Interpersonal Relationships

Luke Kuepfer • October 16, 2020

[Coaching Lesson #1 from our Serving Leadership Development Program—Developing Trusting Relationships, Phase 2]

Close relationships between two or more people are sometimes called interpersonal relationships. The closest relationships are most often found with family and a small circle of best friends. Interpersonal relationships require the most effort to nurture and maintain. These are also the relationships that give you the most joy and satisfaction.

Our relationships with others are crucial to our role as leaders. Effective leaders understand that the better their relationships with followers, the more effective their leadership will be. The Christian life is all about relationships. First, we must have a relationship with God and His Son. Our relationship with Him, in turn, needs to be made visible in our relationships with others.

Paul: Love is the Foundation of Enduring Relationships

Many leaders make the mistake of ignoring the importance of relationships. This often happens when leaders assume that everyone will follow their ideas because of their position. People want to know that you care for them before they willingly commit to follow you. It is therefore impossible to separate leadership from relationships. Leaders help themselves by developing good relational skills.

In Romans 12:9-21 Paul instructs us on how to develop enduring relationships with others. Based on this text, what are some ways we can build and maintain good relationships with others?

What else does the Bible say concerning relationships?

Discussion Questions:

Why is building relationships with others such a valuable skill for leaders?
In what ways can you restore a broken or hurting relationship with another person?
Of the ways that Paul mentions in Romans 12:9-21, which ones could you improve on to build good relationships?
Based on Colossians 4:6 and 1 Peter 2:12, why is it important for Christians to build good relationships with non-believers?