Images of Leadership - Ministry Exchange (MX)

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Introduction.qxd INTRODUCTION TO IMAGES OF LEADERSHIP
You have probably already concluded that real-life leadership seldom precise-
ly follows strict laws. As Max DePree said, "Leadership is an art," not a science, and is
about shades and tones, not black and white. The advantage of thinking about
images, Biblical, three-dimensional, look-at-them-from- different-angles images is pre-
cisely that they are not black and white. They have texture and shape, they can be
examined at a distance or in detail. They may be contextualized, yet they have real
substance. And, in fact, they are biblical. Most often, images are the ways the scrip-
ture teaches about leadership. In one form, parables, they comprise the bulk of Jesus'
teaching in the gospels.
Hence Images of Leadership. The nine images are meant to form a package,
a composite image, of leadership from scripture, in the same way that the various
images on the cover combine to form a single composite picture of our Lord. Each
image, each chapter of the material, can easily stand alone and doesn't need the other
material to make it understandable or useable for a group. The sessions are modular
so that they can be rearranged or selected to serve the needs of any group or team.
EACH SECTION IS ORGANIZED AROUND THE FOLLOWING PATTERN:
B discussion-based Biblical study,
C brief summary in lecture format, and
D small group discussion using case study, personal inventories, and interactive
exercises. The result is a training experience that is
> THOROUGHLY BIBLICAL: the sessions are built not around alliterative lists but an
inductive study of Scripture.
> THOROUGHLY INTERACTIVE: the sessions are built not around the flamboyant
story-telling and personality of some presenter but the shared experience in Scripture and its
application to the specific contexts of the group members.
> THOROUGHLY INSIGHTFUL: the sessions combine familiar and less familiar passages of
Scripture with keen insights for ministry that can be used and built upon in your ministry today.
> THOROUGHLY INTEGRATED: the sessions emphasize the character and faith develop-
ment of the leader and not simply rote application of techniques.
> THOROUGHLY PRACTICAL: with a skilled use of case studies and personal exercises,
the Biblical insights are brought home with memorable and useful tools and skills.
This material has been developed and tested in countless settings with
InterVarsity students around the country over decades, as IVCF staff have applied our
historical strengths of Scripture study and contextualization to the question of leader-
ship development with young adults. More recently, this material has been brought to
the church in its current format. All the case studies have been reframed for the church
context, but the Biblical insights remain as foundational as ever.

IMAGES OF LEADERSHIP: CONTENTS
IMAGE
WHAT GOD OFFERS
OUR RESPONSE
Psalm 23
· To be satisfied in his care.
· His shepherding care.
John 10:1-17
· Out of our sense of provision, offer
· His fierce loyalty to us
SHEPHERD
Ezekiel 34
shepherd care to others.
as his sheep.
John 21:15-19
· When we lack what we need to be
· Extravagant provision
Acts 20:17-38
shepherds, we are to return to the
for his flock.
1 Peter 5:1-4
Lord, our shepherd.
· A model of extravagant
· To lead by serving.
servanthood.
Mark 1:40-44
· To serve by leading: foresight and
· A call to extravagant
SERVANT
Mark 10:42-45
insight.
servanthood.
John 13:1-17
· To serve by speaking.
· The resources with
· To participate in the economy of God.
which we can serve others
in God's name.
· All of his expertise and
Psalm 50:7-15
· To stop trying to impress God and
power available to heal
Isaiah 64:4
let him work.
and to save.
· To submit to the Doctor's care and
PATIENT
Luke 12:35-38
· His work and mercy for
Acts 17:22-25
his prescription for our health and
those who wait for him.
Mark 8:34-38
wholeness.
· Life, security, greatness
Mark 10:27-31
· To find our heart's desires met in a
if pursued by paradox
Mark 10:41-45
life of ministry
through faith
· To young leaders, the
· To believe God will give us the wisdom
resources with which to
we need to care for his people.
lead, especially his prom-
· To care about what is in people's
SAGE
1 Kings 3:5-28
ise of wisdom to all who
hearts, not just their behavior.
James 1:5-7
ask for it.
· To offer wisdom wisely, helping people
· Encouragement and
make their own decisions.
support.
· For his people, a sen-
· To embrace the message of the sen-
tinel, one who sees clearly
Ezekiel 33:1-9
tinel, rejecting the lies of sin.
approaching danger and
Hebrews 3:12- 4:1
· To step in to the role of sentinel in a
SENTINEL
speaks clearly of it.
1 Samuel 25
daily, routine way.
· Promise of future provi-
· To speak in a way that people hear
sion and grace, if we
grace and a way out.
listen to the sentinel.
L E A D I N G E D G E® ©InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 2003

IMAGES OF LEADERSHIP: CONTENTS
IMAGE
WHO LEADERS ARE
WHAT LEADERS DO
· Captivated by a vision
larger than themselves.
· Speak about what is true but have
· Receive vision as a gift
hope for what is possible.
VISIONARY
1 Chronicles 29:1-22
and pass it on without
· Model risky choices to move toward
their ego in the way.
the vision and call others to follow.
· Clearly see God and his
· Live by faith in a way that inspires
great goodness and their
others to do so also.
own dependence.
· Heartbroken over the
needs of the people of God
· Both pray and plan, neither too "spir-
· Moved to pray for a work
itual" nor too practical.
STEWARD
of God in response.
Nehemiah 1:1-2:18
· Delegate the vision, not just a task.
· Thoughtful regarding
Responsibility with authority.
how to participate in that
· Evaluate afterward and learn from it.
work.
· Make difficult choices between com-
· Willing to entrust the
peting values.
vision to others.
· Give opportunity, training, authority
and insight to prepare people for min-
· Eager to turn over real
Luke 9:1-6, 10
istry.
SPONSOR
ministry to others.
Luke 10:1-21
· Speak about the difficulties, not just
· Equipped to be equip-
2 Timothy 1:1-2:7
the joys, of ministry.
pers.
· Serve as a coach, offering vision,
training, challenge and encouragement.
· Committed to growth
Mark 3:7-19
and multiplication of min-
· Focus on partnership over coverage
Mark 6:7-13
istry.
and depth over breadth.
John 13:1-17
· Willing to focus on a
SOWER
· Model and articulate the model in
Acts 20:17-36
few for the sake of the
order to pass it on.
Mark 2:18-20
many.
· Look for ways to turn situations into
· Committed to serving
multiplicative ministry opportunities.
leaders not using them.
L E A D I N G E D G E® ©InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 2003

He chose his servant David,
and took him from the sheepfolds;
from tending the nursing ewes he brought him to be
the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel, his
inheritance.
With upright heart he tended them,
and guided them with skillful hand.
Psalm 78:70-72
I m a g e s o f
L E A D E R S H I P
C O P Y R I G H T © 2 0 0 3
L E A D I N G E D G E®

GOD AS SHEPHERD
2
PSALM 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
What are the
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in
benefits of
having God as
right paths for his name's sake.
a shepherd?
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod
and your staff- they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies; you anoint
my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell
in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
JOHN 10
"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the
sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a
bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the
sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear
his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and
the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not
follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not
know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech
with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to
them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the
gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and ban-
dits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever
enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find
pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came
that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good

GOD AS SHEPHERD
3
shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired
hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf
What do you
coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf snatches them
learn about
and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does
sheep and
shepherds
not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my
from these
passages?
own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And
I lay down my life for the sheep."
Jesus uses three images to contrast the good shepherd: stranger, thief/ban-
dit, hired hand. What does each teach us about being a good shepherd?
What are the temptations a shepherd faces?

GOD APPOINTS SHEPHERDS
4
EZEKIEL 34:1-16
The word of the LORD came to me: 2 Mortal, prophesy against the
shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them--to the shepherds: Thus says
the Lord GOD: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding your-
List character-
selves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe
istics of bad
shepherds.
yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the
sheep. 4 You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick,
you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed,
you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled
them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scat-
tered, they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep were scattered,
they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were
scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for
them. 7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8As I live, says
the Lord GOD, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have
become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd; and
because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds
have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; 9 therefore, you shepherds,
hear the word of the LORD: 10 Thus says the Lord GOD, I am against the
shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their
feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will res-
cue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them.
11 For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek
them out. 12 As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their
scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the
places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick dark-
ness. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the
countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on
the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of
the land. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of
Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land,
and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will
be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord

GOD APPOINTS SHEPHERDS
5
GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind
up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I
will destroy. I will feed them with justice.
How does God
feel about the
flock?
What are the results of bad shepherding?
How does God respond to bad shepherding?
JOHN 21:15-19
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him,
"Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
16 A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He
said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend
my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you
love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you
love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that
I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when
you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you
wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and some-
one else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish
to go." 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glo-
rify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."
What does it mean to love Jesus?

SHEPHERDS APPOINT SHEPHERDS
6
ACTS 20:17-38
From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the
church to meet him. 18 When they came to him, he said to them: "You your-
selves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I
List character-
set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, endur-
istics of Paul's
good shep-
ing the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20 I did not
herding to the
Ephesians.
shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and
teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 as I testified to both Jews
and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
22 And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not
knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testi-
fies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for
me. 24 But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish
my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to
the good news of God's grace. 25 And now I know that none of you, among
whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face
again. 26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the
blood of any of you, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole
purpose of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of
which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of
God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. 29 I know that after I
have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order
to entice the disciples to follow them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering
that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.
32 And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a mes-
sage that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all
who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You
know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself
and my companions. 35 In all this I have given you an example that by such
work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus,
for he himself said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" 36 When he
had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. 37 There
was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38

SHEPHERDS APPOINT SHEPHERDS
7
grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see
him again. Then they brought him to the ship.
How do Paul
and Peter call
others into
shepherding?
What are his concerns for them as he leaves?
1 PETER 5:1-4
Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as
well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among
you 2 to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the over-
sight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it --
not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3 Do not lord it over those in your charge,
but be examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief shepherd appears, you
will win the crown of glory that never fades away.
What is "sordid gain"? What is fair motivation for taking on the role of
shepherd?

