Topics to Create Lessons for: Diligence Big Things Big Challenges, dealing with those in the wrong, effectiveness, results
A Biblical Study of Management Concepts
Category / Sub Category / Reference / Comment2nd Tier of Leaders / Needed, Must Develop / Exodus / - Importance of Support: Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands during the battle with Amalekites.
2nd Tier of Leaders / Needed, Must Develop / Exodus / Joshua – great example
A Great Administrator / Joseph / Gen 39 / God’s gift & blessing in administration.
A Nation Repents / Josiah / 2 Kings 22 / Josiah returned Israel to the Lord, though it was not enough to turn God’s wrath. His sons returned to evil.
Accepts Bribes / Corrupt / Prov. 17 / Gets Calamity
Accountability / Before Assembly / Nehemiah 5 / Nobles & officials were exacting interest, even to point of selling Jewish brothers into slavery. Nehemiah confronts them in front of large assembly, requires an oath that they rectify situation.
Accountability / For Leaders / 1 Sam 10:25 / Samuel writes book of rights & duties of the king, sets it before the Lord.
Accountability / Leader’s Rights, Duties / 1 Sam 10 / Samuel wrote in book before the Lord.
Accountability / Leaders / Heb 13 / 13:17 “obey your leaders and submit to them…[they] will have to give account…let them do this joyfully…”
Accountability / Middle Managers / Acts 22 / Example of how a Tribune, whipped up by the Jews, nearly beat Paul, a Roman citizen. When he found out, he was very afraid.
Accountability / Personalities Attracted to Lack of Accountability / 1 Kings 18 / Ahab / Jezebel controlled Israel through idol worship – had no accountability to truth until Elijah showed up, testing with fire. Also:
1. Politicians: 2000 Republican Convention, George W. Bush – Even through good candidate, speaks in warm, fuzzy platitudes and promised that cannot be measured, accountable for.
2. Pastors: FUMC, Redeemer, Grand Avenue all suffer(ed) from inability to hold accountable.
3. IT project research conclusions.
Accountability / Public Forum Sometimes Necessary / Matt 14 / 14:1-12 Herod has John the Baptist beheaded, not because he wanted to, because he had publicly given an oath.
Remember Chuck Lamb’s view that the public accountability of board meetings with minutes is sometimes necessary.
Accountability / Why Needed / 2 Sam 17 / Ahithophel counsels Absalom to pursue David, Hushai give countering counsel, helps David:
1. General mess due to Absalom’s sin
2. Spirit of prophets subject to prophets – clearly able to speak wrongly
3. Think of all other instances where prophets got fouled up
*** This why we need accountability in leadership!!!
Accountability for You, but not Me / Historical Pattern / Matt 23 / Throughout history (e.g. Pharisees), men have sought faithful, righteous subordinates while evading the same standard for themselves.
Action, Not Just Talk / Reducing Good Intentions to Action, Dilligence / Proverbs 14:23 / In all toil there is profit, mere talk leads only to want.
Adversary / Identification / Ex 23 / See Biblbook.drw for Org chart depicting Allies and Enemies.
Red = Allies = Faithful Stewards
Black = Enemies = Unrighteous Tenants / Stewards
Adversity / Speaking God’s way in peace and love / Num 14 / Moses, Aaron, Joshua & Caleb spoke God’s way re. Rebellion of Israel at Promised Land. They did not prevail, but they stayed true to God and made known their objections.
Adversity Will Come / Strong Will Stand / Proverbs 24 / Adversity will come, the strong will stand
Advising Those In Authority / When They Are Not Working on What They Should Be, In the Wrong / Exodus 18:19-23 / Jethro gives very good, in depth advice to Moses about organizing things others help Moses bear the burden.
At end, says, “[only do this] if God command thee so”
7/31/06: Crossmark experience: Often, God will reveal to us what top management should be working on, but they will not engage.
All we can do, like Jethro, is present the business case, and let them do what they think is right. I also believe we need to make them aware that 6 months to a year later, they will probably still be facing the same problem, unresolved.
I have started keeping track of these predictions and circling back in 3-6 months to see if they are still dealing with the same problems.
All evil / Root / Gen 3 / Pride/Self/desire to be like God, (having knowledge) used to tempt Adam & Eve
Anointed Skills / Master workman / Ex 35, 36 / God gave a special spirit / anointing to the craftsman for the temple / tent.
