2
.
3
Assignment
.
Charting a Leadership System in Your Organization
Getting Started
This assignment is designed to provide you with the opportunity to
view your organization via a f
resh perspe
c
tive outside of the
traditional organizational chart. Begin by thinking about how you
might create some sort of illustration that would represent how
your organization might look in light of our discussion of leadership
as a system. For example
, you might create a chart or graphic that
illustrates how you perceive your workplace. To be more specific,
instead of a traditional organizational chart, create a graphical
representation of some kind that incorporates the various
elements of the leaders
hip system (leader + follower +
organization + goals).
You have the freedom to be highly creative in how you design this.
The goal is not graphic design perfection, but rather to create a
visual that stimulates your thinking about how your organization
would look if each element of the leadership system were
c
onsidered in relationship with
one
another. Use any type of
software you prefer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher,
etc.).
Your illustration must be accompanied by a half
–
page to
one-
page explanation that addresses your rationale for how you
constructed
your visual. Your short, written reflection also should
discuss how your graphic impacts your perspective of your
organization’s structure. What insights might this new perspective
lend when contrasted with a traditional organizational chart?
Upon successf
ul completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Assess the fundamental relationship between effective
followers and effective leaders necessary for effective
organizations.
·
Assess the shifting role of follower and leader in an
organization.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the Workshop Two assigned course materials as well as any other supplementary literature you may find.
3. Create a chart or graphic that illustrates how you perceive your workplace might be illustrated in light of our discussion of leadership as a system. In other words, instead of a traditional organizational chart, how might you create a chart that incorporates the various
elements of the leadership system (leader + follower +
organization + goals)?
4. Use any type of software you prefer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, etc.).
5. Your illustration must be accompanied by a half-page to
one-page explanation that addresses your rationale for how you
constructed your visual. (You have the freedom to be highly creative in how you design this. The goal is not graphic design perfection, but rather to create a visual that stimulates your thinking about how your organization would look if each element of the leadership system were considered in relationship with one another.)
6. Your illustration must be accompanied by a half-page to one-page explanation that addresses your rationale for how you constructed your visual.
2.3 Assignment
.
Charting a Leadership System in Your Organization
Getting Started
This assignment is designed to provide you with the opportunity to
view your organization via a f
resh perspective outside of the
traditional organizational chart. Begin by thinking about how you
might create some sort of illustration that would represent how
your organization might look in light of our discussion of leadership
as a system. For example
, you might create a chart or graphic that
illustrates how you perceive your workplace. To be more specific,
instead of a traditional organizational chart, create a graphical
representation of some kind that incorporates the various
elements of the leaders
hip system (leader + follower +
organization + goals).
You have the freedom to be highly creative in how you design this.
The goal is not graphic design perfection, but rather to create a
visual that stimulates your thinking about how your organization
would look if each element of the leadership system were
c
onsidered in relationship with one another. Use any type of
software you prefer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher,
etc.).
Your illustration must be accompanied by a half
–
page to
one
–
page explanation that addresses your rationale for how you
constructed
your visual. Your short, written reflection also should
discuss how your graphic impacts your perspective of your
organization’s structure. What insights might this new perspective
lend when contrasted with a traditional organizational chart?
Upon successf
ul completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Assess the fundamental relationship between effective
followers and effective leaders necessary for effective
organizations.
·
Assess the shifting role of follower and leader in an
organization.
Instructions
2.3 Assignment. Charting a Leadership System in Your Organization
Getting Started
This assignment is designed to provide you with the opportunity to
view your organization via a fresh perspective outside of the
traditional organizational chart. Begin by thinking about how you
might create some sort of illustration that would represent how
your organization might look in light of our discussion of leadership
as a system. For example, you might create a chart or graphic that
illustrates how you perceive your workplace. To be more specific,
instead of a traditional organizational chart, create a graphical
representation of some kind that incorporates the various
elements of the leadership system (leader + follower +
organization + goals).
You have the freedom to be highly creative in how you design this.
The goal is not graphic design perfection, but rather to create a
visual that stimulates your thinking about how your organization
would look if each element of the leadership system were
considered in relationship with one another. Use any type of
software you prefer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher,
etc.). Your illustration must be accompanied by a half-page to
one-page explanation that addresses your rationale for how you
constructed your visual. Your short, written reflection also should
discuss how your graphic impacts your perspective of your
organization’s structure. What insights might this new perspective
lend when contrasted with a traditional organizational chart?
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
Assess the fundamental relationship between effective
followers and effective leaders necessary for effective
organizations.
Assess the shifting role of follower and leader in an
organization.
Instructions
3.3
Assign
m
ent.
Followership Self
–
Assessment and Report
Getting Started
You are now familiar with Chaleff’s Courageous Follower five
dimensions as well as his four
–
quadrant model
of
courageous
follower
ship. For this assignment, you have the opportunity to
complete Ira Cha
leff’s Courageous Follower Self
–
Assessment,
entitled: “Evaluating Your Own Followership Style and Growth
Path.”
Chaleff (2021) provides this information about the
self
–
assessment
he created:
Many instruments have been designed to capture and reflect
leader
ship styles. Few exist to serve the same purpose for
followership
styles. Understandably, then, few individuals have
ever thought about their own followership style let alone how to
grow in this role that everyone plays at least some of the time. Yet
under
standing our style and growth direction can be critical for our
professional development and satisfaction in our work
relationships. Based on
your
responses, this self
–
assessment will
provide you with language and descriptions about your follower
style. It
will display these visually and provide you with guidance
about growth directions that you might choose to pursue. You may
be interested in this assessment in preparation for a courageous
follower workshop or simply to satisfy your own curiosity and
desir
e for improvement.
Reference
Chaleff, I. (2021). Courageous followership. Understand your own
followership style. Courageous
Follower.
https://www.courageousfollower.net/followership
–
books/the
-courageous-follower-self-assessment-of-your-followership-
style/
(new tab)
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Explain
key dimensions of followership and resulting
typologies.
Background Information
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the information in the
Getting Started
section above.
