First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

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First Christian Voices

Discussion Questions

Consider again for a moment that the majority of Christians in the early church were illiterate. Can you imagine the challenges leaders faced

as they sought to communicate spiritual ideas to an oral culture? Even so, this was normal at the time. While it might seem daunting to us, it was the typical manner in which people learned. How do people learn where you are? What are ways in which your style of leadership can help believers learn about Jesus?

We read very little about apostles, prophets, and teachers, and we see nothing about evangelists or shepherds in the writings of the Apostolic

Fathers. This seems remarkable, especially since Paul tells us that Jesus gave these leaders to the church (Eph 4:9–11). Even so, according to Ignatius, the role of the deacon was to do the ministry of Jesus. How would you describe His ministry? Do you see examples where Jesus’ ministry included those activities that correspond to the apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, and teacher? Perhaps one of the most challenging actions of a leader is to love those who are not lovable (Ignatius To Polycarp 2). What heart change do you think it requires for a leader to love all the disciples, both the good ones and the bad ones?