L.E.A.D!

[UPDATE: The LEAD class has been rewritten and re-branded as “Growing Church Leaders“]

The following is the complete syllabus for LEAD, the nine-month long, 36-week Leadership Enrichment And Development course as it was developed by Kingsway Community Church. Each 12-lesson module includes links to the completed Bible Study, as well as the relevant Bible passages (though some editing remains to be done).

Contents

  1. Theological Foundations: A.1 A.2 A.3 A.4 A.5 A.6 A.7 A.8 A.9 A.10 A.11 A.12
  2. Christian Character: B.1 B.2 B.3 B.4 B.5 B.6 B.7 B.8 B.9 B.10 B.11 B.12
  3. Skills for Service: C.1 C.2 C.3 C.4 C.5 C.6 C.7 C.8 C.9 C.10 C.11 C.12

A. Theological Foundations

Each lesson includes references to the relevant chapters in Wayne Grudem’s and R.C. Sproul’s respective systematic theologies.

A.1 God’s Word: The Authority of Scripture (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 19
  • Bible: 2 Timothy 3
  • Content: The source, role, purpose, sufficiency, and clarity of the Bible, as well as its relation to other sources of authority. Emphasizes the dual authorship of Scripture (many human authors, yet simultaneously one divine author).
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 2. The Authority and Inerrancy of Scripture
    • 3. The Clarity, Necessity, and Sufficiency of Scripture
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 1. Revelation
    • 2. Paradox, Mystery, and Contradiction
    • 4. Special Revelation and the Bible
    • 7. The Canon of Scripture
    • 8. Interpreting the Bible
    • 9. Private Interpretation

A.2 God’s Commission: Our Call as Leaders (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 47
  • Bible: Matthew 28
  • Content: Since Christ ultimately owns all power and authority, how does He want us to exercise it on His behalf? Emphasizes disciple-making as the process of dying to oneself and being reborn into the name (character) of God, both individually and collectively.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 27. Baptism
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 31. The Baptism of Christ
    • 41. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
    • 80. Baptism
    • 99. The Kingdom of God

A.3 God’s Identity: Relationship and Transcendence (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 8
  • Bible: Exodus 3
  • Content: God “names” Himself to Moses in terms of His relationships, His mission, and His transcendence. Emphasizes transcendence as the root of God’s omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 4. The Character of God: “Incommunicable” Attributes
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 12. The Self-Existence of God
    • 13. The Omnipotence of God
    • 14. The Omnipresence of God
    • 15. The Omniscience of God

A.4 God’s Character: His Glory, Our Grace (pdf)

A.5 God’s Tri-Unity: Trinitarian Transformationalism (pdf)

  • Adoration: Isaiah 42
  • Bible: Romans 8
  • Content: Discusses the roles the three members of the Godhead play in our sanctification. Emphasizes their distinct identities and roles yet common “substance” and purpose.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 6. The Trinity
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 10. The Incomprehensibility of God
    • 11. The Triunity of God
    • 28. The Sinlessness of Christ
    • 34. Jesus Christ as Mediator
    • 35. The Threefold Office of Christ
    • 36. The Titles of Jesus
    • 43. The Holy Spirit as Sanctifier

A.6 Father’s Kingdom: His World, His Image (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 100
  • Bible: Genesis 1
  • Content: God the Father is also our Father, both as creator and as king. Emphasizes how the created ecosystems are “very good” because they conform to God’s character.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 7. Creation
    • 8. God’s Providence
    • 11. The Creation of Man
    • 12. Man as Male and Female
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 3. Immediate and Mediate General Revelation
    • 19. Creation
    • 20. Providence
    • 21. Miracles
    • 22. The Will of God
    • 44. Knowledge of Self and Knowledge of God
    • 45. Human Beings Created in the Image of God

A.7 Man’s Rebellion: His Law, Our Sin (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 51
  • Bible: Genesis 3
  • Content: How we chose to seek our own glory instead of God’s. Emphasizes how “original sin” and “total depravity” are signs of mis-alignment with God’s character.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 10. Angels, Satan, and Demons
    • 13. Sin
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 17. The Law of God
    • 23. Covenant
    • 24. Covenant of Works
    • 48. Satan
    • 50. Sin
    • 51. Original Sin
    • 52. Human Depravity
    • 53. Human Conscience

