Essentials Of The Faith / Adult Sunday School Class / Christian Leadership

Why Study Leadership?

SECTION ONE: Why study leadership in the church?

Question:  -What do you think of the leadership of our President?
                  -Are there guidelines for public leadership?
                  -What is leadership in the church?
                  -Are there guidelines for spiritual leadership?
                  -What questions do you have about spiritual leadership in the church that you would like to see discussed?
                  -Why should we study spiritual leadership in the church?

INTRODUCTION

ILL: The situation today is similar to the one in Ezekiel 34 where God sternly warns the leaders of His people:

Action: Read Ezekiel 34:1-6

        Today many of the sheep of God are scattered, there is no church loyalty, no respect for leadership in churches because of the  lack of shepherds who will lovingly care for and protect them from the enemy.  Those who are not scattered are gathered into folds where many are abused and cruelly mistreated for what the leaders can get for themselves.

        God is charging us to take a close look at what the Word says about leadership in the church.
Instead of allowing tradition to dictate how the church is to be led, we must go the word for a clear  picture from God concerning His modern day shepherds or leaders.

I. Tradition and Leadership

Question:   -What 'traditions' am I talking about?
                   -How has the church been led in the past?
                   -Is there a danger to relying on tradition?
                   -What is good about tradition ?
                   -What is not good about it?

Action: Read Matthew 15:1-3

        The church has for centuries, ignored the words of Jesus?  We have allowed traditions to replace the Word of God. It is easier to do what we have always done. It was nice, we liked it. Why, perhaps because they provide us with a comfortable way to avoid the cost of following a living  Lord on a daily basis and allowing Him to lead us by His Spirit. Personal growth comes by changing one's direction in life. From self-centeredness to God-centeredness.  Corporate growth comes when we as a fellowship do the same thing and when we move from tradition to the Word of God.

        Tradition replaces God with comfortable semblance's of religion that have all of the outward show but are barren of inward life and lasting results.  Traditions are good when they provide us with accepted forms that allow us to worship God freely, but when they replace God or one of His divine principles they do great damage to our walk with Christ.

Action: Read Romans 12:2

Question: What two ways of knowing God's will are given here?

      1. One way is to become passive and simply allow the world around us to gradually shape us in its  own image.  This way
          is easy and comfortable and requires little commitment to a real, personal  walk with the living God.  One can simply go
          through the motions of Christian religion Sunday  after Sunday with the many others who also choose to take the easy
          way.  To be conformed to the world is easy.  We can just relax and let the flow of the world take us where it wants to
          go.  This is what believers in the early centuries of the church began to do.

        When Christianity became the  popular religion they relaxed and became comfortable.  They allowed themselves to gradually  conform to the world's ways.  They gradually adopted the world's way of leadership in the church  even though the Word paints a clear picture of another more excellent way.  Down through the  centuries we have continued to accept the lie that Satan told the church years ago.

     2. The other way is the way of transformation.  This way requires that we walk step by step with the risen Lord whose
         Spirit changes us from the inside out by the transforming power of God.  Our minds will be renewed daily as we seek to
         know Him more each day and listen attentively to  His every word.

APPLICATION: We must choose to seek this second way of life.  But it is our complacent attitudes which often hinder the hand of God. It's my prayer  that God will give the body of Christ deeper revelation concerning His shepherds, how they are to lead His flock and how the flock responds to leadership.

        The Wind (Ruach) of the God is blowing , bringing change that will cause many  to rise up and take positions of leadership before their God.  Many wounded some scattered Believers are wandering from church to church or are staying away from the church, but are seeking a genuine walk with the Lord. Many are waiting  for God to move in a mighty way.

 The Ruach of God is moving here at CBC. Be moved, be transformed by Him. Together with leadership, let's Go With God!

II. Why study spiritual leadership?
         If you know that God will be developing you over your lifetime, you'll moist likely stay for the whole ride.
         (Dr. J Robert Clinton)

 This study is for you if
  -you are wondering what God is doing around you
  -you are beginning to seek your place in ministry
  -you need a fresh challenge from God
  -you  want to know how God selects and develops leaders for the church
  -you are at a crossroads and facing a major ministry involvement decision
  -you want to know who are to be the leaders in the church
  -you want to know what leadership positions are in the church
  -you want to know what the qualifications and responsibilities are for those in leadership
  -you want to know the Biblical role for women in church leadership