Table of Contents

Dedication………………………………………………………………………………………….. vii

What People Are Saying……………………………………………………………………. ix

Forward………………………………………………………………………………………………. xv

Preface………………………………………………………………………………………………… xix

Introduction

Changes in Perspective………………………………………………………………………… 1

A Child’s View of Scripture………………………………………………………………….. 1

Church Leaders…………………………………………………………………………………… 2

Increasing Involvement in the Body of Christ……………………………………… 3

Non-Hierarchical Paradigm for Christian Leadership…………………………. 5

Chapter 1 

Foundational Teaching on Leadership Among Us………………………… 8

Building Understanding On the Teachings of Jesus……………………………… 7

Leaders Among Christ’s Disciples Not To Be Kings…………………………….. 9

Heidi’s Story………………………………………………………………………………………. 12

Chapter 2 

Three Misleadingly Translated Words………………………………………….. 18

Seeming Contradictions…………………………………………………………………….. 18

Hegeomai………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19

Proistemi……………………………………………………………………………………………. 21

Peitho………………………………………………………………………………………………… 28

Disciples are Persuaded by Those Who Go Before Them…………………. 31

Contrast With Language Commonly Used in Other Contexts………….. 33

Authority…………………………………………………………………………………………… 37

Chapter 3 

The Fear of The Lord………………………………………………………………………… 44

The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom……………………………… 44

The Fear of the Lord Comes by Seeing the Lord’s Glory……………………. 45

The Fear of the Lord Sets Us Free From the Fear of Man…………………. 48

Learning to Give Rebukes That Bring Life………………………………………….. 53

The Fear of the Lord Gives Understanding and Discernment……………. 56

Are We Rooted in Fear of the Lord or Fear of Man?…………………………. 57

Chapter 4 

Positions in the Church and Leadership Roles…………………………….. 64

First in the church………………………………………………………………………………. 64

The Body of Christ…………………………………………………………………………….. 65

Apostles: The Feeble, Less Honored, Uncomely Members……………….. 70

Apostles: Slaves of Christ…………………………………………………………………… 73

Giving More Abundant Honor to the Parts That Lack It……………………. 77

God’s Building……………………………………………………………………………………. 78

My Pastor………………………………………………………………………………………….. 80

Deaconing………………………………………………………………………………………….. 83

Bishopping…………………………………………………………………………………………. 88

Leaders Alongside Each Other and Below Younger Disciples……………. 93

Chapter 5 

Letting Go…………………………………………………………………………………………… 96

Building Christ’s Kingdom Must Be Our Priority………………………………. 96

The Example of Christ……………………………………………………………………….. 98

The Mongolian Church Planting Movement……………………………………. 100

Paul’s Example…………………………………………………………………………………. 103

What is Hindering Growth?……………………………………………………………… 105

Growth by Multiplication, Not Simply Addition………………………………. 107

Politics and Dependency………………………………………………………………….. 109

Consequences of Exaggerating the Role of One Leader…………………… 110

Chapter 6 

Authority, Commands, and Submission…………………………………….. 116

The Authority of the Truth………………………………………………………………. 116
Administrative Authority…………………………………………………………………. 123

Commands………………………………………………………………………………………. 129

Submission as Modeled by Jesus……………………………………………………… 135

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….. 142

Chapter 7 

Reactionary Teachings……………………………………………………………………. 145

Reconsidering Teachings that Sounded Good at First………………………. 145

The Shepherding Movement……………………………………………………………. 146

Chapter 8 

Spiritual Covering…………………………………………………………………………… 152

The Role of a Husband to His Wife…………………………………………………. 152

Protection………………………………………………………………………………………… 153

Atonement………………………………………………………………………………………. 155

The Responsibility We Have For What We Teach…………………………… 157

Chapter 9 

Fathers, Generals, or Brothers?……………………………………………………. 160

Fathers and Mothers in the Faith…………………………………………………….. 160

Call No Man on Earth Father…………………………………………………………… 163

Army Language……………………………………………………………………………….. 167

Reading Pre-existing Mindsets Back Into Scripture………………………….. 169

Does Every Believer Need a Spiritual Father?………………………………….. 172

Elitism and the Loneliness It Creates……………………………………………….. 174

Frustration of Trying to Relate as a “Son” or a “Father”…………………… 176

Identity…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 179

Inheritance……………………………………………………………………………………….. 181

Commissioning and Sending……………………………………………………………. 185

The Commission of Paul………………………………………………………………….. 187

Chapter 10               

Sent By God……………………………………………………………………………………… 192

Bruce Olsen……………………………………………………………………………………… 192

The Motilones………………………………………………………………………………….. 196

Loren Cunningham and YWAM……………………………………………………… 199

What can we learn from their stories?……………………………………………… 202

Final Prayer……………………………………………………………………………………… 206

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………….. 210

Recommended Reading………………………………………………………………….. 214

About The Author…………………………………………………………………………… 216