PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
LEARN >> SPEAK >> LEAD
CHANGE THE WORLD SMALL GROUP COURSE
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God wants to save the world, but what if He also wants to transform it? What if the places where we live, where we work, where we spend our time, are opportunities for God’s people to change the world? What if leadership, instead of being something dirty to avoid, was in fact a gift from God which lets us join with Him as he builds His kingdom in the public world? What if we were created to create? What if we are given authority to authorise? What if we see places all around us where we can serve and lead for God’s glory and for the benefit of all? Instead of waiting for the world to change, why don’t we go ahead and change it?
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This course is intended for anyone who is interested in playing a role in transforming society, whether through starting a job skills club for young offenders or becoming the national media spokesperson for a disability campaign. Who is a leader? Leaders might include a CEO overseeing 1,000 employees, but also a retired, untitled person who runs the local foodbank. Despite their differences, both individuals are respected and listened to. Their thoughts and opinions can change the way things happen. At its core, leadership is about the use of authority and influence to change something. Of course, you can also have a fancy title and millions of followers, and yet display no leadership. It is no magic bullet; it can be used for good or ill, and it can be handled well or badly. We can all grow in better leadership and it is clear that our society needs more and better leaders.
What is ‘public’? The ‘public square’ is everything outside the home and the Church. It’s the workplace or university, the school gates or the park, the local pub or the newsroom. There are leaders in 4
politics, in business, in academia - all across society. If people can see what you do and hear what you say, and there is no expectation of confidentiality, then you are in the public square. Wouldn’t it be great if the Church was known as a training place for releasing leaders into the world?
What is this resource? Changing the world may seem like an impossible task. While some people have high-profile leadership roles, others may feel like they do not have the influence or authority necessary to make change happen. But if we understand the individual places where we are called to lead, we can all play a role in changing that part of the world we inhabit – the particular workplace, or campaign, or social network where we spend our time and our passion. And as more and more people commit to public leadership, the change we each make ripples out to affect the world.
Through four weekly studies, this course will help you and your small group on your journey into public leadership. You will look at the big picture of the world we’re in and what our role is in it. You will look at how God has used leaders throughout history, and consider how God is still doing so today. You will think about the purpose of leadership in society and in the Church – what we are trying to achieve - and how the Church can both support this and grow from it. Each week in the course follows a standard pattern: A short video for the group to watch together A reflection to read together Scripture references with questions to consider A time of discussion A group activity Time to listen to God A takeaway challenge and options for further learning. The course is written in a simple style so that you can easily lead your group through these activities. You can restructure the activities and be selective in a way that suits your group.
If you don’t have time to cover everything during your meeting, encourage group members to continue these activities between meetings. At the start of the next week, include time to feed back on whether participants’ weeks have been any different as a result of the course. Did people think about public leadership? Did they complete the takeaway challenge? If it’s helpful you can download and print pages for each individual session to give to members of the group. These PDFs, the videos for each week, and more resources can be found on the Public Leadership website: thepublicleader.com/ change-the-world At the end of the four weeks, hopefully you will have some ideas for changes that you can start to make in your own life, as well as ways that your small group and church can support public leadership in a wider context. At the end of this guide there are some suggestions for further reading, a playlist to accompany your studies, and some ideas for what you can do next.
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WATCH: Creation and the kingdom – Peter Lynas
WEEK 1>>
WHY SHOULD WE WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD?
In the beginning God formed and filled what was previously formless and void. God created the heavens and the earth and brought order from the chaos and life from the emptiness. And it was very good. And on that sixth day God made the first human being in His image, a representative here on earth created to bring Him glory and to continue the work He began. He commanded them to fill the earth and rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky and every living creature that moves on the ground. Humanity was endowed with dignity from the start, created with purpose and with the capacity to wonder and to work. But things did not remain all well and good for too long. The world we know still resembles that creation, but it is marred, broken by the choices taken each day since Adam and Eve followed the serpent. Our actions in this world, while frequently good and reflecting God’s desires, are hampered by the tendency to reject God’s authority and seek our own way. Every act of abuse against another human being is an act of high treason against God. We still see glimpses of wonder in creation, we see the potential of human flourishing, but we also know only too well the hardness caused by the times we choose to serve ourselves.
