Rebuilding the Wall of Jerusalem
1 Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel. 2 People from the town of Jericho worked next to them, and beyond them was Zaccur son of Imri.
3 The Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the next section of wall. Beside him were Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, and then Zadok son of Baana. 5 Next were the people from Tekoa, though their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors.
Builders are dependable, skilled, solution-oriented, and willing to do the work. They do not simply celebrate the vision; they help accomplish it.
Ask: Who can I trust with an assignment without having to chase them constantly?
7. The Successor | They help multiply your impact.
Biblical example: Paul and Timothy
2 Timothy 2:1-7 (MSG)
Doing Your Best for God
1-7 So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.
Great leaders do not just build ministries that depend on them. They develop people who can carry the mission forward.
Ask: Who am I intentionally developing to do what I do, and eventually do it better?
Leadership takeaway: You do not need seven different people for these seven roles. One person may fulfill several roles but make sure you are not expecting one relationship to meet every need.