DEV 08FN Church Leadership (Character)

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=Session 7: Church Leadership (Character)=

''In this session, you will discover what the Bible has to say about the type of leadership Jesus desires for the church by learning about the next two responsibilities of a leader: shepherding and being an example of growing in character. ''

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
'In John 4:34, Jesus said His purpose for coming to earth was to “do the will of him who sent me and to finish His work.” He did the Father’s will, even to the point of sacrificing himself. But what is the work of the Father? Was it only for Jesus to die as a sacrifice? Before He dies, Jesus said that “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4). The Father’s work for him was to make disciples and launch a growing community who would carry the message of new life through His death and resurrection around the world. He work of Jesus was to make disciples who could make disciples revealing the will and purpose of the Father on earth as it is done in heaven. Jesus told his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). To align our hearts to His, we must pursue that same work – we must make disciples. We also have to live out the will of the Father, which requires surrendering our lives daily. '

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 type of character that church leaders must have?


 * 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 – Character of Leaders

Review: The Four Responsibilities of a Leader


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

Section 1: Responsibility #2: Shepherding Believers

Care For: Matthew 9:35-36; Philippians 2:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Watch Over/Protect: Acts 20:27-31; 1 Peter 5:1-2


 * 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?
 * Why must a shepherd guard his sheep?
 * What can we learn from Jesus and Paul about shepherding people?

'Summary: Church leaders must also shepherd Christ’s sheep by caring for them and by watching over them. It requires compassion and intentionally looking at how we can care for other’s needs. Leaders should pay careful attention to their own spiritual lives and moral purity as well. Paul warned us that there would be people who want to destroy or mislead people so we need to pay attention to those in our care. '

Section 2: Responsibility #3: Be an example

'Context: The character of leaders must continually develop until he becomes above reproach (bringing no shame on the church or on Jesus’ name) like described in Titus and in 1 Timothy 3. Therefore, the list of requirements for a church leader found in Titus 1:5-11 and in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 become a leader’s long-term target as he strives toward spiritual maturity.'

Read Titus 1:5-11 and Discuss: Why do you think that the requirements of a church leader are more about character than about skills?

'A leader’s character is of the highest importance. Let’s look closer at three categories Paul listed in Titus 1 about a leader’s character: '

A. Family that is honoring the Lord (1:6) 

Husband of one wife: Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:2

Children believe and behave: Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:4-5

Father’s responsibilities: Ephesians 5:33-6:4


 * 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?
 * What if a new follower of Christ is no longer a husband of one wife?
 * How can leaders manage their families?

'Summary: Being faithful to one wife means that a leader cannot be a polygamist and cannot violate the Scripture about divorcing his wife and re-marrying again (Luke 16:18). But it must also be noted, there are two exceptions that allow a leader to marry again:' 'It is important that leaders manage their family before being entrusted with managing God’s family. The first goal of leaders is to make sure his children are believers and are starting to behave themselves (Titus 1:6). But they should strive to manage their households well (1 Timothy 3:4-5). '
 * When his wife has died (Romans 7:2-3)
 * When his wife divorced him because he became a believer (1 Corinthians 7:10-16)

B. Blameless Life (1:7-8) 

Character of godly leaders: Titus 1:7-8

Love of Money: 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Matthew 6:33


 * 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 can a leader develop each of these qualities?

'Summary: Money is necessary to meet the needs of our family and to do many of the works needed to advance God’s Kingdom. But more important are honesty and love concerning God and other people. The love of money can become a huge temptation. In Matthew 6:33 we learn that our role is to seek God and His Kingdom, and He promises to provide for all of our needs. Love of money destroyed the life of one of Jesus’ followers, Judas Iscariot. Judas stole from the common purse of the followers of Christ (John 12:4-6) and then he also agreed to betray Christ to get 30 pieces of silver (Luke 22:4-6). We need to guard our hearts against the love of and motivation for money.'

C. Holding strong to the words of truth in the Scriptures (1:9-11)

Faithful to the Word: Titus 1:9-11

Able to Teach: 1 Timothy 3:2

Don’t Argue: 2 Timothy 2:23-26


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share
 * What did you like best? Why?
 * Why it is important that a leader hold firm to the truths he has learned from the Scriptures?

'Lesson Summary: Leaders are responsible to shepherd believers and be an example. A leader should grow to become above reproach (bringing no shame on the church or on Jesus’ name) in his character after he believes in Christ. A leader must be willing to leave his old life behind and put on his new life in Christ: they should have a family that is honoring to the Lord (Titus 1:6), live a blameless life (Titus 1:7-8), and hold to the words of truth in scripture (Titus 1:9-11). Every leader should continually develop spiritually in order that his character is like that described in Titus 1:5-11. Likewise, every leader of a church should strive to become spiritually mature as described in 1 Tim 3.'

Preparing for Mission (20 mins)

 * In small groups, have each participant Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in the two responsibilities of a leader discussed: shepherding believers and being a godly example by growing in character. Have them Make a plan on how they can improve.
 * In what ways are you caring for and watching over those you lead?
 * How they can further develop each trait.
 * Identify 2-3 possible leaders in the new groups they have started.
 * 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