Robert Clinton Leadership Commentary Series
Referenced in: Leadership Development, Robert Clinton Leadership Emergence Theory
Introduction
These books are a part of the extensive literature from J. Robert Clinton, originator of the Leadership Emergence Theory found in his landmark book, The Making of a Leader. The commentaries in the list below show how God used key leaders in biblical history, and how he shaped them through their experiences.
Each of the books in the series is a leadership commentary, not an exegetical commentary, which means the text was studied to extract implications for leadership. Each commentary includes an overview section giving the historical background of the book, its theme, structure, purposes, and leadership topics/lessons. This is followed by a commentary section that mines from the text leadership concepts, insights and topics. Many of the concepts introduced in the commentary are further explained in a section of leadership articles, which is the largest section of each commentary.
Below are the categorizations and Publisher’s Descriptions of each text.
Biblical Foundations – Three of his books describe the biblical and theological foundations that inform the Leadership Commentary Series:
- Clinton, J. Robert. Having a Ministry that Lasts – By Becoming a Bible Centered Leader. Barnabas Publishers, 1997. This volume from Bobby Clinton reflects his focus on looking at questions of leadership from a biblical perspective and enabling ministers to understand the importance of following the successful models described in scripture. He makes the case that a Bible-centered leader is more likely to “finish well” than one who subscribes to contemporary fads or styles of “successful” leadership.
- Clinton, J. Robert. The Bible and Leadership Values. Barnabas Publishers, 2002. Analyzes each book in the Bible as a whole for its contribution to leadership lessons. Six leadership eras are identified: Patriarchal, Pre-Kingdom, Kingdom, Post-Kingdom, Pre-Church, Church. Leadership lessons from each book and suggestions for further study are given. Analyzes common lessons across the Bible books, called macro-lessons. Motivates toward learning and teaching the Bible from a macro standpoint—the broader perspective.
- Clinton, J. Robert. Leadership Perspective: How to Study the Bible for Leadership Insights. Barnabas Publishers, 2006. Gives leadership perspectives which are foundational for viewing leadership in the Bible including basic definitions for leader, leadership, leadership act, an integrating framework for leadership issues, influence means, leadership values, leadership behaviors—task, relationship, and inspiration—and a host of other ideas. Describes the seven sources of leadership information in the Bible and gives step by step procedures for studying each of these sources for leadership observations. Gives help in analyzing source material for leadership lessons and values including how to identify levels of applications of your findings: absolutes, guidelines, and suggestions. A major aid toward a Biblical value based leadership.
Biblical Leadership Commentaries
- Clinton, J. Robert. Joseph, Destined to Rule: A Study in Integrity and Divine Affirmation. Barnabas Publishers, 1985. This leadership development study examines Joseph’s life to identify lessons and fundamental processing. Affirmation, sense of destiny, and integrity are major concepts underlying Joseph’s leadership. You are introduced to leadership emergence theory as you study this Biblical leader.
- Clinton, J. Robert. The Joshua Portrait: A Study in Leadership Development, Leadership Transition, and Destiny Fulfillment. Barnabas Publishers, 1990. The authors look at Joshua as a biblical leader worthy of consideration as a model for contemporary study. Their work focuses on the tandem training seen in Moses and Joshua and the major processing in Joshua’s life. Insights on spiritual authority and leadership transition found in their work are of particular note.
- Clinton, J. Robert and Una Lucey. Jonah: Seeing God’s Perspective, A Crucial Paradigm Shift. Barnabas Publishers, 2004. All leaders at one time or other will face an obedience issue in which they do not want to obey or at best only want to give a reluctant obedience. Jonah was that way and with good reason. So God deals with this inner heart attitude so that Jonah will learn to obey God from the heart. And the example stands for us too so that we can learn the lessons, vicariously, that God taught Jonah. We can learn about God’s sovereignty, His love for other peoples and His loving discipline. Jonah is one of six Bible books, which reveal to us how God takes leaders through paradigm shifts.
- Clinton, J. Robert. Habakkuk: Hope for a Leader in Troubled Times. Barnabas Publishers, 2004. The leadership lessons from Habakkuk should have widespread acceptance from leaders today. Essentially, we live in a world, which offers little or no hope. Hope is what we need. Habakkuk tells us how to get hope in the midst of hopeless times. The basic answer, that the “just shall live by faith” still rings true today. It identifies 7 important leadership topics/lessons and principles derived from these topics. Finally there are 40 leadership articles totaling 208 pages describing various aspects of leadership seen in Habakkuk. All leaders at one time or other will face a faith crisis such as Habakkuk did. The shaping activity of God to instill faith in a leader is very instructive.
- Clinton, J. Robert and Allen Daniel. Nehemiah: Focused Leadership. Barnabas Publishers, 2003. Nehemiah occurs in the 4th leadership era-The Post Kingdom Era. Nehemiah is one of the most focused leaders in the Old Testament. And he is an inspirational leader as well. The theme of Nehemiah captures something of his focused leadership: NEHEMIAH’s ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP was the result of God’s initiation, made itself felt in the face of obstacles to rebuild the wall, was inspirational in bringing about reform and a covenant in Jerusalem, and included drastic steps of separation in order to insure an on-going meaningful religious atmosphere.
