Authority & Submission

Leaders and followers. Sometimes we are one. Sometimes we are the other. A Tale of three Kings: A Study in Brokenness by Gene Edwards provides a unique view of authority and submission between leaders and followers.

Edwards has created a dramatic play based on the relationship between Saul, David and Absalom. First, he presents David as a follower of Saul and discusses the issues related to submitting to authority. Then he presents David as a leader of Absalom and discusses the issues related leading the non-submissive.

In all of it, Edwards reminds us to look to the plan of God. He points out that authority comes from God. And that submission is ultimately to God. Other recurring themes are humility and the sovereignty of God.

My favorite quotes:

"Legalism is nothing but a leader's way of avoiding suffering. Rules were invented by elders, so they could get to bed early!"

"One, never learn anything about the fashion-able, easily-mastered art of spear throwing. Two, stay out of the company of all spear throwers. And three, keep your mouth tightly closed."

"God has a university. It's a small school. Few enroll, even fewer graduate. Very, very few indeed. God has this school because He does not have broken men."

"There are always problems in kingdoms, replied Zadok, Always. The ability to see faults is a common and a cheap gift."

A Tale of three Kings: A Study in Brokenness is a short profound read.

Spiritual Leadership: D.E Hoste

If I am to LEAD . . . is a 20 page booklet based on the life and writings of D.E. Hoste. D.E. Hoste was one of the Cambridge Seven. He was also was the successor to J. Hudson Taylor as the General Director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship previously known as the China Inland Mission.

He once said "If I have any gift at all, I feel it is along the lines of applying Christian principles to life."

The main topics of the booklet are:

1. Spiritual Leadership


2. Qualifications for Leadership


3. Preparation for Leadership


4. Relationshi[ to Fellow-workers


5. Ability to Make Use of Men


6. Speaking as the Oracles of God


7. The Practice of Prayer (including fasting)


8. True Humility


9. The Secret of Submission


10. Self-discipline

Noteable quotes:

"The practical point is that they are really men and women of prayer, deeply distrustful of their own judgment and impulses, only forming opinions and expressing them as taught and guided by the Holy Spirit."

"It is a fact that our minds cannot receive correct impressions of God's plan and methods for the carrying on of the work unless much time is given to waiting upon Him."

"To take the lowly place in a misunderstanding; when slighted or hurt to go under the slight or hurt, humbling oneself under the mighty hand of God, relying on Him in due season to exalt one, is faith in operation."

If I am to LEAD . . . by Dixon Edward Hoste is a short, quick shot in the arm.

If I Am to Lead

Spiritual Leadership: Nehemiah

Charles Swindoll takes you through the life and example of Nehemiah in his book, Hand Me Another Brick. Swindoll explains the principles of Biblical leadership as he walks you through the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament.

We find that after praying about it, Nehemiah had the marks of a competent leader:

1. He had a clear recognition of the needs.
2. He was personally concerned with the need.
3. He went to God first with his problem.
4. He was available to mee the need himself.

Swindoll's style is easy to read. His major points stand out on the page. He then backs them with references from the book of Nehemiah. He also includes simple explanations which illustrate the points he makes.

He sums up his book with Key Principles to Remember from Nehemiah 10:

1. Serious thought precedes any significant change.
2. Written plans confirm right priorities.
3. A loss of distinction and conformity to the world go hand in hand.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I have applied many of these principles over the years. I will be applying some new ones in the days ahead.

Hand Me Another Brick by Charles R. Swindoll, building character in yourself and others.

Spiritual Leadership

There are a lot of books written regarding leadership in a spiritual context. I have read many of them. Often they take business leadership principles or military leadership principles and discuss how they apply in a spiritual setting.

This book is different. Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer by J. Oswald Sanders discusses practical leadership from a Biblical perspective.

Sanders acknowledges that leading in a environment of spiritual growth and interaction requires a spiritual perspective. Sanders explains that perspective from the Bible and from his years of leadership experience with Overseas Missionary Fellowship.

Spiritual leadership includes servant leadership and much more. Sanders identifies the essential qualities of leadership as:

1. Discipline
2. Vision
3. Wisdom
4. Decision
5. Courage
6. Humility
7. Integrity and sincerity

He also does an excellent job contrasting the differences between natural and spiritual leadership.

Natural Leadership
1. Self-confident
2. Knows people
3. Makes own decisions
4. Ambitious
5. Creates methods
6. Enjoys commands
7. Seeks personal reward
8. Independent

Spiritual Leadership
1. Confident in God
2. Also knows God
3. Seeks God’s will
4. Humble
5. Follows God’s example
6. Delights in obedience to God
7. Loves God and others
8. Depends on God

If you want to learn more about leadership from a Biblical perspective, read Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer

Servant Leadership Illustrated

If you are looking for an example of how servant leadership can work, read The Journey to the East by Herman Hesse.

This is a short novel built around a fictional expedition. The guide and servant for the expedition a man named Leo. Leo is the servant leader. When he disappears, the expedition falls apart. This story can help you understand what servant leadership can look like.

The Journey to the East is relatively short and easy to read. Well worth it if you are at all interested in figuring out how servant leadership my work in your own style of leadership.

I enjoyed reading this book!

The Leader As Servant

Robert K. Greenleaf suggested a concept called servant leadership. He developed this concept in his book, Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness 25th Anniversary Edition.

Servant leadership was first suggested by Jesus Christ when he said, "whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister and whosever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." I sometimes think of this as climbing down the corporate ladder instead of up. Because the higher you go in the organization, the more people there are for you to serve.

Since Greenleaf's death in 1990, an center has been developed to carry on his work, The Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership in Indianapolis, IN.

He talks about leadership in business, education, churches, and other not-for-profit organizations. He discusses how the servant leader can thrive in each situation. He gives examples of contemporary servant leaders.

He even talks about how America can serve as a servant leader around the World.

If you are looking for some new thoughts and views for your own leadership style, consider Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness 25th Anniversary Edition.

The Magic of Thinking Big

I read The Magic of Thinking Big when I was a sophomore in college.

As leaders, we need to create, develop and share a vision for the direction we want to go. Personally, I think the hardest part is sharing the vision, or "vision casting." But you can't cast the vision until you know what it is.

The author, David J. Schwartz, believes that the bigger you think, the bigger you live. As leaders, I think we need big visions. The bigger the vision, the more attractive it is to others and they will want to come and join with us. As a sophomore in college, the concept, was way outside my scope of reason. But now, many years later, I have seen this principle in action and I believe in it's true.

The Magic of Thinking Big has 13 great chapters. But by far, my favorite was the first chapter. Schwartz presents Three Guides to Help You Develop the Power of Belief:

1. Think success, don't think failure.
2. Remind yourself regularly that you are better than you think you are.
3. Believe big.

Chapter 2 is pretty good, too, the four most common excuses for not being successful are dealt with:

1. "But my health isn't good."
2. "But you've got to have brains to succeed."
3. "It's no use. I'm too old (or too young)."
4. "But my case is different; I attract bad luck."

Actually, all the chapters are excellent. I recommend you buy the book and find out for yourself!
The Magic of Thinking Big
by David J. Schwartz.