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God’s kingdom breaks into history and brings shalom, restoring relationships, bringing completeness. The world is turned upside down, or more accurately right way up. We are living in the light of this intervention but in a world still gripped by pain and suffering, we live giving due weight to the kingdom which has been inaugurated, but also to the final victory for which we wait. We live with a vision of the “new heaven and a new earth” spoken of in Revelation 21, and we hope for the time when God will make a dwelling place among the people. The good news we have is not just about getting us out of hell and into heaven but about God getting out of heaven and into humanity. In Exodus, God shows His solidarity by coming down, working through Moses to resist Pharaoh, calling out “let my people go” and working an act of liberation delivering them from Egypt to a good land. Chris Wright reminds us that this redemptive act was about political, economic, social and spiritual liberation. It was God’s total response to Israel’s needs. The law that was given to Israel held in tension God’s sovereignty with humanity’s ability to choose: God is the most powerful one, able to deliver people when they cry out to God, and yet God chooses to allow humans a significant role and responsibility in shaping their life.
We are not bystanders. We are commissioned to work within the story, and this means there are not some areas for Christians and other areas better avoided. Perhaps those areas plagued by difficulty and challenge, with threats of compromise looming large, are the places we are needed most. It is easy to look upon culture and society and see everything that is wrong. It is much harder to make this a better world. But that is what we are called to do. We are called to be a part of creation. To be in it, though not of it. We know that our world needs to change – we see those glimpses of wonder but also the scars across humanity. God calls us to be a continuing part of that change, as workers for the King and for His kingdom. READ & REFLECT ON SCRIPTURE READ: GENESIS 1:26-31 What was the mandate given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? How does it apply to our lives? READ: ISAIAH 58 What is God’s rebuke to the people of Israel
in Isaiah 58? Were they living out the mandate given to Adam and Eve? Are we? READ: MATTHEW 5:1-16 How should the call to be ‘salt and light’ affect our involvement in public life? What did Matthew
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mean by ‘the Kingdom of Heaven’? What would it look like for God’s kingdom to fully come to our world? DISCUSS The story we inhabit, the story that forms us, is a story in which we have a part to play. It is God’s story: the story of our world. A story of creation, fall and redemption; of God’s love for us. The Bible is the unfolding drama of God’s action in history for the salvation of the whole world. As NT Wright puts it: “The whole point of Christianity is that it offers a story which is the story of the whole world. It is public truth.” What can we learn from the overarching story of the people of Israel throughout the Old Testament about God’s plan for this world? Think about the callings of Joseph, Moses, Jonah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel and many others. How did they interact with the world around them? How do people like Naaman in 2 Kings 5 or the Babylonian and Persian kings in Daniel react to their positive interactions with the Israelites? What do these stories say about the role of God’s people in the world?
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PUT IT INTO PRACTICE Have a look at some recent news stories. What opportunities can you see for Christians to be a part of these stories? How could you engage with the cultural narratives these stories represent? LISTEN TO GOD Take some time out in silence and solitude to listen to what God has to say to you. Are you living as part of God’s “overarching story”? When have you felt God’s kingdom come through to earth, or when have you heard God saying: “This part of the story is yours.” What can you learn from these times? If you’re struggling to hear Him, try saying this short prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing me to play a part in your creation. Help me to understand how I can be salt and light in this world, and to recognise that part of your creation where I can make a difference. Amen.
TAKEAWAY CHALLENGE Consider these quotes: “A mature understanding of the unity of the body of Christ allows us to care about everything Christ cares about, but to carry only what he has given us to bear.”
LEARN MORE For links to these articles, go to thepublicleader.com/ctw1 Ways to change the world: advice from 7 leaders on how to make a difference, Relevant Magazine, Issue 70, July/ August 2014
Greg Carmer, dean of the chapel at Gordon College
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Frederick Buechner, ‘Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC’ (New York: Harper Row, 1973), p.95
Empowered to Act: Why Christians Should Change the World, S. Michael Craven, March 2011 Changing Culture: The Grid, Peter Lynas, five-part video series
Take some time to think about your dreams and hopes for the parts of creation you inhabit –your community, town, workplace, family, church, etc. Map out your goals and passions for these areas and work out how they link together. Where is God calling you to be part of the story? Make a list of all the areas where you need courage to stand up and be counted.
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WATCH: How does God use people to change the world? – Celia Apeagyei-Collins
WEEK 2>>
WHAT GIVES US THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE WORLD?
