Character and the Crown (1 Samuel) - Premium Teaching Plans

What do people look for in their leaders? Physical attributes? Educational credentials? Oratory skills? Experience? Courage? How often is character a consideration? Our culture tends to confuse character with celebrity. If someone is well-known, their familiarity somehow engenders a level of trust. But what kind of leaders is God looking for?

The Book of 1 Samuel reveals a wide range of character qualities in its featured personalities as Israel moved from a theocracy to a monarchy. Consider the Lord’s reminder to Samuel when he was seeking Saul’s replacement, “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD look at the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7.

All of us are called to be leaders in our homes, jobs, churches, and communities. What sort of character are we bringing to these roles? What is the condition of our heart?