Introduction to Christian Leadership

organic disciplemaking

Dennis McCallum, Instructor

[Serious Christian workers in Xenos who aspire to lead home groups or ministry teams are required to take this leadership class, either before, or as soon as possible after becoming leaders. The prerequisites for the class are:

    1. All four quarters of Christian Principles Class
    2. Both Christian Servanthood 1 and Christian Servanthood 2
    3. A recommendation from existing home group leaders

At this time, the lectures for this course are not available on tape or CD-ROM.]

Syllabus:

Assignments

This is a notebook course. That means you will assemble a notebook as the course unfolds, and the quality of that notebook will determine your grade for the course. The notebook will become a tool for your use as a Christian leader, so it is important that it be referenced and neat. It should be a 3-ring loose-leaf notebook, which you can buy from me while supplies last. There should be dividers by subject. The writing or typing should be neat and readable, and you should include your reading assignments, your class notes, any handouts, or other research. The notebook should become a resource you can turn to for ideas and direction in future years as you lead. We will examine the notebooks at the midway point in the class and provide you any feedback you need on your work to date. At the end of the class, the notebooks are due, and will be graded like a final exam. Be sure you keep up with the reading schedule, because you will need the reading to participate in class.

Reading:

Read and assess Multiplying Disciples, by Waylon Moore (or Ralph Neighbour, Where Do We Go From Here? A Guidebook for the Cell Group Church if you have already read Moore) according to schedule below.

Week 1

Group leadership: The theology of leadership

Class Goals
What is a Christian leader?
Do groups really need human leaders?
God's part in ministry
What makes a person a leader?
Spiritual authority and leadership
Limits to Authority in Leadership

Resources: Read VanVonderen and Johnson, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, and Nee, Spiritual Authority. These authors clearly disagree in their views of spiritual authority. Who is right? Why? Due week 4

Resources: Sanders, Spiritual Leadership; Nee, Spiritual Authority; Barna, The Power of Vision; Covey, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People;

Week 2

Group leadership: The theology of leadership cont.

Leadership responsibilities
Distinctions between leaders and non-leaders
Top-down versus consensus leadership
Leading for God versus man
Can leadership be learned?

Week 3

Group leadership: Technique

Influencing others for God
What is vision?
How can a leader get and propagate vision?
How do people learn?
How do people become motivated?
Transmitting values to others

Week 4

Group leadership: Technique

Leading change in a group
Understanding barriers to change
Working with resistors and nay-sayers

Read Moore, pp. 15-39 and pick 2 of the questions at the end of each chapter to copy into your notebook and answer.

Resources: William Crabb & Jeff Journigen, The Church in Ruins; Leith Andersen, Dying for Change; Bruce Powers, Christian Leadership;

Hand in notebooks for mid-course checkup

Week 5

Group leadership: Leading groups in Xenos

Assessing your group
Learning to read 3-part charts
Team leadership principles and team-building
Assessing disciples

Read Moore, pp. 41-74 and pick 2 of the questions at the end of each chapter to copy into your notebook and answer.

Week 6

Group leadership: Leading groups in Xenos

Key goals for group leadership in Xenos: Individual, Group, and Home Church multiplication
Leading evangelism

Read Moore, pp. 75-102 and pick 2 of the questions at the end of each chapter to copy into your notebook and answer.

Resources: Leroy Eims, Lost Art of Disciple Making; Coleman, Master Plan of Evangelism, Hull, The Disciple Making Pastor

Week 7

Group leadership: Leading groups in Xenos

Leading discipleship through cell groups
Leading Home Group Growth

Read Moore, pp. 103-130 and pick 2 of the questions at the end of each chapter to copy into your notebook and answer.

Resources: Peters, A Theology of Church Growth; Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church
Ralph Neighbour, Where Do We Go From Here?

Week 8

Group leadership: Leading groups in Xenos

Leading church planting
Participation in overall Xenos leadership
Principles of Church Discipline
Leading church discipline

Week 9

Group leadership: Leading groups in Xenos

Leading in the face of division
Leading Home Group Stewardship
Special problems in group leadership

Week 10

Group leadership: The leader's life

Leadership lifestyle issues
Old Testament leadership lessons: David's Mighty Men

Notebooks due by the following Wed. evening!