The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, KY 40280 ALUMNI ACADEMY: CONVICTION TO LEAD October 10 11, 2013 Heritage Hall Professor: Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, SBTS Garrett Fellow: Michael A. Wilkinson mwilkinson@sbts.edu (502) 897-4121 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course offers a paradigm shift in the conception and practice of leadership. The evangelical Christian culture generally falls into one of two groups: the Believers (passionate about an understanding of the truth) and the Leaders (passionate about leading others somewhere). But evangelicalism needs Believer-Leaders. The lectures, readings, and online resources, and the course work described below, will lead the student to discern the prevailing presuppositions of leadership today and then develop an understanding of the principles that support and sustain leadership that truly matters. Leadership that matters is a combination of convictions, both to hold to the truth and lead others into the truth. Evangelical leadership is the effective communication of passionate convictions about the truths of Scripture that leads people to passionately hold those same convictions and live by them for the good of God's people and his glory. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. Develop the students understanding of the core principles that support and sustain convictional leadership. 2. Advance the students convictions regarding the importance of convictional leadership for the general welfare of society, for the health of local churches and their witness to the glory of God in Christ, and for the ultimate advancement of his kingdom. 3. Engage the students in a critique of the prevailing presuppositions of leadership today, both in the church and in the world. 4. Stimulate discussion of important biblical, theological, and practical issues related to leadership in the church and in the life and work of its members. 5. Engage the students in developing their own theory of leadership. 6. Help students to develop their research and writing skills.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Attendance and Class Participation. Attend all sessions on both October 10 and 11, and participate in discussions. 2. Reading Assignments and Report. Read the required texts as indicated immediately below. A reading report stating the percentage of each text read by the due date must be uploaded to Moodle no later than October 11. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership that Matters (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2012). [Read all] James M. Burns, Leadership (New York: Harper Perennial, 2010). [Parts I and III V] 3. Online Assignments and Reports. Engage all of the online resources listed below and then prepare the following assignments. Each document for the 2 assignments immediately below should begin with a statement identifying the percentage of the audio/video as a whole that you have listened to/watched by the due date. Leadership Coaching videos: choose 10 messages and for each write 1 paragraph (double-spaced) concisely identifying the main idea(s) and relating it to one or more of Dr. Mohler's 25 principles for leadership. The paragraphs should appear consecutively in 1 document that must be uploaded to Moodle no later than October 11. Other online resources: for each, write a 1 page response (double-spaced) concisely identifying and critiquing (biblically and theologically) the main idea(s) and the underlying presuppositions of leadership. All responses should appear consecutively in 1 document that must be uploaded to Moodle no later than October 11. 4. Final Exam. A written comprehensive exam will be administered on October 11 at the end of Conviction to Lead Alumni Academy. Room number and time of the exam will be announced at Alumni Academy. 5. Research Paper. Write a 10 12 page research paper (formatted according to the current Southern Seminary Manual of Style) that engages a topic relevant to the course content. These papers should argue for a particular thesis and interact with Scripture and scholarly sources necessary to support the argument. The research paper must be uploaded to Moodle on or before October 25. 6. Biography Paper. Choose 1 of the following Christian leader biographies (or one on par with them and approved by the professor) and write a 5 page response paper (doublespaced) concisely discussing the most important aspect(s) of leadership. The biography paper must be uploaded to Moodle on or before October 25. Roland Herbert Bainton, Here I Stand: a Life of Martin Luther (Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2010).
D. G. Hart, Defending the Faith: J. Gresham Machen and the Crisis of Conservative Protestantism in Modern America (New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2003).
COURSE POLICIES GRADE PERCENTAGES GRADING SCALE Attendance and participation Expected A = 97 100 C = 80 83 Reading assignment and report 15% A- = 95 96 C- = 77 79 Online assignments and report 15% B+ = 93 94 D+ = 75 76 Final Exam 35% B = 89 92 D = 72 74 Research paper 30% B- = 87 88 D- = 70 71 Biography paper 5% C+ = 84 86 F = 0 69 Changes to the Syllabus. The professor reserves the right to modify syllabus requirements and/or assignment due dates as deemed reasonable or necessary. If changes are made, the whole class will be notified and a revised syllabus will be provided. Students with Disabilities.To ensure full class participation, any student with a disabling condition requiring accommodations (e.g., tape recorders, special adaptive equipment, special note-taking needs) is strongly encouraged to contact the professor at the beginning of the course. ONLINE RESOURCES This list (other than the supplement to Dr. Mohler's lectures) is not an endorsement of the contents of the audio/video linked. These online resources, rather, are designed to (1) engage students in a critique of the prevailing presuppositions of leadership today, both in the church and in the world, and (2) stimulate discussion of important biblical, theological, and practical issues related to leadership in the church and in the life and work of its members. SUPPLEMENT TO DR. MOHLER'S LECTURES Dr. Mohler "Christians Leading in the Secular World" (2012) Audio 21:08 Dr. Mohler "Who Was the Greatest Leader of the Past Century?" (2005) Audio 38:02 Dr. Mohler "The Cost of Conviction" (part1), SGM Leadership Conf. (2003) Audio 56:57 Dr. Mohler "The Cost of Conviction" (part2), SGM Leadership Conf. (2003) Audio 1:01:00 RECAPTURING THE CHRISTIAN MIND Os Guiness "The Forces Against Us" (1979) Audio 1:52:33 Skepticism, secularism, and the pressures of secularization, pluralization, and privatization Os Guiness "A Conscious and Consistent Christian Worldview" (1979) Audio 1:48:00 Framework is necessary, but it is also important to define Christian thought-style (not just content): rationality; mystery; certainty; humility; tenacity; creativity; corrigibility
LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH Leadership Coaching by Mark Driscoll at Resurgence.com 49 videos from Nov. 29, 2011 through May 2, 2013 Videos totaling approx. 8:10:00. Note: You will need to sign up to access the videos. Sign-up is free and you are free to unsubscribe at any point after you have viewed the videos for this course. The Master's College Truth & Life Conference 2011: Biblical Leadership Session 1: "Paul as an Example of Leadership" John MacArthur Video 54:08 Session 2: "Leading through Conflict" Alexander Strauch Video 1:07:30 Session 3: "Leading as a Servant" Voddie Baucham Video 48:49 Session 4: "Leading as a Husband & Father" Voddie Baucham Video 54:30 Kevin DeYoung "Life of a Leader" (2011) Audio 43:44 Tim Keller "Steward Leader" (2006) Audio 42:32 D.A. Carson on Spiritual Leadership (2005) Part 1: "Characteristics of Spiritual Leaders (1 Tim 3:1-7)" Audio 48:49 Part 2: "Characteristics of Spiritual Leaders (1 Tim 3)" Audio 59:14 Note: These titles are mislabeled on the TGC website. John Piper, Desiring God Ministries "Maker of a Great Leader" (1987) Audio 38:34 "Obey Your Joyful Leaders (part 1)" (1997) Audio 32:42 "Obey Your Joyful Leaders (part 2)" (1997) Audio 41:24 Ken Blanchard "Lead Like Jesus" Audio 1:19:00 SECULAR LEADERSHIP John Maxwell "The Five Levels of Leadership" Audio 1:08:00 Tony Robbins "Awaken The Giant Within" Audio 1:30:00