Practicing Christian Leadership, Student Workbook, SW11

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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

3. Why is it important to develop disciples in the context of the family of God, that is, the local church setting? Is it possible to equip disciples to live the Christian life apart from the local church? Explain your thoughts. 4. How does the parenting image help us understand the nature of all authentic Christian leadership? 5. How did Paul use personal correspondence to individuals and churches to equip them for the Christian life? How might we adapt his approach for making disciples in our context, e.g., email? 6. What role did personal prayer and intercession play in Paul’s ministry to growing disciples and their churches? Howmight we learn from this intense commitment to personal prayer in our ministries in the church and among the lost? 7. In what ways did Paul exhort others to follow his example in Christ as a pattern for spiritual maturity? In what ways may we do the same with those whom we lead today? 8. How does Paul’s example of personal instruction to his “children in the faith” offer us a valid model for understanding our training to others today? 9. Paul sent representatives to the various churches with messages of hope and instruction to growing churches. How might we employ this same strategy today in equipping believers to live the Christian life? 10. Of all the traits mentioned in this lesson on effective Christian education, which do you believe is most important in discipling urban Christians today? Explain your answer. This lesson focuses upon the kinds of practices that Christian leaders engage in to both incorporate new believers in the Church, as well as equip new and growing believers to live the Christian life. This relates to the concepts we covered in the previous lesson on leading the believers in worship, the Word, and the sacrament. In a real sense, these practices lie at the very heart of what it means to be a nurturing, servant leader to others in the Church. Gaining an understanding and mastery of these concepts is critical if we are to fulfill our responsibility to “feed the sheep” of the Lord Jesus (note John 21.17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John,

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Summary of Key Concepts