Appearances / Appearances / Proverbs 14:13 / Laughter can hide grief, but it remains
Appearances / Discern / Proverbs 20 / None is fully righteous
Appearances / Discerning / Proverbs 20 / Your acts make your nature known -- undeniably!
Appearances / Friendship / Proverbs 18 / Many will give appearance of friendship. Some will be closer than a brother
Appearances / The state of the heart will show through the countenance / Proverbs 15 (twice)
Appreciation vs. Man’s Nature / Only one in 10 give true thanks / Luke 17 / 10 leapers healed
Ask, Seek, Knock / You will find / Matt 7
Assume Evil Nature / Appearance of Good / Mark 15 / Standing assumption: Most will project the appearance of good to get what they want. If evil is hidden beneath it will eventually manifest.
Assume Evil Nature / Basic flesh nature / Mark 15 / Left to our own nature, we will crucify Christ!
Assume Evil Nature / Controls, checks & balances required / Mark 15 / Business transactions / processes must always include checks, balances & controls
Attitude to Authority / Best contrast / Luke 1 / Zechariah’s attitude vs. Mary’s (and consequences!)
Authority / Abigail’s Initiative / 1 Sam 25 / Her husband foolishly offends David; in anger plans to kill everyone. Abigail intercedes with David with gifts. She saved household and keeps David from sinning. God ultimately kills husband.
Authority / Do not Oppose God’s Anointed / 1 Sam 26 / David would not allow Saul to be harmed.
Authority / Elders / Acts 14 / Appointment of Elders over church – not sure of implications for management.
Authority / Of Leaders / Heb 13 / 13:17 “obey your leaders and submit to them…[they] will have to give account…let them do this joyfully…”
Authority / When Authority in Error / 1 Sam 25 / Her husband foolishly offends David; in anger plans to kill everyone. Abigail intercedes with David with gifts. She save household and keeps David from sinning. God ultimately kills husband.
Authority / Responsibility / Autonomous Units / 2 Kings 18 / Verse 24 describes an autonomous military unit (a “captain” including the captain and his solders.)!!!? (Why do militaries organize by autonomous commands, even down to squad level? Because it works!)
Authority / Responsibility Match / Authority over staff people, King “wanna-bes” / Ps 105:20-22 / King made Joseph ruler of his house, to instruct princes and elders. Could Daniel have done this with Authority / Responsibility match?
Authority / Responsibility Match / Skin in the Game, Submission / Judges 4 / · Through Deborah, Lord tells Barak He will give Sisera into his hand.
· Barak, “If you will go, I will go… If not…!!
· Deborah, “I will go, but you will not be glorified; glory will go to a woman.”
· Though understandable, Barak overdid “skin in the game.” Questioned God and His leader.
Avoid Gossip / Avoid idle talk / Ecc 7 / You will hear distractions (your servant cursing you, etc.)
Bad Leadership / Unqualified / Proverbs 30 / - A slave (unqualified) becoming king is like an earthquake.
Being Under Authority / Blessings / Ruth 3, 4 / Ruth conducted herself most uprightly, did exactly as Naomi instructed, received restoration and great blessing under Boaz.
Being Under Authority / Obedience / Deut 17 / God gave a chain of authority for decision making. We are to diligently obey their decisions. Presumptuous disobedience was punished by death.
Being Under Authority / Speaking Against / Num 12 / Aaron & Miriam speak against Moses, Miriam turn Leprous.
Being Under Authority / Time to Stand up to Wrong / Acts 5 / “We must obey God rather than man” (ADS Case – God would not let me stand up to Eileen Brennan for the waste, ineffectiveness and personal insults. He did have me stand up to CTP and Bill Valance / Phil Watson / VanStar.)
Big Things / Big Stakes / 1 Chron 5, 20 / “for they cried out to God in battle, and He granted their entreaty because they trusted in Him.” (Careful on assuming this precedent!)
Big Things / Dire Circumstances, Anger, Waiting on God / 2 Kings 6, 7 / City under siege, people eating own children, King of Israel loses it, blames God & Elisha, but waits a day at Elisha’s word. God delivers city.
Big Things / If God is For You / Exodus / - Fear, inadequacy, need for personal transformation: The report of the spies.
Big Things / Life in Danger / 2 Kings 6 / Army seeking Elisha’s life, servant sees angels on chariots of fire, God delivers.
Big Things / Our Expectations / Eph 3 / “Now to Him… who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think…”
· Don’t limit God
· Don’t expect that He will do things according to what we see or expect.
