God's Purpose and Process for Church Leadership

God’s Leadership Plan for the Local Church: God’s Purpose & Process Today we will study God’s plan for leadership in the local church, making observations from two key passages. Ephesians 4:11-16 – God’s ___________________ for Leaders 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till 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; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. 2 Timothy 2:2 – God’s PROCESS for Making Leaders And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit (x!) these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Overview of book, chapter, and immediate context: • • • Letter is specifically to Timothy (1:2) Instruction to Timothy as leader of Ephesus church (2:1) Description of the lifestyle and attitude of a leader (2:3-6) This ties in with 1 Timothy 5:17. There is a requirement for churches to be working to be bringing up teachers (pastors) who, once fully trained, continue the accurate teaching of the Word and replicate themselves through faithful men who then are taught to do the same (over and over). Nine Observations from 2 Timothy 2:2: 1. Involves past ______________________ “you heard” 2. Of established ______________________ “the things” 1. Leaders Are ________________ by God 3. By a qualified ______________________ “from me” 2. … to ________________ the Saints for Ministry Work 4. Regarding specific ______________________ “these” 3. … to ________________ the Saints in the Truth 4. … to ________________ the Saints Together (2+3 4) These three outcomes are possible, intended, and expected! 2 Timothy 2:2 – God’s __________________ for Making Leaders 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit (x!) these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. καὶ ἃ ἤκουσας And the things you heard παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ from (origination) me διὰ πολλῶν μαρτύρων, ταῦτα παράθου πιστοῖς ἀνθρώποις, οἵτινες ἱκανοὶ ἔσονται καὶ ἑτέρους διδάξαι. among many witnesses these you entrust (x!) 5. A responsibility is ______________________ “entrust” 6. Of specifically ______________________ people (over time) “faithful men” 7. Having become ______________________ “who will be able (qualified)” a. Can include gifting (Eph 4:11) b. Certainly includes training 8. With a ______________________ purpose “others also to teach” 9. For multi-generational ______________________ Summary Principles from 2 Timothy 2:2: to faithful men, • ________________ are responsible to be training future leaders. who competent will be • The local church must be the ________________ training ground for future leaders. • We need to ______________________ men to be in training. also other [men] to teach. Pastor Kevin Subra – Rapids Street Baptist Church – March 19, 2023