- Clinton, J. Robert and Kenichi Yoshida. Obadiah: God the Promise-Keeper. Barnabas Publishers, 2004. The message of Obadiah is an example of God’s meting of justice to nations who violently take revenge on others. Obadiah can inspire us to believe that God is The Promise Keeper (the good ones and the bad ones). The Book of Obadiah also teaches us that although one’s work or ministry may not make the headlines or the primetime evening news, nevertheless, there are men and women, marked out by God to do great exploits at crucial times in the history of mankind, and through whom ultimate contributions are left for the subsequent generations. It identifies 7 important leadership topics/lessons and principles derived from these topics. Finally there are 30 leadership articles totaling 121 pages describing various aspects of leadership seen in Obadiah. He inexorably moves forward with His purposes regardless of the ways nations defy Him. We, leaders today, need to be encouraged to believe that God is working toward judgment and justice. We need to believe that God will do what He says we will do. We need to have faith in the promises of God, to us, and for others. Obadiah was such an individual. At a crucial time in the history of the nation of Judah, a time when God’s people desperately needed to hear a word from the LORD, Obadiah was released by the Spirit of God to fulfill his ministry to declare to his and subsequent generations of God’s people, the assuring and comforting word of the LORD. This ought to give leaders a sober perspective on ministry in any generation.
- Clinton, J. Robert and Mike Hannah. Haggai: Restoring a Work of God, Inspirational, Task-Oriented Leadership. Barnabas Publishers, 2004. Four kinds of leaders can profit from the study of Haggai: 1. Leaders who are facing a situation in which the Christian people to whom they are ministering are nominal in their pursuit of Christ and are heavily into secular pursuits; 2. Leaders who are discouraged about getting their followers motivated toward some vision. 3. Leaders who need to know something about how followers react to strong leadership; 4. Leaders who are in small works and are discouraged because they are small. Great leadership lessons seen in this restoration era can profit leaders struggling with the complexity of leadership in the Church age.
- Clinton, J. Robert and Laura Rabb. Barnabas: Encouraging Exhorter: A Study in Mentoring. Barnabas Publishers, 1985. This leadership development study looks at Barnabas’ life through the leadership emergence framework. It develops lessons from his life experience, many of which deal with mentoring—especially the linking function. Barnabas was the key figure that connected Paul into the Jewish Christian leadership.
- Clinton, J. Robert. Philemon: A Study in Leadership Style. Barnabas Publishers, 2006. There are 7 major leadership topics in Philemon: 1. Influence Means; 2. Mentoring; 3. Relational Value; 4. Prayer Encouragement Principle; 5. Isolation Processing and Results; 6. Social Issue; 7. Critical Incident. Each of these is explained in depth and leadership principles drawn from them. In addition, 25 leadership articles, nearly 100 pages worth, are written concerning the various leadership subjects commented on in the text. A glossary of leadership definitions associated with the Philemon commentary is also included. The major thrust of this work concerns leadership style-one of the major reasons for conflict in churches today.
- Clinton, J. Robert. 1 and 2 Corinthians: Problematic Apostolic Leadership. Barnabas Publishers, 2003. It shows how an apostolic leader, Paul, deals with a problematic church. This leadership commentary introduces the books of 1,2 Corinthians, then lists major leadership topics in the book. 1 Corinthians contains 7 major leadership topics. 2 Corinthians contains 9 major leadership topics. It then gives leadership comments on the Biblical text in which leadership concepts are listed, comments regarding leadership implications are given and references to leadership articles explaining these concepts and implications are given. This commentary has 74 leadership articles (varying from 1 page long to 15 or so pages) totaling 265 pages.
- Clinton, J. Robert. 1 and 2 Timothy: Apostolic Leadership Picking Up the Mantle. Barnabas Publishers, 2006. 1,2 Timothy is probably the most important leadership material in the New Testament (followed closely by Titus and 1,2 Corinthians). There are 12 major leadership topics in 1 Timothy: 1. Mentoring; 2. Giftedness; 3. Balance-Between Developing and Achieving; 4. Discipline; 5. Complexity-Leadership Problems; 6. Leadership Guidelines; 7. Finances; 8. Spiritual Warfare; 9. Leadership Problems-Heresy. There are 15 major leadership topics in 2 Timothy: 1. Finish Well; 2. Ministry Prayer Principle; 3. Prayer Encouragement Principle; 4. Giftedness Development; 5. Ultimate Accountability; 6. Leadership Selection; 7. Focus; 8. Financial Principle; 9. Bible-Centered Ministry; 10. Gentleness; 11. Opposition; 12. Modeling/ Transparency. 13. Advent of Christ; 14. Learning Posture; 15. Balance in Spiritual Warfare. Each of these is explained in depth and leadership principles drawn from them. In addition, 74 leadership articles, nearly 291 pages worth, are written concerning the various leadership subjects commented on in the text. These leadership articles are useful for mentoring and developing leaders. A glossary of leadership definitions associated with the Philemon commentary is also included. The major thrust of this work concerns leadership style—one of the major reasons for conflict in churches today.
- Clinton, J. Robert. Titus: Apostolic Leadership. Barnabas Publishing, 2001. Titus, Paul’s companion, is a stage 2 apostolic leader. This commentary explores his apostolic ministry. 49 leadership articles including a taxonomy of Apostolic ministries: Paul-Stage 1, Timothy-Stage 2, and Titus-Stage 3. Apostolic gift-mixes are explored for all three stages of apostolic ministry. Contextualization of Christian teaching into the situation in Crete is explored. The book of Titus teaches this basic overall theme: Setting the Church in Order involves the appointing of qualified leaders who are sound in teaching and who model a Christian lifestyle, and necessitates leaders who exhort others to practical Christian living.
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