Handling authority is a crucial aspect of leadership, and it is part of our created design. God holds the ultimate authority and He shares His authority with us. In an often overlooked section of the passion narrative when Pilate is boasting of his power over Jesus to crucify or free him, Jesus turns this around again and says: “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” This doesn’t just apply to those in prominent positions, God shares his authority with all of us. We don’t have a complete picture of how to handle authority from Jesus’ teachings and it would be asking too much to try and read one into this interchange. The same idea is, however, echoed in Matthew 22, Luke 20 and more fully in Romans 13 and the message becomes clearer: we have a God who has authority which we do not deny, but we live in a place with worldly authorities under whom we continue to live. 1 John 5:4-5 tells us that “everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one
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who believes that Jesus is the Son of God”. Understanding the authority of God which we sit under, and the authority which He has trusted us with, enables us to confidently step out into leadership in public. In Romans 16:23, Paul sends greetings from “Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works.” From the very start, Christians were at the centre of local administration. As well as caring for the life of the church and caring for the poor, early Christians were giving attention to the life of their city. So we get to join in. Join in with taking on responsibility; join in exercising authority; join in as leaders – as people with influence and power. And this can scare us. As Lord Acton wrote in 1887: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” But as Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker in Spiderman “With great power comes great responsibility.” It’s not enough to simply ‘be part of the movement’. We can’t leave it to others to make the big decisions, and simply trail along in their wake. When William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect began their anti-slavery campaign, they were standing against the most powerful trading companies in the world, and some of the most powerful politicians in Britain.
Wilberforce agreed to lead the parliamentary campaign to end slavery in 1787, but the Slave Trade Act wasn’t passed until 1807, and the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833. At the start of this journey, William Pitt told Wilberforce: “Do not lose time, or the ground will be occupied by another.” But who knows how many more thousands might have entered slavery, and died from it, before that other person appeared. And, if we leave it to someone else to lead, there is always the danger that we may not like where – or how they lead us. For anything to change, leadership is essential. We can’t wait for someone else to do it. We need to shape the conversation. We see this throughout history as leaders have responded – sometimes in a seemingly unreasonable manner – to the need for change. READ & REFLECT ON SCRIPTURE READ: ROMANS 13:1-7 AND LUKE 20:20-26 What does
it mean to submit to governing authorities? Are there people who might oppose you in your journey of public leadership? How can you stay strong and faithful in the face of disagreement, disapproval, and even hostility? Why can’t we simply follow where others might lead?
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READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 3 What are the challenges to
handling power and authority and how can we learn to handle these well? How do we avoid becoming arrogant and thinking we are doing it in our own power? READ: ESTHER 4 What were the major challenges faced by
Esther? Esther was called “for such a time as this”, but Mordecai warned her that “if you don’t step up, someone else will”. How does her story call us to step into leadership, but also remind us that it is God, not us, who is in control? DISCUSS Sometimes, it might be necessary to stand in opposition to those in authority. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous not just for his theology, but for how that theology informed his dissent in Nazi Germany. What are the limits to authority? When should we resist it, and when should we stop exercising it? Think about when and how it is necessary to stand against authority.
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How can it be done effectively, respectfully and forcefully? Think also about examples where Christians have failed to stand against authority when needed, or where they have opposed authority badly.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE Find out who your local MP, MSP, AM, MLA, county and town councillors, and other representatives are at writetothem.com. Also, theyworkforyou.com and publicwhip.org.uk will help you to understand their voting record on issues that matter to you and investigate their speeches and other activities. What can you do to support your political representatives in the face of hostility? If there is an issue on which you disagree with them, how can you respectfully but passionately take leadership and make your disagreement known without creating unnecessary conflict? Think about what kind of event or activity you could invite them to; perhaps you could ask them to share about their work and offer to pray for them.
LISTEN TO GOD Take some time out in silence and solitude to listen to what God has to say to you. If you’re struggling to hear Him, try saying this short prayer: Lord, thank you for the gifts that you have given me. Help me to work not in my own power and for my own benefit but under your authority, to advance your kingdom. Give me an attitude of humble passion and godly ambition. But provide me also with the strength and determination to stand against earthly authority when it is necessary.
