Bible Study on Parables, Sin, Strength and Truth

Bible Readings for Module/Week 2
Parable of the Wheat and Tares
Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like
a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone
was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the
wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed
heads, then the weeds also appeared.
"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow
good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
"'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them
up?'
"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds,
you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together
until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First
collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then
gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" (Matthew 13:24–
30)
Knowledge and wisdom
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise. (Psalm 111:10)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil. (Proverbs 3:3–7)
Problem with the World (Sin)
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and
death through sin, and in this way death came to all men,
because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)
As it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one.”
(Romans 3:10)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans
3:23)
Strength
Strength in God, Not in Man
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the
weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (I Corinthians
1:25)
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:13)
God Demonstrates His Strength in Our Weakness
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not
many of you were wise by human standards; not many were
influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the
foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the
weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the
lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the

things that are not—to nullify the things that are. (I Corinthians
1:26–28)
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the
more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may
rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II
Corinthians 12:9–11)
The Strong are to Help the Weak
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak
and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)
Management
The Dominion Mandate—The First Management Assignment
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in
number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the
sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that
moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:28)
Illustration: Parable of the Ten Minas (Note the emphasis on
management)
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a
parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought
that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said:
"A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself
appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his
servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he
said, 'until I come back.' (Luke 19:11–13)
Illustration: David’s planning of the temple. Read this and ask
yourself who, what, where, why, and how the work will get

done.
Then David said, "The house of the LORD God is to be here,
and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel."
Preparations for the Temple
So David gave orders to assemble the aliens living in Israel, and
from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed
stone for building the house of God. He provided a large amount
of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the
fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed. He also
provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the
Sardinians and Syrians had brought large numbers of them to
David.
David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and
the house to be built for the LORD should be of great
magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the
nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it." So David
made extensive preparations before his death.
Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a
house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon:
"My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of
the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me:
'You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You
are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed
much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son
who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest
from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,
and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is
the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son,
and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his
kingdom over Israel forever.'
"Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have

success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said
you would. May the LORD give you discretion and
understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that
you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will
have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws
that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
"I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD
a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver,
quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood
and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workmen:
stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in
every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron—
craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the LORD
be with you."
Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son
Solomon. He said to them, "Is not the LORD your God with
you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has
handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is
subject to the LORD and to his people. Now devote your heart
and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the
sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of
the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to
God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the
LORD." (I Chronicles 22)
Now can you answer who, what, where, why, and how the work
would be done.
Choosing Right
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose
for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and
my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and
destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your

God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees
and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your
God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if
you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship
them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be
destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing
the Jordan to enter and possess.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I
have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now
choose life, so that you and your children may live
(Deuteronomy 30:15–19)
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then
peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good
fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think
about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Truth
What is Truth?
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17)
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me,
you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know
him and have seen him." (John 14:6)
Consequences of Rejecting God’s Truth

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the
godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by
their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain
to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the
creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal
power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being
understood from what has been made, so that men are without
excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God
nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and
their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be
wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and
birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their
hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with
one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and
worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—
who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even
their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In
the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with
women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men
committed indecent acts with other men, and received in
themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the
knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do
what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every
kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of
envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they

invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are
senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know
God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve
death, they not only continue to do these very things but also
approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:18–32)
Knowing oneself
Knowing God Is More Important Than Self-Knowledge
This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD. (Jeremiah9:23–25)
Man is Not Basically Good
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:
who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The
same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are
full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live,
and afterward they join the dead. (Ecclesiastes 9:3)
For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual
immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (Mark 7:21–22)
Responsibility

From everyone who has been given much, much will be
demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much,
much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for
his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than
an unbeliever. (I Timothy 5:8)
Illustration of Responsibility (The Parable of the Talents)
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his
servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five
talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one
talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his
journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once
and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the
one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had
received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and
hid his master's money.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and
settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five
talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted
me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You
have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of
many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you
entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You
have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of
many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