Big Things / Big Challenges / Big, Rapid Results after Leader Repentance / ? Ezra & Nehemiah? / It took 20 years to rebuild temple (536 BC – 516 BC) After Ezra spoke “put away foreign women and children”, Nehemiah, et.al. rebuilt city walls in 52 days! (Neh 6:15)
[Note 1: These are notes in my Bible – ref. Not cited, appears accurate.]
[Note 2: The Lord stirred up Cyrus, King of Persia, to let people go – we can’t assume too much was in man’s control – God was obviously moving.]
Big Things / Big Challenges / Courage / 1 Chron 19 / Verse 13 “Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God; and let the Lord do that which is good in His sight.” (Joab, facing big battle.)
Big Things / Big Challenges / Courage / 2 Chron 17 / “Jehoshaphat…heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.”
Big Things / Big Challenges / Do All Things / Phil 4 / Verse 13 “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” (watch context, assumptions.)
Big Things / Big Challenges / Lord’s Way / 1 Sam 17 / David & Goliath: Key Elements:
- David sought the Lord’s glory
- God had trained him (fought bears & lions)
- David was a special guy, had special anointing, at a special time.
· Watch presumption!!!
Big Things / Big Challenges / Overwhelming Odds / 2 Chron 14 / King Asa of Judah, with approximately 500,000 men slaughtered army of 1,000,000 because he was a Godly king and relied on the Lord.
Big Things / Big Challenges / When Overwhelmed / 2 Chron 20 / Jehoshaphat and people are up against huge army. They are powerless and throw themselves on God’s mercy and greatness. God delivered them without even fighting.
Big Things, Big Challenges / Lord Fights Battle / Esther / Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, refuses to bow before Haman and do obeisance. Haman, a chief prince, has power to kill him and plans to, along with all Jews. The Lord gives Esther & Mordecai favor in the King’s eyes. Haman is killed, Jews are saved, Esther & Mordecai receive Haman’s wealth and power.
Big Things, Big Challenges / Nehemiah Summary / Nehemiah 1-6, Ezra / Summary of key elements of spectacular success (wall – 52 days)
1. God moving
– e.g. stirred king to let people go
– whole thing.
2. True repentance and turning: Leaders put away foreign wives and children
3. Exceptional leader, lined up with God.
4. People had ownership, a will to work.
Big Things, Big Challenges / Seeking God / Is 36-38 / Hezekiah seeks God when King of Assyria intends to destroy Jerusalem. God fights battle, prevails.
Big Things, Big Challenges / Seeking God While Dealing with Kings / Nehemiah 2 / Nehemiah is in front of King, King asks what he wants, Nehemiah is afraid. 2:4 “…so I prayed to the God of Heaven, and I said to the King…”
Big Things, Big Challenges / Strengthening the People / Nehemiah 2 / 2:18 “…So [the people] strengthened their hands for the good work.” (Nehemiah had explained who God was with them.”
Big Things, Big Challenges / Values, Right over Urgency of the Moment / Daniel 3 / 3:17-18 Shad, Mesh, Abed refuse to compromise values, right even to death – God delivers (e.g. FUMC – God would not let me trash pastor.)
Big Things, Big Challenges / When to Fight / Eccl 9 / 9:4 “A living dog is better than a dead lion.”
Big Things, Challenges / Encouraging the Leader / Jud 6 & 7 / God went out of His way to give Gideon reassurance about doing big thing!
Big Things, Challenges / Lord Uses Natural Things / Jud 7 / Gideon defeats big army with 300. Surprise & confusion & Lord’s hand sets enemy against itself.
Big Things, Challenges / To God’s Glory / Jud 7 / God took Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 10,000 to 300 so that Israel could not say “my own hand has delivered me.”
Building / Maintaining Your Empire / Example: John the Baptist / John 1 / John willingly gave 2 of his disciples leave to follow Jesus
Business / Abomination to Cheat / Proverbs 20 (two times) / It is abomination to cheat people (including favoring one over the other when supposed to be impartial.)
Business / Accurate Self Assessment / Proverbs 21 / Man’s way is right in his eyes, God judges the heart
Business / Avoid Court / Proverbs 25 / Do not go hastily to court - the outcome is uncertain. Settle the matter privately
Business / Bucket of Good Will is Only So Deep / Proverbs 25 / Be careful about imposing on neighbors
Business / Carrots of Evil Men / Proverbs 23 (two times) / Watch the carrots put in front of you by the rich (or rulers). They are a deception and your appetite may cost you greatly, or your life