Support for leaders
Discuss what help leaders may need to fulfil their role effectively? The following may give you some ideas:
- God’s help (Exodus 3:11-12; Judges 6:15-16)
- Help from others (Exodus 4:10-16; Exodus 17:12; Acts 6:1-7)
- Prayer (Acts 6:6; 13:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:25)
- Resources and workers (Exodus 36:2-3; Nehemiah 4:6)
- Training alongside those with more experience, following the example of Joshua (Exodus 24:13; 33:11); Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21); Timothy (Philippians 2:22).
- Discuss how we can support, encourage and pray for our leaders more effectively.
Qualities of church leaders
Read 1 Timothy 3:1-10
This passage describes the qualities Paul considered important for leaders in the church.
- What does Paul say about the person who sets their heart on being an overseer (verse 1)?
- Which of the qualities listed for overseers and deacons (verses 2-5 and 7-9) might be important for your group leader(s) and why?
- What danger does verse 6 say there is in having a recent convert as a church leader? Could there be the same danger for your group if you had a new member leading?
- What does verse 10 say about deacons?
God’s choice of leaders
Read Exodus 3:11, Judges 6:15, 1 Samuel 9:21, 1 Kings 3:7 and Jeremiah 1:6
- What sort of people is God choosing for leadership roles here?
- What are their attitudes?
- What model of leadership does Jesus show us in John 13:3-5?
- What does God say he looks at when he is selecting a leader? (1 Samuel 16:7)
Having reviewed the qualities and attitudes a leader needs and the work to be done, many people might feel (as did some of these examples) inadequate and unable to fulfil the leadership role. This can be a healthy attitude if handled correctly, as it means the leader will look for support and not become proud.
Christian leaders
Read 1 Peter 5:1-4
- List the characteristics of good leaders mentioned in this passage.
Read 1 Timothy 3:1-13
Here Paul talks about the qualities required in church leaders.
- Make a list of the qualities that Paul mentions here. Are these qualities that all Christians should share?
- Can these qualities be shown by women who have leadership potential?
- What reward awaits those who serve others well?
- How are people selected for responsibilities within our church? What skills and background are needed?
- Do people with responsibilities for leading others need to be well educated and literate?
Servants of the King
Read Matthew 20:20-28
Each of us needs to develop humility and servanthood in our Christian lives. We need to be witnesses by what we do – not just by what we say – even if those around us act differently.
- Why do you think James, John and their mother asked for a special favour?
- How did Jesus respond to their request? What does this tell us about Jesus’ idea of leadership?
- What impact did this request have on the other disciples? Have there been similar situations within our work or church?
- What kind of leadership does Jesus refer to in verse 28? Is this the model of leadership we have found in our church
- What would this model of leadership look like:
• in the workplace?
• in the family?
• in the church?
• in the community?
- What are the key characteristics of a servant leader?
- How do both we and our church need to change to reflect more of the servant attitude of Jesus?
Developing leadership skills
Read Mark 6:7-13
Discuss how Jesus equipped the disciples before sending them out.
- Did the disciples understand who Jesus really was when they were first sent out? How well did they know him?
- How did Jesus prepare them for this work?
- What resources did they need?
- Why do we think the disciples were sent out in pairs?
- As a church, do we sometimes delay taking action and showing genuine love until we are ready? Does this matter?
- What were the results?
Servant leadership
How can we follow the example of Jesus in serving others? Why can this be particularly difficult to do in leadership roles?
Read John 13:1-17 – which describes the example of leadership that Jesus provides.
- What model of leadership does Jesus show here?
- How would we feel if we were one of the disciples?
- What should our response be to Jesus’ action?
- What characterises the leadership demonstrated here?
Ask people to physically wash each other’s feet.
- How did this feel for the person washing the feet?
- How did this feel for the people whose feet were washed?
- What does it teach us about leadership?
Leadership is never easy. Do we support and pray for our leaders as much as we should?
See also
Philippians 2:6-7 Who, being in very nature God
Matthew 20:24-28 Servant leadership
Matthew 12:18-20 Here is my servant
Matthew 10:1 He called his twelve disciples