"Then the man who had received the one talent came.’Master,'
he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you
have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.
See, here is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew
that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have
not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money
on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would
have received it back with interest.
"'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten
talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will
have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has
will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant
outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:14–30)
Openness
Be Careful to What you Open Yourself
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so
that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach
ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your
servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out
of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
(II Corinthians 4: 4–6)
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise
by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that
he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise
in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows that the

thoughts of the wise are futile." (I Corinthians 3: 18–20)
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's
cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your
sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (II Corinthians 11:3)
Openness to Wisdom
For wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech. (Proverbs 8:11–13)
Stay away from a foolish man,
for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception. (Proverbs 14:7–8)
It may be helpful to be open to knowledge, but test that
knowledge for truth.
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the
Thessalonians, for they received the message with great
eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what
Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and
only a few find it.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit
you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn

bushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7: 14–16)
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to
see whether they are from God, because many false prophets
have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the
Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the
antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is
already in the world. (I John 1:4–3)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up
against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every
thought to make it obedient to Christ. (II Corinthians 10:5)
Listening
The Art of Listening
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to
listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19)
To Whom Should we Listen?
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint
of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God,
and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from
God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of
truth and the spirit of falsehood. (I John 4: 5–6)
But you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep
listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give
them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch
them out of my hand. (John 10:26–28)
Foresight
Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what

Israel should do… (I Chronicles 12:32)
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit
down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to
complete it? (Luke 14:28)
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day
may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this
or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make
money." Why, you do not even know what will happen
tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a
little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is
the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you
boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who
knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (James
4:13–17)
Spirit
There is nothing in Scripture saying that we should be
“spirited.” Rather, we are to be infused with the Holy Spirit as
our source of power.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead,
be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear
fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear
fruit unless you remain in me.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me

and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do
nothing. (John 15:4-5)
Faith
Faith defined
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what
we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that
he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
The object of faith is critically important. Faith in man is
insufficient as is “having faith in faith.”
Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save. (Psalm 146:3)
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm
20:7)
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man. (Psalm 118:8)
Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. (Psalm 40:4)
We are to have faith in God.
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if
anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,'
and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says
will happen, it will be done for him. (Mark 11:22–23)

Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The
righteous will live by faith." (Galatians 3:11)
Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in
his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out
to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has
given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given
us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (I John 5:10–11)
Results of faith
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that
no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance
for us to do. (Ephesians 2: 8–10)
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Leadership
Qualifications for Leadership
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being
an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be
above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-
controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to
drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a
lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see
that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does
not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care
of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may
become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he
will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not

indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They
must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear
conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is
nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect,
not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in
everything.
A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage
his children and his household well. Those who have served
well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith
in Christ Jesus. (I Timothy 3:1–12)
Goals
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one
gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (I
Corinthians 9:24)
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will
succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the
prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:13–14)
Individuality
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the
body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom
you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has
power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not
five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is
forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all

numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many
sparrows. (Luke 12:4–7)
Hermeneutics/Interpretation of Scripture
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(II Timothy 3: 16–17)
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture
came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy
never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God
as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:20–21)
Hope
As with faith, the reasons for hope are found in the object. Hope
in hope is futile. Hope in God is hope properly placed.
But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7)
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead
and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (I
peter 1:21)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in
me [Jesus].” (John 14:1)
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;

he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
(Proverbs 21:1)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed,
but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down,
but not destroyed. (II Corinthians 4:8-9)
Leadership
Beware of Evil or False Leaders
But he answered and said, every plant, which my heavenly
Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they
be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:13–14)
A Biblical Model of Leadership
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who
are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and
their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with
you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must
be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of
all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 42–
45)
Ethics
True Ethics Are Grounded in the Nature and Character of God
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is,
and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation
1:8)
Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and
teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven. (Matthew 5:18–19)
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on
these two commandments." (Matthew 22:35–40)
History
Understanding History Teaches Us in the Present
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach
us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the
Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
These things happened to them as examples and were written
down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages
has come. (I Corinthians 10:11)
The Means
For the End to be Right, the Means Must be Right
"'Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight
or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest
ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought

you out of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:35–36)
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure
motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we
speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.
We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
(I Thessalonians 2:3–4)
Two Examples of the Means to an End Being Wrong in Israel’s
History
But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my
ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"
Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the
Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to
sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the
rest."
"Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD
said to me last night."
"Tell me," Saul replied.
Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes,
did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD
anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission,
saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the
Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.'
Why did you not obey the LORD ? Why did you pounce on the
plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?"
"But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission
the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites
and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and
cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in
order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."

