DEV 09FN Church Leadership (Servanthood)

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=Session 9: Church Leadership (Servanthood)=

''In this session, you will discover the responsibility to develop other leaders and what the Bible has to say about the type of servant-leader that Jesus desires for the church. ''

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
'What brings you joy? The life of John the Baptist can teach us about real joy. Read John 3:27-30. John had the right perspective. He knew who he was and who Jesus was. He had learned the source of joy. John says, “The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete.” His joy was complete was because he stood next to the Bridegroom and heard Him speak. Real joy is found next to Jesus, listening to His voice. John also knew that after he heard Jesus speak, he could only obey. John knew it was all about being Jesus-centered and not me-centered. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” It is all about dying to ourselves and becoming obedient to His will. John was a great example of this. He learned the source of real joy in submitting to Jesus. '

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 for a leader to know about servant leadership?


 * 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 - Servant Leadership

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 #4 – Develop other Leaders 

Jesus’ Example: Mark 3:13-14; Matthew 9:35-10:4; John 17:18-20

Paul’s Example: 2 Timothy 2:2, Acts 14:21-23, Acts 20:4


 * 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?

'Summary: An important responsibility of leaders is to always be looking for other people to develop as leaders. Jesus intentionally developed others and sent them out to continue the work of expanding God’s Kingdom. Paul also followed this example of developing a network of leaders to help in the work. Biblical leaders serve others by identifying and empowering them to lead.'

Section 2: Servants of the Servant
Motivations for Leadership: Mathew 20:20-28; 1 Peter 5:1-4

Jesus’ Model of Leadership: John 13:1-7; Philippians 2:3-11


 * 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?
 * How do local leaders in your area usually lead?
 * What “rights” did Jesus empty himself of?
 * What will you do to lead like Jesus?

'Summary: Worldly leadership looks for power, respect, pleasure, titles and it wants to be the focal point. Worldly leaders control those they oversee and often do not do what they themselves teach. Biblical leadership serves others like Jesus did. It is interesting that Jesus washed the feet of Judas Iscariot too; He loved his enemy. Biblical leaders put their member’s needs before their own needs and empower them to serve Christ. They empty themselves and humble themselves by sacrificing their desires for power, position and popularity. Godly leadership leads by example instead of leading by controlling people and telling them what to do. '

Humble yourself      Not lord it over them      Slave of All     Being an example

Preparing for Mission (20 mins)

 * Wash each other’s feet.
 * In small groups, have each trainee Evaluate how they are doing in developing others and in servant leadership. Have them Make a plan on how to achieve this goal.
 * 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