GOD SHEPHERDS HIS SHEPHERDS
8
GOOD SHEPHERDING BEGINS WITH
AS OUR .
BENEFITS OF THE LORD AS OUR SHEPHERD:
With God as
our shepherd
we lack
Psalm 23: green pastures, still waters, "I shall not
nothing.
want," oil, overflowing cup
John 10: "I came that they might have life abun-
dantly."
Ezekiel 34: "I will feed them on the mountains of
Israel... I will feed them with good pasture... In
good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pas-
ture."
contrast image:
They use the sheep to meet their own needs.
They cannot say, "I lack nothing." They act as
wolves or thieves, seeking to use, eat, take and
destroy. They pursue shepherding for improper
gain, seeking approval or status or power.
Psalm 23: darkest valley, rod and staff provide
comfort, table in the presence of enemies
John 10: "I lay down my life for the sheep."
Ezekiel 34: "I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue
them..."
contrast image:
They flee in the face of danger. They exhibit
"hired hand" mentality. Their own survival their
focus, they are unwilling to lay their life down,
and hence they allow the sheep to scatter.

GOD SHEPHERDS HIS SHEPHERDS
9
BENEFITS OF THE LORD AS OUR SHEPHERD:
Caring for Jesus'
sheep is how we
live out our love
for him and how
Psalm 23: restores soul, guides me in right paths
we follow him
for his name's sake, comfort of the rod and staff;
as his disciples.
prepares a table
John 10: "sheep follow him because they know
his voice," "I know my own and my own know
me"
Ezekiel 34: "I myself will be the shepherd of my
sheep, and I will make them lie down," "I will seek
the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the
injured": tender care
contrast image:
They treat the sheep "with force and harshness".
They really are strangers to the sheep, with no
real knowledge of the sheep, no foresight or
insight, and so give no warnings or encourage-
ments. They shed no tears (unlike the good shep-
herd Paul).
LOVE JESUS =
HIS SHEEP =
YOUR LIFE =
JESUS

CASE STUDIES IN SHEPHERDING
10
WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
DESCRIPTION OF A SHEPHERD
WHAT COULD BE DONE?
ABUNDANCE, SECURITY, INTIMACY?
Kathy spoke to Irene, a Sunday-school helper, about becoming a lead teacher. Irene was
1
hesitant, partly on the basis of time commitment and partly due to a lack of confidence that
she could do a good job. Kathy said, "We really need you, Irene."
You find yourself annoyed with and critical of the people who are in the small group you
lead. Sometimes you are able to hold your tongue, but increasingly your impatience has
2
come through in the way you've spoken to them as a group and individually.
Over time you have noticed that Ken, your partner in the children's program at church,
3
has a problem keeping commitments he has made. This is more obvious to you than to
others, because it has affected you consistently. More than once you have thought
about mentioning it to Ken, but each time you have held back.
James, a pastor who began his ministry at a small church of 80, had cared deeply for his
elderly flock. But over time he realized that caring wearied him and he tired of hearing
4
only complaints. He left the pastorate to sell insurance.
Cindy is a member of Luke's small group. Cindy opens up to Luke about her uncertainty
about God's work in her life. As Luke takes initiative with Cindy to help her understand and
5
feel God's presence, he begins to have feelings for her. Soon he asks her to dinner. She is
confused but flattered by his attention.
Ellen, an enthusiastic leader of her small group when things were going well, suddenly
experienced a loss of motivation when conflict began to crop up within the group.
6
Eventually she decided she wasn't a good fit for small group leader.
On Friday night of a weekend retreat, I am excited and ready to care for members of my
small group who have come. By Saturday evening, I want to shut down, not get into any
7
deep conversations, finish cleanup quickly and go home. I show little interest in knowing
how the weekend went for folks.

GOOD AND BAD SHEPHERDING
11
DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES
We begin as
shepherds but
THIEF
Views sheep as morsels to satisfy own
can wind up as
appetite. Perhaps carries on the charade of
hired hands.
being a shepherd, but never looks very much
like a shepherd, and never exerts self to do
anything other than feed off the sheep. (See
wolf.) Evidence: sheep feel unsafe, threat-
ened. Attrition mounts.
WOLF
Doesn't pose as shepherd but simply picks off
a vulnerable sheep. The bad shepherd lets this
happen. For example, predatory romantic
interest on the part of an older male in the
group of younger women. Even when the wolf
is unsuccessful, the actions of the wolf scatter
the sheep. Evidence: wise sheep avoid this
character.
HIRED HAND
Looks like a shepherd until danger appears.
May be good at providing green pasture, but
flees in the face of a wolf. Has a "nine-to-five"
mentality. Evidence: can't be bothered when
he or she is off work.
HARSH RULER
A bad shepherd who ignores the weaker
members of the flock, or those who are
unpopular, slow, handicapped, or unattractive
in some way. Evidence: impatience with or dis-
dain for people who are not conforming to the
ideal of strong, successful model sheep.

GOOD AND BAD SHEPHERDING
12
A sheep eater
looks at a
sheep and sees
SHEEP EATER
A leader who gets needs met inap-
mutton.
propriately from the sheep or from
his/her leadership role.
1. Emotional needs: Using the leadership role to meet one's own emotion-
al needs for friendship. Ingratiating; acting in some way as to require or
demand a reciprocity of friendship from those being led. Shepherding
springs here from a neediness for intimacy, not an abundance found in God.
2. Organizational needs: Abuse of the leadership role to induce members of
the flock to fulfill organizational roles because of the pressing need. Pressing
people into service or even leadership with concerns and agendas beyond
what is best for them.
3. Social needs: The leader's concern is to look like a good leader, or an
attractive or successful person, and is willing to manipulate people to get
them to do what will make him or her look successful.
4. Romance. The leader sees the sheep as romantic prospects or objects.
Even for married leaders it is an issue: inappropriate dependency and atten-
tion from attractive followers is ego-satisfying.
SILENT SHEPHERD
One who perceived needs in the flock
but failed to act or speak. Cannot say,
as Paul did, "I am innocent of the
blood of all of you because everything
I got from God I gave to you"
(Acts20:26-27). Evidence: gossip-
prone but conflict-avoidant.

GOOD AND BAD SHEPHERDING
13
Amateur shep-
herds see
themselves
POWER-HUNGRY SHEPHERD
Interested in leadership only for the improper
also as sheep.
rewards of being a shepherd (1 Peter 5:2-3):
recognition, privilege, money, approval,
romance, or power. Evidence: resentment of
other leaders, impatience with the flock,
prayerlessness, domination and control.
PROFESSIONAL
One who is in the shepherding line of work for
the money or some other extrinsic gain. Often
began as a shepherd with amateur status, but
over time decided to go pro. Evidence: some
work of shepherding is now beneath him or
her. (See hired hand.)
AMATEUR
From the latin, amator = lover. One whose
motivation as a shepherd is intrinsic, founded
in love for God and for the sheep, God's flock.
Evidence: love, not manipulation, fear, impa-
tience, or superiority.

HANS THE SHEPHERD BOY
14
Hans was a little shepherd boy who lived in Germany. One day he
was keeping his sheep near a great wood when a hunter rode up to him.
"How far is it to the nearest village, my boy?" asked the hunter.
retold by Ella
"It is six miles sir," said Hans, "But the road is only a sheep track.
Lyman Cabot
You might easily miss your way."
(from Moral
Compass by
"My boy," said the hunter, "if you will show me the way I will pay
William Bennett)
you well."
Hans only shook his head. "I cannot leave the sheep, sir," he said.
"They would stray into the woods and the wolves might kill them."
"But if only one or two sheep are eaten by the wolves, I will pay
you for them. I will give you more than you can earn in a year."
"Sir, I cannot go," said Hans. "These sheep are my master's. If they
are lost I should be to blame."
"If you cannot show me the way, will you get me a guide? I will
take care of your sheep while you are gone."
"No," said Hans "I cannot do that. The sheep do not know your
voice and... " then he stopped.
"Can't you trust me?" asked the hunter.
"No," said Hans, "you have tried to make me break my word to my
master. How do I know you would keep your word?"
The hunter laughed. "You are right," said he. "I wish I could trust
my servants as your master can trust you. Show me the path. I will try to get
to the village alone."
Just then several men rode out of the wood. They shouted for joy.
"Oh sir!" cried one. "we thought you were lost." Then Hans learned to his
great surprise that the hunter was the prince. He was afraid that the great
man would be angry with him. But the prince smiled and spoke in praise of
him.
A few days later a servant came from the prince and took Hans to
the palace. "Hans," said the prince, "I want you to leave your sheep and
come and serve me. I know you are a boy whom I can trust."
Hans was very happy over his good fortune. "If my master can find
another shepherd to take my place, then I will come and serve you."
So Hans went back and tended the sheep until his master found
another shepherd. After that he served the prince for many years.