But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king." (I Samuel 15–23)
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said
to him: "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the
LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped
from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty
army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when
you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For
the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen
those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a
foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war." (II
Chronicles 16:7–9)
Coercion
Biblically, the use of coercion is legitimate in the hands of
government. God has delegated this authority to government to
punish evildoers.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for
there is no authority except that which God has established. The
authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling
against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who
do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free
from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he

will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But
if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for
nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring
punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:1–4)
Manipulation
"It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer;
then off he goes and boasts about his purchase. (Proverbs
20:14)
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of
God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I
leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare
the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and
distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So
be on your guard! (Acts 20:28–31)
Persuasion
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Proverbs 25:15)
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to
persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also
plain to your conscience. (II Corinthians 5:11)
Every Sabbath he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue, trying to
persuade Jews and Greeks. (Acts 18:4)
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short
time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28)
Illustration of Paul Persuading Philemon Rather Than Forcing
Him to Comply

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to
do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of
love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of
Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who
became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless
to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would
have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place
in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not
want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you
do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he
was separated from you for a little while was that you might
have him back for good—no longer as a slave, but better than a
slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer
to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. (Philemon 8–
16)
Power
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in
your power to act. (Proverbs 3:27)
A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases
strength; (Proverbs 24:5)
Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a
city. (Ecclesiastes 7:19)
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew,
then for the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(I Corinthians 1:18)

Planning
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they
Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not fir st sit
boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. (James 4: 13–16)
Deciding
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make
victory sure. (Proverbs 11:14)
For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many
advisers. (Proverbs 24:6)
Communicating
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips. (Proverbs 4:23–24)
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes
great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a
small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the
parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole
course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James
3:5–6)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but
only what is helpful for building others up according to their
needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)
Growth
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly
handles the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy,
envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave
pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your
salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I
Peter 2:1–3)
Statesmanship
Statesmanship is best illustrated by actions—The charge to
Queen Esther, the actions of King Hezekiah and King Josiah
[The charge to Queen Esther:] For if you remain silent at this

time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another
place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who
knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time
as this?" (Esther 4:14)
[King Hezekiah’s statesmanship] In the third year of Hoshea
son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah
began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became
king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His
mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what
was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had
done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones
and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the
bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites
had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)
Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no
one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or
after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow
him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. And
the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he
undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not
serve him. From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the
Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory. (II Kings 18:1–8)
[King Josiah’s statesmanship]
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and
Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men
of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the
prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read
in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant,
which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king
stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of
the LORD -to follow the LORD and keep his commands,
regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus
confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then

all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the
household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things
seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the
requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the
priest had discovered in the temple of the LORD. Neither
before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to
the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and
with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
(II Kings 23: 1–3; 24–25)
Distinction/Distinguished
Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
he will not serve before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29)
[A Distinguishes Memorial for David:] And the time that he
reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in
Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor:
and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. (I Chronicles 29:27–
28)
Illustration of distinction: King David’s Mighty Men
These are the names of David's mighty men:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three;
he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed
in one encounter.
Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of
the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the
Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of
Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the

Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The
LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops
returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the
Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field
full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. But Shammah took
his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck
the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great
victory.
During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to
David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was
encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in
the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get
me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines,
drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried
it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it
out before the LORD. "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!"
he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their
lives?" And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. (II Samuel
23:8–17)
Illustration of Distinction from the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the
prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered
justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of
lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of
the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who
became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women
received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were
tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a
better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still
others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they

were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They
went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted
and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They
wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in
the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them
received what had been promised. God had planned something
better for us so that only together with us would they be made
perfect. (Hebrews 11:32–40)
Page 2 of 9
Servant Leadership
Biblical Servant Leadership
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers
of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials
exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever
wants to become great among you must be your servant, and
whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of
Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life
as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25–28)
The greatest will be your servant
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one
Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth
'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are
you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself
will be exalted. (Matthew 23:8–12)

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time
had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed
them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already
prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus
knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that
he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up
from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel
around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and
began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel
that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going
to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but
later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my
hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to
wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean,
though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to
betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes
and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done
for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and

rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one
another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I
have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than
his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent
him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you
do them. (John 13: 1–17)
Following Jesus
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of
men." (Matthew 4:19)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after
me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:24–25)
comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
The Heart, Head, Hands, and Habits
Heart
for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark
12:30)
Head