LEARN MORE For links to these articles, go to thepublicleader.com/ctw2 The Reluctant Leader, David Brookes, September 2014, New York Times
Amen. TAKEAWAY CHALLENGE This week, identify places where you could exercise godly authority: where are you called to stand in - or against authority? What campaigns could you make a difference in, or what community activity could you volunteer for? You may wish to repeat the prayer above and spend time listening for God’s answer – both in the stillness of quiet times, and in the voices of those around you.
A season of preparation: Getting ready for all God has for you, Joyce Meyer, December 2014, Christian Post The long and winding road to leadership, Danny Webster, March 2017 Facing opposition from your own side, Abi Jarvis, November 2016
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WATCH: Why does leadership matter? - Lloyd Cooke
WEEK 3>>
WHAT MAKES A LEADER?
Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king in Persia – he was a senior government official, with great responsibility. Together with many around him he was far away from home in an alien land. Nehemiah had to make sacrifices throughout his life to follow this path. He had to give up his position with the king to return to Jerusalem. He got up in the middle of the night to examine the walls; he faced opposition to his task but he remained strong. He did all of this because he trusted God and followed His call. He was unsatisfied with how things were, he had a heart to see things change, and he was not prepared to settle for things staying the same. He was committed to returning the people of Jerusalem to worshiping God, and led the people through many trials to see this worshipping community return. He pushed for what he wanted but was also respectful. He prepared spiritually – he prayed, fasted and listened to God. Moses had a rather different response when he heard God’s call. David Brooks writes: “When God called on him to lead the Israelites, Moses threw up a flurry of reasons he was the wrong man for the job: I’m a nobody; I don’t speak well; I’m not brave”. God did not allow Moses’ excuses to take hold.
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When in Exodus 4:14 Moses cried: “Please send someone else” God’s response was not to berate him for his squirming – although we are told His anger burned. Instead God found a way forward by offering that Aaron could go with him and speak to the people on Moses’ behalf. Once the job was thrust upon him: “he became a great leader. He became the ultimate model for reluctant leadership.”
Perhaps like Moses we don’t feel like we are the right people for the job. Or like Nehemiah, maybe we feel God’s call, but we’re still waiting for the opportunity to make it happen. Hebrews 11:17-40 powerfully demonstrates that we must act “by faith”. Even when we’re feeling uncertain, inadequate or scared, we act in faith of what God has planned (even if it’s not always what we expect).
There are many different paths to, and models of, leadership. We are not all going to be standing on a stage at the age of 15, telling thousands of people about the charity we started in our bedroom (but some of us are). And while some people will be called to great sacrifice, leaving behind country or family, some of us are called to become leaders right where we are.
The Message version of 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 puts it like this: “Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of ‘the brightest and the best’ among you, not many influential, not many from highsociety families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these ‘nobodies’ to expose the hollow pretensions of the ‘somebodies’?”
Nehemiah felt a call on his heart, waited for an opportunity to present itself, then gave up a fairly cushy job in order to undertake a mission that required vision and leadership. Moses exhibited tremendous courage in facing his fears and going to Pharaoh time and time again to ask him to free the Israelites. He showed fortitude when they wandered in the desert – even when his own people abandoned the mission and melted down their jewellery to build a golden calf, he stuck at it. He pressed on towards a goal that he would not see fulfilled in his lifetime.
Our biblical heroes were not perfect people. Esther was scared to face the king, Joseph’s early life was filled with arrogance, and David committed adultery and organised murder. But when they followed God’s will, amazing things happened. These heroes were leaders who faced hurdles in their path and had to work out how to navigate systems and structures that ran counter to their deepest beliefs. It’s a lesson we must not forget in our own culture. 15
There are also plenty of examples of biblical figures who tried to lead in their own way, and failed epically – take a look at the stories of Jonah, Samson and Saul. There is a difference between being flawed and doing God’s will anyway, and allowing our flaws to take us away from the positions into which God would place us. READ & REFLECT ON SCRIPTURE READ: NEHEMIAH 1-2 Why did Nehemiah return to Jerusalem? What were the defining principles of his mission? What was Nehemiah prepared to do to achieve his goal? READ: EXODUS 3:1-15 Why was Moses reluctant to take
on responsibility? What led to him accepting the task? What characteristics of Moses do we most think about when we think of him as a leader? How do Moses’ characteristics compare to how we generally talk about leaders? How do we overcome reluctance? READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31 Do you identify as one of
the “foolish things of the world”? How does that make you feel? What does it mean to “boast in the Lord”? How does this give you authority?
