Biblical Theology Paper Final Draft Assignment Instructions
Assignment Instructions
Overview
Throughout the class, you will work on a Biblical Theology Paper. This paper will define a theological concept, trace that concept throughout Scripture (Old and New Testaments), and then apply an understanding of the concept to various aspects of leadership. Throughout the course, three specific assignments will focus on the Biblical Theology Paper:
- Biblical Theology Paper: Proposal Assignment
- Biblical Theology Paper: Annotated Bibliography Assignment
- Biblical Theology Paper: Final Draft Assignment
Instructions
As the capstone of this course, you will write a 12 – 15-page research-based paper in current APA format, focusing on a biblical theology of leadership. This paper must include at least 20 scholarly, peer-reviewed, or academic sources. Reference the grading rubric for more details about the assignment.
The paper will answer this question: How would the biblical/theological foundation of [your topic/biblical theme] form and inform leadership in the following 5 areas: purpose of leadership, role of the leader, role of the follower, leadership methodology, and leadership setting?
A suggested structure for the paper is the following:
- Introduction (including your thesis statement) – 1 – 2 page(s)
- Explanation of doctrine – 5 pages
- Theological term (Explain the theological term) – 2 pages
- Biblical Foundation (Trace the term throughout Scripture) – 3 pages
- Application of the doctrine to the life of the leader – 5 pages
- How does this doctrine form/inform the purpose of leadership? – 1 page
- How does this doctrine form/inform the role of the leader? – 1 page
- How does this doctrine form/inform the role of the follower? – 1 page
- How does the doctrine form/inform one’s leadership methodology? – 1 page
- Apply your understanding to a specific leadership setting. – 1 page
- Conclusion (summarize your paper) – 1 – 2 page(s)
- Reference page with at least 20 sources
- Theological term (Explain the theological term) – 2 pages
- Explanation of doctrine – 5 pages
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
SAMPLE STUDENT ANSWER
A Godly Harvest: An Analyzation of the Fruit of the Spirit
Introduction of the Concept of a Christian Farmer
When one considers a farmer, there can be an observation of a methodical leader; there is an observation in the analysis of their work that uses a mixture of faith and works. The aspect of farming grants one the ability through labor, to learn how to be fruitful in the name of the Holy Spirit. There are seven steps of necessary work in receiving a successful harvest, and through the necessary grind, a farmer gains from their labor; for this labor translates to what a Christian must do to have a fruitful spirit. First, in analysis, a leader must consider themselves as a vine that inevitably stems from the Holy Body of Christ. Leaders must not just rely on faith but must: chore, work, and put in the methodical work in order to see the fruit of their works with a divine manifestation.
Leaders can note, the Fruit of the Spirit, in the Old Testament with scriptures Isaiah 32:15-17 and Joel 2:28-32. The concept transcends into the New Testament with scriptures such as the Epistle to the Galatians. In the book of Isaiah, the doctrine states, “Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.And the work of the righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever” (32:15-17). In connection, the Old Testament speaks to the assurance of the blessing one gains from having a relationship with the Lord that is obedient and devoted. The guiding fact that a leader must consider is the concept of hemming and sustaining one’s relationship with the Lord is the only way to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit; therefore, to lead effectively a leader must have a disciplined relationship with the Lord.
Role of a Leader: Fruit of Our Labor
Step 1 Compost (Leaders Foundation Preparation)
Leaders wondering why it is necessary to be disciplined in the maintenance of their relationship should consider the idea of what a fruit actually is.
