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****Please note this is not the OP/Subject just the introduction**** I’m going to start a series about Leadership on WCF and how it applies to Christians today. My hope is to encourage others to grow and mature in their walk with the Lord. I also would like to see people reach their full potential in leadership in reaching those around them for Christ and making disciples in fullfilling the Great Commission. Here's what we've discussed and looked at from a Scriptural perspective so far: ------------------------------------ *****This is the OP and subject to this thread below***** Leadership 5. The Law of E.F. Hutton When the real leader speaks, people listen. There is the motto that E.F Hutton, the financial services company, had years ago “When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen.” There were commercials where the setting was a busy restaurant or other public place. Two people would be talking about financial matters, and the first person would repeat something his broker had said concerning a certain investment. The second person would say, “Well , my broker is E.F. Hutton, and E. F Hutton says…” At that point every single person in the bustling restaurant would stop dead in his/her tracks, turn and listen to what the second person was going to say. Thus the Law of E.F. Hutton. Margate Thatcher has a great quote: “Being in power is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” If you have ever been in a church meeting with deacons/elders it is always interesting when a new pastor arrives. There is always a leader of the group. The head elder, chairman of the deacons, etc. and that person is who everyone looks to for guidance, leadership, and an agenda. If you see a disparity between who is leading the meeting and who’s leading the people, then the person running the meeting is not the real leader. New pastors grow into the position as they earn the trust and respect of those around them. The real test of leadership (legacy) isn’t where you start out but where you end up. Have you ever wondered what gave Samuel such credibility with others? When he spoke, people listened. Few descriptions offer a greater compliment than one given to Samuel’s leadership in 1 Sam. 3:19-20: 19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord. Samuel’s success began when he was just a boy under his mentor Eli. Why was Samuel successful? Samuel listened to God’s direction in his life. God spoke to Smauel during the night, then the lad spoke for God to Eli. (1 Sam. 3:11-18 – an interesting topic for another thread might be the idea of leaders not discounting the prompting of God’s Spirit through those under them.) Despite the hardness of God’s message to Eli, Samuel spoke the truth in love. This encounter began a long pattern for Samuel. Soon the Isralites sought out Samuel to speak words of direction for their future. They needed help to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant. They neded strategy against their enemy the Philistines. They eventually sought God’s (and by default his permission) to crown a king, like the other nations around them. The influence of the prophet of God kept growing. It grew so vast tht when King Saul failed in his leadership God used Samuel to remove Saul. Imagine having the authority to kick out even the reigning king and anoint God’s new chosen one! Samuel lived enough to give Israel two kings. Samuel exhorted, affirmed, corrected, prophesied, reminded, and taught the people. When he died, all of Israel gather to mourn his loss. (1 Sam. 25:1) Opening Questions: a. How did Samuel lead others? b. What are some examples of leaders who understood the Law of E.F. Hutton in the Bible? God bless, GE