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DISCUSS For Christians, an important part of public leadership is working out how to engage with culture without submitting to societal norms that stand against our faith. Daniel is often held up as an exemplar of non-compromise. However, this is a false impression – not only was he willing to make compromises but he was willing “to almost embrace his exile in a way that secured influence”, writes James KA Smith. Consider how Daniel integrated into the idolatrous culture around him: He learned the language and literature of the Chaldeans; He served in an administration that had destroyed his nation and enslaved his own people; He served as a chief advisor to an idolater. Smith continues: “His faithfulness did not find expression in an enclave of purity, nor did it require him to insulate himself in some holy huddle that protected him from compromise. Instead, he was faithful amidst compromise [emphasis added]”.
Why did Daniel accept some aspects of Babylonian culture and not others? How do you feel about the idea of faithful compromise? What opportunities do you see for this in your own life? What are the dangers? Where must Christians not compromise?
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
LISTEN TO GOD Take some time out in silence and solitude to listen to what God has to say to you. If you’re struggling to hear Him, try saying this short prayer: Lord, help me to be faithful to your call to leadership. I want to be an effective voice for you. Show me the places where I can step up and lead. Help me to know where to step back and allow others to lead instead. Amen.
It is easy to say “That’s not my strength – that’s for someone else to do”. But there is a difference between gifting and character: while gifting comes from God, character can be developed. It can be easy to privilege one at the expense of the other. It is necessary to put in work to do this, but putting in the effort early on will pay off in the long-term if situations become challenging. Create profiles for each person in your group. Write down the giftings and character traits each person has – include good traits they already have, and things that they can work to improve. Then, discuss ways you could develop your character traits. 17
TAKEAWAY CHALLENGE There are many different types of leader. Our challenge is how we respond to God’s call to leadership. What kind of leader are you? Consider these questions: Do you identify more with Nehemiah, the go-getter or Moses, the reluctant rebel? What lessons can you learn from them and other biblical leaders? Think about different leaders – both good and bad who have influenced you. What made them good or bad? Are there times you have avoided leadership responsibilities? Are you hesitant to use the word ‘leader’ about yourself? Are you allowing others to lead as they are called to, or are you preventing this by taking on too much leadership? Where can you practise good followership? Do you have a long-term vision to which you are committed? What steps could you take to move towards it? How can you develop your character to become a more effective leader?
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LEARN MORE For links to these articles, go to thepublicleader.com/ctw3 Against the flow: the inspiration of Daniel, Interview with John Lennox, August 2015 Faithful Compromise: The lost art of brokered effectiveness in our public life, James KA Smith, March 2014 Developing a personal profile plan, Danny Webster, 2014 Are you a reluctant hero or the Chosen One?, Abi Jarvis, December 2016
WATCH: How can churches support public leaders? – Ruth Walker
WEEK 4>>
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH?
Daniel is frequently cited by those pressing for more Christians to get involved in public life. In a world hostile to his faith Daniel committed to serve in the place he found himself. He made a valuable contribution to a pagan society while remaining faithful to God. But it wasn’t Daniel who in chapter 3 was cast into the fiery furnace for not bowing down and worshiping the image of gold. It was Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused to obey the new decree - men who Daniel had appointed as chief ministers over Babylon. It is important not to build an illusionary picture that Daniel was the only righteous man in Babylon. The truth is that he worked together with others. They supported each other practically, they prayed together, and they worked for a better future together. Community, communion and communication were central to their effectiveness. The Church is God’s plan A. It is through the Church that the world gets to see the hope and the light at the heart of the Christian faith. It is through the Church that followers of Christ have worked for over two millennia to make his name known. 19
It is through the Church that we get to add our actions to our prayers as we say: “Your will be done, your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.” Local churches have incredible capacity to support and encourage individuals as they live out their mission to bring God into every corner of society. Christian communities can provide the fuel to sustain public leaders through challenging days and endeavours that may last lifetimes. Churches can release and support public leaders, and society should be the better for it, and churches should thrive as the mission of God is served. Community provides a place from which we can act and from where we can speak. It provides us with the soil to grow roots and the sustenance to feed on as we live out our faith. Working with other people reminds us it is not about our own achievement – it ensures we have the broadest possible perspective. It helps us think beyond what might be achieved in our own lifetime. When we are supported by a community that’s working for the long haul, we can think about the generations that are to come. And it means that when we fall down, someone is there to pick us up and help us to not fall down again (and we can do the same for them). 20