3. Read the brief article by Neal, then complete the
Courageous Follower Self-Assessment(new tab)
by purchasing access at the website. (See course
syllabus(new tab)
. The self-assessment is considered a course resource or “text” for the course that needs to be purchased separately by the student)
4. Purchasing Details
a. Navigate to the
Berrett-Koehler(new tab)
website.
b. Purchase 1-year online access to the Courageous Followership Self-Assessment for $9.95 by assuring that quantity is set at “1” and then “add to cart.”
c. On pop-up screen, continue to check out.
d. Optional – just below the circle that says 3 Payment, click on the hyperlinked word “member.” Complete the Berrett-Koehler Publisher membership information and receive a discount on the assessment – it will only cost $6.97.
e. Continue Checkout.
f. Follow instructions to complete the assessment.
5. Write a two-page reflection paper (500–600 words in a Word document) that reports your results from the self-assessment and also discusses the following reflection questions:
a. What style did the assessment suggest you are using
?
b. Did the assessment suggest you are strongly using this style or is there another style you are bordering on?
c. How does your style help develop influence and collaboration between you and leaders?
d. If it would help to use a different style, or to develop more strongly in the Partner Style, what behaviors do you need to practice?
3.3 Assign
m
ent.
Followership Self
–
Assessment and Report
Getting Started
You are now familiar with Chaleff’s Courageous Follower five
dimensions as well as his four
–
quadrant model of courageous
followership. For this assignment, you have the opportunity to
complete Ira Cha
leff’s Courageous Follower Self
–
Assessment,
entitled: “Evaluating Your Own Followership Style and Growth
Path.”
Chaleff (2021) provides this information about the self
–
assessment
he created:
Many instruments have been designed to capture and reflect
leader
ship styles. Few exist to serve the same purpose for
followership styles. Understandably, then, few individuals have
ever thought about their own followership style let alone how to
grow in this role that everyone plays at least some of the time. Yet
under
standing our style and growth direction can be critical for our
professional development and satisfaction in our work
relationships. Based on your responses, this self
–
assessment will
provide you with language and descriptions about your follower
style. It
will display these visually and provide you with guidance
about growth directions that you might choose to pursue. You may
be interested in this assessment in preparation for a courageous
follower workshop or simply to satisfy your own curiosity and
desir
e for improvement.
Reference
Chaleff, I. (2021). Courageous followership. Understand your own
followership style. Courageous
Follower.
https://www.courageousfollower.net/followership
–
books/the
–
courageous
–
follower
–
self
–
assessment
–
of
–
your
–
followership
–
style/
(new tab)
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Explain
?
key dimensions of followership and resulting
typologies.
3.3 Assignment. Followership Self-Assessment and Report
Getting Started
You are now familiar with Chaleff’s Courageous Follower five
dimensions as well as his four-quadrant model of courageous
followership. For this assignment, you have the opportunity to
complete Ira Chaleff’s Courageous Follower Self-Assessment,
entitled: “Evaluating Your Own Followership Style and Growth
Path.”
Chaleff (2021) provides this information about the self-assessment
he created:
Many instruments have been designed to capture and reflect
leadership styles. Few exist to serve the same purpose for
followership styles. Understandably, then, few individuals have
ever thought about their own followership style let alone how to
grow in this role that everyone plays at least some of the time. Yet
understanding our style and growth direction can be critical for our
professional development and satisfaction in our work
relationships. Based on your responses, this self-assessment will
provide you with language and descriptions about your follower
style. It will display these visually and provide you with guidance
about growth directions that you might choose to pursue. You may
be interested in this assessment in preparation for a courageous
follower workshop or simply to satisfy your own curiosity and
desire for improvement.
Reference
Chaleff, I. (2021). Courageous followership. Understand your own
followership style. Courageous
Follower. https://www.courageousfollower.net/followership-
books/the-courageous-follower-self-assessment-of-your-
followership-style/(new tab)
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
Explain?key dimensions of followership and resulting
typologies.
3.4
Assignment.
Leader2Leader Dialogue Question Preparation
Getting Started
Part of developing a strong foundation for leadership rests in
seeking wisdom from others. For this assignment, you will prepare
to engage a leader of your choosing as you conduct a
Leader2Leader dialogue. Taking into consideration what you have
studied
thus far about leading, you will develop a set of questions
or discussion starters that you will use to gain new insights and
pe
rspectives on how someone else practices leadership. You’ve
read from textbooks and articles. You’ve discussed this with your
pe
ers. However, further insights might be gained by dialogues with
key leaders in your life. Do they agree with some of the
frameworks, principles, and practices you’ve been
studying?
Disagree? Have additional insights they might offer? What have
they learne
d from their experiences in the areas you have been
studying?
You will want to be mindful of the scope of this course.
Remembering what you have studied thus far will aid you in
creating questions for the dialogue. Be prepared to carry out your
dialogue af
ter you receive feedback from your instructor.
·
Conduct your interview during the Week of Workshop 4.
·
Review
5.3 Assignment: Leader2Leader Conversation
Report
(new tab)
where you will report your findings.
·
Include your learning from the dialogue as you complete
your course project in workshop six.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:
· Assess the fundamental relationship between effective followers and effective leaders necessary for effective organizations.
Background Information
An important part of leadership development is acquiring perspectives outside of a textbook. Throughout your program, you will be encouraged to glean insights or perspectives from a variety of external leaders. Beginning with this first course in your program, you have been encouraged to identify some leaders with whom you can hold a brief discussion (30 minutes or less).
You should not just use the same leader for each course, but you should consider a variety of individuals from whom you might learn during the program (e.g., direct supervisor, other level leaders in your organization (or other organizations with which you are familiar), a pastor/religious leader, head of a charity, local businessperson) in order to generate a variety of perspectives. Select one of those leaders in your life for your Leader2Leader dialogue in this course. Consider which one might have the most relevant insights for the topics you have been studying.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the following videos to glean insights into how to best develop questions:
3.
4.
