Leaders need to grow in the grace of teaching

Do you think you can still grow in the grace of a teacher?  Can you lead someone into truth with “gentleness, patience, humility correct those who oppose you”?

Watch this short inspirational session André Kruger explains the need for leaders to grow in the teaching anointing. For more on his teachings on flowing in the grace of God and his

book on the topic go to www.heavensflow.org

https://youtu.be/p3g3o34vpxs

Scripture

2 Timothy 2:14-26

14  Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16  But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17  And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18  who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some…

23  But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25  in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26  and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Observation and reflection questions

Context: Paul instructs and reminds young Timothy how to teach and manage the big church he oversees in Ephesus. 

1. Read through the verses above and note all the instructions regarding Timothy’s growth in TEACHING the church. Then answer these questions in your own words:
2. What do you understand from the phrase “to not strive about words to no profit”? (verse 14)
3. How does one prepare and grow in the grace of teaching the Word? (verse 15)
4. What is the danger of false or ungrounded teachings? (verse 16-18)
5. How can “profane and idle babblings… increase to more ungodliness”? (verse 18)
6. Can you think of an example of “foolish and ignorant disputes” that generate strife? (verse 23)
7. What are the character qualities of a mature Biblical teacher? (verse 24-25)
8. What is the aim of good Biblical teaching? (verse 25-26)

Personal reflection and application

Young Timothy was commissioned to oversee the big, flourishing church in Ephesus – a city renowned for its study and philosophy. Some strange doctrines were taught in the church therefore Paul exhorted the young pastor to “study and show himself tested”, able to handle the word of God without skillfully and shame. Timothy had to grow in the grace of teaching.

1. In which area(s) of doctrine do you feel skillful and prepared to instruct and correct people?
2. Why? And who “approved” (tested) your doctrine?
3. How did you grow skillful in these doctrines?
4. When conversation centers around spiritual or biblical matters, do you lead with Word of God as you basis? Do you steer conversations to and from the Scriptures?
5. Honestly consider the qualifications of a mature Biblical teacher below and evaluate yourself in light of the Scripture: (TRUE OF ME | SOMEWHAT TRUE OF ME | NOT TRUE OF ME)

• remind people of basic truths
• not strive about technicalities
• diligent study of the Bible
• able to handle the Bible in discipleship and counselling
• shun false teaching and idle babblings
• avoid foolish and ignorant disputes
• not quarrelsome
• gentle to all
• able to teach
• patient in teaching
• in humility correcting those who are in opposition
• praying for people who are deceived

Prayer

Thank God for how you have grown in the knowledge of the truth and the skillfulness of teachings. Then pray through the list above, asking God for grace to grow in the skillfulness and anointing of a teacher.

Leaders need to grow in the pastoral grace

True leaders must lead in loving care, with selflessness nurturing and protecting the people whom God loves – even when it hurts. Leaders need the grace of a shepherd.

In this short inspirational session André Kruger shows why leaders must grow in the pastoral anointing. For more on his teachings on flowing in the grace of God go to www.heavensflow.org

Scripture

1 Timothy 3:1-7

1  The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2  Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3  not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

4  He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5  for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

6  He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7  Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Observations and personal reflections

1. What is the first requirement of an overseer (or elder) according to Paul? (verse 1) And what does that imply of Biblical leadership in general?
2. Reflect on the phrase “a noble task”. (verse 1) What do you learn from the role of an elder?
3. In your own words describe the (a) character, (b) competencies and (c) additional requirements of an elder. (verses 2-7)
4. Reflect on verse 4 and 5: what do you learn from the nature of pastoral care in this comparison?

Personal reflection and application

An elder is one who cares for God’s people in the local church, ruling with dignity by example in godly character and mature ministry skills.  But an elder is one who leads and cares for his own household well, thereby showing that he can rule the house of God in a like manner.

1. Do you desire to serve as an elder in your local church? Why, or why not? If so, have you spoken to your local church leadership about this?
2. Could you with confidence say as Paul did “follow me as I follow Christ?” (1 Corinthians 11:1) Why, or why not?
3. (If you are married) Would you say that you “manage your household well, will all dignity keeping your children submissive?” (verse 4)
4. If someone were to live with you and your family for a year and follow your example, would their (a) grow in relationship with Christ and (b) would they grow in respect of you or wane in respect of you?
5. Consider the list below and indicate how the following attributes apply to you (ALWAYS TRUE | SOMETIMES TRUE | ALMOST NEVER TRUE)

• honorable reputation
• discerning
• self-controlled
• hospitable
• able to teach
• not given to over-indulgence
• gentle
• content
• peaceful
• family life in order

4. In which of these attributes of an elder are you currently growing in? Discuss your list with a prayer friend or mature Christian and invite his or her input into your life.

Prayer

Thank God for how you have grown into maturity, and confess your need for his grace in further growth. Ask for help to make your leadership and example within your family a priority.

Five-Fold Ministry 1

The aim of this devotional Bible Study is to grow in understanding of the ministry within the local church, and its purpose in your life.

Scripture

Ephesians 4:1-16

1  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  4  There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call– 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  8  Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9  (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?  10  He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

15  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16  from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Observation

Note: Paul wrote this letter to a divided, conflicting church, appealing for their peace and unity in Christ, since both groups have been saved by grace through faith and brought near to God and built into one House for God (see Ephesians chapter 2).

1. As we frequently do, briefly summarize the message of these sections in your own words.

• Verses 1-6
• Verses 7-10
• Verses 11-14
• Verses 15-16

2. How do you understand the phrase “to each is given a gift according to Christ’s grace”?
3. In verse 11 Paul mentions five offices given to the church. In your own words list the purpose of these “offices” in the church.

Reflection

1. In this section, how do you see the progression of Paul’s chain of thought from “UNITY” to “CHRIST’S GIFTS” to “FIVE-FOLD MINISTRIES” to “GROWING UP”?
2. When you see “apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” do you view them as “gifts from Christ to the church”? Why? Why not?
3. In which ways do these ministers (the leaders in church whom you know) contribute to your spiritual growth?
4. How can you position yourself in relation to these ministers to allow for more effective growth? (Or, what can you do to maximize your growth by their help?)

Application and prayer

In meditating on this text, talk with God about UNITY in your Congregation, to the ministers Christ has gifted your church with, as well as your growth “into the fullness of Christ himself.”  Prayerfully reflect on what you have grown in recently, and what are you growing in currently that makes you look more like Christ.