READ & REFLECT ON SCRIPTURE READ: DANIEL 3 What difference do you think it made
that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced King Nebuchadnezzar together? READ: EPHESIANS 4 Is your church striving for unity and maturity? Have your experiences of Christian small groups been effective in helping your discipleship and mission? Are there other people in your church who you could meet with to support each another in your mission? READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-26 How can you improve
your relationships with people at church who you don’t know, or with whom you do not naturally gel? How is the Church called to hold one another accountable? How can this help us to be better leaders? DISCUSS Jesus, with all the power and authority given to him from his Father, opted to work with a bunch of rag tag individuals. He did not need these other people to help him accomplish what he had to do. In fact, often enough they got in the way. They woke him when rough waters rocked the boat, they drew
swords to defend him and they denied him thrice before the cock crowed. One even betrayed him with a kiss. Jesus could have taken the crowd he’d fed with the loaves and fishes (in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15) and turned them into his street team to spread the message. He could have mobilised the masses, but instead he sent out first the 12 and then the 72. After his death, it was this core group of followers who led the expansion of the Church. To repeat the well-known quote, usually attributed to anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” If we want to transform society, then building up core groups of committed individuals who will spread the message throughout their communities is a good place to start. Why did Jesus call the disciples? What characterised his relationship with them? What do we think about Jesus’ approach, spending time and investing in the lives of 12 people? How did that help the movement to grow further down the line? How can we model our spiritual communities on Jesus’ example?
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE Think about practical ways that your church could support you and others interested in public leadership. Commit, as a small group, to calling on your church leaders to support public leaders in your church. Consider these questions: How is your church currently supporting public leadership? What does it look like for a church to value public leaders in its congregation? How can the church ensure that ‘all things’ are the focus of our attention and not just those that come with a Christian or spiritual label? Can local churches encourage public leadership without sacrificing leadership within the church? How might this be done practically in your church? What could your small group in particular do? How could your church release you so that you have the time and energy to follow your calling? How could they pray for, mentor, encourage and honour those in public leadership? How could you encourage your church, particularly the leadership, to implement such support? 21
LISTEN TO GOD Take some time out in silence and solitude to listen to what God has to say to you. If you’re struggling to hear Him, try saying this short prayer: Lord, I want to live in a church which supports its members to be who you have called them to be. Help me to make that a reality. Help me to support my brothers and sisters who need redirection or release. Help me to step out in faith as I live out your call on my own life, surrounded by a community that will support me. Amen. TAKEAWAY CHALLENGE Identify a public leader in your church. Ask them how you can encourage and pray for them. Connect this person to the Evangelical Alliance Public Leadership programme by giving them a Public Leadership postcard (delivered with this booklet) or directing them to the Public Leadership website (thepublicleader.com) and commit to supporting them for the long-term.
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LEARN MORE For links to these articles, go to thepublicleader.com/ctw4 John Stott: Four Ways Christians Can Influence the World, John R W Stott, October 2011, p. 38 The power of a small group, Abi Jarvis, January 2016
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WHAT DO I DO NEXT? The Evangelical Alliance is committed to shaping a culture of public leadership in churches across the UK. This isn’t going to happen overnight, but it will come with time. And it will see the Church having a long-term, multi-generational impact in every part of society.
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Reading this resource isn’t going to make you a public leader. There isn’t a five-point plan, or a 10-step programme. But we want to do as much as we can to guide, support and equip Christians who are on this journey. If you would be interested in learning more about public leadership, invite a speaker to come to your church: email hello@thepublicleader.com. We have a website (thepublicleader.com) with resources, stories of inspiration and a range of articles relating to public leadership. And if you’re interested, we are always looking for more guest writers. In particular, we would love to hear about: Your experiences of public leadership, good and bad (yours and people you’ve encountered); Stories of public leaders (biblical, historic or current) who have inspired you; Examples of churches that support those in public leadership; Information on, and reviews of, resources, courses and books relating to public leadership. If you would be interested in contributing to the website, please contact us: hello@thepublicleader.com.