1. In preparation for your dialogue, submit an executive summary containing the following:
5. Name and title of the interviewee (who you will have your Leader2Leader dialogue with).
5. Date, time, and method (Zoom, Skype, FaceTime…) planned for conducting the dialogue.
5. A set of 7–10 questions or discussion starters from this week’s material on character, virtues, and values.
1. Questions should not be simple “Yes” – “No” questions but should allow the leader you selected to provide thoughtful explanations that will contribute to your understanding of the topic.
1. Questions should display variety, not focusing on one or two topics. Be sure to take time to review what you have learned this week and during the earlier workshops. Note: When you write your executive summary, clearly connect each question to a principle represented in the course material.
1. Keep in mind the dialogue should be 30 minutes or less. So, you may not have time to ask all the questions you develop. Consider how you arrange or outline the questions.
8. What flow exists between the questions?
8. What ones are the most essential?
8. What ones might serve as follow-up questions?
1. Your executive summary can be written in the form of an outline.
1. Submit your completed assignment by Day 7 of the workshop.
1. After you receive feedback from your instructor on your interview questions, it is highly encouraged that you conduct your interview during Workshop Four, so that you can allow yourself enough time to work on the report during Workshop Five.
3.4 Assignment.
Leader2Leader Dialogue Question Preparation
Getting Started
Part of developing a strong foundation for leadership rests in
seeking wisdom from others. For this assignment, you will prepare
to engage a leader of your choosing as you conduct a
Leader2Leader dialogue. Taking into consideration what you have
studied
thus far about leading, you will develop a set of questions
or discussion starters that you will use to gain new insights and
perspectives on how someone else practices leadership. You’ve
read from textbooks and articles. You’ve discussed this with your
pe
ers. However, further insights might be gained by dialogues with
key leaders in your life. Do they agree with some of the
frameworks, principles, and practices you’ve been
studying?
Disagree? Have additional insights they might offer? What have
they learne
d from their experiences in the areas you have been
studying?
You will want to be mindful of the scope of this course.
Remembering what you have studied thus far will aid you in
creating questions for the dialogue. Be prepared to carry out your
dialogue af
ter you receive feedback from your instructor.
·
Conduct your interview during the Week of Workshop 4.
·
Review
5.3 Assignment: Leader2Leader Conversation
Report
(new tab)
where you will report your findings.
·
Include your learning from the dialogue as you complete
your course project in workshop six.
3.4 Assignment. Leader2Leader Dialogue Question Preparation
Getting Started
Part of developing a strong foundation for leadership rests in
seeking wisdom from others. For this assignment, you will prepare
to engage a leader of your choosing as you conduct a
Leader2Leader dialogue. Taking into consideration what you have
studied thus far about leading, you will develop a set of questions
or discussion starters that you will use to gain new insights and
perspectives on how someone else practices leadership. You’ve
read from textbooks and articles. You’ve discussed this with your
peers. However, further insights might be gained by dialogues with
key leaders in your life. Do they agree with some of the
frameworks, principles, and practices you’ve been studying?
Disagree? Have additional insights they might offer? What have
they learned from their experiences in the areas you have been
studying?
You will want to be mindful of the scope of this course.
Remembering what you have studied thus far will aid you in
creating questions for the dialogue. Be prepared to carry out your
dialogue after you receive feedback from your instructor.
Conduct your interview during the Week of Workshop 4.
Review 5.3 Assignment: Leader2Leader Conversation
Report(new tab) where you will report your findings.
Include your learning from the dialogue as you complete
your course project in workshop six.
4.
3
Assignment. The Role of Follower
Getting Started
Throughout the first weeks of this course, we have been
discovering that leaders do not act alone. Without followers who
take their roles and responsibilities seriously, leaders have little
reason to expect that the goals of the organization will be met
successfully. Also, leaders and followers do not interact outside of
some sort of organizational context, be that the workplace,
charities, social and sports clubs, etc. The combination of leaders
+ followers + organization (think of it as the three legs o
f a stool)
should work together in ways that meet the goals set forth by the
organization. Often, when those goals are not met, the
organization ceases to exist. And that means there is no longer the
need for leaders or followers there.
This assignment wil
l provide you with the opportunity to build
upon the skills you began to acquire in the LDR
–
205 course by
enhancing your familiarity with the
Off Campus Library
Services
(new tab)
(OCLS). Continuing to le
arn how to navigate
OCLS will be a foundational skill for your continued studies.
Through that excellent resource, as well as your assigned course
materials, you have access to a wealth of information and research
that will assist you in writing a scholarl
y paper on the topic of
followership.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:
· Explain key dimensions of followership and resulting typologies.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review your course materials for the first four Workshop Weeks.
3. Locate 2-3 articles using
OCLS(new tab)
that will help inform your work on this assignment.
4. Compose a 2 1/2 to 3-page paper (not including the title page and reference page) addressing the following prompts:
5. Discuss the difference between society’s perception of followership as a personality type compared to the leadership academy’s understanding of followership as a role. Why does that matter?
6. Explain why followers may, at times, need courage in order to fully meet the responsibilities of their roles.
7. Formulate three specific actions that followers can take to demonstrate courageous followership in productive ways.
8. Your paper must include a minimum of 4-5 references and no more than two may come from your course materials.
9. Your paper must be in APA format and include a title page and reference page. Also, include an introduction and conclusion in your paper.
10. All papers are to be written and formatted in accordance with
APA Guidelines (7th ed.)(PDF document)
. Papers must be logical, well organized, grammatically correct, and have correct spelling and sentence structure. Write in complete paragraphs of at least three sentences in length.
11. Proofread your papers prior to submitting them to ensure the highest quality of presentation.
12. When you’ve completed your assignment, submit a copy to your instructor using the Assignment submission link by Day 7 of the workshop.
13. The maximum number of pages is given to encourage you to be concise and use meaningful words.
14. Failure to meet these minimum writing and formatting requirements will result in a lowering of the overall grade. Use a #12 font in Times New Roman.
4.
