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