“The author Victor Rhee of “Hebrews as a Leader of the Faith Community” enlightens the path way on the subject of leaders in the body of Christ. The title alone brings a certain kind of curiosity to what makes a leader according to the book of Hebrews. If leadership training could have a manual it should be parallel to Hebrews. Leadership today is missing the courage to stand for something that is right according to the word of God. No matter what is taking place in our society beliefs and value system. Leadership has suffered greatly both inside and outside the church, especially in Christian leadership. One of the main points that the author of this article points out is the society woes are the same as ours today. How fitting is …show more content…
Rhee also indicates the important factors mention by the author of Hebrews that we are spiritual leaders’ not just natural leaders. The illustration of faith or causes of faith are being weakened by the society agenda. In our society today, our faith in God’s word has been watered down to accommodate the weak minded. We are definitely living in a day where it is unpopular to be a Christian just as the Hellenistic Jews. Again, Rhee points to the leadership qualities of this article by ensuring we are understand the authority of being a leader over a faith community. We must carry the call or courage to confront, and to not allow ourselves to fall into an apostasy mindset. To destroy the very thought of taking grace for granted. Rhee believes anyone who thinks in this pattern will not go unpunished. There is a responsibility for a leader of a faith community to preach and teach the fullness of God or His word the warnings and the promises, not just or the other. As we puts it, “We, Christian leaders, should also be willing to teach and preach negative messages, such as repentance, rebuke and warning of God’s judgment.” Yet, the author of Hebrews expresses that we must do this in love according to findings of Rhee. One expression can describe this it’s called “tender heartedness.” It may be considered a forgotten quality. Both the author of Hebrews and the author of this journal, express the importance of Jesus being
The process of leadership requires self-identification of behaviors and reflection on one’s attitude (Bell, 2010). Among the thousands of leadership books in print today, this book is one that takes a different approach to examining leadership from a Christian perspective as well as relating to the process of leadership along with many
Romans 12:1-21 is a defining moment and a gateway for leaders who are to become living sacrifices acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable service. “Throughout history, Christian leaders had to decide how to live under a civil state that either was less than ideal or, at times, was downright evil” (Nichols & McCarty, 2011, pg.594). Paul as a great role model of leadership explained about having a relationship with the state and its laws by describing how Christians should live in the troubled world concerning their attitudes like being responsible leaders to people whose faith is weak. He also explained that the gift of leading others refers more to caring for others than to authoritative government. Positioned as it is between giving and showing mercy, he believed the importance focused on pastoral dimension which individuals in
In the book Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders, by Reggie McNeal it examines the need for strong spiritual Christian leaders in today’s society. McNeal looks at the good and bad characteristics of a leader in order to help leaders understand and develop the characteristics needed in one’s own life to be a good leader. McNeal states “we are desperate for great
When asked to conduct a review of a book pertaining to leadership, I immediately chose Inspiring Leadership Character and Ethics Matter written by R. Stewart Fisher and Perry J. Martini. This book suggested on the United States Navy’s Recommended Reading List (The Blue Jacket 's Manual , 2015) in addition to multiple universities including Regent University. The focus of this book is based on one basic principle: doing the right thing and making the right leadership decisions based on the character of that leader. Applying the lessons gathered within the Christian religion, Fisher and Martini relate various leadership styles and qualities to scripture throughout The Bible.
The author has clearly demonstrated his objectives set out in the introduction, and has provided examples for leadership that are able to be implemented in all business applications and not merely the church only. This work is to be commended for anyone interested in not only what makes leaders great; but as well, how they arrived at the summit and are able to remain there. Two things are clear from a complete reading of this book:
This paper will introduce the definitions of Character and integrity. Then I will examine how Christ modeled these leadership defining qualities, How we can make them applicable to ourselves.
Good and virtuous leaders are exemplified throughout the bible, but what was required of these early church leaders and are the requisites applicable to modern leadership? As leaders continue to incorporate a biblical ethical component to their leadership practices, it is hoped that good ethical leader succession will be duplicated. This applied exegetical paper will utilize a socio-rhetorical criticism approach to convey what was expected of the early church leaders and how those expectations can relate to modern leaders. I will analyze Titus 1 a Pastoral Epistle written by Apostle Paul through the process of Social and Cultural Texture analysis. Then, the analysis will explore the virtue and ethical leadership ideas of the Apostle Paul. Lastly, this paper will highlight how the ethical concepts are applicable to modern leadership practices.
