RUCU Cell Leader's Training Weekend 2006 -Gospel Ministry, Dave Bish
What qualifies someone to be a leader?
- good public speaker?
- confidence?
- image?
- spotless track record?
What does it take to be a leader for God? How do you feel now, at the start of this weekend? How do you feel about the responsibility?
Titus 1.
Don't just skip over the intro! Significant amount of the content of Titus is found in the first 4 verses.
verse 1 - Paul introduces himself as a servant. Why? He tells us exactly why - the aim of his ministry is the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth. God's elect are to have faith and knowledge, and this will work out in practice as God-centredness as a way of life and hope of eternal life.
Where do you get that hope?
Before time, God, who never lies, makes his promise.
When we think about what Christian ministry means/looks like, we can always think of pragmatic things to do, pragmatic ministry. BUT, Paul was Bible-centred.
We come to serve broken, unimpressive people - but they're God's people. Not just a random group of people in cell - God's brought them there.
Linger on that!!
God reveals His promise through Jesus and also through scripture. If we bypass scripture we ain't got nothing to talk about!
verse 3 - God didn't put this revelation out there and leave it. He commanded that it should be made known to the world.
GOD'S PLAN, NOT OURS. CENTRED ON HIM, NOT ME!
So if that's the aim, what's the qualifications?
Qualifications are qualifications, you can't dress them up.
Why do you think you're here?
Could be all sorts of reasons...But what are God's qualifications for you?
1. CHARACTER, verses 5-8
What do all these things mean? Above reproach, blameless doesn't mean sinless. It means those who can't have a charge levelled against them. Open and honest. If rebuked, correct things. Not trying to get away with things, but trying to stay God-centred.
Self-control. One of the fruits of the Spirit.
Pro-active God centredness.
Responsibility.
Stand against the culture around us. We think we need to be relevant. But Jesus didn't blend in, He stood out. We need to stand out God-centredly. We need to take a stand. In areas of relationships and sexuality, in truth. We're called to be God-centred ALL the time, not just when we're in the presence of Christians.
2. COMMITMENT/CONVICTION
We need to have solid gospel convictions because we need to teach people. We need to be DEEPLY rooted in the heart of God's word so that the questions we ask in cell get right to the heart. Not healthy to believe what's not true. Only way the lies of sin can be dealt with is to be firm in the truth. Gospel character, gospel convictions - the two marks we MUST have if we're gonna serve as leaders.
DO I QUALIFY? IF NOT, WHAT HAS TO CHANGE? (Resign isn't the answer!)
verses 9-10. They connect. MUST be verse 9, because of verse 10.
In contrast to those who teach rubbish, teach GRACE.
We come to serve broken, unimpressive people - but they're God's people. Not just a random group of people in cell - God's brought them there.
Linger on that!!
God reveals His promise through Jesus and also through scripture. If we bypass scripture we ain't got nothing to talk about!
verse 3 - God didn't put this revelation out there and leave it. He commanded that it should be made known to the world.
GOD'S PLAN, NOT OURS. CENTRED ON HIM, NOT ME!
So if that's the aim, what's the qualifications?
Qualifications are qualifications, you can't dress them up.
Why do you think you're here?
Could be all sorts of reasons...But what are God's qualifications for you?
1. CHARACTER, verses 5-8
What do all these things mean? Above reproach, blameless doesn't mean sinless. It means those who can't have a charge levelled against them. Open and honest. If rebuked, correct things. Not trying to get away with things, but trying to stay God-centred.
Self-control. One of the fruits of the Spirit.
Pro-active God centredness.
Responsibility.
Stand against the culture around us. We think we need to be relevant. But Jesus didn't blend in, He stood out. We need to stand out God-centredly. We need to take a stand. In areas of relationships and sexuality, in truth. We're called to be God-centred ALL the time, not just when we're in the presence of Christians.
2. COMMITMENT/CONVICTION
We need to have solid gospel convictions because we need to teach people. We need to be DEEPLY rooted in the heart of God's word so that the questions we ask in cell get right to the heart. Not healthy to believe what's not true. Only way the lies of sin can be dealt with is to be firm in the truth. Gospel character, gospel convictions - the two marks we MUST have if we're gonna serve as leaders.
DO I QUALIFY? IF NOT, WHAT HAS TO CHANGE? (Resign isn't the answer!)
verses 9-10. They connect. MUST be verse 9, because of verse 10.
In contrast to those who teach rubbish, teach GRACE.
Seek it, live it, teach it, show it.
posted by Welshie @ 6:59 pm
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