DEV 07FN Church Leadership (Responsibilities)

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=Session 7: Church Leadership (Responsibility)=

In this session, you will identify the four responsibilities of church leaders and discover what the Bible teaches about the important role leaders play in a local body of believers.

Heart of a Leader (40 min)

 * Worship together in the big group
 * Have participants get into groups of 3-4 people and discuss the following:
 * What are you learning and how are you abiding in Christ through word, prayer, obedience, PCS, relationships and fellowship?
 * What areas of your life is obeying God a challenge?
 * What unresolved conflict do you have?
 * What happened as you trusted God with your goals from our last meeting?

Vision Casting for the Heart
'One day Jesus went to his hometown. While he was there, he shared an old testament scripture. After he read the scripture, he told them that he was the fulfillment of that scripture! Although they 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. He told them that, even though they will wanted him to heal people like he did in Capernaum, he could not do it. He revealed that it 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 has chosen to only 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.'

Celebration of Faithfulness (20 min)
NOTE: Celebrate Faithfulness in the large group so that all can benefit and be encouraged.


 * Give opportunity for participants to share what has happened since the last meeting. Ask them to relate it to goals they set from the last meeting.

Iron on Iron: Sharpening Myself and Others (45 min)
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another.”  


 * Have everyone return to their Iron on Iron small groups, draw their network of missional communities and churches then share and evaluate with their group.
 * What is going well?
 * What is not going well? What obstacles are you facing?
 * What are possible solutions from the other group members?
 * What do you need to do to add the missing characteristics into each group?
 * Where will you start a new group or church this month?
 * Have everyone set goals for improvement from their evaluation and share their goals with their small group. Then have them pray for one another.

New Lesson (45-60 min)
Relevant Topic:  Why is it important and helpful if we know what has been revealed about the tasks of a church leader and how he should carry them out?


 * Have participants get into new groups of 4-5 people (or they can continue in their Iron on Iron groups)
 * In the following sections, each group assign verses to each participant. Each participant will then read the passages below and tell what they learned.

Discovery Bible Study – Responsibilities of Leaders

Section 1: Four Responsibilities of a Leader Equip: Ephesians 4:11-12

Shepherd: Acts 20:28-31

Example: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Develop: 2 Timothy 2:2


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?
 * How would you summarize the responsibilities of a leader?

'Summary: The church is led by Jesus Christ who is the head of the church. Jesus founded the church, thus the church belongs to Him (Matthew 16:18). The primary foundation and cornerstone is Jesus followed by the apostles and prophets. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles have been preserved in the Bible. Therefore, we only want to obey and follow teachings that are found in the Bible. The responsibilities of a leader are: '


 * 1) To equip believers to do works of service (Ephesians 4:11-12)  
 * 2) To shepherd and care for Jesus’ sheep  (Acts 20:28-31, 1 Peter 5:1-4) 
 * 3) To be an example (character, life-style) (1 Peter 5:1-4) 
 * 4) To raise up other leaders (2 Timothy 2:2) 

Read 1 Peter 5:2-3 again.  Those that lead should serve the church willingly and not use their position to control the believers

Section 2: Responsibility #1: Equipping Believers to do the work of ministry (10 mins)

'Introduction: Church leaders have a huge responsibility. The spiritual health of God’s people depends on the faithfulness of church leaders in doing their very best to execute their tasks. '

Teach God’s Word: Titus 1:9; Matthew 28:19-20

Source of God’s Word: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 2:11


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?

'Summary: The Greek word for “inspired” means “to breathe out.” The entire Bible from Genesis through Revelation was inspired by God. Because of this, the Bible is perfect and has no mistakes or contradictions. God spoke by the Holy Spirit through prophets and apostles that He chose (2 Peter 1:21). If leaders teach God’s Word effectively, believers will become equipped to do every work of service (2 Timothy 3:17). Every new believer must teach God’s Word to other people (Matt 28:19-20). The role of leaders is to equip believers how to do the Great Commission and how to teach God’s Word to others.'

Section 3: Equipping through the Modeling/Empowering process and the 3/3rds method (15 mins)

Jesus Modeling and Empowering: Mark 3:14, Mark 6:6b-13

Paul Modeling and Empowering: 1 Corinthians 4:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:2, Acts 19:21-22


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?
 * How does the Modeling/Empowering process equip believers to do the works of ministry?
 * How does the 3/3rds method help leaders to teach people to obey the Great Commission (Mat 28:19-20) and how to teach God’s Word?

'Summary: Jesus asked the disciples to follow him and then commissioned them to do and teach exactly what he did and taught to them. Jesus’ process was 1) Model 2) Assist 3) Watch and 4) Link (network). Church leaders must become good teachers so that they can equip fellow believers to do the works of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13) by teaching God’s Word, using a Modeling/Empowering process and the 3/3rds method. Remember: The Four Responsibilities of a Leader are:'


 * 1) Equip believers to do works of service
 * 2) Shepherd Christ’s sheep
 * 3) Be an example
 * 4) Develop other Leaders

Preparing for Mission (20 min)

 * In small groups, have each participant Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in Modeling/Empowering and using the 3/3 process. Have them make a plan on how they can improve.
 * Are you using the 3/3rds method so that believers obey God’s Word and know how to teach it to others?
 * Are you actively mentoring (Modeling/Empowering) other believers?
 * Are believers that you have trained already mentoring (Modeling/Empowering) others as well as using the 3/3rds method?
 * Write “I will by when” statements. Include “Who will you teach this lesson to?”
 * Practice any additional skill that the leaders need in leading their groups or starting new ones

Sending the Laborers

 * Reinforce the overall vision: a church or faith community for every 1,000 people
 * Spend time in Prayer:
 * committing the goals that were set to the Lord
 * for God to raise up a movement of churches
 * for more laborers to come out of the harvest