It is important to express the scripture as a fruit because of the true meaning of the word fruit. Penny Noyes, a Christian author, and Christian Education Specialist offers a framing of the idea when he notes “The Greek word καρπός that we translate fruit usually means fruit in the sense of edible fruits and vegetables, but it can also be translated as offspring, deed, action, result, or profit. In an agrarian society, fruit is a good thing; it is the result of hard work and careful tending. Today, we might use the word fruit in a phrase such as the ‘fruit of our labor’ to communicate the results of our effort. Even if we do not harvest strawberries or apples, we can have fruit, something to show for our work, in a paycheck, a finished project, or even a baby” (Noyes, 2021). This argument aligns with the idea that to manifest the Spirit’s fruit, and there is a central understanding that one must put in work. In a contrasting perspective, if one does not pursue the Lord- not saying he will forsake his child; yet, in like manner, he will not seek them, so when we observe their harvest-it will not yield its actual capacity. In bolster, Exodus 34: 14, Moses warned, for thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. In essence, God deserves and requires that one look to no one else but him for deliverance, which ultimately leads to the Fruit of the Spirit. Parallel to this, a Christian sourcing network observes, “The beginning of work is from the beginning of time. God Himself worked for six days and rested on the seventh. When God completed creation He called it “very good.” We are created in the image of God and are designed to experience success and fulfillment through hard work! As Christians, we should view our jobs as an opportunity to serve God through perseverance and patience, and serve others through a Christ-like attitude…”(Staff). It’s a fact that faith must be combined with work to be fruitful, and the scripture supports this in Proverbs 12:11 “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.” When considering the role of a Christian Leader, there can be understanding how this correlates with the attributes needed to be successful.
As a leader in Christ, it is one’s charge to design one’s character around this concept of disciplining one’s relationship with God. A role that must be purposely attended to, cared for, and maintained to be fruitful. Success comes with a fruitful relationship with the lord and is an assured promise that comes with a Godly harvest. It is important to note that there were 12 disciples which were personal followers of Jesus during his life, these were in retrospect an illustrated example of how our relationship should be when serving God. From a leadership perspective, like the 12 disciples, there are 12 Fruits of the Spirit that a leader must embody to extend their reach and enable their works to yield fruits.
The Role of a Follower the Mixture of Faith and Works
Step 2 Sowing (A Dynamic Relationship)
There are many books, articles, and forges towards the role of leadership, but often not enough. To establish a fruitful vine with God, there has to be a consideration of the followership role that has to come into play to be able to not lead effectively but also hem a closer relationship with the Lord. In the Epistle of Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Paul offers the good news about what can come from being an obedient and devoted Christian in his Gospel. It can be argued as a Christian leader there is upward mobility in Christ; Paul’s words can also assert that one cannot just rely on faith alone, yet as a Christian Leader wishing to grow-will have to put forth effective effort if they want growth. In James 2:17, the scripture observes that faith itself without work is dead. So leaders can conclude that one must compost themselves with the word, change themselves so that spirit can amend, plant seeds of love, water with the fellowship of the Lord, and weed out entities that only seek destruction to be able to grow, flourish, and bear the fruit of the spirit.
As a servant-leader in Christ, to lead effectively must grasp the concept of effective followership. A leader must weed out their own desires, their own intent, and essentially let God have his way in guidance. The idea of letting God take the will is not only an opportunity for leaders to be fertilized in the Spirit with the needed spiritual tools, but also new abilities will begin to sprout which will empower a leader to be successful. Frank Demazio coins the idea of followership in his book “The Making of Leader,” which bolsters in the novel that Leaders have to realize the importance of servant-leadership. As a delegate of Christ one has to fulfill the qualification necessary to receive this manifestation in leadership with works necessary (Demazio). The scripture that supports this idea, can be found in Matthew 25: 45-47, which reads “A faithful, sensible servant is one who the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all which he owns.” A leader, in like manner, has a special charge master set forth for them by the master. The manifested reward that scripture is alluding to the blessings unseen; because if one taps into the living water then one cup runneth over.
Leadership Methodology: Managing To Feed
Step 3 Fertilization (Conception of the Unseen)
In the idea of effective leadership methodology, one must be able to gain a platform to be able to effectively reach one’s flock. Much like a farmer who takes forward action in ensuring their land is plentiful for harvest, in contrast, a Christian Leader must be at the helm of the Father in order to feed their flock. A servant-leader who seeks to feed their flock must acknowledge that their relationship with the father must be managed.
A leader who absolves the thought of self, and takes a holistic approach with the Father will not only fertilize their spiritual foundation but also start to conceive unseen manifestations in life. Conceptually this is done through a leader learning to put God’s intent in place of their own intentions. The Father’s vision is what a leader should concern him or herself with, not only will leaders begin to fertilize spiritually the relationship with their flock, but because of this will also build bridges where there were once walls. When intersectional barriers get in the way, how does a leader respond effectively? In reality, no leader will be met with a perfect foundation, but once enters into the servant-leader realm, there is a responsibility upon a leader to build bridges through leadership. An academic journal entitled, “Spirit-Filled Grassroots of Leadership,” speaks to bridges that servant-leaders must build within their flock (Building Leadership Bridges 2018). A leader using the attributes and quantities of love, patience, kindness, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, self-control, and charity are characteristics that a servant-leader can utilize to gain a closer relationship with God. Once a leader connects closer with Lord, he will give them everything that they need in order to be successful.