If the leader is willing to be transparent and realize their own shortcomings and struggles, it will enable the leader to lead from a place of more passion, emotion, and persuasiveness. This type of honesty can attract many hurting, sad, and brokenhearted people to our churches from dysfunctional backgrounds that will sit under compassionate and relevant leadership. The book further explains that the leader should careful not to let selfishness, self-deception, and wrong motives come alive in leadership as product of the dark side. The fall of many leaders are directly attributable to these components. If this dark side arises, the leader is admonished to open and honestly deal with it before God. This will empower the leader for greater effectiveness. Some leaders may be
The book selected for the assignment is, ‘Be a people person: Effective leadership through effective relationships,’ by John C. Maxwell. Mr. Maxwell is an author, speaker, leadership expert who is internationally recognized and a pastor. He wrote books on leadership (The John Maxwell Company, n.d.). He has a doctorate in ministry and started his career as a pastor. After 14 years of preaching the word of God, he devoted himself to speaking and writing. He became a religious leader (Christian Books Previews, n.d.). Maxwell has recognized the role of interpersonal relationships in making and breaking a leader. He has also realized the importance of developing personal skills from the people (Victor Books, 2002). In his book, Maxwell explains how a person who follows can turn to a leader by connecting with people and relating to them from a biblical perspective. The author places 50 percent emphasis on others, 25 percent on self and the remaining 25 percent on God in his approach to the followers (Barnes and Noble, n.d.).
The New Testament leaders are an example of how church leaders of today should also behave and work[8]. They ought to be able to teach, guide the believers in the way of God and nurture their spiritual gifts. The New Testament leaders had to boldly defend the word of God in case of any false teaching. Basing on this New Testament leadership, it is important to make sure that any believer appointed to the leadership office has the laid down qualifications[9].
Atkinson (2014) believes effective leadership displays, “No person is less divine than another, and therefore no person is less than another” (p. 145). Throughout the bible, there are many people in scripture that God placed in leadership roles. Jesus, David, Moses, Paul, Peter, Abraham and many others are some of those leaders. There are core attributes discussed in the lecture that personally reflect my opinion of what an effective leader of Christ needs such as, a shared vision, model of the way, empowerment of others, challenge of the process, and encouragement of the heart.
Psalms 23:1-3, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” (NKGV) In this scripture, God views himself as the leader of the sheep and guides them. God shows how a biblical leader should be envisioned. Biblical leaders are chosen by God to lead others through their Christian influence to guide them down the right paths. What is biblical leadership? According to Todd Engstrom, “Biblical leadership is meeting someone where they are, and taking them where Jesus wants to go.” Biblical leadership is therefore intensely personal and at the same time intensely biblical. The definition provides a basic foundation for leadership, but also expands to a more biblical meaning. Leadership is not about position, authority, or who knows the most information but more so about one life influencing another. A good leader seeks leadership from God, Proverbs 16:1 “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”
Take one leader in the Bible, other than Jesus, and evaluate his or her leadership style from using the framework of modern thinking on leadership and your own theological reflection.
There are many people in scripture that God has placed in leadership roles. Jesus himself, David, Moses, Paul, Peter, Abraham and many others are some of those leaders. There are core attributes discussed in the lecture that personally reflect my opinion of what an effective leader of Christ needs such as, a shared vision, model of the way, empowerment of others, challenge of the process, and encouragement of the heart. Leaders establish a model of the way others should be treated and how goals should be pursued, with standards and examples of what others should follow by exemplifying God’s example. Christian leaders inspire a shared vision to make a difference
Leaders provide the catalyst for health within a local body of Christ. As a shepherd under the leadership of Christ, a spiritual leader must develop character. Stanley points out leaders can have a following without character. However, “character is what makes a leader worth following.” Therefore, the foundational element of a church leader must be character refined through a walk with God. Character in a leader is not void of weakness. Every leader has blind spots that pose a grave threat to the opportunities ahead. “The mark of true spiritual maturity, however, is what we do about our weaknesses.” A leader, therefore, recognizes the imperfections within and takes steps to prevent the weaknesses from overshadowing the ability to lead. He also seeks ways to enhance those strengths that are tools afforded to the individual by God.