Foundations of Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG07

/ 3 3 5

F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

It is apparent from these discussions on the nature of Christian leadership that your students cannot expect others to submit to them unless they are currently submitting to others right now . There simply is no way that someone ought to expect God to grant them authority when they refuse to obey and submit to the legitimate authority that the Lord has provided them. This principle is inviolate and constant, and it applies to all in leadership or in development to become a leader. Whether someone merely aspires to the role of Church leadership or presently occupies a position of authority in the Church today, they simply must demonstrate submission in their own lives in order to expect submission. As such, your students must understand the importance of receiving the leaders that God has supplied for them (Eph. 4.7–11; 1 Pet. 5.1–5), honoring them in all the work that they do on behalf of the Church (cf. 1 Tim. 5.17, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching,”). Finally, exhort your students on the importance of the discipline of obedience to leadership (Heb. 13.7–9, 17, 24). Without this solid foundation of honor, respect, and obedience, it will be virtually impossible for them to either understand the role of pastoral ministry, or be in a position to actually pastor another. Emphasize the importance of submission for pastors, for truly, the flock always belongs to God and never to those who serve it.

5 Page 135 Ministry Connections

By the end of the second class session, you ought to emphasize with the students the need for them to have done the spadework and thought out precisely how they intend on carrying out their Ministry Project. Also, by this time, you should have emphasized their selection of the passage they will study for their Exegetical Project. Both will be done with far better thought and excellence the earlier the students begin to think through them and decide what they want to do. Do not fail to emphasize this, for, as in all study, at the end of the course many things become due, and the students will begin to feel the pressure of getting a number of assignments in at the same time. Any way that you can remind them of the need for advanced planning will be wonderfully helpful for them, whether they realize it immediately or not. 6 Page 136 Assignments