A NSWERS AND RESOURCES
15
PAGE 8
GOOD SHEPHERDING BEGINS WITH GOD AS OUR SHEPHERD .
Abundance, thief/bandit
Security, hired hand
PAGE 9
Intimacy, stranger
LOVE JESUS = FEED HIS SHEEP = LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE = FOLLOW JESUS
PAGE 10
Willing to use someone rather than show first
James felt he had few resources himself for
1
4
concern for them (abundance).
the ministry (abundance).
Perhaps she is afraid of having the burden of
James tired of putting his heart out for peo-
sunday school fall on herself (security).
ple. He fled the flock (security).
You don't know the sheep well enough to have
Luke looks at Cindy and sees only a person
2
5
compassion and patience. You have begun to
who can meet his social needs (abundance).
see the sheep as impediments to the group's
progress, forgetting their growth is the reason
Luke equates the intimacy of his offer of
for the group in the first place (intimacy).
friendship to Cindy as prologue to romance
(intimacy).
You have fled the "danger" of a confrontation
Ellen fled the responsibility of shepherding in
with Ken. You probably have only seen in Ken
3
the face of conflict (security).
6
a partner for your (kids) ministry, rather than
Ellen fears intimacy herself, having no confi-
one who also is a beneficiary of God's work
dence that conflict can end well (abun-
through you in that ministry. So, you haven't
dance).
cared enough for him or looked for his growth
(security).
I am drained of energy by the retreat. Not
7
trusting that my own needs can be met by
God in the context of caring for others, I fail
to take advantage of the opportunity to be a
shepherd at a key time during the weekend.
If I rally for a few more hours, I can rest
when I return home (abundance, intimacy)
FURTHER RESOURCES
The Making of a Leader, ChuaWee Hian. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press. 1987
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Philip Keller. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1970
Scriptures taken from New Revised Standard Version of the Bible,
© U.S. Council of Churches. Used by permission.
L E A D I N G E D G E® ©InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 2003

"But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes
to become great among you must be your ser-
vant, and whoever wishes to be first among you
must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came
not to be served but to serve, and to give his life
a ransom for many."
Mark 10:43-45
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PART 1: THE LEADER LEADS BY SERVING
2
MARK 1:40-44
A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If
you choose, you can make me clean." 41Moved with pity, Jesus stretched
out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made
clean!" 42Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43After
Jesus leads by
sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44saying to him, "See that
serving.
you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for
your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
What do you notice about Jesus as a servant in this passage?
What are the characteristics of a servant?
MARK 10:42-45
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and
John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the
Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and
their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but
whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and
whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son
of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for
many."
What does Jesus contrast here?
Why does the comparison come up?
How does Jesus want people to lead?
What is the motivation?

PART 2: THE LEADER SERVES BY LEADING
3
JOHN 13:1-17
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour
had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his
own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had
already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him.
Trace who
And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into
knows what
and who
his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up
doesn't know.
from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet
and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to
Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7 Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you
will understand." 8 Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus
answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." 9 Simon Peter
said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"
10 Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except
for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you."
11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of
you are clean." 12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and
had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done
to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord-and you are right, for that is what
I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought
to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also
should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not
greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent
them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."
How is Jesus a servant in this passage?
How is Jesus a leader?

A LEADER LEADS BY SERVING
4
CHARACTERISTICS OF A
SERVANT : MARK 1
: THE ABILITY TO SEE...
Getting beyond
beyond our own needs
"I'd serve--
just ask me!"
beyond others' obvious needs
beyond the "presenting problem"
beyond what is to what will be needed
: THE DESIRE TO ACT...
A heart of
A reflex to be
A choice to make it
: THE RESOURCES TO GIVE...
Time, availability
Money, things
Skills, education, training
Healing, God's power
Insight, wisdom
Love, care, compassion
WITH... ...BUT WITHOUT... YOU' D...
SAY: "I'm willing to serve -- just ask me anytime!"
THINK: "If I don't serve often its only because people don't ask
Willingness and ability
Sensitivity
me to."
DO: Just what people ask, and no more. Finish tasks without
seeing other opportunities to serve.
SAY: "I'd love to do it but right now is not a good time..."
THINK: "My circumstances will change soon and I will be able
Sensitivity and ability
Willingness
to be more involved."
DO: Justify your choices, prioritize your own schedule, always
postpone servanthood.
SAY: "I wish I could do more than I am able."
Sensitivity and
THINK
Ability
: "How can I bring more resources to this need than I
willingness
have at present?"
DO : sincerely look for others to join you or to help meet the need.

A LEADER LEADS BY SERVING
5
SERVING BY SEEING
Your ability to
serve is limited
by your ability
a leader sees more deeply than followers and helps them to see
to see.
Seeing causes behind symptoms: approval orientation, fear of conflict, need to be needed.
Seeing behind false beliefs: about God, others, parents or oneself; about relationships and
forgiveness
Seeing deceptions behind feelings: bitterness, anxiety, fear, depression
Seeing more deeply into seemingly intractable or ambiguous situations
a leader sees further down the road than followers and acts on it.
Seeing of decisions: relational choices, mixed-up priorities, unintended consequences
Seeing opportunities for growth: conferences, leadership, risk-taking
Seeing potential and ability: gifts and temperament, experiences and passion
HOW TO DEVELOP INSIGHT AND FORESIGHT: KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN. YOUR
ABILITY TO SERVE IS LIMITED BY WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE .
Pray and ask God for wisdom, insight. Pray by name for the people you lead.
Watch other leaders and ask them why they made the choices they did.
Reflect on what has worked and what hasn't.
SERVING BY SPEAKING
WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT WE SEE.
Calling out gifts, identifying potential:
Calling forward risk taking, urging faith and growth:
Calling for commitment:
Calling for repentance:

A LEADER SERVES BY LEADING
6
MARK 10: WHY BE A SERVANT? THE
OF GOD:
Other's needs are met
We are blessed
we
WHEN
Servanthood:
God is glorified
with his
the economy
of God.
IMPLICATIONS:
1. Leadership isn't hierarchical: the greatest is the greatest servant.
2. Leadership isn't appointed, it is affirmed. Anyone can be a leader.
3. The decision about leadership isn't essentially a decision about taking on a role,
with a certain job description and time commitments. It is a decision to take on a
lifestyle, with certain priorities, convictions, and attitudes.
THE BASIS OF OUR
LEADERSHIP: TRUST
A N D A U T H O R I T Y
Trust: gained through
followers.
When a leader becomes a means to the follower's
Broken through
followers:
When a leader views followers as a means to the leader's ends.
Authority: 1) The right and power to command, enforce law, exact
obedience, determine or judge. 2) Power to influence or persuade
resulting from knowledge or experience. [American Heritage
Dictionary, 2000.]
WHICH TYPE DID JESUS HAVE?
Authority: using trust to influence followers.
Sources of authority:
Experience:
Scripture:
Character: the extent our lives reflect Scripture and how we teach it.

A LEADER SERVES BY LEADING
7
TWO TYPES OF LEADERSHIP ABUSE
EXERCISING AUTHORITY WITHOUT BUILDING TRUST BUILDING TRUST WITHOUT EXERCISING AUTHORITY
True servant
leadership
authoritarian, abusive
cozy, friendly cliques
leads people
to Jesus.
Vision without
Affirmation without
The leader cares more about being right
The leader cares more about being
than being followed.
than being followed.
The leader
to influ-
The leader fears exerting
ence on the basis of his/her position.
influence because people may not like it.
The leader is conflict-prone but
The leader is
unlikely to seek forgiveness or acknowledge mis-
and unlikely to address sin or harmful behaviors
takes/sin in self
in others.
The leader leads people to his/ her ideas
The leader leads people to
not to Jesus.
not to Jesus.
Servant Leadership is a...
: How we build trust: a
: What we are calling people to: an
...participation in the economy of God!

A LEADER SERVES BY LEADING
8
"Have this
mind in you
WHAT WOULD KEEP US FROM DOING THIS?
that was also
in Christ
Jesus..."
Selfishness: We need
1. We don't care enough about people and their decisions.
2. We don't spend time praying for them or thinking about them
enough to have foresight.
3. We haven't served them enough to build trust with them.
4. We haven't gotten to know them enough to have insight.
Fear: We need
1. We fear tension and conflict: soft love is easier than tough
love.
2. We don't believe that God's words and promises to us apply
to others and we fear that He may let them down.
3. We fear being wrong, or being thought to be wrong.
4. We fear our lives being examined as we call people to follow
Jesus; we may be found lacking.
Isolation: We need
Self-confidence: We need

A SELF INVENTORY
9
An invitation
This inventory is intended to help us think pratically about how Jesus' ser-
to honest self-
evaluation
vant leadership is relevant in our lives. Identify the strengths and weaknesses in
yourself. What steps can you take to grow?
SENSITIVITY: THE ABILITY TO SEE
Looking out for people who are struggling: Where are you likely to
see them? When are you likely to miss them?
Asking questions beyond the superficial "How are you?" Do people
respond as if you care? Do you?
WILLINGNESS: THE DESIRE TO ACT
Choosing to spend time with someone who needs to talk; Taking lunch
with a co-worker even when you are under stress at work.
Visiting people who are lonely or marginalized.
Putting effort and time into really listening to people: When/with whom are
you most impatient?
Intercession: how available are you to pray with/for others?
ABILITY: THE RESOURCES TO GIVE
Having money available in settings where everyone else is low on cash
Letting other people use your stuff (car, equipment, tools, books, etc.)
Using your skills to help other people: counselling, tutoring, web experi-
ence, technology, writing/editing, etc.

