Copy of GENE 202: Week 7 Leadership Development Essay

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Leadership Development Essay Regent University GENE 202: Making of The Christian Leader Professor Daniel Castellucci December 10, 2023 The Pauline epistles, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus in the New Testament, are letters written by the apostle Paul to his protégés Timothy and Titus regarding leadership and bringing order to the early Christian church. The apostle Paul’s writings coincide with Kouzes & Posner’s Five Fundamentals of Leadership Development, which include Believing You Can, Aspiring to Excel,

Challenging Yourself, Engaging Support, and Practicing Deliberately. This essay will reflect on the similarities between Paul’s teachings and Kouzes & Posner’s leadership fundamentals. Paul’s emphasis on “ Believing You Can ” is evident through his frequent encouragement to Timothy and Titus. For instance, in 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul encourages Timothy by saying, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity” (NLT). In this text, the apostle Paul warns Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because he is young. “For all of human history, there has been a tendency for older generations to dismiss younger teachers, simply because they are young” ( BibleRef.com , n.d.). To overcome this, Paul encourages Timothy to be an example for others through his way of life. Paul gives Timothy a reason to believe that he can serve the early church despite his age. “You have to believe that you can have a positive impact on others” (Kouzes & Posner, 2021, p.167). Similarly, Paul encourages Titus to believe he can guide the early church by appointing specific responsibilities. For instance, in Titus 1, Paul gives Titus the responsibility of appointing elders in each town to oversee the conduct of the church (Titus 1:5, NLT). Paul giving Titus such responsibilities instills confidence in his leadership capabilities and demonstrates Paul’s belief in Titus effectively fulfilling his responsibilities as a leader of the church. Often, it takes someone else to believe in you so you can start believing in yourself. Kouzes & Posner state, “Believing that you can lead is essential to developing your leadership skills and abilities” (Kouzes & Posner, 2021, p.167). Furthermore, “to become the very best leader you can be, you need to be clear about the core values and beliefs that guide your decisions and actions and about the vision you and others look forward to achieving” (Kouzes & Posner, 2021, p.167). Paul urges his protégés to “ Aspire

To Excel ” by upholding their values and beliefs and providing them with a clear vision of the church. In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he encourages Timothy to “cling to his faith in Christ, and keep his conscience clear” (1 Timothy 1:19, NLT ). He also tells Timothy to “pray for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1, NLT) and “hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching he has learned from him—a pattern shaped by faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13, NLT). Paul reminds Timothy to set an example for others to follow. “Exemplary leaders know that if they want to earn the respect of the people around them and achieve the highest standards, they must be models of the behavior they expect of others.” (Kouzes & Posner, 2021, p.12). In addition, Paul aspires his protégés to excel by providing a clear vision for the church. Paul does this by emphasizing the need for sound doctrine and good works. Paul instructs Titus when he appoints elders to oversee the church that the elders must “have a strong belief in the trustworthy message they were taught” (Titus 1:9a, NLT) so that they can be able to encourage others in the truth and “show those who oppose it where they are wrong” (Titus 1:9b, NLT). Titus ensures that the church’s teachings are grounded in the true gospel of Jesus Christ and establishes a clear vision for the church’s core values and beliefs. Paul also encourages Titus to be “an example by doing good works of every kind” (Titus 2:7, NLT) by “not slandering anyone, avoiding quarreling, but being gentle and showing true humility to everyone” (Titus 3:2, NLT). Next, challenging the process is necessary for leadership development. “To develop as a leader and do your best, you have to step outside your comfort zone” (Kouzes & Posner, 2021, p.168). 2 Timothy 1:5-7 says, “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-

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discipline” (NLT). In this text, Paul encouraged Timothy to walk in his life’s calling and the Holy Spirit’s boldness. Paul discerns that Timothy is uncertain and uncomfortable with operating in his God-given gifts. So Paul had to push Timothy out of his comfort zone and small way of thinking to see that he could do what God had called him to do. The fourth fundamental is “ Engaging Support .” Kouzes & Posner state, “You can’t learn to become the best leader all by yourself. The top performers in every endeavor, including leaders, all seek out the support, advice, and counsel of others” (Kouzes & Posner, 2021, p.168). Throughout the letters written to Timothy and Titus, the apostle Paul constantly reminds them that “he was not a one-person show. That he always worked with and through a team of people who are committed to ministry” ( Lesson 13: Paul’s Team (Titus 3:12-15) | Bible.org , n.d.). In Titus 3:12-13a, Paul tells Titcus that “he’s sending Artemas or Tychicus to him and for Titus to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with his trip” (NLT). Paul also advises Titus to “see that they have everything they need. That our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others” (Titus 3:15, NLT). Paul’s recognition of the importance of support demonstrates strength in numbers and a shared mission. The last fundamental is “ Practicing Deliberately.” Kouzes & Posner highlight, “You can’t get any better at leadership without practice. Moreover, the time spent practicing won’t amount to much unless you apply some discipline in this effort” (Kouzes & Posner, 2021, p.168). In 2 Timothy 3:14, Paul encourages Timothy by saying, “But you must remain faithful to things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you” (NLT). Paul’s encouragement to Timothy to remain faithful to what he has learned reflects the importance of deliberately practicing until it becomes a discipline. As the old saying

goes, practice makes perfect. No one becomes a good leader overnight; leaders are made, not born. One can conclude that Kouzes & Posner’s Five Fundamentals of Leadership Development and the apostle Paul’s writings to Timothy and Titus share similarities. Paul provided Timothy and Titus with a living example of Christian leadership. It is important to note that “as we develop Christian leaders, we must model consistency in our talk and walk regarding our values, beliefs, character, and teachings to build up the body of believers” (Ridley, 2020, p.1). References Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2021). Everyday people, extraordinary leadership: How to Make a Difference Regardless of Your Title, Role, or Authority . John Wiley & Sons. Lesson 13: Paul’s Team (Titus 3:12-15) | Bible.org . (n.d.). https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-13-paul%E2%80%99s-team-titus-312-15 New Living Translation (NLT) - Version Information - BibleGateway.com. (n.d.). https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-Living-Translation-NLT-Bible/

Ridley, G. (2020, March 2). Developing leaders: a perspective from Timothy and Titus . The SEND U Blog. https://sendublog.com/2019/11/25/developing-leaders-a-perspective- from-timothy-and-titus/ What does 1 Timothy 4:12 mean? | BibleRef.com . (n.d.). BibleRef.com. https://www.bibleref.com/1-Timothy/4/1-Timothy-4-12.html#:~:text=NLT%20Don't %20let%20anyone,your%20faith%2C%20and%20your%20purity.

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