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In society, we obviously need leaders so that their peoples/ subjects/ voters can be governed and guided. I'm Not trying to be too cynical when it come to leaders(especially political leaders) just so that I can sound like someone who is too clever by half, lofty or sanctimonious however t I wanted to emphasize the dangerously complex relationship between leaders and their subjects / voters. (Important Side Note: This might be good topic for a different post but It is also important to Note the difference between: Leaders Directly appointed by God that generally occurred Prior and During the time of the Book of Judges Leaders Indirectly(i.e with God's reluctant acceptance) and/or Directly empowered by the peoples / subjects that generally occurred After and some During the time of the Book of Judges ) However, 1 & 2 Sam, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chron, Esther & Judges (even to a lesser extent Psalms & Proverbs) are some books in the bible that should be must-read for Christians who may be interested in being part of leadership (especially political leadership) because said books emphasize the difficulties & challenges that leaders face. Leaders are tempted to engage in and/or faced with such evils like backstabbing, lying, grandstanding, deceiving, pretending, volatility of voters & supporters, egotism, pride etc. One particular aspect of leadership that is interesting is the relationship that leaders have with their peoples / constituents / voters who they lead. Leaders & their subjects / voters have a Relationship that needs to be handled with care and attention because it can become dangerously harmful if it's mishandled. Again, I want to emphasize that I'm Not trying to be too cynical but we Christians should sort of approach leaders in a sympathetic & empathetic manner because all humanity is broken and in need to help due to sinfulness The following ( 1 Timothy 2:1-2) shows us a constructive approach with good intentions when it comes to praying for our leaders: 1 Timothy 2:1-2 New American Standard Bible 1995 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in [a]authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. However, Here are some bible passages and scriptures that emphasize the dangerously complex relationship between leaders and their subjects / voters: Let's start off with bible verses that indicate the dangers that leaders themselves pose to their subjects / voters / people: -In the 1st Samuel 8 chapter, Prophet Samuel makes a speech of Warning to the Israelites. The aforementioned speech is about the powers and actions of Leaders Indirectly ( i.e with God's Reluctant acceptance) empowered by the peoples ( i.e the establishment of Israelite monarchy ). Prophet Samuel tells the Israelite peoples that the Israelite Kings would for the most part use the peoples as laborers & military personnel , and use the land of the nation for king's own farming, & take a percentage of their crops, flocks and cattle. Essentially, Samuel tells the Israelites that a king would view Israel as his own personal fiefdom. King Saul gave into the fleshly desires of the people in 1 Samuel 15 by allowing them to take the choicest of spoils of the Amalekites instead of obeying God's command that ordered Saul to utterly destroy all the Amalekites,and everything belonging to the Amalekites.(which is very similar to modern day elected politicians in democracies who might give into fleshly desires of the voters based on opinion polls for specific political issues even though their desires are wrong) -The Proverbs 23:1-3 bible verses suggest that we should Not be too dependent on sustenance of rulers probably because the rulers might find out that they have leverage over you, and therefore, can possibly bully/oppress you: Proverbs 23:1-3 23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you, 2 And put a knife to your throat If you are a man of great appetite. 3 Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food. -Even a man after God's own heart, King David,takes advantage of his powers as king in 2 Samuel 11 by sinfully committing adultery with a married woman, and then goes on to kill her husband. Now, it's certainly Not one-sided because the bible also indicates the faults of the subjects / voters / people: -The Judges 9 chapter's narrative is a good example of the volatile nature of the peoples / subjects behaviour towards their leaders. Judges 9:2-4 show how Abimelech convinced the people of Shechem to follow him, but then as time goes by, it mentions in Judges 9:23 that Shechem's people later turned against Abimelech. -Absalom's handsome features are referenced in the 2 Samuel 14:25 bible verse, and with his charisma he (2 Samuel 15:6) "stole away the hearts of the men of Israel". The use of the word (2 Samuel 15:6) "stole" has a negative connotation that suggests how the people can mistakenly be so enamoured by the image of their leaders as opposed to the leader's actions and policies which is the actual substance. -Furthermore, 2 Samuel 15:10-11's recounts the events just before Absalom's attempted coup against King David which states that the followers of Absalom "went innocently, and they did not know anything." Essentially, 2 Samuel 15:10-11 is evidence that the people can easily be swayed to do the will of a leader who is handsome, charismatic and charming. Acts 12:21-23 is a great example in the New Testament that shows the dangerously complex relationship between leaders and people because the people mistakenly say that King Herod was a god, and King Herod Fails to give the Glory to God, and therefore, an angel of God killed King Herod. (As a side Note, an interesting leader who showed some good leadership qualities was Queen Elizabeth II who worked behind the scenes to fight the South African government's apartheid which suggest that she did Not do it for the popularity or fame: ----------------( Credit Reference: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/crown-season-4-did-queen-elizabeth-ii-margaret-thatcher-get-n1247289 )----------------- Nonetheless, Elizabeth has been credited with using her influence to pressure the South African government over its institutionalized racist segregation. Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, for instance, has described her as a "behind-the-scenes force" in helping to bring an end to South African apartheid."Did she work behind the scenes in the case of South Africa to offer encouragement to Nelson Mandela? Yes," Smith said. "But she did it by using her soft power. She never was in a confrontational situation with Margaret Thatcher." ----------------( Credit Reference: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/crown-season-4-did-queen-elizabeth-ii-margaret-thatcher-get-n1247289 )----------------- To conclude, as (1 Timothy 2:1-2) states, it is important for people to pray for their leaders but at the same time people should cautiously view their worldly leaders.