A CASE STUDY ON INSIGHT AND FORESIGHT
10
In general, servant leaders are more prone to abusing leadership by
not exercising authority. The following is a case study of the kinds of rela-
What do you
tionships you will likely have as servant leaders. How would you exercise
see? What
will you do
insight and foresight in this case?
with what you
see?
Jenny came alone to your small group, having picked up information
at church. She is quiet during the group meeting, but as she begins
to gather her things to leave you strike up a conversation, and she
stays for snack. She mentions that she has only recently begun to
visit the church and she's really just "checking things out." Although
she doesn't come to back to your small group, you see her occasion-
ally at church. You do what you can to be friendly without fawning
or pushing, though she usually rushes out pretty quickly after
church. Last week after church she asks you if there is a way to send
out an email announcement request for someone looking to share
an apartment. You give her the email address of the church adminis-
trator.
INSIGHT:
What can you see about Jenny's current situation? What more would you
try to find out?
How can you help her to see her own situation more clearly?
FORESIGHT :
Where do you see Jenny heading if things stay the way they are now?
Is there a better path you can foresee for Jenny?
What would she have to do to get on that better path? What could you do
to help her take those steps?

A NSWERS AND RESOURCES
11
"The idea of The Servant as Leader came out of reading Hermann Hesse's Journey
to the East. In this story we see a band of men on a mythical journey, probably also
Hesse's own journey. The central figure of the story is Leo who accompanies the
party as the servant who does their menial chores, but who also sustains them with
his spirit and his song. He is a person of extraordinary presence. All goes well until
Leo disappears. Then the group falls into disarray and the journey is abandoned.
They cannot make it without the servant Leo. The narrator, one of the party, after
some years of wandering finds Leo and is taken into the Order that had sponsored
the journey. There he discovers that Leo, whom he had known first as servant, was
in fact the titular head of the Order, its guiding spirit, a great and noble leader."
Robert K. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership (New York: Paulist Press, 1977), p7.
PAGE 4
PAGE 5
Sensitivity
insight, assumptions
Willingness
Foresight, opportunities
compassion
Sponsor, visionary, steward or manager,
generous
sentinel or prophet
a priority
Ability
PAGE 7 (BY ROWS)
systems
PAGE 6
love, challenge
economy
liked
serve in his name
feels entitled
resources
conflict avoidant
serving, ends
himself/herself
using
tool, means
Model, end
Love -- abundance
courage -- security
community -- intimacy
the Lord as our Shepherd
PAGE 10, THE CASE STUDY
What can you see...? Jenny seems busy and relationally unavailable. She
knows you as well as anyone at church, which isn't very much. She is prob-
ably in some transition with her rooming situation--this seems like an unex-
pected thing has come up. She is probably in turmoil about her housing.
What more would you like to find out? I'd ask her about her rooming
situation.

A NSWERS AND RESOURCES
12
How can you help her...? I'd invite her to a hang-out time with folks in the
small group, and ask her about her relationships with friends, roommates,
etc. I'd offer friendship or help point her to people who could.
Where do you see Jenny heading if things...? Not staying at the church long.
Alone and isolated.
Is there a better path you can foresee for Jenny? Getting more involved with
relationships in the church, especially in a small group. Reconciling with her
roommates.
What would she have to do to get on that better path? Take some initiative
or at least respond to initiative others might take with her.
What could you do to help her take those steps? Invite her, show real inter-
est. Connect her to other women her age.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power
and Greatness, Robert Greenleaf. New York: Paulist Press, 1977
Transforming Leadership: Jesus' Way of Creating Vision, Shaping
Values and Empowering Change, Leighton Ford. InterVarsity Press,
1991.
Scriptures taken from New Revised Standard Version of the Bible,
© U.S. Council of Churches. Used by permission.
L E A D I N G E D G E® ©InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 2003

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits--
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-5
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R ELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
2
PSALM 50:7-15
"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against
you. I am God, your God. 8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your
burnt offerings are continually before me. 9 I will not accept a bull from your
What do you
learn about
house, or goats from your folds. 10 For every wild animal of the forest is
how God
relates to his
mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the air, and all
people?
that moves in the field is mine. 12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for
the world and all that is in it is mine. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink
the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your
vows to the Most High. 15 Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you,
and you shall glorify me."
ISAIAH 64:4
From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has
seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
LUKE 12:35-38
"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who
are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that
they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed
are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you,
he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and
serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn,
and finds them so, blessed are those slaves."

R ELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
3
ACTS 17:22-25
Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I
see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23 For as I went through
the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among
God is not
them an altar with the inscription, `To an unknown god.' What therefore
served by
human hands.
you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the
world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live
in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as
though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and
breath and all things.
What does each passage have in common? What picture of God emerges?
Of his relationship to his people?

MOTIVATION FOR DISCIPLESHIP
4
MARK 8:34-38
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any
want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their
cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and
What motives
those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will
does each pas-
sage address?
save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit
their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who
are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful genera-
tion, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels."
MARK 10:28-31
Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and fol-
lowed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left
house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my
sake and for the sake of the good news, 30who will not receive a hundred-
fold now in this age-houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and
fields with persecutions-and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many
who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
MARK 10:41-45
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and
John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the
Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and
their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but
whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and
whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son
of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for
many."
What does each passage have in common? What is different?

THE REWARDS OF MINISTRY
5
MINISTRY IS LIKE THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM:
IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO FOR GOD, BUT SOMETHING GOD DOES FOR US.
THE SACRIFICE
THE REWARD
The glory goes
Lay down our lives for Christ's sake and the
Life, real life, eternal life that begins now
gospel's
to the worker.
Homes, family, security: both in this life and the
Leave behind everything that represents security
life to come
Choose the downward road toward servanthood
Greatness, a life of impact, touching the lives of
and being last
others
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD?(MOSES: 1 CHR 6:49,
2 CHR 24:9, NEH 10:29, DAN 9:11, REV 15:3; PAUL: TITUS 1:1; JAMES: JAMES 1:1)
We serve
in God's
and with God's
in order that people might see, not our kindness
but God's
The result: People are drawn
We are
Others are served
God is
(The glory goes to the worker!)
THE ECONOMY OF GOD!
What then does God want from us? Does he receive nothing from us and
from our humble service? He wants offerings of thanksgiving (Ps 50:14): he
wants our gratitude and our worship, our honor and the best intentions of
our hearts. He desires these things and they honor him when we bring them.
He simply doesn't want us to work for him.
God is the
who
!
He is still the King. He calls the shots. Yet we wait for him -- for his mercy!
He is the shepherd-Lord, the Servant King.

J OB DESCRIPTION VS. DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION
6
"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous,
but sinners, to repentance" Mark 2:17
LEADERSHIP AS A JOB
LEADERSHIP AS A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION
GOAL: RECEIVING
INTRINSIC REWARDS
GOAL: RECEIVING
IN THE FORM OF:
ASSOCIATED WITH TRUSTING GOD AND LOVING PEOPLE.
Often we
·
or respect from others
HEALING COULD INCLUDE:
begin as
(or God)
·healing from selfishness and self-focus
patients and
·paying down a debt of gratitude toward God
·healing from of
risk and
end up as
·feeling of
in having an impact
employees.
vulnerability
on others or the group
·healing from low self worth or sense of inability
·feeling of superiority because of being in lead-
to make a difference in the lives of others
ership
QUALIFICATIONS:
QUALIFICATIONS:
·Bible knowledge, expertise, experience.
·FAT: available
·Typical leadership traits (extroversion, self-
·Evidence of God's healing already: a testi-
confidence, etc).
mony of God's work.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH:
·Corporate worship, small group meetings
·
to learn how to love and lead
·leadership team meetings, training sessions
others, how to depend on God
·conferences & retreats
· time spent with others helps us grow in love for them
·meetings with group members
·
:meetings with team
·meetings with leadership team members
members help us have insight to help others better
ATTITUDES:
ATTITUDES:
·I learn more than my SG members from each
·I just have to do it.
discussion.
·If I don't, no one will.
·How is God serving me in my role here? How
·They (you, God) need(s) me.
am I being healed?
·I am not really getting anything out of this.
·I need to be in leadership (in ministry) much
more than I am needed.

7
J OB DESCRIPTION VS. DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION
Is our ministry
LEADERSHIP AS A JOB
LEADERSHIP AS A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION
our work for
God, or a part
LONG TERM RESULTS:
of his work for
LONG TERM RESULTS:
·
: God has done great things
us? The glory
·
: I have done great things for
for me! The glory goes to the worker
goes to the
God. The glory goes to the worker.
worker!
(i.e., God).
· Resentment : I have sacrificed a lot!-for God,
·
: I continue to receive much
for this church, for this ministry involvement.
more than I give!
·
: I have done as much as I can do.
·
:
I can never get enough!
MOTIVATIONAL APPEALS:
MOTIVATIONAL APPEALS:
·"Missed you at small group. Where were you?"
·"I wanted to come by to see you because I did-
·"I am really hoping everyone will be able to come to
n't get to see you at small group. How
the church retreat. You all really should go!"
are you doing?"
·"I would look forward to the chance to spend
ought
time with you at the church retreat."
Invitation
BIBLICAL IMAGES:
BIBLICAL IMAGES:
·Luke 7:35-50: Simon (proud, judging)
·Luke 7:35-50: the woman (forgiven, grateful)
·Luke 10:38-42: Martha, resentful while trying to
·Luke 10:38-42: Mary, eager to feed on Jesus'
feed Jesus
words
·Luke 15:11-32: The older son protesting the
·Luke 15:11-32: The younger son enjoying the
party "I have worked for you for years..."
party (no longer a slave but a son)
·Luke 18: 9-14: The Pharisee (proud)
·Luke 18:9-14: The tax collector (humble)

THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE DOCTOR WITHIN THE PATIENT
8
The Doctor-Patient Image, like any analogy, is limited in its ability
fully to model our relationship with God. God is much more invested in our
healthy recovery than even good doctors are in their patients; it would be
"Apart from
me you can
more fair to compare God to a doctor who not only treats his patients, but
do nothing."
John 15:6
then adopts them as his beloved children. And while the image of a father
is also important in Scripture, this doesn't also capture all of it either. It is as
if the Doctor goes home to live within the patient, to enable the patient to
make healthier choices and to stay in the center of the doctor's plan for the
patient's recovery. The Doctor-in-patient is spoken of in Scripture as the Holy
Spirit. It is crucial to understand the importance of the Holy Spirit's work.
We've been talking about it all along--the Holy Spirit is the shepherd of our
souls and the servant giving us wisdom and insight for ourselves and those
we serve and lead.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with
you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he
abides with you, and he will be in you.
"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the
world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also
will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me,
and I in you." John 14:16-20
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he
will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will
declare to you the things that are to come." John 16:13
With Jesus in us in the way that the Father is in Jesus, we can have confi-
dence that our sincere efforts to allow Jesus to live his life in us will bear
fruit. We also know that this doctor is patient, loving, forgiving; he under-
stands our propensity to turn from his wise prescriptions for health, and he
guides us gently into increasingly trusting his wisdom for our lives over
time. This is not simply what we must do, but this is also who we are and
whose we are.

THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE DOCTOR WITHIN THE PATIENT
9
Implications of the Holy Spirit for the patient-leader:
"Until all of
We can believe that a real transaction has taken
us come to...
place when we come to God--we are his, adopted as children and
the measure of
given a guarantee of his consistent care (as a shepherd, as a ser-
the full stature
vant, as a doctor) through the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.
of Christ."
Eph 4:13
Ephesians 1:13-14
We can step out in risky ways in our leadership
or ministry opportunities, because God both calls us into them, and
also empowers and resources us for them. This is especially signif-
icant if we're wrestling through identity formation and thus sensi-
tive about being affirmed or criticized, struggling with deep guilt
and shame, feeling emotionally fatigued, or even working through
depression. Sometimes we may not feel like we have the emotion-
al resources, self-definition, inner strength, and stamina to follow
through with our doctor's recommendations. But the Holy Spirit
meets us in whatever condition we are in, and empowers us in ways
we might think are small, but which are deeply significant never-
theless. Acts 1:8
The work of the Holy Spirit doesn't end with pro-
viding us the resouces with which to serve. The Holy Spirit acts the
way a father does teaching a toddler to walk--holding fingers, pac-
ing the child's progress, and preventing injury while the tot is build-
ing up the muscles with which to master the act of walking. The
Holy Spirit's presence in our lives makes it possible to know that our
mistakes will be forgiven while we continue to try to live as we are
created to live. John 16:13
Finally, the relationship doesn't stop when the
prescription first takes affect. The doctor-father-indweller has more
hope for us than simply to get better. He remains in our life, contin-
uing to work and to empower us to become more and more the spit-
ting image of his Son and our older brother, Jesus. Ephesians 4:13-16

N EXT STEPS TOOL
10
1 THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN LIFE. IN WHAT SETTINGS ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO
STRUGGLE WITH "WORKING FOR GOD"?
Goal: wages or health. Everyone is a mixture of agendas; purity of motive
is impossible to attain. What would it look like to be more focused on
the good change God can bring about in your own heart and life
rather than any comparative feelings you might have towards others
or even towards God? Perhaps spend some time identifying the good
work God is doing in your heart through recent struggles or challenges
in ministry.
Long-term results: What do you see as the most obvious long-term
results of ministry in your own life: pride, resentment & burnout or
gratitude, humility, & enduring motivation? How can you make choic-
es to honor God's work?
2 THINK ABOUT YOUR CURRENT MINISTRY CONTEXT. WHAT MIGHT BE THE MOST
IMPORTANT NEXT STEP IN MOVING THE MINISTRY FROM A WORKING FOR GOD OUTLOOK
TO A RECEIVING HEALING FROM THE DOCTOR OUTLOOK?
Qualifications: How do you see people as ready for leadership? How do
you consider people for ministry roles?
Job requirements vs. Prescription for health: Do you need to consider
how you communicate the expectations for involvement in a way that
connects what people do with how it is helping them grow in faith
and character?
Motivation appeals: When you were invited into your ministry position,
did the appeal focus on the opportunity for you, or the need in the
ministry? What was most attractive about saying "Yes"? How do you
invite others into ministry with you?

O N HIS BLINDNESS
11
BY JOHN MILTON
In 1652 John Milton went blind. it was only after this event that he
dictated his great epic Paradise Lost, one of the most profound pieces of
English poetry. This sonnet indicates some of how he saw his affliction.
They also
serve who
only stand
and wait.
"When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodge within me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker and present
My true account, lest he returning chide.
"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent
That murmur soon replies "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him the best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

A NSWERS AND RESOURCES
12
PAGE 5
others, name, resources, great love
to God, blessed, glorified
master, serves
PAGE 6
FIRST COLUMN
wages, approval, significance
what things leaders do
SECOND COLUMN
health, fear
faithful, available, teachable
What things leaders need, training, partnership
PAGE 7
FIRST COLUMN
pride, burnout
Obligation, Guilt, duty
SECOND COLUMN
gratitude to God, humility, enduring motivation
Opportunity, appeal, growth
PAGE 9
pledge, power, trainer, perfector
OTHER RESOURCES
"If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own
good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit
that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the
Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward
and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the gospels, it
would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambi-
tion when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go
on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant
by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." C.S.
Lewis, "The Weight of Glory" in The Weight of Glory and Other
Addresses. Collier Books, 1980.
Scriptures taken from New Revised Standard Version of the Bible,
© U.S. Council of Churches. Used by permission.
L E A D I N G E D G E® ©InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 2003

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who
gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it
will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubt-
ing, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the
sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the
doubter, being double-minded and unstable in
every way, must not expect to receive anything
from the Lord.
James 1:5-7
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L E A D E R S H I P
C O P Y R I G H T © 2 0 0 3
L E A D I N G E D G E®

A SKING FOR WISDOM
2
1 KINGS 3:5-28
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and
God said, "Ask what I should give you." 6And Solomon said, "You have
shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he
walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of
Look for
principles of
heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love,
seeking and
exhibiting
and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7And now, O LORD my
wisdom.
God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although
I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your
servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great peo-
ple, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9Give your servant
therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern
between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?"
10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11God said to him,
"Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or
riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself under-
standing to discern what is right, 12I now do according to your word. Indeed
I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you
and no one like you shall arise after you. 13I give you also what you have not
asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with
you. 14If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my command-
ments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life."
15Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem where
he stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. He offered up burnt
offerings and offerings of well-being, and provided a feast for all his ser-
vants.
16Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood
before him. 17The one woman said, "Please, my lord, this woman and I live
in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. 18Then on
the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were togeth-
er; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in
the house. 19Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on
him. 20She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside

A SKING FOR WISDOM
3
me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead
son at my breast. 21When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that
he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was
not the son I had borne." 22But the other woman said, "No, the living son
Look for
principles of
is mine, and the dead son is yours." The first said, "No, the dead son is
seeking and
exhibiting
yours, and the living son is mine." So they argued before the king.
wisdom.
23Then the king said, "The one says, `This is my son that is alive, and your
son is dead'; while the other says, `Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is
the living one.'" 24So the king said, "Bring me a sword," and they brought
a sword before the king. 25The king said, "Divide the living boy in two; then
give half to the one, and half to the other." 26But the woman whose son
was alive said to the king-because compassion for her son burned within
her-"Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!" The
other said, "It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it." 27Then the king
responded: "Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his
mother." 28All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered; and
they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of
God was in him, to execute justice.
JAMES 1:5-7
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all gener-
ously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6But ask in faith, never
doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and
tossed by the wind; 7,8for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable
in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

PERSUASION, INFLUENCE, AND DECISION-MAKING
4
THE GOAL
Helping people reflect the teachings of Jesus and faith in God in their convictions and
priorities, and to reflect their convictions and priorities in their actions and decisions.
SOLOMON AS A WISE INFLUENCE LEADER WHEN WE ARE INFLUENCE LEADERS
Conformity is
not the goal.
When we consider entering into peo-
ple's lives to influence them, we begin
Solomon with prayer for them and for ourselves,
that God would grant us wisdom. We
for wisdom.
don't need to pray, "If it be your will, O
Lord, grant us wisdom." He delights to
give wisdom to us.
Our goal is not simply that people DO
what we want them to DO, but rather
Solomon highly valued
that they make fully-owned choices
and respected those he leads.
that draw them closer to God. Even as
we endeavor to influence people we
honor and respect them.
Solomon viewed himself as a
We are careful not to manipulate
to help people
people to choose something because
toward their
that choice will serve or benefit us in
some way.
rather than vice versa.
Our goal is not simply that we tell peo-
ple the correct choice to make or path
Solomon was willing to be
to take, but that people come to see
along the way.
how God is working and what he is
saying. We'll sacrifice quick clarity for
eventual ownership.
Our strategy of influence is not
Solomon acted in such a way as to
directed toward others' behavior, but
get to
.
towards their convictions and priori-
ties.
Solomon
When we have received wisdom from
for the
God, we must acknowledge him as
wisdom he has received.
the source and thank him.