We also run training days, weekend gatherings, and other events that will be advertised on our website, through our Public Leadership mailing list and through the Evangelical Alliance’s Everything Advocacy email: eauk.org/current-affairs/ everything-advocacy. We continually produce resources and are working in whatever way we can to inspire and initiate public leadership. Let us know what resources and events you would find helpful on your journey. It is you, the people who are leading in public life - in whatever form that takes - who will make this vision a reality. So find out about forums, networks and charities that support Christians in your sphere. Get in touch with your local media organisations and investigate opportunities to share your thoughts via radio, website or local newspapers. Join a political party, attend meetings and debates, and speak up on the issues that matter to you. Get to know your MP. Think about how you can form not just your own ethical shopping habits, but influence those around you as well. Locate opportunities for public leadership in your life, and put together a game plan on how you are going to utilise those chances. Talk to your church leadership about how they can support you in this journey, and encourage others in their journeys as well. Above all, ask God to guide you as you seek to find your place and purpose in this world. 25
FURTHER READING The Road to Character by David Brooks David Brooks traces how - citing an array of history’s greatest thinkers and leaders from St. Augustine and George Eliot to Dwight Eisenhower and Samuel Johnson – people were able to face their weaknesses and transcend their flaws. Each one of them chose to embrace one simple but counterintuitive truth: in order to fulfil yourself, you must learn how to forget yourself. Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence by Jenni Catron It is easy to believe that power, influence, and leadership are gifts given to a special few. But the Bible says otherwise. We all long for significance, even as we fear we will never be good enough. Clout is power and influence. It is an undeniable trait that opens doors and moves mountains. You have it, and you can use it to change the world around you. Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling by Andy Crouch “It is not enough to condemn culture. Nor is it sufficient merely to critique culture, copy culture or consume culture. The only way to change culture is to create culture”. Andy Crouch calls Christians to participate in God’s own making and transforming of culture. Show Up by Andy Flanagan This book encourages Christians to think that you could be working with someone whose name is on the ballot paper. It could even be your name on the ballot paper. The church is doing an amazing job treating the victims of a flawed system. But it’s never going to be enough unless we also get involved in the decision-making process. Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Hailey Barton Much of our faith and practice is about words - preaching, teaching, talking with others. Yet all of these words are not enough to take us into the real presence of God where we can hear his voice. This book is an invitation to you to meet God deeply and fully outside the demands and noise of daily life. 26
PLAYLIST Generous Justice by Tim Keller It is commonly thought in secular society that the Bible is one of the greatest hindrances to doing justice. Isn’t it full of regressive views? Didn’t it condone slavery? Tim Keller explores a life of justice empowered by an experience of grace.
Oceans (Where feet may fail) and Tear down the walls, Hillsong United
A Wilderness of Mirrors by Mark Meynell Despite our material and technological advances, Western society is experiencing a deep malaise caused by a breakdown of trust. Mark Meynell explores the roots of the discord and alienation that mark our society, but also outlines a gospel-based reason for hope. He grounds his antidote on four bedrocks of the Christian faith: human nature, Jesus, the Church, and the story of God’s action in the world.
Voice of Truth and Until the Whole World Hears, Casting Crowns
Turning Points by Julia Ogilvy Julia was a high-flying businesswoman and award-winning entrepreneur but when tragedy touched her life, she found herself questioning her values and asking what really matters in life. In this book, she explores the turning points of ten people. Whether a lightning strike or a gradual process, in the privileged echelons of society or in the depths of war or genocide; each inspirational story reveals the resilience of the human spirit in the face of difficulty, and the power of hope to transform the world.
Walk by Faith, Jeremy Camp
Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church by Tom Wright What do Christians hope for? To leave this wicked world and go to ‘heaven’ or for the ‘kingdom of God’ to grow gradually on earth? How does this affect the way we live in the here and now? If God intends to renew the whole creation, the church must anticipate the eventual renewal by working for God’s kingdom in the wider world, bringing healing and hope in the present life.
Let Faith Arise, BridgeCity
Salt of the Sand, Calling By Faith, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townsend
Afterlife, Switchfoot Send Me Out, Steve Fee Jesus Firm Foundation, Bryan Brown, Jason Ingram, Tony Wood We will go, Brett Younker, Bryan Brown I will follow, Chris Tomlin Mission’s Flame, Matt Redman When the Saints, Sara Groves You lead, Jamie Grace 27
Brothers and sisters, 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… 1 Corinthians 1:26
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