Capstone: Apl Prac & Princ Ldg

5.1 Assignment. One Anothering Devotional Part 5

Getting Started

Many individuals spend more “waking hours” within their organization than they do with their own families. A job or career becomes a substantial part of our self-identity as well as our commitments, including time, talents, and energy. Consequently, one’s job holds a lot of power either to create life satisfaction or contribute to life discontent. At least in part, then, how well we do “one anothering” and how well we create healthy conditions for “one anothering” as leaders have an important influence on psychological, physical, emotional, relational, intellectual, and even spiritual health.

For this workshop’s focus, we will examine a passage that contains multiple one anothering principles to consider within the context of organizational leadership.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Articulate the relational element of leadership in community.

Background Information

Access the drop-down below to read or listen to Hebrews 10:19-25.

Hebrews 10:19-25

The author of the book of Hebrews presents a highly sophisticated argument throughout the book about how the work of Jesus Christ to make salvation possible “fulfilled” the requirements of the moral and sacramental law (e.g., sacrifices of animals) articulated in the Old Testament. Throughout the book, the author compares the Old Testament “law” requirements with what Jesus Christ accomplished and made possible for his followers. In Hebrews chapter 10, the comparison is made between the Old Testament (or covenant) requirements for regular sacrifices as well as a human priest to continually offer those sacrifices on behalf of the people with Jesus' “for all time one sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:12,  New International Version Bible) and his position as a permanent High Priest (or our representative, advocate, or spokesperson). Over and over, the author concludes that the New Covenant (or testament) that we have through Jesus Christ is better than or superior to the older version (which served to lay the foundation and point the way forward to the ultimate plan).

In our chapter 10 passage for this workshop, the author of Hebrews (we don’t know for certain who wrote it) suggests that Jesus’ work makes not only salvation possible for each of us individually but that we can have a greater collective confidence, hope, and purpose. We can draw near to God (relationships) and maintain our hope (purpose, beliefs). We can consider one another (think of all the previous one anothering principles we have examined) to “spur one another on to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24), meet together and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25).

Although the author articulates the principles within the context of the church or the community of faith, many (or all) of those ideas can be found in organizational leadership literature in some way. An organization (and leader) who can provide a context that allows its members to do the Hebrews chapter 10 “one anothering” items well will create a social environment for human health (in all ways), community, and even productivity and profitability.

Instructions

1. Read or listen to the Bible Passage noted in the Background Information section. 

2. Review information in the Getting Started and Background Information sections. 

3. Consider the following thought starters: 

a. Which of the various “one anothering” ideas articulated in the Hebrews 10 passage most connected with you? Which ones least connected with you? Why? 

b. In what ways have you seen or experienced the various “one anothering” principles and practices (or not) in your life? In organizations? What are some of the implications of those principles/practices (or not) that you have experienced?

c. What is one leadership theme, principle, practice, or source that you studied in the program that you can relate to one or more of the ideas found in the Hebrews passage? 

d. What lessons can you deduce from your experiences and reflection to help you in your current and future leadership roles? In your personal development? In your spiritual development? 

4. After reading and reviewing this information, write and submit a half-page reflection paper (Word document) that shares your thoughts/perspectives on the themes of this devotional.  You do not need to answer each of the thought prompts. Rather, reflect on the questions and then compose a thoughtful response.