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be
able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing
and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
(Philippians 2: 5–8)
Hands
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him. (Colossians 3:17)
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but
has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or
sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to
him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does
nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same
way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
(James 2:14–17)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is
this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to
keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

Habits
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1–3)
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (I
Thessalonians 5:16–18)
Page 1 of 3
Hope
As with faith, the reasons for hope are found in the object. Hope
in hope is futile. Hope in God is hope properly placed.
But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7)
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead
and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (I

peter 1:21)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in
me [Jesus].” (John 14:1)
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;
he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
(Proverbs 21:1)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed,
but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down,
but not destroyed. (II Corinthians 4:8-9)
Leadership
Beware of Evil or False Leaders
But he answered and said, every plant, which my heavenly
Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they
be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:13–14)
A Biblical Model of Leadership
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who
are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and
their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with
you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must
be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of
all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 42–
45)
Ethics
True Ethics Are Grounded in the Nature and Character of God
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is,
and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation

1:8)
Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1)
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and
teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven. (Matthew 5:18–19)
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and
History
Understanding History Teaches Us in the Present
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach
us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the
Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
These things happened to them as examples and were written
down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages
has come. (I Corinthians 10:11)

The Means
For the End to be Right, the Means Must be Right
"'Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight
or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest
ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought
you out of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:35–36)
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure
motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we
speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.
We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
(I Thessalonians 2:3–4)
Two Examples of the Means to an End Being Wrong in Israel’s
History
But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my
ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"
Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the
Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to
sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the
rest."
"Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD
said to me last night."
"Tell me," Saul replied.
Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes,
did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD
anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission,
saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the
Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.'
Why did you not obey the LORD ? Why did you pounce on the
plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?"

"But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission
the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites
and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and
cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in
order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king." (I Samuel 15–23)
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said
to him: "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the
LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped
from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty
army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when
you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For
the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen
those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a
foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war." (II
Chronicles 16:7–9)
Coercion
Biblically, the use of coercion is legitimate in the hands of
government. God has delegated this authority to government to
punish evildoers.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for
there is no authority except that which God has established. The

authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling
against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who
do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free
from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he
will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But
if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for
nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring
punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:1–4)
Manipulation
"It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer;
then off he goes and boasts about his purchase. (Proverbs
20:14)
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of
God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I
leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare
the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and
distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So
be on your guard! (Acts 20:28–31)
Persuasion
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Proverbs 25:15)
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to
persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also
plain to your conscience. (II Corinthians 5:11)
Every Sabbath he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue, trying to
persuade Jews and Greeks. (Acts 18:4)

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short
time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28)
Illustration of Paul Persuading Philemon Rather Than Forcing
Him to Comply
Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to
do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of
love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of
Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who
became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless
to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would
have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place
in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not
want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you
do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he
was separated from you for a little while was that you might
have him back for good—no longer as a slave, but better than a
slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dear er
to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. (Philemon 8–
16)
Power
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in
your power to act. (Proverbs 3:27)
A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases
strength; (Proverbs 24:5)
Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a
city. (Ecclesiastes 7:19)
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew,

then for the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(I Corinthians 1:18)
Planning
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they
Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit
boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. (James 4: 13–16)
Deciding
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make
victory sure. (Proverbs 11:14)
For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many
advisers. (Proverbs 24:6)

Communicating
for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips. (Proverbs 4:23–24)
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes
great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a
small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the
parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole
course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James
3:5–6)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but
only what is helpful for building others up according to their
needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)
Growth
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly
handles the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy,
envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave
pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your
salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I
Peter 2:1–3)

