High Counsel: Jesus and John on Leadership

The First Presidency of the Early Church:

Contents:

  • Take the Next Step
  • Editor's Picks
  • 9 Essential Qualities of a Godly Leader
  • October 1980 General Conference
  • The Four Cs of Christian Leadership
  • Recently On Career

    • Competence does not always align with doing what is good but can, as we see in Ezekiel I will pour out My indignation on you; I will blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and I will give you into the hand of brutal men, skilled in destruction. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

    In summary, the verses presented above all refer to the need to be good at what we do. While from the prior section on calling it is clear that calling without competence can still lead to success — calling with confidence should lead to greater success.

    Even with calling and competence, success may not occur to the level that it could if the leader lacks confidence. The notion of confidence is similar to the concept of self-efficacy Bandura, in that people perceive their ability to do or not do something. The focus here is on self-perception, rather than reality. While it is possible and probable that perception matches reality, it is perception that drives this concept.

    Successes and failures contribute to a perception of self-efficacy, although when faced with unfamiliar situations, experience is replaced with self-beliefs of the individual. In 1 Kings 18 we find Elijah engaging the Priests and challenging them to a contest in which the priests of Baal would call upon their god to bring fire down and light the sacrificial fire. After the priests of Baal failed, Elijah took his turn and increased the difficulty by soaking the wood and the offering with water. Filled with confidence, Elijah prayed and fire came from Heaven and consumed not only the wood and the offering but the entire altar.

    Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Following this success, the account in 1 Kings 18 says that Elijah then killed the prophets of Baal. This is a demonstration of calling, competence, and confidence. In this account, we see a lack of confidence from Elijah in that while he faced and killed prophets, he now is ready to give up when faced with one woman.

    Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. However, we do find a passage in Matthew I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him. How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me. Although this may imply that confidence has more impact than competence, we know from Luke 9: And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city.

    Take the Next Step

    And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. It seems the disciples were successful with healing competence and some confidence , but with more confidence, the disciples could have been more successful.

    Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. In summary, the verses cited above show that confidence has a contribution to success.

    Editor's Picks

    High Counsel: Jesus and John on Leadership [Joe Noland, Stephen Court] on www.farmersmarketmusic.com *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Within months after taking. Editorial Reviews. Review. The exercises in self-disclosure, the fly on the wall revelation of the High Counsel: Jesus and John on Leadership Kindle Edition.

    From calling comes a large measure of success followed then by competence and then confidence. While each is sufficient, it seems to build as the elements are added together. In addition to the prior elements of calling, competence, and confidence, character is a key element of Christian biblical leadership as evidenced in the passages of Psalms 1 and 15; The Beatitudes, Philemon, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter 1: Character, although in the fourth position of the four Cs, has a significant amount of material since it seems that there is a general sense that character is the most important.

    This is not borne out though when one looks at the character of Moses when he killed the Egyptian. Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? Although there was a severe penalty later in this life, he continued to be successful for quite some time. So David sent and inquired about the woman. The historical accounts of Ahab indicate that he was successful in that his 11 to 19 year reign, depending on which historical account you read http: Thus, from the verses above, we can see that character is not the determinant for success.

    While Ahab did not show calling or character, he did show competence and confidence, the other referents above showed both calling, competence, and confidence in what they did. The sections that follow show both character and behavior in which the behavior is the outgrowth of the character. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does,he prospers.

    The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. While Psalm 1 begins with what not to do and then moves into what to do, Psalm 15 begins with what to do and then moves into what not to do.

    Who may dwell on Your holy hill?

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    He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. The Hebrew that we translate as walk is halak halak means to abide and dwell. From this, it would seem that characteristics of a biblical leader would include integrity and to seek what is right this will be found again in the section on the beatitudes. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;. This concern voiced by the psalmist is not contradictory to the notion of telling the truth, but focuses on righteousness.

    If one is to confront the problems of another, then one may need to speak to the person about noted problems, but the focus of this has to be from the inner character on helping the person. This does not imply that every problem noted has to be spoken. Discretion is, many times, a part of righteousness.

    James and His Letter

    If someone needs to hear the truth, then do so with integrity and righteousness. The psalmist says that the one who wishes to be with God will not do ill to a neighbor but, instead, will do what is good. Note that the Hebrew [r rea used in Psalm The psalmist, after explaining what to do and what not to do moves on to attitudes toward others and self. In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; he swears to his own hurt and does not change. At Regent University, we nominate and select the employee of the month. Through Psalm 15 we see that in our organizations where we work, where we attend church, where we live, and in the government that oversees our lives, we need to recognize those who live their lives as a good citizen of the Holy Hill and to see the work that is done as an outgrowth of the right values.

    Thus, we honor those who demonstrate the values but do not recognize the work. Likewise, we should not honor those people who make a lot of money or achieve a lot of significance, but who do so by means, methods, and for purposes that are not aligned with the values of the Holy Hill. According to Williams , the psalmist implies that the resident of the Holy Hill does not seek to make immoral gain. From that experience it seemed obvious to me that leadership is about three-fourths show-the-way and about one-fourth follow-up.

