1 Samuel 13-14

The right kind of King: Contrasting Saul and his son

1. Posture- What kind of posture do you want out of a leader?
a. Offensive or defensive?
b. Action or reaction?
c. Saul’s leadership
i. Saul remained at Gilgal (13:7)
ii. Saul counted the men (13:15)
iii. Saul was staying (14:2)
d. Jonathon’s leadership
i. Jonathon attacked (13:3)
ii. Jonahton climbed (14:13)
iii. Jonathon raised his hand (14:27)
*Christianity is not stationary. You don’t get saved and hold the rock down. You get saved and hold onto the rock.

2. Protection- Where does your leader find protection
a. External or internal
b. Physical or spiritual
c. Saul’s leadership
i. Saul chose 3,000 men from Israel (13:2)
ii. Saul counted (13:15)
d. Jonathon’s leadership
i. Realized numbers weren’t top priority, God’s hand was (14:6)
ii. Won with only 2 (14:7-14)
* A spiritual leader’s heart is not in the physical realm. He is less concerned with counting heads and more concerned with finding God’s hand.

3. Practicality- Do you want a leader of law or grace?
a. Weighed-down or filled
b. Chained or free
c. Saul’s leadership
i. Bound the people under and oath to fast (14:24)
ii. Brought fear and weariness (14:26, 28)
iii. Produced atmosphere of silence (14:39, 37)
d. Jonathon’s leadership
i. Was energized for battle (14:27)
ii. Wanted men to be unburdened (14:29)
iii. Realized the ridiculousness of legalism (14:43)
* A spiritual leader doesn’t add to God’s law. He’s practical. He does what works so long as it doesn’t involve disobedience

4. People- What kind of followers do you want to see being produced?
a. Saul’s leadership produced
i. Fearful (13:6)
ii. Fleeing (13:15)
iii. Exhausted (14:31)
iv. Hungry (14:32)
b. Jonathon’s leadership produced
i. Loyalty (14:7, 45)
ii. A scrambling enemy (14:19-20)
iii. Confidence (14:22)
iv. Victory (14:23)
* We want leaders like Jonathon