Statesmanship
Statesmanship is best illustrated by actions—The charge to
Queen Esther, the actions of King Hezekiah and King Josiah
[The charge to Queen Esther:] For if you remain silent at this
time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another
place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who
knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time
as this?" (Esther 4:14)
[King Hezekiah’s statesmanship] In the third year of Hoshea
son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah
began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became
king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His
mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what
was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had
done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones
and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the
bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites
had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)
Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no
one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or
after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow
him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. And
the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he
undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not
serve him. From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the
Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory. (II Kings 18:1–8)
[King Josiah’s statesmanship]
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and
Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men
of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the
prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read

in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant,
which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king
stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of
the LORD -to follow the LORD and keep his commands,
regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus
confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then
all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the
household gods, the idols and all the other detestable thi ngs
seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the
requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the
priest had discovered in the temple of the LORD. Neither
before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to
the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and
with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
(II Kings 23: 1–3; 24–25)
Distinction/Distinguished
Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
he will not serve before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29)
[A Distinguishes Memorial for David:] And the time that he
reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in
Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor:
and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. (I Chronicles 29:27–
28)
Illustration of distinction: King David’s Mighty Men
These are the names of David's mighty men:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three;

he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed
in one encounter.
Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of
the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the
Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of
Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the
Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The
LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops
returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the
Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field
full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. But Shammah took
his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck
the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great
victory.
During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to
David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was
encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in
the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get
me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines,
drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried
it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it
out before the LORD. "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!"
he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their
lives?" And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. (II Samuel
23:8–17)
Illustration of Distinction from the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the
prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered
justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of
lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of

the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who
became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women
received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were
tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a
better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still
others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they
were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They
went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted
and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They
wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in
the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them
received what had been promised. God had planned something
better for us so that only together with us would they be made
perfect. (Hebrews 11:32–40)
Page 2 of 9
EGO: Edging God Out
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even
with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their
destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory
is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. (Philippians
3:18–19)
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God
nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and
their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be
wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and
birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their

hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with
one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and
worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator —
who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1:21–25)
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the
knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do
what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every
kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of
envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they
invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are
senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know
God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve
death, they not only continue to do these very things but also
approve of those who practice them.
(Romans 1:28–32)
Idolatry
Idolatry can be defined as the act of prioritizing anything over
God. In ancient times, it would be a block of wood or stone
fashioned in an image. Today it may be a job, money, or a
relationship.
And God spoke all these words:
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out
of the land of slavery.
"You shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything
in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the
LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for

the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those
who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of
those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:1–
6)
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,
which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you
can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man
is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and
of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because
of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
(Ephesians 5:4–6)
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which
is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
(Colossians 3:5–6)
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God
and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the
vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice
magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the
fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
(Revelation 21:7–8)
EGO: Exalting God Only
comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name
under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts
4:12)
It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.' " So then, each of us will
give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11–12)

Forgiveness
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter
root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews
12:15)
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times
shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven
times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but
seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21–22)
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you, leave
your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to
your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–
24)
Grace
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that
no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in
every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then
approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
(Hebrews 4:15–16)
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all
things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in
every good work. (II Corinthians 9:8)
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

Vision
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
but blessed is he who keeps the law. (Proverbs 29:18)
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth
the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)
Implementation
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him. (Colossians 3:17)
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the
glory of God. (I Corinthians 10:31)
Stages of Growth
The Scriptures use a number of metaphors to illustrate stages of
growth
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child,
I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish
ways behind me. (I Corinthians 13:11)
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all
over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on
milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching
about righteousness. (Hebrews 5:12–13)
Page 1 of 3
Seek First the Kingdom

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you
as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(Matthew 6:32–34)
Honor God’s Commandments
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, (Matthew 5: 43–44)
Love of Jesus in Action
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is
this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to
keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is
still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the
light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But
whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in
the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the
darkness has blinded him. (I John 2:9–11)
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these
little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will
certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42)

Model Jesus to others
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (I
Corinthians 11:1)
Humility
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you
should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others. (Philippians 2:3–4)
Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone
else on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3)
The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:33–34)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
(James 4:10)
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble
yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift
you up in due time. (I Peter 5:5–6)
The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself
will be exalted. (Matthew 23:11–12)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against
such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)
Responsibility
Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the
situation God called him to. (I Corinthians 7:24)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive
whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive
as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love,
which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians
3:12–14)
The right people
[Jethro’s advice to Moses:] But select capable men from all the
people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest
gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds,
fifties and tens. (Exodus 18:21)
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being
an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be
above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-
controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to
drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a
lover of money. (I Timothy 3:1–3)
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who
are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the
others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his
faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him
teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is

contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it
is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy,
let him do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:4–8)
Page 2 of 2
LEADERSHIP RESEARCH PAPER RUBRIC
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Content 70%
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not present
Points Earned
Part 1
Literature Review
69 points
63 to 69 points
PART 1: Literature review provides seamless integration of
ideas from required course readings, audio and video
presentations, 15+ scholarly journal articles & explains current
research viewpoints about servant leadership practices, &
criteria for servant leadership behavior is built upon this
research. Individual biblical integration paper ideas are
integrated seamlessly into the research discussion.
58 to 62 points
PART 1: Literature review provides integration of ideas from
required course readings, audio and video presentations,15
scholarly journal articles & explains current research
viewpoints about servant leadership, & criteria for servant
leadership behavior is built upon this research. Individual
biblical integration paper ideas are integrated into the
discussion.

1 to 57 points
PART 1: Literature review provides the integration of some of
the ideas from the required course readings, audio, and video
presentations, and significantly less than 15 scholarly journal
articles. The explanation of current research viewpoints about
servant leadership practices is unclear, & criteria for servant
leadership behavior somewhat built upon research. Ideas from
Individual biblical integration paper are not integrated into the
discussion appropriately.
0 points
Part 2
Interview
69 points
63 to 69 points
PART 2: The leader interviewed meets directions criteria.
Student’s list of questions is based upon course concepts &
research. The summary of the leader’s answers is concise and
detailed. A framework for the leader’s approach to servant
leadership is seamlessly linked to the answers.
58 to 62 points
PART 2: The leader interviewed meets the criteria outlined in
the directions for the most part. Student’s list of questions is
somewhat based upon course concepts & research. The summary
of the leader’s answers is somewhat concise & detailed.
Framework for the leader’s approach to servant leadership is
adequately linked to the answers provided.
1 to 57 points
PART 2: The leader interviewed meets the directions’ criteria
minimally. Student’s list of questions is not solely based upon

course concepts & research. The summary of the leader’s
answers is not concise & detailed. Framework for the leader’s
approach to servant leadership is modestly linked to the answers
provided.
0 points
Part 3
Compare & Contrast
69 points
63 to 69 points
PART 3: Leader’s framework for servant leadership is clearly
compared and contrasted with the literature review and with
what the student has learned from the group discussions about
servant leadership. Analysis reveals an understanding that the
above three mentioned areas are separate components & yet
seamlessly demonstrates links & reveals gaps between & among
them.
58 to 62 points
PART 3: Leader’s framework for servant leadership is compared
& contrasted with ideas found in the literature review & what
the student has learned from servant leadership group
discussions. Analysis reveals an understanding that the above
three mentioned areas are separate components & adequately
demonstrates links & reveals gaps between & among them.
1 to 57 points
PART 3: Leader’s framework for servant leadership is compared
& contrasted minimally with ideas found in the literature review
& what student has learned from servant leadership group
discussions. Analysis reveals an understanding that the above
three mentioned areas are separate components & modestly
demonstrates links & reveals gaps between & among them.
0 points
Required
Sources
32 points

29 to 32 points
All required course readings, audio and/or video
presentations,15+ scholarly journal articles, and scripture are
used—Each source is cited numerous times with minimal
reliance on direct quotes. Student efficiently and clearly
synthesizes ideas from these various sources using his or her
own words. Strictly follows assignment instructions.
27 to 28 points
Most of the required course readings, audio and/or video
presentations, 12-14 scholarly journal articles, and scripture are
used. Each source is cited at least once with minimal reliance
on direct quotes. Mostly follows assignment instructions.
1 to 26 points
Some of the required course reading, audio and/or video
presentations, less than 12 scholarly journal articles, and
scripture are used. The paper over-relies on direct quotes. Ideas
from sources are not used in intelligent ways for the
assignment. Minimally follows assignment instructions.
0 points
Structure 30%
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not present
Points Earned
Length
21 points
19 to 21 points
Part 1: 3 pages.
Part 2: 2 pages.
Part 3: 4 pages.
18 points
Part 1: 2 pages.
Part 2: 1 page.
Part 3: 3 pages.

