APA, 750 Word Paper (Not Including The Title, Abstract, And Reference Pages). The Description Is Below:

Biblical integration Project Assignment

Instructions

Overview

The purpose of the individual biblical integration paper is to explore the topic of servant leadership in a non-exhaustive scholarly manner that will be useful in your chosen field. In this individual project, learners will be able to demonstrate comprehension of man-centered (contemporary/worldly) and Christ-centered (biblical) servant leadership as it relates to leadership assumptions and methods. Learners will be able to analyze servant leadership theories and the characteristics and differences between man-centered (contemporary/worldly) and Christ-centered (biblical) servant leadership. The individual paper must cover the following topics:

o A biblical analysis of the key ideas associated with the man-centered servant leadership (contemporary/worldly) perspective.

o A biblical foundation for Christ-centered (biblical) servant leadership.

Instructions

Please be sure to follow the assignment instructions precisely.

· Length of assignment: 750 words exactly.

o The title page, abstract page, and references section are excluded from this length.

o Exceeding or going under the required word count will result in a loss of points. The goal is to write succinctly.

· Format of assignment: APA current edition and use of scholarly tone.

o APA/scholarly style is a set of guidelines to help you write clear and specific scholarly communication. 

§ APA style refers to all aspects areas of writing and style and is more than the format of citations, references, and headings. 

§ Avoid writing in the first person in all scholarly writing. The third-person format is the required style unless unavoidable.

§ Always include citations and references as a minimum from the module required readings to corroborate your work.

§ Font is 12 pt. Times New Roman, double-spaced.

· Number of citations: minimum of 10 

o All required course readings and content should be cited and referenced.

o Please note that incorporating required readings from the first three course modules is essential to earn a minimum grade.

o The incorporation of additional citations beyond basic course required readings are more likely to earn a better grade.

o Adding scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles is required to improve your grade upon the minimum.

· Acceptable sources: Scholarly articles published within the last five years, course textbooks, course lectures and presentations, and biblical scriptures from the Bible.

Textbook: Blanchard & Broadwell

INDIVIDUAL BIBLICAL INTEGRATION PAPER RUBRIC

0 points

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Not present

Points Earned

0 points

Criteria	Levels of Achievement
Content 70%		Advanced		Proficient		Developing		Not present		Points Earned
Biblical Framework 40 points	37 to 40 points Key ideas from Scripture, required course readings and any audio and video presentations are applied to the idea of servant leadership in a clear and systematic way. A clear framework for a Biblical perspective on servant leadership is provided; student demonstrates an understanding of the difference between a Christ-centered (biblical) approach to servant leadership vs. a man-centered (contemporary/worldly) approach. Clear communication of ideas, no vagueness, and no rambling.	34 to 36 points Key ideas from Scripture, required course readings and any audio and video presentations are applied to the idea of servant leadership in a clear and systematic way. Student demonstrates an understanding of the difference between a Christ-centered (biblical) approach to servant leadership vs. a man-centered (contemporary/worldly). Clear communication of ideas, with little vagueness or rambling.	1 to 33 points Key ideas from Scripture, required course readings and any audio and video presentations are applied to the idea of servant leadership in some form. Student does not clearly differentiate between a Christ-centered (biblical) approach to servant leadership vs. a man-centered (contemporary/worldly). Unfocused communication of ideas at times.		0 points
Required References 40 points	37 to 40 points All required course readings and scriptures are used. Each source is cited numerous times with minimal reliance on direct quotes. Student efficiently and clearly synthesizes ideas from these various sources using his or her own words.	34 to 36 points Most of the required course readings and scriptures are used. Each source is cited at least once with minimal reliance on direct quotes. Student efficiently and clearly synthesizes ideas from these various sources using mostly his or her own words.	1 to 33 points Some of the required course readings and scriptures are used. Student over-relies on direct quotes. Ideas from sources are not used in intelligent ways for the purpose of the assignment.
Structure 30%
Paper Length 10 Points	10 points Exactly 750 words—neither too short nor too long.	8 to 9 points Less than 50 words or more than 50 words over the required length of 750 words.	1 to 7 points Less than 100 words or more than 100 words over the required length of 750 words.		0 points
Grammar and Spelling, Current APA Formatting 10 points	10 points Minimal to non-existent formatting, grammatical, punctuation, and APA errors. Note: APA style includes all aspects of writing style and is more than formatting headings, citations, and references. Please use the current edition of the APA style manual.	8 to 9 points Minimal formatting, grammatical, punctuation, and APA errors. Note: APA style includes all aspects of writing style and is more than formatting headings, citations, and references. Please use the current edition of the APA style manual.	1 to 7 points Numerous formatting, grammatical, punctuation, and APA errors. Note: APA style includes all aspects of writing style and is more than formatting headings, citations, and references. Please use the current edition of the APA style manual.
Total Points	/100

Instructor’s Comments:

Biblical integration Project Assignment

Instructions

Overview

The purpose of the individual biblical integration paper is to explore the topic of servant leadership in a non-exhaustive scholarly manner that will be useful in your chosen field. In this individual project, learners will be able to demonstrate comprehension of man-centered (contemporary/worldly) and Christ-centered (biblical) servant leadership as it relates to leadership assumptions and methods. Learners will be able to analyze servant leadership theories and the characteristics and differences between man-centered (contemporary/worldly) and Christ-centered (biblical) servant leadership. The individual paper must cover the following topics:

·

A biblical analysis of the key ideas associated with the man-centered servant leadership (contemporary/worldly) perspective.

