Practicing Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG11

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P R A C T I C I N G C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

The Christian leader has sensed his or her particular call from the Lord to represent his purposes to his people within the community. As those who belong to the Lord, our leadership can never be about ourselves, but rather we must speak and act for God as we strive to represent his purposes and interests in all we say and do. The critical role where this representation shows itself is how we lead the people of God into the presence of God, for his glory through Jesus Christ. The four dimensions of effective worship leading for the practicing Christian leader is to lead God’s people to worship him in the Spirit, to worship him in truth, to worship him with order and peace, and to worship him in faith through Jesus Christ. As leaders called to represent God’s purposes and interests in the midst of the Church, we must work tirelessly to ensure that each member of the family is properly fed and nourished with a full and steady diet of the Word of God. Christian leadership also seeks to help the members of the body experience genuine body life through a joyous celebration of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Now is the time for you to discuss with your fellow students your questions about the insights you have gleaned in this lesson regarding our representation of the Lord, and our leading the body into the presence and purpose of God through worship, Word, and sacrament. What particular questions do you have in light of the material you have just studied? Maybe some of the questions below might help you form your own, more specific and critical questions. * How do we know in fact that we have sensed a call from God to represent him? What role do other Christian leaders and the congregation play in confirming the authenticity of my call to ministry, to represent God in the church? * Can you lead others into God’s presence if you are not dwelling there yourself? Explain your answer. * Why is it impossible to be a leader for the Lord and be isolated from the life, worship, and ministry of the local body?

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Student Application and Implications

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