Reference no: EM133713649
Assignment:
The first words in the preface of Kouzes and Posner's work, Everyday People, Extraordinary Leadership, claim that "leadership is a learnable set of actions and behaviors that is available to everyone." (p. xiii) Similarly, according to John Maxwell, "True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed, or assigned. It comes only from influence, and that cannot be mandated. It must be earned."
However, Scripture addresses leadership as one of the Spiritual gifts. Paul lists it among the various gifts (1 Cor 12:28) that the Spirit bestows to believers, in accordance with His will, for use towards the common good. (1 Cor 12:4-11) He exhorts believers to use their individual gifts with joy. (Romans 12:8) It would appear that we all have different gifts, and not all have the same gift. (1 Cor 7:7)
In this initial discussion, wrestle with these two positions. Are they truly contradictory, or do they complement one another in some way? Offer your own definition of what it means to be a "Christian leader." What do you think are the key elements that make one a Christian leader? How does being a Christian leader differ from merely being a Christian, and from merely being a leader? Support your answer from the texts this week and from Scripture.