· A biblical foundation for Christ-centered (biblical) servant leadership.

Instructions

Please be sure to follow the assignment instructions precisely.

· Length of assignment: 750 words exactly.

· The title page, abstract page, and references section are excluded from this length.

· Exceeding or going under the required word count will result in a loss of points. The goal is to write succinctly.

·

Format of assignment: APA current edition and use of scholarly tone.

·

APA/scholarly style is a set of guidelines to help you write clear and specific scholarly communication.

· APA style refers to all aspects areas of writing and style and is more than the format of citations, references, and headings.

· Avoid writing in the first person in all scholarly writing. The third-person format is the required style unless unavoidable.

· Always include citations and references as a minimum from the module required readings to corroborate your work.

·

Font is 12 pt. Times New Roman, double-spaced.

· Number of citations: minimum of 10

· All required course readings and content should be cited and referenced.

· Please note that incorporating required readings from the first three course modules is essential to earn a minimum grade.

· The incorporation of additional citations beyond basic course required readings are more likely to earn a better grade.

· Adding scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles is required to improve your grade upon the minimum.

· Acceptable sources: Scholarly articles published within the last five years, course textbooks, course lectures and presentations, and biblical scriptures from the Bible.

· Graded individual biblical paper: Please upload your individual paper via SafeAssign.

· Minimum requirements: Instructions highlight minimum requirements which do not automatically earn the student an A grade.

· Course Content: Review all required course content each week for detailed requirements, which includes the syllabus. Since every course is different, please avoid assuming weekly requirements, including deadlines, word length, and interactions are the same. 

· Communication: Announcements, Faculty Emails, and Feedback

· Please review all announcements and emails to ensure you are not missing pertinent information relative to assignments and continuous improvement.

· Please review all professor’s general and individual feedback for continuous improvement on future assignments.

· Always be courteous to your classmates and professor in all communications.

Note 1: Note 1: Requests for assignment extension will unlikely be granted. Please note that deadlines differ from those in other courses.

Note 2: Submitting a request for an extension on Sunday (i.e., at 11:50 pm) does not mean it will be granted automatically. Even if the extension is granted, the institution’s late penalty may apply. 

Note 3: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the SafeAssign plagiarism tool.

Textbook: Blanchard & Broadwell

Bible Readings for Module/Week 2

Parable of the Wheat and Tares

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'” (Matthew 13:24–30)

Knowledge and wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
       all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
       To him belongs eternal praise. (Psalm 111:10)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
       fear the LORD and shun evil. (Proverbs 3:3–7)

Problem with the World (Sin)

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)

As it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

Strength

Strength in God, Not in Man

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. (I Corinthians 1:25)

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

God Demonstrates His Strength in Our Weakness

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are. (I Corinthians 1:26–28)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II Corinthians 12:9–11)

The Strong are to Help the Weak

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)

Management

The Dominion Mandate—The First Management Assignment

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28)

Illustration: Parable of the Ten Minas (Note the emphasis on management)

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ (Luke 19:11–13)

Illustration: David’s planning of the temple. Read this and ask yourself who, what, where, why, and how the work will get done.

Then David said, “The house of the LORD God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

Preparations for the Temple

So David gave orders to assemble the aliens living in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed. He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the Sardinians and Syrians had brought large numbers of them to David.

David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.

Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

“Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would. May the LORD give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

“I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the LORD be with you.”

Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. He said to them, “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is subject to the LORD and to his people. Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.” (I Chronicles 22)

Now can you answer who, what, where, why, and how the work would be done.

Choosing Right

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live (Deuteronomy 30:15–19)

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Truth

What is Truth?

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6)

Consequences of Rejecting God’s Truth

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:18–32)

Knowing oneself

Knowing God Is More Important Than Self-Knowledge

This is what the LORD says:
       “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
       or the strong man boast of his strength
       or the rich man boast of his riches,

 but let him who boasts boast about this:
       that he understands and knows me,
       that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
       justice and righteousness on earth,
       for in these I delight,”
       declares the LORD. (Jeremiah9:23–25)

Man is Not Basically Good

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. (Ecclesiastes 9:3)

For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (Mark 7:21–22)

Responsibility

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (I Timothy 5:8)

Illustration of Responsibility (The Parable of the Talents)

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“Then the man who had received the one talent came.’Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14–30)

Openness

Be Careful to What you Open Yourself

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (II Corinthians 4: 4–6)

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” (I Corinthians 3: 18–20)

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (II Corinthians 11:3)

Openness to Wisdom

For wisdom is more precious than rubies,
       and nothing you desire can compare with her.

“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
       I possess knowledge and discretion.