1 to 17 points
Parts 1 & 2: More than 3 pages or less than 1 page.
Part 3: More than 4 pages or less than 2 pages.
0 points
Grammar/
Punctuation/
Spelling
20 points
18 to 20 points
Minimal to non-existent grammatical, punctuation, spelling, and
APA errors.
17 points
Minimal grammatical, punctuation, spelling, and APA errors.
1 to 16 points
Numerous grammatical, punctuation, spelling, and APA errors.
0 points
APA Formatting
20 points
18 to 20 points
Minimal to non-existent APA formatting and writing style
errors.
Note: APA style includes all aspects of writing style and is
more than formatting headings, citations, and references. Please
use the current edition of the APA style manual.
17 points
Minimal APA formatting and writing style errors. Please use the
current edition of the APA style manual.
1 to 16 points

Numerous APA formatting and writing style errors. Please use
the current edition of the APA style manual.
0 points
Total Points
/400
Instructor’s Comments:
Leadership Research Paper Instructions
Part 1 – Literature Review
· In this portion of the paper, you will conduct a literature
review of the major studies of servant leadership. Note that
every line in a literature review must be properly cited.
· You must cite 15 scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles in
your literature review section.
· Based upon this literature review, you must develop the major
criteria of servant leadership behavior.
· You may include as part of your criteria a brief summary from
your individual Biblical Integration Project.
· This part is to be 3 pages, 12 pt. Times New Roman font,
double-spaced, and in the APA current edition.
· Levels of Achievements (Review grading rubric for additional
clarity.)
· Advanced: 3 pages
· Proficient: 2 pages

· Developing: More than 3 pages or more or less than 1 page
Part 2 – Leadership Interview
· You will interview an established servant leader.
· Interview your chosen leader based upon the following
criteria:
· The leader must be from a large organization (e.g. Fortune
1000 company, national non-profit organization, branch of the
armed services, or a mega-church with membership over
10,000).
· The selected leaders must have both rank (e.g. business: a
division head or vice president; military: full colonel or navy
captain (O-6 or above); ministry: executive or senior pastor of a
mega-church) and command (e.g., he must have managerial
authority. A high-ranking accountant does not qualify.
However, the director of the accounting department for the
whole company may qualify).
· The selected interviewee may be active or retired.
· NOTE: for the purpose of diversity, Liberty University and
Thomas Road Baptist Church leaders are not eligible.
· You will develop your own set of questions for the
interviewee based upon the literature review and whatever else
you feel is appropriate from what you have learned in this
course.
· Tips for the interview process:
· Identify yourself as a graduate student doing research and
make it clear that you will take no more than 30 minutes of the
executive’s time.
· Explain that you are in a leadership class and that you are

learning about servant leadership.
· Tell your interviewee that you have identified him/her as a
servant leader and that you want to find out a real executive’s
perspective of servant leadership. Have a good reason (e.g.
personal knowledge, an article you have read, testimony of
subordinates, etc.).
· Be sure that you can contact your interviewee again if you
need to ask follow-up questions or to thank the interviewee for
his or her time.
· Provide a summary of the leader’s answers.
· Develop criteria which describe the leader’s perspective on
servant leadership behavior.
· This part is to be 2 pages, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, and
double-spaced.
clarity.)
· Proficient: 1 page
· Developing: More than 4 pages or more or less than 1 page
Part 3 – Comparison/Contrast
· How does the leader’s criteria for servant leadership behavior
compare to the criteria you discovered from the servant
leadership academic research?
· How does it compare to the things you have learned about
servant leadership from the group discussions?
· Please integrate some of your scholarly sources and the
required course content readings.
· This part is to be 4 pages, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, and
double-spaced.

clarity.)
· Proficient: 3 pages
· Developing: More than 4 pages or more or less than 2 pages
Completed Paper
· Length of Assignment: A total of nine (9) pages, not including
the title page, abstract page, and reference page.
· Format of Assignment: APA current edition and use of
scholarly tone.
· APA/scholarly style is a set of guidelines to help you write
clear and specific scholarly communication.
· APA style refers to all aspect’s areas of writing and style and
is more than the format of citations, references, and headings.
· Avoid writing in the first person in all scholarly writing. The
third-person format is the required style unless unavoidable.
· Always include citations and references as a minimum from
the module required readings to corroborate your work.
· Font is 12 pt. Times New Roman, double-spaced.
· Number of Citations: Use of 15 scholarly, peer-reviewed
journal articles and the required course reading and
presentations.
· Appropriate use of citations to avoid plagiarism.
· Acceptable sources: Scholarly articles published within the
last five years, course textbooks, course lectures and
presentations, and biblical scriptures from the Bible.

