Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition - Mentor's Guide

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designation thoroughly consistent with the meaning of the terms in Scripture. For a full listing of the qualifications of these formal offices please refer carefully to 1 Timothy 3.1-7 and Titus 1.5-9. People of the highest moral, spiritual, and theological character are to be appointed to positions of Christian leadership in the Church. The reason for this high character is plain; elders and bishops were charged with leading the flock of the Lord (Acts 20.28), teaching and nurturing them in the Word of God (1 Tim. 3.2), and providing general oversight in the affairs of the community, especially protecting them from the errors and attacks of unscrupulous deceivers and the deceits of the enemy (1 Tim. 5.17; Titus 1.9). The fact that elders are often mentioned as more than one says that we must conceive of Christian leadership as a plurality in the body of Christ; God will raise up a sufficient number of qualified spiritual laborers to care for his people (see Acts 14.23; Phil. 1.1; Titus 1.5). To these two designations we can also add the role of deacons (Gk. diakonos ), or “servants” or “ministers” whose roles seemed to focus on providing support to the elders, while assuming responsibility for ministering to the material needs of the body (cf. Acts 6.1-6). These leaders were to be people of high character and devotion to the Lord (1 Tim. 3.8-13). All in all, through elders, bishops, and deacons, the Church of God has been supplied through the grace of God with a remarkable resource of spiritual laborers to protect, feed, and care for the body of Christ. In the objectives section of the Student Workbook you will notice that these aims are clearly stated, and you ought to emphasize them throughout the lesson, during the discussions and interaction with the students. The more you can highlight the objectives throughout the class period, the better the chances are that they will understand and grasp the magnitude of these objectives. Indeed, the more aware you are of the objectives, the more integrated and helpful the teaching material will be for your students throughout the sessions.

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