S P I R I T U A L L E A D E R S H I P

J E F F B L A M E R

C H R I S T I A N S C H O O L S I N T E R N AT I O N A L

CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS CANADA CONFERENCE

Shema = Hear

Hear O Israel The Lord is our God

The Lord alone. Love the Lord your God

with all your heart with all your soul

with all your might. Amen

Two Biblical models of Leadership 1. Our model is Jesus, who calls himself

“the Good Shepherd”. 2. He was called Rabbi.

Jesus was called rabbi Come follow! Be my Talmid

PREPARATION

• Bet Sefer for Boys (house of the Book)

• Before 6 taught at home

• Age 6-12

• Memorize & Know Torah

• Concluded with Bar Mitzvah at 12 (son of commandments)

• Bet Sefer for Girls

• Age 6-12

• Memorize & Know Deut/Lev/Psalms

PREPARATION

• Bet Midrash (house of study)

• Ages 13-15

• A large, select group

• Memorized & studied the rest of the Tanahk

• Apprenticed with their fathers

• Bet Midrash

• Ages 13-15

• Finished with formal education

• Learned homecare & married

JESUS: PATTERN OF PREPARATION

• By Age 3: Joseph taught him Shema

• Luke 2:40 “grew, became strong, filled with wisdom,

grace filled him”

• Luke 2:41 every year Joseph & Mary went to Jerusalem

for Passover

• Luke 2:42 “when Jesus was 12, they went to Jerusalem,

according to the custom”

• Luke 2:52 “Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and in favor

with God and men.”

• Luke 3:23 “Now Jesus was about 30 when he began his

ministry”

THE CALL TO FOLLOW

• The pattern of the day (since the time of Moses/Joshua)

• Ask the rabbi

• Face the test

• Pass/Fail

• Be invited to follow or be sent home

• Jesus turns the pattern upside down

Disciples: 1. Know the Text

2. Build fences 3. Be like their rabbi

4. Make disciples

Peter, why did you doubt yourself. Peter, you could be just like Me!

Marks of Biblical Leaders

1. Feed my Sheep! Make disciples!

Jesus said,” I am the Good Shepherd”

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father- and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.

John 10: 11,14-16

Land of the Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd. There is nothing that I want.

Green Pastures

Q U I E T W A T E R

He leads me along paths of righteousness

Valley of the Shadow

Rods, Staffs, and Stones

2. Called to be a Shepherd A servant-leader

3. To lead along the straight paths, we must walk those paths ourselves. Be a man or woman of the Text

4. To be ready to respond to God’s call – prepare!

David took five stones

5. The shepherd knows the sheep. Some will lead, some will follow.

6. We are entrusted with the shepherds voice Sheep follow the shepherd’s voice.

7. Accept the call to be a shepherd just like Jesus. Lead with gentleness and perseverance. Be ferocious with enemies of the sheep. Ezekial 34, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel

8. Shepherd understand that green pastures provide just enough.

Don’t expect alfalfa fields in life.

9. The shepherd knows that 10-15% of the flock will be goats. Goats will consume 90% of the shepherd’s time.

10. The administrator who is spiritual leader understands that life is a desert.

The only way to live in a desert is to trust God and participate in community.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Jeff Blamer Vice President of Member Services

Christian Schools International jblamer@csionline.org

He gives the right feet for the path

He is the shade at your right hand.