· Acceptable sources: Scholarly articles published within the
last five years, course textbooks, course lectures and
presentations, and biblical scriptures from the Bible
· Minimum requirements: Instructions highlight minimum
requirements which do not automatically earn the student an A
grade.
· Course Content: Review all course content each week
for detailed requirements, which includes the syllabus. Since
every course is different, please avoid assuming weekly
requirements, including deadlines, word length, and interactions
are the same.
· References from course:
Blanchard, K. & Broadwell, R. (Eds.). (2018). Servant
leadership in action: How you can achieve great relationships
and results. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. ISBN: 978-
1523093960
Crowther, S. (2018). Biblical servant leadership: An exploration
of Leadership for the Contemporary Context (Christian Faith
Perspectives in Leadership and Business). Palgrave McMillian.
ISBN: 978-3-319-89569-7
Irving, J. A. & Strauss, M. L. (2019). Leadership in Christian
perspective: Biblical foundations and contemporary practices
for servant leaders. Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-1-4934-1808-4
Bachelder, C. (2018). Dare to serve: How to drive superior
results by serving others. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. ISBN:
978-230-9784-5
Maxwell, J. (2020). The leader's greatest return: Attracti ng,
developing, and multiplying leaders. HarperCollins Leadership.
ISBN: 978-0718098537
Blanchard, K. (2018). Leading at a higher level: Blanchard on

leadership and creating high performing organizations. Pearson
Education. ISBN: 978-0134857534
Page 1 of 3
Parable of the Wheat and Tares
Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like
a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone
was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the
wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed
heads, then the weeds also appeared.
"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow
good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
"'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them
up?'
"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds,
you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together
until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First
collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then
gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" (Matthew 13:24–
30)
Knowledge and wisdom
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

To him belongs eternal praise. (Psalm 111:10)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil. (Proverbs 3:3–7)
Problem with the World (Sin)
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and
death through sin, and in this way death came to all men,
because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)
As it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one.”
(Romans 3:10)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans
3:23)
Strength
Strength in God, Not in Man
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the
weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (I Corinthians
1:25)
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:13)
God Demonstrates His Strength in Our Weakness
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not
many of you were wise by human standards; not many were

influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the
foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the
weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the
lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the
things that are not—to nullify the things that are. (I Corinthians
1:26–28)
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the
more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may
rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II
Corinthians 12:9–11)
The Strong are to Help the Weak
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak
and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)
Management
The Dominion Mandate—The First Management Assignment
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in
number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the
sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that
moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:28)
Illustration: Parable of the Ten Minas (Note the emphasis on
management)
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a
parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought
that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said:
"A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself
appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his
servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he

said, 'until I come back.' (Luke 19:11–13)
Illustration: David’s planning of the temple. Read this and ask
yourself who, what, where, why, and how the work will get
done.
Then David said, "The house of the LORD God is to be here,
and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel."
Preparations for the Temple
So David gave orders to assemble the aliens living in Israel, and
from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed
stone for building the house of God. He provided a large amount
of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the
fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed. He also
provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the
Sardinians and Syrians had brought large numbers of them to
David.
David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and
the house to be built for the LORD should be of great
magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the
nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it." So David
made extensive preparations before his death.
Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a
house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon:
"My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of
the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me:
'You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You
are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed
much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son
who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest
from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,
and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is
the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son,

and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his
kingdom over Israel forever.'
"Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have
success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said
you would. May the LORD give you discretion and
understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that
you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will
have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws
that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
"I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD
a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver,
quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood
and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workmen:
stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in
every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron—
craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the LORD
be with you."
Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son
Solomon. He said to them, "Is not the LORD your God with
you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has
handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is
subject to the LORD and to his people. Now devote your heart
and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the
sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of
the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to
God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the
LORD." (I Chronicles 22)
Now can you answer who, what, where, why, and how the work
would be done.
Choosing Right
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose
for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and

my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and
destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your
God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees
and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your
God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if
you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship
them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be
destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing
the Jordan to enter and possess.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I
have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now
choose life, so that you and your children may live
(Deuteronomy 30:15–19)
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then
peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good
fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think
about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Truth
What is Truth?
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17)
comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me,

Bible Study on Parables, Sin, Strength and Truth

Bible Study on Parables, Sin, Strength and Truth

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