Leadership Setting
Steps 4 &5 Watering and Weeding
Farming is not an easy job but can be most rewarding if the proper steps, time, and work is put forth. Similar to this idea of farming, a Christian leader, must take the proper steps, time, and must put forth work in order to achieve the manifestation in blessings that they may desire for their flock. In a sense, a leader is setting the stage for their flock to grow. By acknowledging that faith is not the only variable one has to account for, but also variables of care and work have to be balanced in a mixture to achieve this.
Faith in a leadership sense or for anyone is just a notion that one has complete trust and confidence in God. The care and work that one puts forth in leading is what helps one’s flock receive a Godly harvest. In exploring the Pastoral Psychology behind care, this is the ability for a Christian servant-leader to create wells in which their flock can drink from; research was conducted by a Christian Psychology journal that aligned with this theory. The problem that the journal brings to the roundtable discussion is how Protestant Churches often stricken perceived direction of worship when it comes to Men (Welch 2012). Welch notes “ there has been a gradual increase in interest in men’s spirituality in popular culture over the past decade, the practice of Christian spirituality for men often conflicts with or contradicts preconceived notions of masculinity as a social construction shaped by traditions, literature, and the media” ( Welch 2012. In Psalms 118: 28, the Bible says, “This is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice, and I will be glad in it.” What the Bible did not identify is who should be glad in it, with that being said, less focus should be put on creating in spiritual connection. More focus, however, should be put on creating irrigating sources that allow for a Christian flock to drink from the living water which is the Holy Spirit.
In order for it to be a plentiful source, a leader must stay disciplined in using the attributes and quantities of love, patience, kindness, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, self-control, and charity to be a connecting reservoir to the spirit. If you will, in a farming sense this can be characterized as a spiritual watering of one’s spirit. Once leaders connect themselves and their flock to the spirit, then their cups will runneth over.
After drinking from the living water, there will be no more longing because of thirst. If a leader and their flock were parched before, this is a feeling that will no longer be because of the intervention of the spirit in their lives. This saturation, however, will allow for weeds to grow so leaders must conduct spiritual weeding in maintenance to keep a sound connection with the Father. From a Christian leadership perspective, there will be work to be done and a leader has to pluck weeds from their spiritual foundation that constrains growth. Weeds don’t look bad to Christian leaders, but they compete with the presence of the father. To allow the spiritual: seeds, work, and action to be sewn and cultivated, a servant-leader removes this unwanted competition to be able to lead effectively. A Management Decision research journal asserts that leaders must account for their management and the leadership of their subordinates (Kent 2005). Kent notes “if a leader acts or carries themselves as a person of misguided character then their subordinates will respond as if they are a person of misguided character. Spiritual weeding is essential to growth, by nature if a leader lets a spiritual weed compete with the Holy Spirit then their harvest will be less plentiful.
Once a leader has set the stage, this is the leadership setting in which they can lead fruitfully. Once in this stage of development, then a leader should maintain a consistent fellowship with Lord to continue to liberate their spirit, according to a leadership journal published by The Leadership Quarterly. The Leadership Quarterly observes that practicing a consistent fellowship with God is important because this is how a leader’s fountain becomes filled with water (Bowling 2001). This research and the concept of continued maintenance offers a point of growth for leaders, who have never considered incorporating one’s spiritual life holistically. As a leader, self-interest are not important, because a major note to all leaders is that it is God’s plan that should be put first in order to connect with true spiritual growth.
Harvesting
Step 6 The Fruit of The Spirit
When preparing for a harvest, a farmer does not immediately just go for the picking. No, farmers look at their harvest from multiple perspectives much like a servant-leader is supposed to do in preparation. Christian servant-leaders should look at their yielding harvest in thankfulness organization, principles.
