The work to design and implement this project was a collective effort, and I truly appreciate every person who contributed to its completion. Preceding this project was my decision to enter the Doctor of Ministry program, a decision motivated by my desire to become a better leader and a more effective leadership coach. I am grateful for the guidance my supervisor, Wesley Feltner, provided me throughout the process of completing the project.
I am grateful to Brad Watters, whose careful editing, questions, design problem identification, data collection and synthesis, and statistical analysis interpretation saved me countless hours of work and brought expertise to the project that I lacked. The skills of these two editors made this project much better than it would have been without their help. I appreciated their enthusiasm to be part of the effort, which kept me motivated throughout the weeks.
He reminded me that my job is to know who the special people are that I serve and to be with them in such a way that they can become what God is making them. My prayer is that as a result of this project, I will be better prepared to help those I serve become who God is making them to be.
INTRODUCTION
There are no formalized programs for training volunteers for the various ministries of the church. The lack of leadership training is part of a larger inadequacy in the church's discipleship program. Then the shepherd leaders of Israel, the ideal Shepherd, and the shepherds in the church will be examined.
While David experienced several occasions when he faced danger and death threats from his enemies, many scholars place the occasion for writing this psalm during the time of Absalom's rebellion, when David was forced to flee for his life.4 Even as David fled , exposed to the betrayal of his own son, experiencing humiliation and threats to his life (i.e. walking in the "valley of the shadow of death"), he feared none of these evils because his shepherd provided for him and protected him. In Exodus 4:20 (see 17:9) the rod is called "the rod of God." When Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh, the text says that Aaron's rod became a serpent, so these rods were one in the same. Isaiah spoke of God's works on Israel's behalf, recalling that in “the days of old, Moses and his people, [had the Lord].
Brevard Childs argues that "shepherds of his flock" is unclear, but the surrounding context favors that it refers to Moses and Aaron. Brevard Childs, Isaiah: A Commentary, 1st ed., The Old Testament Library (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
Jeremiah’s ministry began during the hopeful years of Josiah’s reign, but tragically Jeremiah witnessed the demise of the Davidic monarchy, the
Unfortunately, the record of these pastoral leaders is one of continued failure, resulting in problems for the flock. They did not provide the people with righteous guidance or protect them from the inevitable consequences of rebellion against God. He was talking about the leaders of Judah, especially the kings and those who served in the royal court.
The result was that the flock was scattered and driven away, a phrase that always describes a flock in trouble. Wild animals were constant threats to the herd as they could disperse and destroy the herd. Because these leaders had not shepherded the flock, God would take care of the leaders by punishing them.
Because they did not tend the flock, the flock suffered and God removed the leaders. The sheep would not have to fear that they would be lost, and the shepherds would not have to fear that they would lose even one sheep.23.
Ezekiel was a contemporary of Jeremiah, and both
Following the example of the Good Shepherd, selfish leadership is not leadership at all. After the failure of Israel's shepherds, God promised to give His people. One of the great concerns addressed in the Pastoral Epistles is the ongoing need to develop leaders in the church.
Spiritual leadership is a spiritual ability that finds its source in the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. The first step in implementing the training seminar was to conduct pre-seminar interviews. A third strength of the project was the correlation between pastoral leadership and existing leadership research.
Would Do Differently
TABLES
Research Data for Statement 31 on the Personal Leadership Survey The primary task of leadership is to meet the needs of others. Note: Participant 5 did not respond to this statement during the post-seminar survey, so no difference could be calculated. Research data for statement 42 about the personal leadership survey The leadership style with which one leads is just as important as how it is completed.
Data Research for Statement 43 on the Personal Leadership Survey I regularly take time to encourage my heart. Research data for statement 49 on personal leadership survey The character traits of a spiritual leader are evident in my life. Servant Leadership as an Effective Approach to Church Leadership.” Southwestern Journal of Theology 43, no.
Multilayered Leadership: The Christian Leader as Builder, Shepherd, and Gardener,” Journal of Religious Leadership 1, no. Introduction to Leadership.” Class lecture presented at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, May 2014. Shepherd or One of the Sheep: Revisiting the Biblical Metaphor of the Pastorate." Journal of Religious Leadership 9, no.
Servant Leadership, Hope, and Organizational Virtue: A Framework Examining Positive Micro- and Macro-Behavior and Performance Impact." Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies 18, no. Character and Servant Leadership: Ten Characteristics of Effective, Caring Leaders." The Journal of Virtues & Leadership 1, no The development of shepherd leadership theory and the validation of the shepherd leadership inventory (SLI) PhD diss., Regent University, 2009.
The aim of the project was to design a training program for the development of shepherd leaders in the local church.