A.8 Christ’s Salvation: His Pain, Our Gain (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 22
  • Bible: 1 Corinthians 15
  • Content: The good news of Christ’s death and resurrection, His complete authority, and our hope of being formed in His image. Emphasizes how He fully represents both humanity and divinity.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 14. The Person of Christ
    • 15. The Atonement
    • 16. Resurrection and Ascension
    • 19. The Gospel Call
    • 20. Regeneration
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 25. The Deity of Christ
    • 26. The Subordination of Christ
    • 27. The Humanity of Christ
    • 30. Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten
    • 56. Salvation
    • 60. Rebirth
    • 61. Atonement
    • 73. The Last Resurrection
    • 74. Glorification

A.9 Spirit’s Conviction: Connect, Chastise, Convey (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 51
  • Bible: John 16
  • Content: Introduce the third-person of the Trinity, and His work on sin, righteousness, and judgement. Emphasize His role in communicating the glory of Christ to us.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 29. Gifts of the Holy Spirit (I): General Questions
    • 30. Gifts of the Holy Spirit (II): Specific Gifts
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 37. The Deity of the Holy Spirit
    • 38. The Personality of the Holy Spirit
    • 39. The Internal Testimony of the Holy Spirit
    • 40. The Illumination of the Holy Spirit
    • 42. The Holy Spirit as Comforter

A.10 Soul’s Sanctification: His Call, Our Destiny (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 25
  • Bible: 1 Peter 1
  • Content: What our new life looks like, and how we get there. Emphasizes the total surrender of mind, body, heart, and soul.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 21. Conversion (Faith and Repentance)
    • 22. Justification and Adoption
    • 23. Sanctification (Growth in Likeness to Christ)
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 46. Human Beings as Body and Soul
    • 47. Human Beings as Flesh and Spirit
    • 64. Faith
    • 65. Saving Faith
    • 66. Justification by Faith
    • 67. Faith and Works
    • 68. Repentance
    • 69. Merit and Grace
    • 70. Perseverance of the Saints

A.11 Christ’s Body: The Church (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 122
  • Bible: Ephesians 4
  • Content: Manifesting the unity of the Spirit through our various callings. Emphasizes that the goal of leadership and structure is growing into the headship of Christ.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 26. The Nature of the Church
    • 28. The Lord’s Supper
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 75. The Apostles
    • 76. The Church
    • 77. The Marks of a True Church
    • 86. The Fruit of the Spirit
    • 87. Love
    • 88. Hope

A.12 Christ’s Return: His Judgement, Our Reward (pdf)

  • Adoration: Psalm 75
  • Bible: Revelation 20–21
  • Content: How God’s kingdom is (re)established at the end, with the removal of all evil. Emphasizes that heaven is primarily basking in God’s manifest presence.
  • Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings
    • 31. The Return of Christ: When and How?
    • 33. The Final Judgement and Eternal Punishment
    • 34. The New Heaven and New Earth
  • Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf)
    • 98. The Return of Christ
    • 100. Heaven
    • 101. The Beatific Vision
    • 102. Hell

B. Christian Character

Each lesson includes references to the relevant chapters in the book Back to Virtue: Traditional Moral Wisdom for Modern Moral Confusion by Peter Kreeft, as well as Dick Hockett’s self-published Foundations of Wisdom: The Book of Proverbs. The first part of each study is an “Admonition” from Proverbs or the Prophets, to emphasize the severity of the issue from God’s perspective.

B.1 From Humanism to Wisdom (pdf)

  • Admonition Proverbs 1
  • Bible: Psalm 107
  • Content: The humanity of the Simple, Mocker, and Fool versus the fear of God’s Wisdom. Defines wisdom as the ability to live out God’s name, and virtue as the different facets of wise character.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • Introduction: Is Virtue out of date?
    • 2. Western Culture on the Couch: A Spiritual Psychoanalysis
    • 4. Justice, Wisdom, Courage, and Moderation: The Four Cardinal Virtues
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 1. Wisdom’s Role in God’s Plan
    • 2. Introduction to Proverbs

B.2 From Simplicity to Faith (pdf)

  • Admonition Proverbs 8
  • Bible: Hebrews 11
  • Content: The simple need to trust that wisdom is possible, even though it is unseen, and pursue it with their whole heart.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 5.A (Faith) The Three Theological Virtues
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 4. The Simple

B.3 From Mockery to Hope (pdf)

  • Admonition Isaiah 28
  • Bible: Romans 5
  • Content: The mockers must have the pride crushed out of them through suffering, to realize the limits of their earthly wisdom. To endure, they need hope in God’s goodness.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 5.B (Hope) The Three Theological Virtues
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 5. The Mocker

B.4 From Folly to Love (pdf)