Thankfulness
A fundamental part of any harvest is thankfulness, because “for everything, there is a season,” the scripture reads “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:6-7). As a servant leader, a fundamental role in one’s harvest is the ability to give thanks, because this not only blesses God but also serves to acknowledge the work that has been put in to get to this point. The time, the journey, and the organization that was put in by the servant-leader is what led to the success of their Godly harvest. It is important the leader note that God, got them this far so justification is not for the leader, but God. A Journal of Management states, “ Although creating an interpersonal justice expectation may seem desirable, its presence along with supervisory behavior is interpersonally unfair, and could have the unintended effect of creating perceptions of leader hypocrisy” ( Geenbaum 2012). This translates to the glory is not for you, but God. This concept of thankfulness will ensure that a leader’s harvest seasons are never-ending.
Organization
Organization in leading is everything, especially when it comes to leading God’s people. Achieving and maintaining leadership, are two topics observed in the leading journal, which asserts sustaining leadership management can be a struggle if the leader has no type of guidance. It is important for a leader to be strategic in management, and learn how to manage effectively so they do overloaded or grow tired. Just like a farmer, a servant leader must organize and prepare for the next season, after a harvest. Action such as this researchers assert “Positive cultural characteristics can provide an organization with the necessary ingredients to innovate. Innovation are immediately linked” (West, 2000). Culture is very important in bringing the organization toward success; provided that all staff in the organization is fully committed to this matter. Each Organization has its own vision and mission of being a kind of guide on the way to achieving organizational excellence. Organizational culture is the element that bonds the aims of employees to achieve the subsequent levels of excellence” (Bina, 2012).
Principles
With a Godly harvest, it is understood to everything there is a season: a time to sew, a time to grow, and a time to harvest; in principle, a servant leader should prepare for the next harvest, because if you do not prepare now you will not having anything to harvest later. Looking at the Five Perspectives of the Leadership Management Relationship, which is observed by an integration and evaluation journal, states a “Christian leader must consider their jobs as an opportunity to serve God through perseverance and patient (Staff, 2002). The jobs never stop as a leader, so leaders must not forget the principle of their harvest. A leadership articles states to allusion to the never ending job “There are times leaders ask themselves, “is it worth it? I’m thinking about work nonstop. I work on vacation. There’s never enough time in the day. Rarely are there enough resources”… and the list goes on. The mission is endless. It is worth it. But let’s talk about the REAL work of a leader. Sure, the business responsibilities, behind the scenes navigation to success, the public interfacing, etc. are all critical components. But real leadership is developing people – others and YOU. As Chinese philosopher and poet Lao Tzu says: “When the best leader’s work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.’” As leaders, our most important job is developing and empowering those around us” (Central Exchange, 2018). As Christian- servant leaders, there must be an assertion to stick to this principle of empowering the world around us.
The Fruit of the Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit is something that is assured to leaders, by God and scripture. Leaders must not just rely on the promise or faith alone to achieve the Fruit of Spirit, but put forth the necessary work so that embody what the spirit requires. Attitude is everything, and this point is maximized in an academic journal entitled “The Relationship between Justification and The Spiritual Fruit.” In order for a leader to repeat an abundant harvest, there must be spiritual actions of redemption in order to reach a leader’s true potential. Jonathan Pratt points out in identification that Paul provides specific requirements that leaders must do in order to receive the Fruit of the Spirit; identified these factors are self-less action, attitude, and correct thought process- all these factors must be justified in God’s eyes for the spirit to manifest and allow leaders to lead effectively.
Conclusion
Step 7 Delivery
A Godly harvest is abundant. One could stand on that this links the concept of building trust with hemming and sustaining one’s relationship with the Lord to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit; however, a point that can be justified is that if one strays from the Lord that their vine will become barren, in connection to not reaching their true potential due to the lack obedience and devoted behavior.
Obedience and devotion are what the Lord requires to reap one’s actual harvest. Mathew 9:37 supports with scripture, stating, “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few….” The bible lets us know that you are mandated to repeat a bountiful harvest, but the first thing one must do to get there is to do the required work. In addition, Galatians 6:9 states, And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. The ultimate message one can get from is for everything there is a season: a season to work, a season to grow, and a season to yield, which no season is no more important than the other; that’s why the scripture adds not to grow weary, for in time if one puts the necessary work that is required they will receive the fruit of the spirit
Annotated Bibliography
Bowling, C. J. (2001). The Spirit of Leadership: Liberating the Leader in Each of Us. The Leadership Quarterly, 12(3), 369-371. doi:10.1016/s1048-9843(01)00085-6
.Chapman, J. M. (n.d.). The Role Of The Fruit Of The Spirit In Preventive Counseling. doi:10.2986/tren.001-0196
Central Exchange. “A Leader’s Work Is Never Done.” Central Exchange, 20 Nov. 2018, centralexchange.org/blog/a-leaders-work-is-never-done/.
