Leadership Beyond Rank and Power: Bible and Your Work Study

Primarily using Paul s letter to Philemon, this topical study looksat the idea of leadership beyond rank and power. Weighing inat one mighty chapter, Philemon is the shortest book writtenby Paul and one of the shortest in the entire New Testament.Yet a glimpse at this short epistle begins to show us why it wasincluded this little work packs a powerful message. In it, Pauldeals with issues associated with slavery, a core social institutionand reality of the ancient world. In Paul s dealing with the culturalexpectations of slavery, however, there is far more here thanjust discussion about an ancient institution. Paul also treats thetopic of social roles and the profound change that knowing Jesusshould make for people. Here, he is engaged in dealing withthemes tied to power, rank, justice, and mercy.

Leadership beyond Rank and Power urges us to consider thatrank and power are not the key lenses through which to viewrelationships, even in social contexts where we might have rank.Leaders who truly lead also guide others into being better, notonly in the tasks they perform but also in how they do it.

These Bible studies are part of The Bible and Your Work StudySeries. Each book contains Scripture references, thought-provoking questions, and prayers to help you explore whatthe Bible says about work and apply it to your life in positive, practical ways. The lessons in each chapter are designed forthirty-minute lunch breaks, although they can be used in otherformats as well.