1. Understanding Our Times and Knowing What to Do 1 Chron 12.32 “And the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do…” Cf. Lk 12.54-56

2. True Male Spiritual Leadership

3. L ike Joshua -- Josh 24:15 Joshua 24:15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." The Need Men to Be Leaders

4. L ike Ezra Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” The Need Men to Be Leaders

5. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership S hared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 A Plurality of Shepherds/Elders/Overseers “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Acts 14:23

6. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 A Plurality of Shepherds/Elders/Overseers “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church” (cf. vs.28) Acts 20:17

7. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 A Plurality of Shepherds/Elders/Overseers “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons” Phil 1:1

8. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 A Plurality of Shepherds/Elders/Overseers “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you” Titus 1:5

9. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 C ultivated Within the Local Church -- 2 Tim 2.2; Acts 14.21-23 2 Tim 2.2 “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

10. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 Cultivated Within the Local Church -- 2 Tim 2.2; Acts 14.21-23 Acts 14:23 “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

11. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 Cultivated Within the Local Church -- 2 Tim 2.2; Acts 14.21-23 Q ualifications Consisted of Character Qualities – 1 Tim 3.1f; Tit 1.5f

12. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 Cultivated Within the Local Church -- 2 Tim 2.2; Acts 14.21-23 Qualifications Consisted of Character Qualities – 1 Tim 3.1f; Tit 1.5f Encourages an unhealthy dependence on the preacher D angers of The Single “Pastor” System: Church becomes a passive audience Destroys the “priesthood of all believers” (1 Pet 2.9).

13. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 Cultivated Within the Local Church -- 2 Tim 2.2; Acts 14.21-23 Qualifications Consisted of Character Qualities – 1 Tim 3.1f; Tit 1.5f Y et, Full Time Preachers Important “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.” 1 Cor 9:14

14. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 Cultivated Within the Local Church -- 2 Tim 2.2; Acts 14.21-23 Qualifications Consisted of Character Qualities – 1 Tim 3.1f; Tit 1.5f Yet, Full Time Preachers Important “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,’ and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’” 1 Tim 5:17-18

15. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership -- Acts 14.23; 20.17,28; Phil 1.1; Tit 1.5 Cultivated Within the Local Church -- 2 Tim 2.2; Acts 14.21-23 Qualifications Consisted of Character Qualities – 1 Tim 3.1f; Tit 1.5f Yet, Full Time Preachers Important “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” Eph 4:11-12

16. Marks of a Spiritual Leader S piritual -- Acts 6.1-6; Gal 6.1: Acts 20.28; 1 Pet 5.1-3 "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:3-4

17. Marks of a Spiritual Leader Spiritual -- Acts 6.1-6; Gal 6.1: Acts 20.28; 1 Pet 5.1-3 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” Gal 6:1

18. Marks of a Spiritual Leader Spiritual -- Acts 6.1-6; Gal 6.1: Acts 20.28; 1 Pet 5.1-3 S ervant Leadership -- Eph 5.25-33; 1 Pet 5.1-3; Lk 22.24-27 Servant Headship in the home -- Eph 5.25-33 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body…” Eph 5.25-33

19. Marks of a Spiritual Leader Spiritual -- Acts 6.1-6; Gal 6.1: Acts 20.28; 1 Pet 5.1-3 Servant Leadership -- Eph 5.25-33; 1 Pet 5.1-3; Lk 22.24-27 Servant Headship in the home -- Eph 5.25-33 Servant Leadership In the church – 1 Pet 5.1-3 1 Pet 5.1-3 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.”

20. Marks of a Spiritual Leader Spiritual -- Acts 6.1-6; Gal 6.1: Acts 20.28; 1 Pet 5.1-3 Servant Leadership -- Eph 5.25-33; 1 Pet 5.1-3; Lk 22.24-27 Servant Headship in the home -- Eph 5.25-33 Servant Leadership In the church – 1 Pet 5.1-3 “It’s Not About Me” -- Lk 22.24-27

21. Marks of a Spiritual Leader Spiritual -- Acts 6.1-6; Gal 6.1: Acts 20.28; 1 Pet 5.1-3 Servant Leadership -- Eph 5.25-33; 1 Pet 5.1-3; Lk 22.24-27 D esire to Grow and Develop as a Leader – 1 Tim 3.1 “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.” 1 Tim 3.1

22. Marks of a Spiritual Leader Spiritual -- Acts 6.1-6; Gal 6.1: Acts 20.28; 1 Pet 5.1-3 Servant Leadership -- Eph 5.25-33; 1 Pet 5.1-3; Lk 22.24-27 Desire to Grow and Develop as a Leader – 1 Tim 3.1 “aspire” (oregomai) – “to stretch oneself, i.e. reach out after (long for): KJV - covet after, desire.” (Strong) Ambition

23. Marks of a Spiritual Leader Spiritual -- Acts 6.1-6; Gal 6.1: Acts 20.28; 1 Pet 5.1-3 Servant Leadership -- Eph 5.25-33; 1 Pet 5.1-3; Lk 22.24-27 Desire to Grow and Develop as a Leader – 1 Tim 3.1 But what if don’t desire? Consider Mt 25.14-30 What if you don’t have the “talent”? God is not looking for gifted men, but for faithful men “ The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Tim 2.2

24. Biblical Pattern for Church Leadership Shared Leadership Cultivated Within the Local Church Qualifications Consisted of Character Qualities Marks of a Spiritual Leader Spiritual Servant Leadership Desire to Grow and Develop as a Leader