3 Assignment. The Role of Follower
Getting Started
Throughout the first weeks of this course, we have been
discovering that leaders do not act alone. Without followers who
take their roles and responsibilities seriously, leaders have little
reason to expect that the goals of the organization will be met
successfully. Also, leaders and followers do not interact outside of
some sort of organizational context, be that the workplace,
charities, social and sports clubs, etc. The combination of leaders
+ followers + organization (think of it as the three legs o
f a stool)
should work together in ways that meet the goals set forth by the
organization. Often, when those goals are not met, the
organization ceases to exist. And that means there is no longer the
need for leaders or followers there.
This assignment wil
l provide you with the opportunity to build
upon the skills you began to acquire in the LDR
–
205 course by
enhancing your familiarity with the
Off Campus Library
Services
(new tab)
(OCLS). Continuing to le
arn how to navigate
OCLS will be a foundational skill for your continued studies.
Through that excellent resource, as well as your assigned course
materials, you have access to a wealth of information and research
that will assist you in writing a scholarl
y paper on the topic of
followership.
4.3 Assignment. The Role of Follower
Getting Started
Throughout the first weeks of this course, we have been
discovering that leaders do not act alone. Without followers who
take their roles and responsibilities seriously, leaders have little
reason to expect that the goals of the organization will be met
successfully. Also, leaders and followers do not interact outside of
some sort of organizational context, be that the workplace,
charities, social and sports clubs, etc. The combination of leaders
+ followers + organization (think of it as the three legs of a stool)
should work together in ways that meet the goals set forth by the
organization. Often, when those goals are not met, the
organization ceases to exist. And that means there is no longer the
need for leaders or followers there.
This assignment will provide you with the opportunity to build
upon the skills you began to acquire in the LDR-205 course by
enhancing your familiarity with the Off Campus Library
Services(new tab) (OCLS). Continuing to learn how to navigate
OCLS will be a foundational skill for your continued studies.
Through that excellent resource, as well as your assigned course
materials, you have access to a wealth of information and research
that will assist you in writing a scholarly paper on the topic of
followership.
5
.
3
Assignment Leader2Lea
der Dialogue Report
Getting Started
This assignment represents the culmination of work you began in
the third week of this course.
In that workshop, you submitted a
set of conversation questions for your Leader2Leader dialogue. If
you have not already conducted that conversation, you will n
eed to
do so during this week so that you may submit your report by Day
7 of the workshop.
As a reminder, for this assignment, you will engage a leader of
your choosing as you conduct a Leader2Leader dialogue. Taking
into consideration what you have studie
d thus far about leading,
you will your list of conversation questions to gain new insights
and perspectives on how someone else practices leadership.
You’ve read from textbooks and articles. You’ve discussed this with
your peers. Now, further insights mig
ht be gained by dialogues
with key leaders in your life. Do they agree with some of the
frameworks, principles, and practices you’ve been
studying?
Disagree? Have additional insights they might offer? What have
they learned from their experiences in the ar
eas you have been
studying?
For a reminder on the interview guidelines, refer back to the
instructions in
3.4
(new
tab)
.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:
· Assess the fundamental relationship between effective followers and effective leaders necessary for effective organizations.
Background Information
An important part of leadership development is acquiring perspectives outside of a textbook. Throughout your program, you will be encouraged to glean insights or perspectives from a variety of external leaders. Beginning with this first course in your program, you have been encouraged to identify some leaders with whom you can hold a brief discussion (30 minutes or less). You should not just use the same leader for each course, but you should consider a variety of individuals from whom you might learn during the program (e.g., direct supervisor, other level leaders in your organization (or other organizations with which you are familiar), a pastor/religious leader, head of a charity, local business person) in order to generate a variety of perspectives. Select one of those leaders in your life for your Leader2Leader dialogue in this course. Consider which one might have the most relevant insights for the topics you have been studying.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Write a two to three-page executive summary, including your approved questions from Assignment 3.4, that contains the following:
a. Name and title of the interviewee (who you will have your Leader2Leader dialogue with). Explain why you chose this particular leader.
b. Date, time, and method (phone, Zoom, Skype, FaceTime…) when the interview was conducted
c. Questions and summaries of interviewee responses, along with your reflections on those responses.
3. Be sure to link your learning in this course to your conclusions, especially noting when your interviewee shared insights that supported or contradicted what you’ve learned.
4. Include a conclusion paragraph to your paper that provides a succinct summary of your interview and learning. As an Appendix following your Reference page, please list the names of the leaders whom you have interviewed for each BSOL course you have completed thus far.
5. Submit your completed assignment by the end of the workshop week.
6. All papers are to be written in accordance with
APA Guidelines (7th ed.)(PDF document)
including format guidelines. Papers must be logical, well organized, grammatically correct, and have correct spelling and sentence structure. Write in complete paragraphs of at least three sentences in length.
7. If needed, please access APA formatting resources through the Academic Writer website in the Course Homepage widget to create your account which will give you access during this course.
8. Proofread your papers prior to submitting them to ensure the highest quality of presentation.
9. The maximum number of pages is given to encourage you to be concise and use meaningful words.
10. Failure to meet these minimum writing and formatting requirements will result in a lowering of the overall grade. Use a #12 font in Times New Roman.
5.3 Assignment Leader2Lea
der Dialogue Report
Getting Started
This assignment represents the culmination of work you began in
the third week of this course.
In that workshop, you submitted a
set of conversation questions for your Leader2Leader dialogue. If
you have not already conducted that conversation, you will n
eed to
do so during this week so that you may submit your report by Day
7 of the workshop.
As a reminder, for this assignment, you will engage a leader of
your choosing as you conduct a Leader2Leader dialogue. Taking
into consideration what you have studie
d thus far about leading,
you will your list of conversation questions to gain new insights
and perspectives on how someone else practices leadership.
You’ve read from textbooks and articles. You’ve discussed this with
your peers. Now, further insights mig
ht be gained by dialogues
with key leaders in your life. Do they agree with some of the
frameworks, principles, and practices you’ve been
studying?
Disagree? Have additional insights they might offer? What have
they learned from their experiences in the ar
eas you have been
studying?