We as Christian should be concerned about who attends a Christian fellowship, and more importantly who takes on the roles of elders, leaders, advisors, etc., in a Christian Fellowship Let's start off with the following given premise: -Nation of Ancient Israel ---could be viewed as-----a modern day church congregation In the 2 Samuel 13:2-5 bible passage, we as Christian could view Amnon & Jonadab engaging in fellowship with each other as members of the Ancient Israelite Hebrew congregation. To put it in a modern perspective, it's like 2 Christians engaging in fellowship with each other regardless of whether they are in a cell group, bible study group or if they just are having 1-to-1 fellowship together at a cafe. However, Jonadab's advice to Amnon that involves giving into Amnon's fleshly desires for his Tamar is scary. More importantly, it should be a severe warning to us Christians about being concerned & cautious about who attends a Chrisitan Fellowship, and maybe even more importantly who is taking on the roles of elders or leaders in our Christian fellowship. Christian leadership ( especially Church leadership) need to be firmly guided by The Holy Spirit when they appoint church elders, leaders, advisors etc.

John Chapter 13 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for [so] I am. 14 If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Years of study, attending Bible college, doing courses, getting qualifications, going to conferences and seminars, paying lots of money, all to be an officially recognized, elevated, prominent, powerful leader...but all the time "you just supposed to serve...humbly like Jesus". What happened? "We was corrupted, deceived, and exploited … heaps of us sabotaged by selfish desire". That's what happened. Thank God that He prunes the vine and chastises those he loves, in this case so that they remember His servant leadership example. The fruit of servant leadership may not be as popular as the alternative, which is selfish leadership, but it is eternal, unlike the alternative which is temporal, decadent, and futile. I'm praising God for His faithfulness in leading me out of bondage to and into freedom from styles of leadership that dominate, intimidate, manipulate, and seduce, all for selfish goals. A word in season from the Word for all seasons: Heb 4:10-16 (10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (11) Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (14) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

When the word worship is mentioned in a Christian context I wonder if playing music and singing are the only things that come to mind. Of course there is a lot more to worship than music and singing. In addition to doxa referring to honour in Luke 14:10, five other Greek words used in the Bible variously translate into the English word worship as follows:

