Course Themes, Overview, & Syllabus
God created this world to operate in a particular way (Psalm 74:16-17, Jeremiah 33:2, 25) and the Creator’s original intent was equality, partnership, and interdependence (Genesis 1:26-29, 2:15-25). Authorities are intended to oversee the planning, development, and activity here on earth by serving and lifting others up (Philippians 2:1-11).
God from the very beginning established organizational structures, including that of family and government (Genesis 2, 9). The Trinity models the process of people submitting themselves to others to accomplish a task; the Father plans, the Son provides, and the Spirit protects (Ephesians 1:3-14).
Every person is gifted and made in God’s image (Isaiah 28:23-29) and even those who are natural leaders are dependent upon God’s spirit for leadership (1 Samuel 16). Leaders have a responsibility to put others’ needs ahead of their own and to serve those they have been given authority over.
Orders or directives create an accountability structure through which any organization can effectively function. Planning, providing, and protecting people is the essence of what it means to practice administration. We create community and serve one another with the knowledge that God alone orders this world (Isaiah 46:9-11).