  • Admonition Proverbs 26
  • Bible: John 13
  • Content: Folly is a cycle of self-punishment disguised as the pursuit of pleasure. The only way out is to receive God’s love, to the point where we love Him more than the false gods to which we’ve enslaved ourselves.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 5.C (Love) The Three Theological Virtues
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 6. The Fool

B.5 From Pride to Humility (pdf)

  • Admonition Proverbs 16
  • Bible: 1 Peter 5
  • Content: Pride is the deadliest of the deadly sins, and the one we tend to least recognize in ourselves. Embracing godly humility is a foundation for all the other virtues.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 6. The Beatitudes Confront the Seven Deadly Sins
    • 7. Poor in Spirit vs. Proud at Heart
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 8. Pride, Humility, and the Fear of the Lord
    • 3.2 (Truth) Example: Proverbs about the Tongue

B.6 From Greed to Generosity (pdf)

  • Admonition Malachi 3
  • Bible: 1 Timothy 6
  • Content: If we truly understood God’s claim of ownership over everything we have or desire, we would realize the best way to “possess” wealth is to use it in accordance with His commands.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 8. Giving Mercy vs. Getting Things (Avarice)
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 3.3 (Righteous) Example: Proverbs about the Tongue

B.7 From Envy to Submission (pdf)

  • Admonition Proverbs 14
  • Bible: 1 Peter 2-3
  • Content: Envy is wishing we were in the place of another, experiencing their rewards or privileges. The opposite is submitting to our circumstances and position, trusting in God’s ultimate sovereignty.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 9. Blessed Mourner vs. Mourner at Others’ Blessedness (Envy)
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 3.6 (Modest) Example: Proverbs about the Tongue

B.8 From Anger to Reconciliation (pdf)

  • Admonition Proverbs 15
  • Bible: Matthew 18
  • Content: Few things destroy the church more rapidly than anger and unforgiveness. To carry our cross means extending forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it, as Jesus did to us.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 10. The Meek and the Peacemakers vs. The Anger-driven
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 3.4 (Gentle and healing) Example: Proverbs about the Tongue

B.9 From Sloth to Fruitfulness (pdf)

  • Admonition Proverbs 6
  • Bible: John 15
  • Content: The dangers of laziness, and the rewards of perseverance.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 11. Hungering for Righteousness vs. Satisfied with Sloth
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 3.5 (Trustworthy) Example: Proverbs about the Tongue

B.10 From Lust to Purity (pdf)

  • Admonition Proverbs 7
  • Bible: James 4
  • Content: Understanding why our desires are often at war with God, and how they must be cleansed and harnessed for His purposes — before they destroy us.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 12. Pure of Heart vs. Lustful of Heart
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 3.7 (Wise) Example: Proverbs about the Tongue

B.11 From Gluttony to Self-Control (pdf)

  • Admonition Proverbs 9
  • Bible: Colossians 2–3
  • Content: Learning to control our appetites is essential for spiritual as well as physical health, as it teaches our flesh its proper place in God’s created order.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • 13. Courage under Persecution vs. Self-indulgence
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 3.1 (Self-control) Example: Proverbs about the Tongue

B.12 From Shame to Glory (pdf)

  • Admonition Habakkuk 2
  • Bible: Philippians 3
  • Content: Ultimately, we will never fully live out these virtues here on earth. We can try to hide our shame through licentiousness or legalism. Or, we can embrace Christ’s work in destroying our shame on the cross. From there we can live the virtues for His glory, not our own — and in doing so, find our true glory in Him.
  • Peter Kreeft: Back to Virtue
    • In Conclusion: The Winsomeness of Virtue
  • Dick Hockett: Foundations of Wisdom
    • 7. The Wise

Note: Some of “Examples” in Chapter 3 of Foundations of Wisdom may not align perfectly with the given lesson, but are included for completeness and enrichment.

C.

For this module, our primary text will be Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster. In addition, you are encouraged to supplement this with one of the following books:

The first part of each study is an “Anecdote” from the Old or New Testament, to illustrate how that skill is used in practice.

C.1 Desire and Discipline (pdf)

C.2 Meditation and Memorization (pdf)

C.3 Persistent Prayer (pdf)

C.4 Fervent Fasting (pdf)

C.5 Studying Scripture (pdf)

C.6 Stewardship and Simplicity (pdf)

C.7 Silence and Solitude (pdf)

C.8 Submission and Service (pdf)

C.9 Confrontation and Confession (pdf)

C.10 World-Changing Worship (pdf)

C.11 Discerning Direction (pdf)

C.12 Joy in the Journey (pdf)

Copyright 2008-2009 Ernest N. Prabhakar, Ph.D., Santa Clara, California

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