For a reminder on the interview guidelines, refer back to the
instructions in
3.4
(new
tab)
.
5.3 Assignment Leader2Leader Dialogue Report
Getting Started
This assignment represents the culmination of work you began in
the third week of this course. In that workshop, you submitted a
set of conversation questions for your Leader2Leader dialogue. If
you have not already conducted that conversation, you will need to
do so during this week so that you may submit your report by Day
7 of the workshop.
As a reminder, for this assignment, you will engage a leader of
your choosing as you conduct a Leader2Leader dialogue. Taking
into consideration what you have studied thus far about leading,
you will your list of conversation questions to gain new insights
and perspectives on how someone else practices leadership.
You’ve read from textbooks and articles. You’ve discussed this with
your peers. Now, further insights might be gained by dialogues
with key leaders in your life. Do they agree with some of the
frameworks, principles, and practices you’ve been studying?
Disagree? Have additional insights they might offer? What have
they learned from their experiences in the areas you have been
studying?
For a reminder on the interview guidelines, refer back to the
instructions in 3.4(new tab).
6.3
Assignment. Followership
Training Seminar
Getting Started
This course culminates with this assignment that will add one more
tool to your toolkit! Here’s the scenario:
You have shared with your organization’s leaders a bit of what you
have learned about followership in this course. They are quite
intrigued and
have asked you to develop a one
–
hour followership
training seminar that you will present to groups of employees in
the future. Your task is to organize your thinking around the key
concepts of this course, then create an expanded outline that will
serve as
your guide to the creation of your training seminar.
Now, you don’t need to actually produce a one
–
hour seminar for
this assignment, but simply create the outline and your choice of
presentation materials that, when used, should require about an
hour of t
ime to present.
Be sure that you don’t simply treat this as a lecture but make your
seminar creative and engaging. Provide the key concepts, but then
consider incorporating activities and/or discussion questions (such
as for breakout groups). Be sure to in
clude time to summarize the
key themes near the end. Oh, and you should include reflection
questions, as well, and maybe even explore the next steps for your
organization. Your assignment should take the form of an
expanded outline (Word document) plus a p
resentation (such as
PowerPoint or Prezi).
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
· Explain key dimensions of followership and resulting typologies.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the following articles:
a.
Followership Research: Looking Back and Looking Forward(PDF document)
b.
The Leadership-Teamship-Followership Continuum(new tab)
3. Based on the scenario in the Getting Started section, create an
expanded outline (Word document) plus a presentation (such as
PowerPoint or Prezi) that clearly demonstrates how your seminar would be presented.
4. Be sure to keep your presentation materials very succinct with just a few keywords or phrases.
5. You are encouraged to use graphics to enhance visual appeal.
6. Use the notes section (e.g., in PPT) to supplement your slides with the explanatory material (e.g., your “script” of what you would say and why).
7. When you’ve completed your assignment, submit the expanded outline (Word doc) and the Presentation (PowerPoint or Prezi) by the end of the workshop.
6.3 Assignment. Followership
Training Seminar
Getting Started
This course culminates with this assignment that will add one more
tool to your toolkit! Here’s the scenario:
You have shared with your organization’s leaders a bit of what you
have learned about followership in this course. They are quite
intrigued and
have asked you to develop a one
–
hour followership
training seminar that you will present to groups of employees in
the future. Your task is to organize your thinking around the key
concepts of this course, then create an expanded outline that will
serve as
your guide to the creation of your training seminar.
Now, you don’t need to actually produce a one
–
hour seminar for
this assignment, but simply create the outline and your choice of
presentation materials that, when used, should require about an
hour of t
ime to present.
Be sure that you don’t simply treat this as a lecture but make your
seminar creative and engaging. Provide the key concepts, but then
consider incorporating activities and/or discussion questions (such
as for breakout groups). Be sure to in
clude time to summarize the
key themes near the end. Oh, and you should include reflection
questions, as well, and maybe even explore the next steps for your
organization. Your assignment should take the form of an
expanded outline (Word document) plus a p
resentation (such as
PowerPoint or Prezi).
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
6.3 Assignment. Followership Training Seminar
Getting Started
This course culminates with this assignment that will add one more
tool to your toolkit! Here’s the scenario:
You have shared with your organization’s leaders a bit of what you
have learned about followership in this course. They are quite
intrigued and have asked you to develop a one-hour followership
training seminar that you will present to groups of employees in
the future. Your task is to organize your thinking around the key
concepts of this course, then create an expanded outline that will
serve as your guide to the creation of your training seminar.
Now, you don’t need to actually produce a one-hour seminar for
this assignment, but simply create the outline and your choice of
presentation materials that, when used, should require about an
hour of time to present.
Be sure that you don’t simply treat this as a lecture but make your
seminar creative and engaging. Provide the key concepts, but then
consider incorporating activities and/or discussion questions (such
as for breakout groups). Be sure to include time to summarize the
key themes near the end. Oh, and you should include reflection
questions, as well, and maybe even explore the next steps for your
organization. Your assignment should take the form of an
expanded outline (Word document) plus a presentation (such as
PowerPoint or Prezi).
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
1.2
Assignment: Devotion: Who is Jesus?
Getting Started
The
word “follower” can be used in a
vari
ety of ways.
We might
“follow” others on social media, meaning that we pay attention to
what they post or have to say. We may “follow” our favorite sports
team, cheering for them to win any time they play. We may
“follow” along with a teacher or someone wh
o is showing us how
to do something. The word was used by Jesus when He recruited
His disciples. There are several instances in the Gospels when
Jesus said, “Follow Me!” What do you think He meant by that? In
the 5
–
minute video below, we’ll consider what i
t means to follow
Jesus.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate faith perspectives, critical thinking, and ethical
decision
–
making with personal development and professional
practic
e as a leader.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the information in the
Getting Started
section.
3. Watch the video
What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus?(new tab)
4. The speaker in the video highlighted three points about what it means to follow
Jesus.
Write a half-page reflection paper (Word document) that shares your thoughts/perspectives on how you might apply those three points in your own life?