To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
       I hate pride and arrogance,
       evil behavior and perverse speech. (Proverbs 8:11–13)

Stay away from a foolish man,
       for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
       but the folly of fools is deception. (Proverbs 14:7–8)

It may be helpful to be open to knowledge, but test that knowledge for truth.

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7: 14–16)

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. (I John 1:4–3)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (II Corinthians 10:5)

Listening

The Art of Listening

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19)

To Whom Should we Listen?

They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. (I John 4: 5–6)

But you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:26–28)

Foresight

Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do… (I Chronicles 12:32)

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? (Luke 14:28)

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (James 4:13–17)

Spirit

There is nothing in Scripture saying that we should be “spirited.” Rather, we are to be infused with the Holy Spirit as our source of power.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)

Faith

Faith defined

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

The object of faith is critically important. Faith in man is insufficient as is “having faith in faith.”

Do not put your trust in princes,
       in mortal men, who cannot save. (Psalm 146:3)

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
       but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7)

It is better to take refuge in the LORD
       than to trust in man. (Psalm 118:8)

Blessed is the man
       who makes the LORD his trust,
       who does not look to the proud,
       to those who turn aside to false gods. (Psalm 40:4)

We are to have faith in God.

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. (Mark 11:22–23)

Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11)

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (I John 5:10–11)

Results of faith

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2: 8–10)

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Bible Readings for Module/Week 1

Servant Leadership

Biblical Servant Leadership

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25–28)

The greatest will be your servant

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:8–12)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13: 1–17)

Following Jesus

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:24–25)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

The Heart, Head, Hands, and Habits

Heart

Above all else, guard your heart,
       for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

All a man’s ways seem right to him,
       but the LORD weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2)

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30)

Head

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

(Philippians 2: 5–8)

Hands

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14–17)

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

Habits

Blessed is the man
       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
       or stand in the way of sinners
       or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1–3)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (I Thessalonians 5:16–18)

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Bible Readings for Module/Week 3

Hope

As with faith, the reasons for hope are found in the object. Hope in hope is futile. Hope in God is hope properly placed.

But now, Lord, what do I look for?
       My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7)

We wait in hope for the LORD;
       he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (I peter 1:21)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me [Jesus].” (John 14:1)

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD;
       he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. (Proverbs 21:1)

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (II Corinthians 4:8-9)

Leadership

Beware of Evil or False Leaders

But he answered and said, every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:13–14)

A Biblical Model of Leadership

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10: 42–45)

Ethics

True Ethics Are Grounded in the Nature and Character of God

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

Unless the LORD builds the house,
       its builders labor in vain.
       Unless the LORD watches over the city,
       the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:18–19)

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:35–40)

History

Understanding History Teaches Us in the Present

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. (I Corinthians 10:11)

The Means

For the End to be Right, the Means Must be Right

“‘Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:35–36)

For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. (I Thessalonians 2:3–4)

Two Examples of the Means to an End Being Wrong in Israel’s History

But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”

Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”

“Stop!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”
      “Tell me,” Saul replied.

Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the LORD ? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?”

“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

But Samuel replied:
       “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
       as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
       To obey is better than sacrifice,
       and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
       and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
       Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
       he has rejected you as king.” (I Samuel 15–23)

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” (II Chronicles 16:7–9)

Coercion

Biblically, the use of coercion is legitimate in the hands of government. God has delegated this authority to government to punish evildoers.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:1–4)

Manipulation

“It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer;
       then off he goes and boasts about his purchase. (Proverbs 20:14)

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! (Acts 20:28–31)

Persuasion

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
       and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Proverbs 25:15)

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. (II Corinthians 5:11)

Every Sabbath he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. (Acts 18:4)

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28)

Illustration of Paul Persuading Philemon Rather Than Forcing Him to Comply

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. (Philemon 8–16)

Power

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. (Proverbs 3:27)

A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; (Proverbs 24:5)

Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city. (Ecclesiastes 7:19)

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:18)

Planning

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (

Proverbs 15:22

)

Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
       but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? (Luke 14:28)

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. (James 4: 13–16)

Deciding

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure. (

Proverbs 11:14

)

For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers. (

Proverbs 24:6

)

Communicating

Above all else, guard your heart,
       for it is the wellspring of life.

Put away perversity from your mouth;
       keep corrupt talk far from your lips. (Proverbs 4:23–24)

Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:5–6)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

Growth

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13–14)

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:1–3)

Statesmanship

Statesmanship is best illustrated by actions—The charge to Queen Esther, the actions of King Hezekiah and King Josiah

[The charge to Queen Esther:] For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

[King Hezekiah’s statesmanship] In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

 Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory. (II Kings 18:1–8)

[King Josiah’s statesmanship]

Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD -to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the LORD. Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. (II Kings 23: 1–3; 24–25)

Distinction/Distinguished

Do you see a man skilled in his work?
       He will serve before kings;
       he will not serve before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29)

[A Distinguishes Memorial for David:] And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. (I Chronicles 29:27–28)

Illustration of distinction: King David’s Mighty Men

These are the names of David’s mighty men:
      Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.
      Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. (II Samuel 23:8–17)

Illustration of Distinction from the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:32–40)

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