Damazio, F. (1988).. Leadership. In S. W. J. Kozlowski (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of organizational psychology, Vol. 1, pp. 696–729). \
Greenbaum, R. L., Mawritz, M. B., & Piccolo, R. F. (2012). When Leaders Fail to “Walk the Talk”.
Holden, J. M., Lankford, C., & Holmes, L. (2019). After-death communication and the biblical fruits of the spirit: An online survey. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 6(1), 15-26. doi:10.1037/scp0000161
Jackson, E. M., & Johnson, R. E. (2012). When opposites do (and do not) attract Interplay of leader and follower self-identities and its consequences for leader-member exchange. The Leadership Quarterly, 23(3), 488-501. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2011.12.003
Manokha, I. (2006). Business ethics and the spirit of global capitalism: Moral leadership in the context of global Hegemony1. Journal of Global Ethics, 2(1), 27-41. doi:10.1080/17449620600677247
Noyes, Penny. “What Are the Fruit of the Spirit?” Christianity.org, 25 Aug. 2021.
The Relationship Between Justification and Spiritual Fruit in Romans 5–8 (1966). Spiritual Exercises. doi:10.5040/9780567691057.ch-029
Staff, B. (2015, February 04). Bible Verses for Labor Day and Work. Retrieved from
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-for-labor-day-and-work/
Spirit-Filled Grassroots Leadership. (2018). Building Leadership Bridges Leadership and Power in International Development, 179-181. doi:10.1108/s2058-880120180000006018
Welch, M. (2012). Manifestation of the Spirit: An Investigation on the Impact of a Curriculum and Small Group Spiritual Direction on the Spiritual Formation of Protestant Men. Pastoral Psychology, 62(1), 81-99. doi:10.1007/s11089-012-0449-9
men often conflicts with or contradicts preconceived notions of masculinity as a social construction shaped by tradition, literature, and the media (Connell 2005).In dissection, this will allow forward analysis into alleged inhibitors of Men’s worship.
Ireland, R. D., & Hitt, M. A. (1999). Achieving and maintaining strategic leadership in the 21st century: The role of strategic leadership. The Academy of Management Executive, 13(1), 43-57. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.proxylibrary.ashford.edu/docview/527286?accountid=325
Kent, T. W. (2005). Leading and managing: It takes two to tango. Management Decision, 43(7), 1010-1017. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1108/00251740510610008 Kest, R. T.
(2006). PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP: LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT. Futurics, 30(1), 52-71. Retrieved from https://search-proquestcom.proxy-library.ashford.edu/docview/2198325
Kirkpatrick, S. A., & Locke, E. A. (1991). Leadership: Do traits matter? The Executive, 5, 48–60. O’Reilly, C. A., Caldwell, D. F., Chatman, J. A., & Doerr, B. (2014). The Promise and Problems of Organizational Culture: CEO Personality, Culture, and Firm 16 Performance. Group & Organization Management, 39(6), 595–625. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601114550713 Riwo-Abudho, M., Njanja, L., & Ochieng, I. (2012).
enjoy the fruits one’s labor.
The role of strategic leadership during change. KCA Journal of Business Management, 4(1), 48-61. Schraeder, M., & Jordan, M. (2011).
Managing performance: A practical perspective on managing employee performance. The Journal for Quality and Participation, 34(2), 4-10. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.proxylibrary.ashford.edu/docview/884214960?accountid= Simonet, D. V., & Tett, R. P. (2013)
Five Perspectives on the Leadership–Management Relationship: A Competency-Based Evaluation and Integration. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 20(2), 199–213. https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051812467205
Szczepanska-Woszczyna, K. (2015). Leadership and organizational culture
Staff, BibleStudyTools. “Bible Verses for Labor Day and Work.” Biblestudytools.com, Salem Web Network, 4 Feb. 2015, www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-for-labor-day-and-work/.
Jermaine Byrant
Nicole Johnson
OVER
RATING
YEARS