1.2 Assignment: Devotion: Who is Jesus?
Getting Started
The
word “follower” can be used in a
vari
ety of ways.
We might
“follow” others on social media, meaning that we pay attention to
what they post or have to say. We may “follow” our favorite sports
team, cheering for them to win any time they play. We may
“follow” along with a teacher or someone wh
o is showing us how
to do something. The word was used by Jesus when He recruited
His disciples. There are several instances in the Gospels when
Jesus said, “Follow Me!” What do you think He meant by that? In
the 5
–
minute video below, we’ll consider what i
t means to follow
Jesus.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate faith perspectives, critical thinking, and ethical
decision
–
making with personal development and professional
practic
e as a leader.
Instructions
1.2 Assignment: Devotion: Who is Jesus?
Getting Started
The
word “follower” can be used in a variety of ways. We might
“follow” others on social media, meaning that we pay attention to
what they post or have to say. We may “follow” our favorite sports
team, cheering for them to win any time they play. We may
“follow” along with a teacher or someone who is showing us how
to do something. The word was used by Jesus when He recruited
His disciples. There are several instances in the Gospels when
Jesus said, “Follow Me!” What do you think He meant by that? In
the 5-minute video below, we’ll consider what it means to follow
Jesus.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
Integrate faith perspectives, critical thinking, and ethical
decision-making with personal development and professional
practice as a leader.
Instructions
Wk2
Devotional
Getting Started
“Because of the fact that every man’s salvation is hinged upon his
own choice and free will, it is an awful thing to have the power to
take salvation and to throw it away. And yet it is left to our choice.
We are not forced to take it. We must voluntaril
y choose it or reject
it” (Simpson, 1888, p. 23).
Reference
Simpson, A. B. (1888).
Four
–
fold Gospel.
The Word, Work, & World
Publishing.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate bibli
cal perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
John 14:6
(new tab)
: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.”
Acts 4:14
(new tab)
: And there is salvation in no one else, for there
is no other name under heaven given among men by which we
must be saved.
2 Corinthians 5:21(new tab)
: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might be made right with God.
Ephesians 2:8(new tab)
: For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a free gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the information in the Getting Started section.
3. Watch the following video:
4.
1. Write a half-page reflection paper (Word document) that shares your thoughts/perspectives on the following:
5. Have you ever been in trouble and then “let off the hook?” In other words, have you ever been released of consequences for your actions? How did it feel?
5. Is your instinct to “repay” someone when they’ve let you off the hook or covered your mistake? How might that look in a relationship with others? With Jesus? Consider how the Bible passages listed in the
Background Information
inform your thoughts.
Wk2 Devotional
Getting Started
“Because of the fact that every man’s salvation is hinged upon his
own choice and free will, it is an awful thing to have the power to
take salvation and to throw it away. And yet it is left to our choice.
We are not forced to take it. We must voluntaril
y choose it or reject
it” (Simpson, 1888, p. 23).
Reference
Simpson, A. B. (1888).
Four
–
fold Gospel.
The Word, Work, & World
Publishing.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate bibli
cal perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
John 14:6
(new tab)
: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.”
Acts 4:14
(new tab)
: And there is salvation in no one else, for there
is no other name under heaven given among men by which we
must be saved.
Wk2 Devotional
Getting Started
“Because of the fact that every man’s salvation is hinged upon his
own choice and free will, it is an awful thing to have the power to
take salvation and to throw it away. And yet it is left to our choice.
We are not forced to take it. We must voluntarily choose it or reject
it” (Simpson, 1888, p. 23).
Reference
Simpson, A. B. (1888). Four-fold Gospel. The Word, Work, & World
Publishing.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
John 14:6(new tab): Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Acts 4:14(new tab): And there is salvation in no one else, for there
is no other name under heaven given among men by which we
must be saved.
Wk3.
Devotional
Getting Started
Philippians 1:6
(new tab)
And I am certai
n
that God, who began the good work within you,
will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when
Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 3:12
–
13
(new tab)
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or
that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess
that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear
brother
s and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly
prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Upo
n successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Sanctification is something that often occurs or begins in a critical
moment (or moments, sometimes called crises) but is also a
progressive work that continues throughout our lives, in which we
cooperate with God in the process that makes us freer from si
n
and more like Christ in our lives.
Instructions
1.
Review the rubric to make
sure you understand the criteria
for earning your grade.
2.
Review the information in the
Getting Started
section.
3. Watch the following video:
1. Write a half-page reflection paper (Word document) that shares your thoughts/perspectives on the following:
4. How is our expectation of spiritual growth different than other growth?
4. What is your expectation of spiritual growth?
4. How is it different than your expectation of physical growth?
4. Why are we often more comfortable with discussing our physical, emotional, and mental growth than we are our spiritual growth?
1. Consider how the idea of God’s continual good work in your life might shape how you think.
Wk3. Devotional
Getting Started
Philippians 1:6
(new tab)
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you,
will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when
Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 3:12
–
13
(new tab)
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or
that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess
that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear
brother
s and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly
prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Upo
n successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Sanctification is something that often occurs or begins in a critical
moment (or moments, sometimes called crises) but is also a
progressive work that continues throughout our lives, in which we
cooperate with God in the process that makes us freer from si
n
and more like Christ in our lives.
Instructions
1.
Review the rubric to make
sure you understand the criteria
for earning your grade.
2.
Review the information in the Getting Started section.
Wk3. Devotional
Getting Started
Philippians 1:6(new tab)
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you,
will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when
Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 3:12-13(new tab)
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or
that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess
that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear
brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly
prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Sanctification is something that often occurs or begins in a critical
moment (or moments, sometimes called crises) but is also a
progressive work that continues throughout our lives, in which we
cooperate with God in the process that makes us freer from sin
and more like Christ in our lives.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria
for earning your grade.
2. Review the information in the Getting Started section.
Wk.
