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As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
In this session, you will explore the responsibilities of church leaders and discover what the Bible teaches about the important role leaders play in a local body of believers.
One day Jesus went to His hometown. While He was there, He shared an Old Testament scripture. After He read the scripture, He announced He was the fulfillment of that scripture! Although the people were amazed at His teaching, they held on to their previous ideas of Jesus and refused to accept that He was indeed God’s Son and Messiah. They became stubborn and proud, took offense at his message. So Jesus told them He would not heal people in that town like He did in Capernaum. Jesus said this was because of their lack of faith that they would not see or benefit from what He could do.
Faith is what energizes the work of God in your life and in the lives of those around you. Faith is not a feeling but a choice to act upon the promises and confidence in the character of God. God chooses to work when people exercise faith.
How is your faith? Do you want to see God move? God is looking for people full of faith. People who willingly live by faith trusting in His promises and not by sight.
Read Hebrews 11:6.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Read your assigned verses and then tell the group:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
The church is led by Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church. Jesus founded the Church, therefore the church belongs to Him (Matthew 16:18).
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
The responsibilities of a leader include:
1. Equipping believers to do works of service (Ephesians 4:11-12)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:2 be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:2 be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
Read your assigned verses and then tell the group:
14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach
6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and preached that people should repent.13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.
Jesus asked the disciples to follow Him and then commissioned them to do and teach exactly what He did and taught them. Jesus’ process was:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Remember: Four Responsibilities of a Leader are:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:2 be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:2 be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
Version 2.10
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