Trust is essential to lead as a husband, parent, teacher, mentor, supervisor, and all others who are in a position of responsibility to care for others.  Over the last three weeks in “Service Saturdays”, we considered the importance of “circles of proof and circles of access“, understanding some “hindrances to trust“, and building “pathways to trust“.  Today we turn to more specific strategies.

Again, place note that I originally produced these videos as an Army Chaplain for my unit’s personnel stationed around the world. So each one begins with a legal disclaimer and ends with my contact information.  Each video also applies biblical principles in non-religious language to facilitate the broadest use.  Because tools4trenches is an explicitly Christian ministry blog, I will precede each video with related Scripture passages and discussion questions for your use with your family, church, or other groups as God leads you.

Consider again last week’s questions and Scriptures on leadership and practical strategies to build trust.

• What are some of the ways by which God clearly communicates lines of authority? Read Genesis 3:1-16 and 1 Timothy 2:13-14.  Who did God create first; who sinned first; and to whom did He come first after Adam and Eve sinned?  What does God’s response indicate about who’s has primary responsibility in marriage?
• What were some of the intended messages in godly leaders publicly laying hands on a new leader? (Acts 8:18 in context, 9:17ff, 28:8, 1 Timothy 5:22, and Hebrews 6:2)
• What does God’s Word teach about hierarchies of authority?  (Exodus 18:24-27, Matthew 8:5-10, Acts 6:1-7, 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, 1 Timothy 5:1-2 and 17-20, etc.)
• Describe Jesus’ habit of “flattening communications” by speaking and walking openly in public? (Mark 1:45, John 7:26, 11:54, and 18:20)
• Discuss the following statement and support your position by Scripture:  “The Lord Jesus spent most of His time developing His future leaders and and “repeat offenders” (the lowest of sinners that most people avoided)
• How do the different foci of Paul’s epistles demonstrate the need for specific teams, churches, etc. to develop their own specific vision statements (subordinate to God’s vision of love for Him and love for others, of course)?

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