4 Devotion
a
l
Getting Started
We see evidence of Jesus’ miraculous works in the Bible, but does
Jesus still heal today? Jesus is our Healer, and He is healing people
today. Healing is made available to us because of Jesus’ death on
the cross. Sickne
ss came with sin, so healing comes in the
atonement. This means that the work of Jesus on the cross to
make us at one with God, not only addressed our spiritual
brokenness but our physical brokenness as well. Sometimes He
chooses to physically heal by simp
ly taking His children home to
be with Him. While that may not seem like the kind of healing that
we expect, God always knows what is best for us, even though we
may not always understand.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Isaiah 53:5
(new tab)
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed
for our sins. He was
beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be
healed.
Matthew 8:17
(new tab)
This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the pr
ophet Isaiah, who
said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”
John 20:21
(new tab)
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I
a
m sending you.”
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the information in the
Getting Started
section.
3. Watch the following video:
4.
1. Write a half-page reflection paper (Word document) that shares your thoughts/perspectives on the following:
5. What do you think of the concept of healing? How does it make you feel? Does it seem weird, scary, exciting?
5. Have you ever experienced a physical healing? Or, perhaps someone told you their story of healing. What did you think?
5. Do you believe that Jesus can do today, what He did when He was on earth? Why or why not?
5. Consider how the Bible passages listed above inform your thoughts.
Wk. 4 Devotional
Getting Started
We see evidence of Jesus’ miraculous works in the Bible, but does
Jesus still heal today? Jesus is our Healer, and He is healing people
today. Healing is made available to us because of Jesus’ death on
the cross. Sickne
ss came with sin, so healing comes in the
atonement. This means that the work of Jesus on the cross to
make us at one with God, not only addressed our spiritual
brokenness but our physical brokenness as well. Sometimes He
chooses to physically heal by simp
ly taking His children home to
be with Him. While that may not seem like the kind of healing that
we expect, God always knows what is best for us, even though we
may not always understand.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Isaiah 53:5
(new tab)
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed
for our sins. He was
beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be
healed.
Matthew 8:17
(new tab)
This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the pr
ophet Isaiah, who
said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”
John 20:21
(new tab)
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I
a
m sending you.”
Wk. 4 Devotional
Getting Started
We see evidence of Jesus’ miraculous works in the Bible, but does
Jesus still heal today? Jesus is our Healer, and He is healing people
today. Healing is made available to us because of Jesus’ death on
the cross. Sickness came with sin, so healing comes in the
atonement. This means that the work of Jesus on the cross to
make us at one with God, not only addressed our spiritual
brokenness but our physical brokenness as well. Sometimes He
chooses to physically heal by simply taking His children home to
be with Him. While that may not seem like the kind of healing that
we expect, God always knows what is best for us, even though we
may not always understand.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Isaiah 53:5(new tab)
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was
beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be
healed.
Matthew 8:17(new tab)
This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who
said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”
John 20:21(new tab)
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I
am sending you.”
Wk5
.
Devotional
Getting Started
Jesus left the world just as miraculously as He arrived, and then
said He was coming back. But what is it H
e is
coming back to? And
what is our part to play
in
the world that He turned over to us in
the meantime? Jesus is our Coming King. The Kingdom of God is a
now, not yet, reality
–
one that is available to us now
–
but is also
yet to come when Jesus returns. His return is imminent and is a
motivation for holy living and sacrificial service: Our rol
e is
ushering in the Kingdom by being prepared and being missional.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Acts 1:6
–
11
(new tab)
So, when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him,
“Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our
kingdom?” He r
eplied, “The Father alone has the authority to set
those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you
will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you
will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere
—
in
Jerusalem, thr
oughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they
were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained
to see him rising into heaven, two white
–
robed men suddenly
stood among t
hem. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you
standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you
into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same
way you saw him go!”
Matthew 24:42
–
45
(new tab)
So, you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house
to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the information in the
Getting Started
section.
3. Watch the following video:
4.
1. Write a half-page reflection paper (Word document) that shares your thoughts/perspectives on the following:
5. Share a time when you were not prepared for something. What happened?
5. The Scriptures make it clear that Jesus Christ will return to earth to gather together those who believe in Him. Do you care about when Christ will return? Why or why not?
5. What value might there be in preparation for His return?
5. Consider how the Bible passages listed above inform your thoughts.
Wk5
. Devotional
Getting Started
Jesus left the world just as miraculously as He arrived, and then
said He was coming back. But what is it He is coming back to? And
what is our part to play in the world that He turned over to us in
the meantime? Jesus is our Coming King. The Kingdom of God is a
now, not yet, reality
–
one that is available to us now
–
but is also
yet to come when Jesus returns. His return is imminent and is a
motivation for holy living and sacrificial service: Our rol
e is
ushering in the Kingdom by being prepared and being missional.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
·
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Acts 1:6
–
11
(new tab)
So, when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him,
“Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our
kingdom?” He r
eplied, “The Father alone has the authority to set
those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you
will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you
will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere
—
in
Jerusalem, thr
oughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they
were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained
to see him rising into heaven, two white
–
robed men suddenly
stood among t
hem. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you
standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you
into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same
way you saw him go!”
Matthew 24:42
–
45
(new tab)
Wk5. Devotional
Getting Started
Jesus left the world just as miraculously as He arrived, and then
said He was coming back. But what is it He is coming back to? And
what is our part to play in the world that He turned over to us in
the meantime? Jesus is our Coming King. The Kingdom of God is a
now, not yet, reality – one that is available to us now -but is also
yet to come when Jesus returns. His return is imminent and is a
motivation for holy living and sacrificial service: Our role is
ushering in the Kingdom by being prepared and being missional.
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be
able to:
Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential
aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Acts 1:6-11(new tab)
So, when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him,
“Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our
kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set
those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you
will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you
will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere — in
Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they
were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained
to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly
stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you
standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you
into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same
way you saw him go!”