PERSUASION, INFLUENCE, AND DECISION-MAKING
5
VERB AL TO OL S O F IN FLU EN C E
In general, most people do not know how to ask good questions well.
Many people prefer to talk than to listen, and the fact is good listeners are exceed-
ingly rare. (People will even pay high hourly prices
O P E N : Y O U A R E T H E E X P E R T
to be listened to well.) Furthermore, when people
How we use
think about influence, in general it takes the form
words is
GOOD QUESTIONS
crucial.
of advice: "What I think you should do is ..."
STORIES
"What I would do if I were you is ..." Advice may
STATEMENTS
be appropriate in some situations, but it undoubt-
BAD QUESTIONS
edly is far overused. Unfortunately, for those who
ADVICE
receive it, it is also probably under-valued.
JUDGMENTS
We have many different verbal tools of influence
COMMANDS
available to us in our friendships, some of which
C L O S E D : I A M T H E E X P E R T
can be very helpful while others detrimental. I think
of them in a continuum flanked by two extremes: closed strategies making the ques-
tioner the expert, and open strategies making the responder the expert.
Influence strategies focused on the
of the
often focus on spelling out approved or correct behavior. This has the advantage of
being
: the actions desired may be quickly understood.
Results: · confusion
· lack of ownership
· feeling manipulated
· feeling controlled
· feeling judged
Influence strategies involving
focused on
and goals (good questions, stories, statements) involve a greater investment of time
and listening effort, but the payoff is found when the person being listened to comes
to
about what appropriate choice would best
fulfill their priorities and objectives.
Results: · ownership
· gratitude

A N EXAMPLE OF ADVICE
6
DILBERT REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC
Advice: over-
used but
undervalued.

PERSUASION, INFLUENCE, AND DECISION-MAKING
7
GOOD QUESTION ASKING
Leadership involves two-way communication. In talking with people, the way we use
words is critical. We can encourage or discourage people, open them up or close them
to us; we can motivate and inspire or dampen enthusiasm and engender doubts.
Good ques-
tions are tools
for learning,
We want to learn to ask questions that will involve people in the process. If we only
not probes
for self
ask Yes/No questions, then our ability to dig deeper is limited by our own familiar-
incrimination
ity with the situation or the person. Consider a decision-making discussion with
someone younger. Our goal as leaders is to bring the best information to bear on
any decision, so that the person making the decision can do so with ownership and
confidence.
It is possible to go into a conversation with someone, plan to ask questions,
and it still does not go very well. This is why.
BAD QUESTIONS GOOD QUESTIONS
Yes/No questions: Could,
would, should, do, did,
What, where, when, who, how
will, can
Content-oriented: directed
Process-oriented: directed
toward specific informa-
toward helping the responder
tion the questioner desires
move through a thorough
process of thinking
Leading or manipulative
Stimulates thinking without
hidden agendas
Threatening: out to prove
Non-threatening: deeply curious
a case
with affection and honor
"What are the reasons you
"Why are you ...?" Implies
are...?" Implies there could be
there are no good reasons
many reasons
Creates or exacerbates
Reduces and diffuses defensiveness
defensiveness

L ISTENING SKILLS CASE STUDIES
8
THINKING ABOUT CHANGING
PRESENTING ISSUE
THINKING ABOUT DROPPING
THINKING ABOUT LOOKING
A MINISTRY COMMITMENT.
FO R A N EW J OB .
LIVING SITUATIONS.
Your approval for their
Your advice about how
much longer they should
Your approval for their
What does the
decision to drop the com-
stay in their current, frus-
decision and help at
person seek?
mitment they have made
knowing how to tell their
for your team.
trating, stress- producing
job.
roommates.
You know her roommates
You fear that their deci-
You know the job is frus-
have made different
sion to drop their ministry
trating but are aware of
lifestyle choices which are
What concerns do
commitment is based in
character growth op-portu-
hard for your friend. But
you have?
self-protection, risk-avoid-
nities in it. You aren't sure
you know her conflict
ance or conflict-avoidance
that they should yet leave
avoidance and harboring
rather than in wisdom.
their job
resentments have increased
the tension.
You shouldn't move out of
Don't quit your job quite
your apartment until you
Don't drop your ministry
yet. You haven't learned all
Advice you'd just love
have reconciled in your
commitment! Stop working
you can through it and
to give.
relationships. At that point,
so much on weekends!
your perseverance will be
it may be possible to move
rewarded.
on well.
How do you think the chil-
Have you often quit jobs
Do you have a string of
dren will feel? How will
broken relationships and
(Bad) Questions
quickly when they become
your partners feel?
unreconciled friendships
you'd be tempted
the least bit frustrating?
behind you?
to ask.
What could be a higher pri-
What does it say about you
ority than serving in this
that you don't want to stay
Is this your usual way of
way?
in this job?
dealing with relational
tension?
What are some of the
What are the commitments
things God is teaching you
How have your conversa-
in your week you most
in your current job?
tions gone regarding your
enjoy?
hopes to move out?
How do your current
Open-ended
What is satisfying about
stresses help your depend-
What are the tension
questions that
them?
ence on God? Hinder it?
points in your relation-
would actually
What priorities make this
ships?
help them to
What kinds of near-term
choice look attractive?
better understand
goals can you work
How do you contribute to
their own motives
What priorities would be
toward that will help you
those tensions?
and priorities.
sacrificed by making this
to learn and benefit from
What could you do to
choice?
your current job?
address those tensions?
How could these tradeoffs
When would be a realistic
What would repentance
be avoided?
time frame to consider
look like for you?
leaving?
That the person identify
That the person would be
That the person consider
some of the ways God is
eager to seek reconciliation,
priorities, and make a good
working in their current
regardless of the ultimate
decision in light of those
job, and how facing and
decision to move out or stay
Goal for your help-
priorities. This could include
not running away could
put. That the person would
ful conversation.
dropping the ministry com-
provoke more growth.
have greater hope that rela-
mitment, but for the right
Helping him/her to identify
tional breakdowns can be
reasons.
signs that it is actually time
reconciled and conflict isn't
to move on.
fatal to friendship.

O BJECTIVES, ACTIONS, RISKS
9
OBJECTIVES: GOALS, PRIORITIES, MOTIVES, WHYS, ENDS
What are the reasons you are doing this? What are your hopes behind this
action?
What goals do you have for this period of time?
A conversa-
tional model
What results are you looking for?
for decision
What is the end toward which we are working?
making and
guidance.
These things need to be stated, they are often implicit.
ACTIONS: CHOICES, OPTIONS, MEANS, PEOPLE, RESOURCES
What can you do to accomplish these objectives?
How else could you do this?
How does that action fulfill my objectives?
What are the reasons that this action is the best?
If actions are attractive that don't meet the objectives, there
must be other objectives that aren't being mentioned. Return
to the discussion of objectives.
RISKS: COSTS, CONSEQUENCES, DISADVANTAGES
Are there hidden costs that affect reaching all the objectives? What can go
wrong with this action?
What's the probability of that happening?
If it happens, what are the consequences? How serious are they?
Most decisions are considered as actions. For example: Should I look for a new job? Should we
get married? Where should we go on our vacation? Should we barbeque steak tonight, or
chicken? Etc. Spend more time on the objectives and the action discussion will be more fun and
will go more smoothly.
The leader's contribution: to consider the objectives, help people to own Biblical objectives and
priorities, and to help them make THEIR OWN DECISIONS which help them accomplish their
own objectives in the best way.
ROLE PLAY IN TWOS
ROL E 1 ) Consider a real decision you are facing.
ROL E 2) Ask questions of person 1, using OAR and good questions.
Each person make remarks about the process. Rotate roles and repeat the process.

L ISTENING SKILLS PERSONAL CASE STUDY
10
Presenting Issue (current
or common)
What does the person
seek?
What concerns do you
have?
Advice you'd just love
to give.
(Bad) Questions you'd
be tempted to ask.
Open-ended questions
that would actually
help them to better
understand their own
motives and priorities.
Goal for your helpful
conversation.

COURTROOM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
11
Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July 15th
Q: What year?
A: Every year.
Q:The youngest son, the 20-year-old, how old is he?
Actual exam-
Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?
ples of bad
questions.
Q:Was it you or your younger brother who was killed in the war?
Q:Did he kill you?
Q: How far apart were the vehicles at the time of the collision?
Q:How many times have you committed suicide?
Q: You were there until the time you left, is that true?
Q: She had three children , right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q:Were there any girls?
Q:How was your first marriage terminated?
A: by death.
Q:And by whose death was it terminated?
Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male, or female?
Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.
Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30pm .
Q:And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.
Q:Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q:Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
A: No.
Q:How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q:But could the patient have still been alive nevertheless?
A: It's possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere

A NSWERS AND RESOURCES
12
PAGE 4
depended on God, means, ends, misunderstood, motives, honored God and
gave thanks
compliance, identification, internalization
PAGE 5
expertise, influencer, clear
open conversation, priorities, their own clarity
FURTHER RESOURCES
Questions are an integral part of verbal interaction in our society. As with
many other kinds of responses, questions have their strengths and their lim-
itations. Comparatively few people in our culture know how to question
effectively. We often rely on questions excessively and use them poorly.
Questions usually focus on the intent, perspective, and concerns of the lis-
tener rather than on the speaker's orientation. When that happens, ques-
tions are a barrier to communication.
We distinguish between "closed" questions and "open" questions.
Closed questions direct the speaker to give a specific, short response. Open
questions, on the other hand, provide space for the speaker to explore his
thoughts without being hemmed in too much by the listener's categories....
Closed questions are like true/false or multiple choice test questions, while
open questions are like essay questions....
When used skillfully and infrequently, open questions may help the
listener better understand the speaker without directing the conversation. In
the report on their study of open and closed questions, Moreland, Phillips,
and Lockhart write:
Crucial to the giving of open-ended questions is the concept of who is to lead the
interview. While the interviewer does ask questions while using this skill, his ques-
tions are centered around the concerns of the client rather than around concerns of
the interviewer for the client. Questions should be designed to help the client clarify
his own problems, rather than provide information for the interviewer... If the inter-
viewer relies on closed questions to structure his interview, he usually is forced to
concentrate so hard on thinking up the next question that he fails to listen to and
attend to the client.
From Robert Bolton, People Skills, Simon & Schuster, 1986, pages 44-45.
Scriptures taken from New Revised Standard Version of the Bible,
© U.S. Council of Churches. Used by permission.
L E A D I N G E D G E® ©InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 2003

Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the
man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the
man who has done this deserves to die; he shall
restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing,
and because he had no pity". Nathan said to David,
"You are the man!"
David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the
LORD." Nathan said to David, "Now the LORD has
put away your sin; you shall not die."
2 Samuel 12:5-7a, 13
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C O P Y R I G H T © 2 0 0 3
L E A D I N G E D G E®

L EADER AS SENTINEL
2
EZEKIEL 33:1-9
The word of the LORD came to me: 2 O Mortal, speak to your peo-
ple and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the
land take one of their number as their sentinel; 3and if the sentinel sees the
What do you
learn about
sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people;
the role of
4 then if any who hear the sound of the trumpet do not take warning, and
sentinel?
the sword comes and takes them away, their blood shall be upon their own
heads. 5They heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning;
their blood shall be upon themselves. But if they had taken warning, they
would have saved their lives. 6 But if the sentinel sees the sword coming and
does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the
sword comes and takes any of them, they are taken away in their iniquity,
but their blood I will require at the sentinel's hand. 7 So you, mortal, I have
made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my
mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, "O
wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the
wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but
their blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn
from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die
in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
What does failure look like for a sentinel?
Make a list of people God has used as sentinels in your life.
When have I seen but not warned? What was the cost? To the person? Group?
Myself?
When have I seen, warned, and found repentant hearts? What was the result?

E XHORTATION TODAY
3
HEBREWS 3:12-4:1
What do you
Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil,
notice about
exhortation?
unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But exhort one
another every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you may
be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have become partners of
Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
16 Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all
those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? 17 But with whom was
he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the
wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his
rest, if not to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were
unable to enter because of unbelief. 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of
entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem
to have failed to reach it.
What is at stake?
How would you get an "evil, unbelieving heart"?
How is sin deceitful?

L EADER AS SENTINEL
4
1 SAMUEL 25
Now Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him. They
buried him at his home in Ramah.
Then David got up and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 2 There was
What is the
a man in Maon, whose property was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three
issue? How
does David
thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 Now
respond?
the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was
clever and beautiful, but the man was surly and mean; he was a Calebite. 4 David
heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5 So David sent ten young
men; and David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and
greet him in my name. 6 Thus you shall salute him: `Peace be to you, and peace be
to your house, and peace be to all that you have. 7 I hear that you have shearers;
now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed
nothing, all the time they were in Carmel. 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell
you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your sight; for we have come on a
feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son
David.'"
9 When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name
of David; and then they waited. 10 But Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is
David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking
away from their masters. 11 Shall I take my bread and my water and the meat that I
have butchered for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know
where?" 12 So David's young men turned away, and came back and told him all this.
13 David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword!" And every one of them
strapped on his sword; David also strapped on his sword; and about four hundred
men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, "David sent mes-
sengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he shouted insults at them.
15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we never
missed anything when we were in the fields, as long as we were with them; 16 they
were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keep-
ing the sheep. 17 Now therefore know this and consider what you should do; for evil
has been decided against our master and against all his house; he is so ill-natured
that no one can speak to him."

L EADER AS SENTINEL
5
18 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves, two skins of wine,
five sheep ready dressed, five measures of parched grain, one hundred clusters of
raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys 19 and said to
How does
Abigail serve
her young men, "Go on ahead of me; I am coming after you." But she did not tell
as a sentinel to
her husband Nabal. 20 As she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of
David?
the mountain, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.
21 Now David had said, "Surely it was in vain that I protected all that this fellow has
in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; but he
has returned me evil for good. 22 God do so to David and more also, if by morning
I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him."
23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and alighted from the donkey, and
fell before David on her face, bowing to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said,
"Upon me alone, my lord, be the guilt; please let your servant speak in your ears,
and hear the words of your servant. 25 My lord, do not take seriously this ill-natured
fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him;
but I, your servant, did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
26 "Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, since
the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from taking vengeance with your
own hand, now let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be like
Nabal. 27 And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given
to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant;
for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting
the battles of the LORD; and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. 29 If
anyone should rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall
be bound in the bundle of the living under the care of the LORD your God; but the
lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 30 When the
LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning
you, and has appointed you prince over Israel, 31 my lord shall have no cause of
grief, or pangs of conscience, for having shed blood without cause or for having
saved himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your
servant."
32 David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent
you to meet me today! 33 Blessed be your good sense, and blessed be you, who

L EADER AS SENTINEL
6
have kept me today from bloodguilt and from avenging myself by my own hand!
34 For as surely as the LORD the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurt-
ing you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there would
How does
David receive
not have been left to Nabal so much as one male." 35 Then David received from her
the words of
the sentinel
hand what she had brought him; he said to her, "Go up to your house in peace; see,
Abigail?
I have heeded your voice, and I have granted your petition."
36 Abigail came to Nabal; he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast
of a king. Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; so she told him
nothing at all until the morning light. 37 In the morning, when the wine had gone
out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him; he
became like a stone. 38 About ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD
who has judged the case of Nabal's insult to me, and has kept back his servant from
evil; the LORD has returned the evildoing of Nabal upon his own head." Then David
sent and wooed Abigail, to make her his wife. 40 When David's servants came to
Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as
his wife." 41 She rose and bowed down, with her face to the ground, and said,
"Your servant is a slave to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." 42 Abigail got
up hurriedly and rode away on a donkey; her five maids attended her. She went after
the messengers of David and became his wife.
What kind of person is Abigail?
What did Abigail do to change the outcome of this scene?
What are the results of Abigail's faithful choice?

THE SENTINEL IN CONFLICT
7
WHAT DID ABIGAIL DO TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT?
APPLICATION
·Be ready for conflict. Think ahead; make
Even before the conflict happens, Abigail is
commitments that you won't flee. For your
1 understood to be a person of action, who will
"Leaders don't
sake, for the sake of friendships, for the sake
not freeze up but will act to do the right thing.
of your future marriage, etc.
inflict pain;
Her servant says (v17), "Now therefore know
·Otherwise, while we waffle, we gossip,
they bear
this and consider what you should do"
complain, become fearful and resentful.
pain."
Max DePree
Abigail is willing to intercede on behalf of her
2 husband. She is willing to enter in and make
Don't be casual about relational tension.
peace. She spares no expense, of time or
Matthew 5:25 stresses this as well: "Come
money. She understood the urgency. v18:
to terms quickly with your accuser..."
"Then Abigail hurried...
Abigail sent someone on ahead of her to make
Find an advocate, someone who knows both
3 peace, as an advocate. v19: "Go on ahead of parties to the conflict and who has a stake in
me" though she didn't decide not to come at
a positive outcome.
all.
Often, our justification for our sinful
Abigail puts herself in the one-down position.
response is the original sin in the first place.
4 (Though in this case, she is the one in the right, "S/he started it!" Be willing to look at your
while David is in the wrong.) v24: "Upon me
own contribution to the conflict, even if the
alone, my lord, be the guilt"
other's sin seems more egregious (and it usu-
ally will).
Start not with your own complaint, but with
every way in which you were or could possibly
Abigail addresses the original need, the original
have been in the wrong. Don't begin even
5 complaint. She makes amends. v27: she makes with trying to be understood, which implies
a present. She addresses the injustice.
"You were wrong to think that I was in the
wrong." Agree first; understand, and you may
come to be understood.
Abigail reminds David of the promises associat-
ed with his life and future--she calls him to live
We need to see the results of our actions
up to what God is doing in him. She thinks
clearly -- small choices now can make a huge
6 future- perfect (v31): "when the Lord has dealt difference later, for us, for others, for our fel-
well with my lord, then remember your ser-
lowship or church, for folks who don't know
vant." She speaks of the future as if it were
God.
guaranteed.
V32: Abigail stops speaking and must trust in
We need to have faith that God will come
God: to calm David's anger, to save her life.
through for us. Ultimately, it is not up to our
7 She didn't flee the conflict, but rode right into words, gestures, or schemes. Others' hearts
it.
are in God's hands.
WHAT WERE THE RESULTS OF ABIGAIL ' S FAITHFUL CHOICE?
·David, for his part, is extraordinarily willing to learn from someone less powerful.
David receives advice from Abigail as a gift from God.
·David's reputation and conscience is kept clear from guilt.
·God responds to bring justice to the situation beyond what was in David's power.
Nabal was going to die either way, but in this way it was an act of God's judgment,
not David's anger.
·Through God's judgment of Nabal, David receives the confirmation of God's work
in his life and as an advocate for him.
·Abigail ends up with a more reasonable husband, though it is certainly David who
gets the better deal.

