Lesson #11
Growing with Leadership
It is the law of God’s universe that in every area of life, some people have to lead, and that means they exercise authority.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
How we respond to those whom God sets over us will have a great effect on our spiritual development.
Those in leadership must act in obedience to the Father from whom they received their position. Jesus said, “I didn’t come to be served, but as a servant.”
Some of your responsibilities to your leader are as follows.
You must learn to be under authority. Only when we have learned this, can we be entrusted with authority over others.
You are still responsible to hear from God and make decisions for your life.
You cannot be so insecure that you depend on your leaders to tell you every move to make.
Your leaders are not allowed to “lord over you;” they are leaders not pushers. A godly leader leads by example.
You must not have the attitude that says, “As a free spirit, I can and will do anything that I want.” This attitude is prevalent in the western Church, especially in America.
You must be a team player, being and doing what is best for the church.
Be willing to take counsel and submit your will for the good of others.
You must also have a servant’s heart.
When Jesus ascended from this earth to go back to the Father, he gave gifts that were to be used to build His church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Ephesians 4:7-10 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9(Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Usually apostles, prophets, some teachers and evangelists all travel beyond their local churches.
Apostles are spiritual builders like Paul, sent to found new churches and help them grow strong. Apostles also strengthen existing churches.
Prophets bring an immediate word from God to direct or correct what God’s people are doing. Both apostles and prophets are concerned with the building up and uniting of Christ’s body.
Evangelists reach out to bring new people to Christ and train churches to do the same.
Teachers will lay a foundation of the Word in the lives of new believers.
In New Testament times, it was these traveling leaders, not some big church headquarters, which linked the churches in unity.
Some leaders remain at the local level, such as pastors, elders, and deacons.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Elders are also called “overseers” (translated “bishops.”) This is quite different from what people understand bishops are today. They must be mature and stable men of God, able to teach others. Their task is to shepherd the flock of God.
Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God, which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
The word “deacon” means servant. It seems deacons were both men and women.
Romans 16:1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
1 Tim. 3:11 Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
1 Tim. 3:13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
To shepherd the flock of God means to do all of the following:
Feed the sheep (believers).
Psalm 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
1 Peter 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
Tend the sheep.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
Protect the sheep.
1 Peter 5:3-4 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Lead them.
John 10:4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
1 Peter 5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
Rule and govern.
Ezekiel 20:37 "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
How we (as believers) respond to our leaders is important. We are commanded to:
Respect and hold them is the highest regard in love because of their work.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
Obey and submit to their authority.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart."
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
Be loyal and faithful to them.
James 4:11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Growing with Leadership
It is the law of God’s universe that in every area of life, some people have to lead, and that means they exercise authority.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
How we respond to those whom God sets over us will have a great effect on our spiritual development.
Those in leadership must act in obedience to the Father from whom they received their position. Jesus said, “I didn’t come to be served, but as a servant.”
Some of your responsibilities to your leader are as follows.
You must learn to be under authority. Only when we have learned this, can we be entrusted with authority over others.
You are still responsible to hear from God and make decisions for your life.
You cannot be so insecure that you depend on your leaders to tell you every move to make.
Your leaders are not allowed to “lord over you;” they are leaders not pushers. A godly leader leads by example.
You must not have the attitude that says, “As a free spirit, I can and will do anything that I want.” This attitude is prevalent in the western Church, especially in America.
You must be a team player, being and doing what is best for the church.
Be willing to take counsel and submit your will for the good of others.
You must also have a servant’s heart.
When Jesus ascended from this earth to go back to the Father, he gave gifts that were to be used to build His church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Ephesians 4:7-10 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9(Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Usually apostles, prophets, some teachers and evangelists all travel beyond their local churches.
Apostles are spiritual builders like Paul, sent to found new churches and help them grow strong. Apostles also strengthen existing churches.
Prophets bring an immediate word from God to direct or correct what God’s people are doing. Both apostles and prophets are concerned with the building up and uniting of Christ’s body.
Evangelists reach out to bring new people to Christ and train churches to do the same.
Teachers will lay a foundation of the Word in the lives of new believers.
In New Testament times, it was these traveling leaders, not some big church headquarters, which linked the churches in unity.
Some leaders remain at the local level, such as pastors, elders, and deacons.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Elders are also called “overseers” (translated “bishops.”) This is quite different from what people understand bishops are today. They must be mature and stable men of God, able to teach others. Their task is to shepherd the flock of God.
Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God, which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
The word “deacon” means servant. It seems deacons were both men and women.
Romans 16:1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
1 Tim. 3:11 Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
1 Tim. 3:13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
To shepherd the flock of God means to do all of the following:
Feed the sheep (believers).
Psalm 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
1 Peter 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
Tend the sheep.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
Protect the sheep.
1 Peter 5:3-4 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Lead them.
John 10:4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
1 Peter 5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
Rule and govern.
Ezekiel 20:37 "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
How we (as believers) respond to our leaders is important. We are commanded to:
Respect and hold them is the highest regard in love because of their work.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
Obey and submit to their authority.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart."
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
Be loyal and faithful to them.
James 4:11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
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