Matthew 24:42-45(new tab)
Wk6
Devotional
Getting Started
One of the past directors of the C.S. Lewis Institute, Thomas
Tarrants, III (2001), once wrote the following:
As Jesus traveled throughout Israel urging people to repent and
believe the gospel, “
F
o
llow me”
was a constant refrain in his
message. At the beginning of his ministry, he called his first disciples
with the terse command, “Follow me and I will make you fi
shers of
men.” As his ministry progressed, he told the crowds, “If anyone
would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and
follow me” (Mark 8:34). At the end of his earthly ministry, he
recommissioned the repentant Peter with the words, “Fo
llow me”
(John 21:19).
Have you ever probed the meaning of this phrase? If not, you
should, because it can lead to a profound, transforming change in
how you think about and live the Christian life. What does it mean
to follow Jesus? Following Jes
us begins when we respond to his call
to repent and believe the gospel. The Good News that
God
loves us
and has taken the initiative to reconcile us to himself by giving his
Son to atone for our sins awakens us to God’s grace and moves us
to want to live f
or Christ and follow him.
When we turn our attention to what the Bible shows us about how
to actually follow Jesus in daily life, two things stand out
immediately: understanding and obeying his teaching and following
his example. Let’s take them in turn.
F
or his first disciples, hearing and obeying Jesus’ teachings were
fundamental to following him. This is evident in the fact that soon
after calling them, Jesus gave his disciples the Sermon on the Mount
(Matt. 5
–
7), extensive in
–
depth teaching on life in t
he kingdom of
God –
what we might call basic principles of discipleship or the
Christian life. At the conclusion of this sermon, Jesus emphasized
with striking clarity the profound importance of hearing and obeying
this teaching:
Everyone then who hears th
ese words of mine and does them will
be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell,
and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house,
but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And
everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it (Matt. 7:24–27).
The point Jesus is making in these words is that building one’s life on obedience to his teaching is wise and will sustain his disciples in the challenges they will inevitably encounter in life, just as building one’s house on a foundation of rock will secure it against the forces of nature that will assault it. Disobedience to his Word is folly and leads to ruin, as surely as building a house on sand will result in utter catastrophe when those same storms come. If we want to follow Jesus, then, we will certainly want to begin where the first disciples did, with understanding and obeying the foundational teaching in this sermon. And from there we will go on to study his teaching elsewhere in the Gospels.
Reference
Tarrants III (2011 Fall). Following Jesus Christ. C.S. Lewis Institute: Knowing & Doing. CSLewisInstitute.org.
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Following_Jesus_Christ_Tarrants_Single-Page_Full_Article(new tab)
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:
· Integrate biblical perspectives of followership as an essential aspect of leadership perspectives and practices.
Background Information
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the information in the
Getting Started
section.
3. Write a half-page reflection paper (Word document) that shares your insights on the following questions:
a. How has this devotional series over the past six weeks of this course influenced your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus?
b. Did you learn anything that you didn’t already know?
c. What, if anything, do you expect to do with any new knowledge that you have gained?
Wk6 Devotional
Getting Started
One of the past directors of the C.S. Lewis Institute, Thomas
Tarrants, III (2001), once wrote the following:
As Jesus traveled throughout Israel urging people to repent and
believe the gospel, “Follow me” was a constant refrain in his
message. At the beginning of his ministry, he called his first disciples
with the terse command, “Follow me and I will make you fi
shers of
men.” As his ministry progressed, he told the crowds, “If anyone
would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and
follow me” (Mark 8:34). At the end of his earthly ministry, he
recommissioned the repentant Peter with the words, “Fo
llow me”
(John 21:19).
Have you ever probed the meaning of this phrase? If not, you
should, because it can lead to a profound, transforming change in
how you think about and live the Christian life. What does it mean
to follow Jesus? Following Jes
us begins when we respond to his call
to repent and believe the gospel. The Good News that God loves us
and has taken the initiative to reconcile us to himself by giving his
Son to atone for our sins awakens us to God’s grace and moves us
to want to live f
or Christ and follow him.
When we turn our attention to what the Bible shows us about how
to actually follow Jesus in daily life, two things stand out
immediately: understanding and obeying his teaching and following
his example. Let’s take them in turn.
F
or his first disciples, hearing and obeying Jesus’ teachings were
fundamental to following him. This is evident in the fact that soon
after calling them, Jesus gave his disciples the Sermon on the Mount
(Matt. 5
–
7), extensive in
–
depth teaching on life in t
he kingdom of
God
–
what we might call basic principles of discipleship or the
Christian life. At the conclusion of this sermon, Jesus emphasized
with striking clarity the profound importance of hearing and obeying
this teaching:
Everyone then who hears th
ese words of mine and does them will
be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell,
and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house,
but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And
Wk6 Devotional
Getting Started
One of the past directors of the C.S. Lewis Institute, Thomas
Tarrants, III (2001), once wrote the following:
As Jesus traveled throughout Israel urging people to repent and
believe the gospel, “Follow me” was a constant refrain in his
message. At the beginning of his ministry, he called his first disciples
with the terse command, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of
men.” As his ministry progressed, he told the crowds, “If anyone
would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and
follow me” (Mark 8:34). At the end of his earthly ministry, he
recommissioned the repentant Peter with the words, “Follow me”
(John 21:19).
Have you ever probed the meaning of this phrase? If not, you
should, because it can lead to a profound, transforming change in
how you think about and live the Christian life. What does it mean
to follow Jesus? Following Jesus begins when we respond to his call
to repent and believe the gospel. The Good News that God loves us
and has taken the initiative to reconcile us to himself by giving his
Son to atone for our sins awakens us to God’s grace and moves us
to want to live for Christ and follow him.
When we turn our attention to what the Bible shows us about how
to actually follow Jesus in daily life, two things stand out
immediately: understanding and obeying his teaching and following
his example. Let’s take them in turn.
For his first disciples, hearing and obeying Jesus’ teachings were
fundamental to following him. This is evident in the fact that soon
after calling them, Jesus gave his disciples the Sermon on the Mount
(Matt. 5–7), extensive in-depth teaching on life in the kingdom of
God – what we might call basic principles of discipleship or the
Christian life. At the conclusion of this sermon, Jesus emphasized
with striking clarity the profound importance of hearing and obeying
this teaching:
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will
be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell,
and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house,
but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And
