your money on to last: the Roman Empire and the Roman army, or a little Jewish rabbi with twelve inexperienced followers?” Everyone smiled as John went on to say, “Isn’t it interesting that all these years later we are still naming kids Matthew, James, Sarah, and Mary, and we call our dogs Nero and Caesar? I rest my case.” While John got a big laugh, his point was well taken. Clearly, Jesus’ leadership was effective: His church exists today; the Roman Empire doesn’t. Put differently, the important