****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

****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: God bless, GE ------------------------------------ *****This is the OP and subject to this thread below***** Leadership - 4. The Law of the Navigation: Anyone Can Steer the Ship, But It Takes a Leader to Chart the Course "A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others do." - Leroy Eims The larger the organization, the more clearly the leader has to be able to see ahead. That's true because sheer size makes midcourse corrections more difficult. And if there are errors, many more people are affected than when you're traveling alone or with only a few people. The disaster shown with the sinking of the Titanic comes to mind. First there were over 2,200 passengers and another nearly 900 crew on board. There were only 20 lifeboats on board the ship that could only account for about half of those onboard in the event the call to abandon the ship was made. Second the crew could not see far enough ahead to avoid the iceberg altogether, and they could not maneuver enough to change course once the object was spotted because of the size of the ship - the largest built at the time. The result was that more than one thousand people lost their lives. I like air planes. Occasionally you hear about the crash of four military planes flying together in formation. What is often the cause for the loss of all 4 planes? The reason for the loss of all four is this - When jet fighters fly in a group of four there is a designated pilot who is the lead plane and he/she designate where the team will fly. The other three planes fly on the leader's wing, watching him and following him wherever he goes. Whatever moves he makes, the rest of the team will make along with him. that's true wether he soars in the clouds or smashes into a mountaintop. Navigators do 4 things: 1. They draw on past experience. Every past success and failure can be a source of information and wisdom - if it is allowed to be. Successes help us understand what works while failures show us where assumptions/methods were flawed. Ultimately all wisdom is from God, God guides those who have been saved by His Holy Spirit, and our guide physically is His Word. Prov. 14:16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 2. They listen what others have to say. Particularly those who are experts in whatever field in question. "No matter how much learn from the past, it will never tell you all you need to know for the present." - John C. Maxwell Prov. 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Prov. 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Prov. 15:22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. Prov. 18:1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. 3. They examine the conditions before making commitments. Good navigators count the cost before making commitments for themselves and others. Proverbs 13:16 A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t, and even brags about it! Proverbs 24:27 Prepare your work outside and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house. Luke 14:28-30 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 4. They make sure their conclusions represent both faith and fact. This usually means having a positive attitude and a willingness to take risks. It also means trusting in God sometimes even when the facts don't always point in the direction we'd like. Proverbs 16:1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. If a leader can't navigate the people through rough waters, he is liable to sink the ship. Opening questions: A. What are some examples in the Bible of the leaders who navigated through tough times and won? (A few examples come to mind like Moses, Solomon, Nehemiah... These might be a good starting point?) B. What are some examples in the Bible of leaders who refused to navigate through tough times and their people suffered as a result? Your thoughts? God bless, GE * Assume I'm using this source for all my posts on this thread: Leadership material from John C. Maxwell including the "21 Laws of Leadership" and "The Maxwell Leadership Bible - NKJ"

****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: God bless, GE ------------------------------------ *****This is the OP and subject to this thread below***** Leadership - 3. The Law of Process: Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day Becoming a leader in Christ or strong follower of Christ is a lot like running a long, sometimes tough race. It is not a sprint but a cross-country race. If we hope to win the race (be the best Christ-follower) in a day we’re going to be disappointed. It’s really what we do day by day, over the long haul, that matters most. If we continually invest in our relationship with God, allowing God to change us over time, the inevitable result is growth. Although some individuals have greater natural gifts than others, nearly all the skills of leadership can be learned or improved. But that process doesn’t happen overnight. Leadership has so many facets: faith, respect, experience, emotional strength, people skills, discipline, vision, momentum, timing – the list goes on. While sharing the Gospel is the privilege of every Believer making disciples requires for the most part so much seasoning to be effective. Two questions: A. What do you think of the Law of Process? B. Can you think of some examples in the Bible where God has developed people for His purposes? (Hint: I plan on discussing Joseph and Moses but other examples are welcomed ) God bless, Jon/GE Source: Leadership material from John C. Maxwell.