    The leader himself, when directing, does not have to be bombastic and loud. Those who are called to lead in the ministry of the Master are not called to be chiefs or dictators. They are called to be good shepherds. They are to be constantly training others to take their place and become greater leaders than their teachers. A good leader expects much, inspires greatly, and sets on fire those he is called to lead.

    Now, a leader must cause things to happen and lives to be affected.

    John C Maxwell - Leadership Principles From The Bible

    Something should move and change. He must see that those under him do not fail. He should be the instrument in the hands of the Almighty for changing lives. He needs to know where he is now, where he is going, and how he is going to get there. A leader must be a good listener. He must be willing to take counsel.

    He must show a genuine concern and love for those under his stewardship. No priesthood leader can ever be effective unless he has firmly in mind the transcending keys of leadership found in section of the Doctrine and Covenants:.

    9 Essential Qualities of a Godly Leader

    In my experience, the Holy Ghost moves to reprove with sharpness only very rarely. Any reproving should be done gently in an effort to convince the one being reproved that it is done in his own interest.

    October 1980 General Conference

    Filled with confidence, Elijah prayed and fire came from Heaven and consumed not only the wood and the offering but the entire altar. According to the Pharisees, Jesus broke the Sabbath not once but three times in healing this man. In his second letter, the chief Apostle predicts his imminent death see 2 Pet. In addition to the prior elements of calling, competence, and confidence, character is a key element of Christian biblical leadership as evidenced in the passages of Psalms 1 and 15; The Beatitudes, Philemon, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter 1: Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: Williams points out, however, that Hebrews could lend money to non-Hebrews and collect interest.

    With faith in the Lord and humility, a priesthood leader may confidently expect divine assistance in his problems. It may require struggling and pondering, but the reward is sure. The answer may come as it did to Enos: Or, it may be the feeling in the bosom in accordance with section 9 of the Doctrine and Covenants. After receiving such divine assurance by and through the power of the Holy Ghost, the humble leader can then pursue an unswerving course with the absolute conviction in mind and heart that that which is being done is on the right course and is what the Lord himself would do in the matter.

    I am impressed with the deep humility of President Kimball. Years ago he related an experience that emphasizes that the person in a Church position is not as great as the calling. Kimball gives us this story:. This has been a great year for you. The people have honored you, praised you, banqueted you, applauded you, and given you lavish gifts. If you ever get the mistaken idea that they were doing this for you personally, just try going back to the clubs next year when the mantle is on other shoulders.

    Whenever I have been inclined to think the honors were coming to me as I go about the Church, then I remember that it is not to me, but to the position I hold that honors come. I am but a symbol. Most of us who are called to leadership in the Church feel that we are inadequate because of inexperience, lack of ability, or meager learning and education. Of the many descriptions of Moses is the following: This good man worked, as I recall, as a car inspector on the railroad.

    With the help of the Lord, this humble man, through his diligent efforts, became able to read. He served well as branch president and for many years subsequent and now is serving in the high council of that stake. The Lord blesses his servants in many ways. We can learn the giant truths and teach them with intelligence and understanding to those who come to learn. We can also lean upon the strengths of others whose talents are greater than our own.

    The priesthood quorum is designed to give opportunity for its members to contribute their talents to the building of a strong quorum. I come now to the genius of leadership, through the priesthood, in the government of the Church. I wish to quote President Stephen L Richards, who said:. In the spirit under which we labor, men can get together with seemingly divergent views and far different backgrounds, and under the operation of that spirit, by counseling together, they can arrive at an accord.

    Counseling together as leaders is the key to the successful functioning of a presidency or a bishopric. But what if unity in decision making is difficult or is absent? Smith gave us this advice:. Those who would lead in this Church must set the example of personal righteousness. They should seek for the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit. They should have their lives and homes in order. They should be honest and prompt in the paying of their bills. They must be exemplary in all their conduct.

    The Four Cs of Christian Leadership

    They should be men of honor and integrity. As we seek for the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Lord will answer. I wanted to change some money because I was living in Brazil at the time, so Brother Carlos Pratt took me to a money exchange house in downtown Montevideo. The exchange house had never done business with me before. In fact, they had never seen me before and could not expect to ever see me again. But they accepted my check without hesitation—based solely on the fact that I was a Mormon and that they had previously done business with other Mormons.

    Frankly, I was both grateful and pleased because of their confidence. There are many covenants, but the oath and covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 84, deserves special attention.

    Recently On Career

    In essence, the contract between the bearer of the priesthood and the Lord is this: It is interesting that he used the word strengthen. It is very difficult to strengthen without being a good communicator. Often problems develop, not because the plan is faulty, but because the communication is inadequate. Last year I called a new patriarch in one of the new stakes in Central America.

    I was greatly impressed by the great faith and righteous life of this humble man. His wife happened to be out of the country on a temple excursion. I felt as though something very special was missing in the experience of extending this great calling to this saintly man because his wife could not be present. I have no hesitancy to urge those who are privileged to issue callings throughout the Church to appropriately involve the spouse of the one receiving the call.

    In addition, the head of the family should appropriately be consulted prior to calls being given to family members. Priesthood leaders have the rare opportunity to conduct priesthood interviews.