CONFLICT PLANNER
8
CONSIDER CLOSE BUT FRACTIOUS RELATIONSHIPS: ROOMMATES, SIBLINGS, PARENTS, GOOD
FRIENDS, MINISTRY PARTNERS, BOY/GIRLFRIEND, LEADERSHIP/ AUTHORITY, ETC.
With whom:
Conflict you are in or one
that is typical.
Familiar circumstances:
Short-term:
What will be the result if
things are not addressed?
Long-term:
Is there anyone who can act
as advocate? Intermediary,
someone you both trust
What would it take on your
part to address the original
cause of tension?
How can you put yourself in
the one-down position? To
what can you confess with-
out requiring prior initiative
on their part?
What would it cost you to
take the initiative in this
relationship?
What do you need to
receive from God if this is to
end well? For what will you
need to pray?
For you?
What good will come if this
For him/her/them?
conflict is dealt with speedi-
ly, in humility?
For other stakeholders in this relationship?

F AITH AND THE HEART OF UNBELIEF
9
ATTITUDE OF THE
SIN ' S DECEPTION:
FAITH ' S
HEART
WHAT IS PROMISED?
ANTIDOTE
Power over the person - to forgive
To understand how we've been
would be to be subordinate.
forgiven by God. Matt 18:21-35
rights to complain, to be the vic-
To love people who have hurt us
tim, to self-pity.
Bitterness / resentment: harboring
for our own heart's sake. Safety is
a grudge or an unforgiving spirit.
found in forgiving.
The person might do it again:
"protect yourself."
The punishment for others' sin is
built into the system. There is no
To reconcile would be too much
getting away with it.
work.
Impatience: the feeling that we
should be getting on with some-
thing more quickly than we are,
leading to a lack of peace, bouts of
anger, lack of love for others, and
trying to get blessing "our way."
Despondency / despair: believing
that we are at a dead-end with no
way out, a no-win situation. Leads
to burnout, lack of interest in
prayer, Scripture, ministry.
Anxiety: a lack of peace springing
from dwelling on some dark sce-
nario that we think will occur in
the future.
Shame: a belief that we are so
totally identified by our sin that we
have no value, worth.
Romans 8:28-39. In all these things
You can atone for your sin by feel-
we are more than conquerors... I.E.
things that we thought were stum-
Regret: a belief that a mistake
ing very, very bad about it for a
bling blocks prove to be stepping
made in the past virtually rules out
long, long time. Since joy, happi-
stones (with faith). We will experi-
a happy future. A re-evaluation of
ness and hope are no longer possi-
ence joy, hope and love by turning
our life and choices in the face of
bilities for you, you at least have
even the disappointments of our
suffering.
the consolation of not having to try
to hope for them.
lives over to God for healing.
John 21:15-17: the reinstatement
of Peter.
Jealousy or envy: becoming angry
or upset when we see a person get
something we wish we had.

F
10
AITH AND THE HEART OF UNBELIEF
ATTITUDE OF THE
SIN ' S DECEPTION:
FAITH ' S
HEART
WHAT IS PROMISED?
ANTIDOTE
Critical Spirit: exalting oneself by
harshly evaluating others, leading
to cruelty and unreasonable
demands. Also leads to gossip.
Your life (and ministry) will only
Exodus 20:8-11; Luke 11:38-42;
Drivenness: rejecting the sabbath.
work out if you keep working hard.
Psalm 23:1-3.
Rest is more important than work.
Leisure will restore you.
God was a worker (six days of cre-
Sloth / laziness: avoiding hard work
Indulgence in your own rest is
ation, one day of rest).
and suffering; devaluing the signifi-
required to be able to accom
cance of what we are called to be
plish anything.
Make the most of the time, for the
doing. Escapism.
I will always have tomorrow to do
days are evil (Eph 5:16).
what I don't do today.
Self-protection: covering up, with-
drawing or pulling away from com-
munity and ministry in order to
avoid the pain of self-revelation or
intentional suffering.
Divisiveness: acting to cause disuni-
ty in a group by exalting the dis-
tinctiveness of oneself or a sub-
group to which one belongs.
Covetousness: discontent with
what we possess or with our sta-
tion or situation in life. Negative
comparisons with others. Lack of
generosity, hospitality. Gluttony,
hoarding, consumerism.
Deceit: lying; knowingly falsifying the
truth; unwillingness to confess sin.
Lust / Immorality: lack of self-
control in the sexual area. Lustful
thoughts. Inappropr-iate sexual
activity. Use of pornography,
visual stimulation. Creating inap-
propriate sexual tension. Habitual
masturbation.
Pride / self-adulation: savoring
something one has done or said (or
some distinctive) as particularly
good, clever, wise, creative.
Positive comparisons to others.
Competitiveness, provoking others,
and making others look bad.

SENTINEL CASE STUDIES
11
1 You have often heard from Danny, a member of your small group, about
his desire to develop in friendships. The small group offers him great potential in this
area, but he takes little initiative during the evening meetings, and none outside of
that time. Last night presented the perfect opportunity for Danny; the meeting was
structured around a sharing and prayer time in 3-4 person groups. Instead of speak-
ing up and being open, Danny just appeared sullen and distant during the meeting,
and neither listened actively nor sought an opportunity to speak up. The evening
ended and it seemed that nothing had changed.
·What would you like to ask Danny?
·What might be possible heart issues to address?
·How might you say what Danny needs to understand in a hearable way?
·What are the costs to Danny and to the small group if this isn't addressed?
2 Your ministry partner, Anne, always seems nervous about your ministry's
upcoming outreach events, to which many people contribute by playing music, host-
ing, taking care of logistics, and inviting their friends. It seems her demeanor is
affecting the faith and expectations of the rest of the team. You decide to talk with
her.
·What would you like to ask Anne?
·What might be possible heart issues to address?
·How could you frame what Anne needs to hear from you in a hearable way?
·What are your hopes for Anne and for the team?
3 Art, a coworker at your office, is a young Christian and has expressed inter-
est in visiting your church. You have observed Art in the office and on the road-- he
is a fast moving, ambitious guy who drives aggressively and uses his horn a lot. Last
week, Art received word that he didn't get an important assignment he was hoping
for. Upset, Art has begun to find fault with anyone and everyone, including you.
·What might be a good way to proceed with Art?
·What questions do you have?
·What would you hope Art could come to see?
·How might you reflect what you've seen to Art in a hearable way?

SUPERVISION AND FEEDBACK
12
FAST FEEDBACK
: Not simply annually.
Fear or
laziness can
: Generated by actual observation.
prevent
giving
: Not simply "Good job" or "poor performer" but details.
feedback.
: When you observe it you say it.
BOTH
: Public affirmation is very powerful. Not simply on special occa-
sions, when it might be expected.
: Being clear but expressing hope for change.
EXHORTATION PERSONAL CASE STUDY
When is the last time
you had a chance to
give feedback to
someone who might
look to you for lead-
ership?
What did you feel?
What did you think?
What did you say to
that person?
What did you say to
someone else?
What part of this is
hard for you?

A NSWERS AND RESOURCES
13
PAGE 12
frequent
accurate
specific
timely
affirmation
critique
FURTHER RESOURCES
The One Minute Manager is a brief narrative account of an organization led by an
effective manager who is a timely sentinel, out of fierce commitment both to the
people in his organization and its effectiveness as an organization. Part of the One
Minute Manager's secret is in catching people doing something right, and then
praising them for it. But also, he speaks about a "One Minute Reprimand":
"The One Minute Reprimand works well when you:
1. Tell people beforehand that you are going to let them know how they are doing
in no uncertain terms.
The first half of the reprimand:
2. Reprimand people immediately.
3. Tell people what they did wrong--be specific.
4. Tell people how you feel about what they did wrong--and in no uncertain terms.
5. Stop for a few seconds of uncomfortable silence to let them feel how you feel.
The second half of the reprimand:
6. Shake hands, or touch them in a way that lets them know you are honestly on
their side.
7. Remind them how much you value them.
8. Reaffirm that you think well of them but not of their performance in this situa-
tion.
9. Realize that when the reprimand is over, it's over." The One Minute Manager,
p59.
The One-Minute Manager, Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. New York:
William Morrow, 1982.
Leadership is an Art, Max DePree. Michigan State University Press, 1987.
Future Grace, John Piper. Multnomah, 1995. For a thorough treatment of the
hearts of unbelief (anxiety, pride, shame, impatience, covetousness, bitterness,
despondency, lust).

A NSWERS AND RESOURCES
14
ATTITUDE OF THE
SIN ' S DECEPTION:
FAITH ' S
HEART
WHAT IS PROMISED?
ANTIDOTE
James 1:3-6: Pray for wisdom.
·Take action, take control, make
Mark 5:21-34: Tyranny of the urgent
Impatience: the feeling that we
things happen.
John 15:6: Apart from me you can
should be getting on with some-
·"God helps those who help them-
do nothing
thing more quickly than we are,
selves!"
Matt 5:5: "Blessed are the meek"
leading to a lack of peace, bouts of
·Get what you can while you can!
Luke 10:25-37: extravagant servant-
anger, lack of love for others, and
·I can't wait. My
is
hood
trying to get blessing "our way."
too important.
Isaiah 64:4: God works if we wait.
Prov. 21:5; Isa 40:28-31; 50:10-11
Josh 1:7-9; Ps 16:11; 23:1-6; 42:1-11;
A reverse pride: You are so messed
Isa 64:4
up, not even God loves you or can
Ps. 73: Worship, focus on God, his
do anything to help you.
help, his justice
"If you had real faith this wouldn't
Romans 8:28-39: All things work
Despondency / despair: believing
be happening to you."
together for good... we are more
that we are at a dead-end with
"Feel sorry for yourself--someone
than conquerers...
no way out, a no-win situation.
has got to." Self pity leads to
Psalm 40: "I waited for the LORD, ...
Leads to burnout, lack of interest
enc