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C304: Christian Leadership

COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Jared Longshore, Associate Pastor (Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, FL) Email: jaredlongshore@founders.org

COURSE MENTOR

Students must have a mentor to successfully complete the course requirements.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an analysis of the tasks, styles, and models of leadership, giving special emphasis to the biblical guidelines and church context of Christian leadership.

In this modern epoch, Christian leadership is a subject terribly trivialized. Perhaps no other topic is so reduced to microwaveable principles than that of leadership. This course, to the contrary, claims that to be a better leader, one must be a better Christian. Leadership that is distinctively Christian is examined in the course through biblical, theological, historical, and practical analysis so that God’s people might more thoroughly follow the Way and show the Way to others.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is for students to achieve the following:

1. Be in proximity to great leaders as you learn how to lead yourself. 2. Analyze and examine biblical qualifications for church leadership. 3. Biblically defend a position on topics relevant to Christian leadership. 4. Be introduced to helpful secondary literature concerning the ministry of a Christian leader. 5. Demonstrate an understanding of the theological and ecclesiastical foundation and context

of the local church and the implications of this understanding upon leadership. 6. Develop an understanding of the different aspects of the ministry of a Christian leader. 7. Gain experience in leadership through practical experiences in ministry. 8. Research, discuss and write papers concerning Christian leadership.

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REQUIREMENTS

READING (25% of course grade)

These texts are required reading to be completed by assigned dates during course:

J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership Aubrey Malphurs, Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership Albert Mohler, The Conviction to Lead Matt Perman, What’s Best Next Gregory the Great, The Book of Pastoral Rule [Popular Patristic Series]

WRITING – (50% of course grade) The four writing assignments for this course are listed below and must be double-spaced, 12pt New Times Roman font, with a title page, and bibliography:

a) REFLECTION PAPER (15%)– Write a 5-page paper reflecting on your own personal experience with leading others. Include a brief personal assessment of your strengths and weaknesses.

Additionally, choose someone who has observed you in leading others and ask them provide you with a brief assessment of your strengths, as well as suggestions for improving as a leader. Describe what you’ve learned and what are the biggest challenges you face.

b) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (10%)– Write a 4-page biographical sketch on a leader of your choice (past or present) who has modeled godly leadership principles in all three of these areas: in the home, at work or in the community, and in the church. Show in your writing interaction with texts assigned in this course and Scripture.

c) BOOK ANALYSIS (15%)– Write 4 pages on the 3 or 4 most important or most helpful things you have learned from the five assigned texts from this course. Describe how you have or will benefit from them. Interact with the content of the textbooks and course lectures.

d) ESSAY (10%) – The student should compose a 2 or 3-page essay as a final document for the course that answers the question, “What Is a Leader?” This essay should include (but is not limited to) the student’s philosophy of Christian leadership.

COURSE PARTICIPATION – (25% of course grade) The study guide for each session will include discussion questions over the reading and lecture(s). Please complete all the readings for the session and print out a hard copy of your answers to the discussion questions so you are prepared for your meetings with your mentor. You will receive credit for doing your weekly assignments once you have met and covered the material with your mentor.

The student is expected to spend a minimum of 2 hours per week completing work outside of class for every 1 credit hour of this class. The requirements (i.e., reading, writing, evangelism, etc.) of this class are planned according to this expectation. All course work must be completed to the satisfaction of your mentor by the final week of the course.

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GRADING A = 95-100 B = 87-94 C = 77-86 D = 70-76 F = 0-69

(1) The student is expected to spend no less than 2 hours of out-of-class work per credit hour in this class. (2) This syllabus is meant to accurately reflect all expectations and assignments for this course. However, the professor reserves the right to adjust the syllabus at his discretion. (3) Cheating or plagiarism of any kind will result in an immediate failing grade on the assignment with no chance for resubmission. The professor does have the option either to allow the student to remain in and complete the course or to dismiss the student from the course completely.

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TOPICS AND COURSE SCHEDULE

Class Lecture Topic Reading Assignment Due

1 Introduction and Overview Presuppositions to Leadership I (1)

Sanders, CH 1-5 Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 1)

2 Presuppositions to Leadership II (2) Malphurs, 1–2 Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 2) 3 Worldly Leadership vs. Christian

Leadership I (3)

Sanders, CH 6–16 Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 3)

4 Worldly Leadership vs. Christian Leadership II (4)

Mohler, CH 1–3, Malphurs, 3–4

Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 4) Reflection Paper Due

5 Theological Foundations for Christian Leadership: The Doctrine of God I (5)

Sanders, CH 17–22 Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 5)

6 Theological Foundations for Christian Leadership: The Doctrine of God II (6)

Mohler, CH 4–5, Malphurs, 5

Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 6)

7 Theological Foundations for Christian Leadership: The Doctrine of Creation I (7)

Mohler, CH 6–10 Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 7)

8 Theological Foundations for Christian Leadership: The Doctrine of Creation II (8)

Perman, Part 1, Malphurs, 6

Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 8)

9 Biblical Foundations for Christian Leadership: Old Testament I (9)

Mohler, CH 11–15 Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 9) Book Analysis Due

10 Biblical Foundations for Christian Leadership: Old Testament II (10)

Perman, Part 2, Malphurs, 7

Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 10)

11 Biblical Foundations for Christian Leadership: Old Testament III (11)

Mohler, CH 16–20 Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 11)

12 Biblical Foundations for Christian Leadership: New Testament (12)

Perman, Part 3, Malphurs, 8

Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 12) Biographical Sketch Due

13 Principles of Accommodation and Christian Leadership I (13)

Mohler, CH 21–25

Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 13)

14 Principles of Accommodation and Christian Leadership II (14)

Perman, Part -4–5 Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 14)

15 Practical Considerations for Christian Leadership I (15)

Perman, Part -6-7 Gregory (all)

Discussion Questions (from reading and lecture 15) Essay Due

16 Practical Considerations for Christian Leadership II (16)

Discussion Questions (from lecture 16)