THEME: JUSTICE
PROMISED
TEXT: JEREMIAH
23:1-6; 33:14-18
MEMORY VERSE: “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I
will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do
what is just and right in the land.” — Jeremiah
23:5 (NIV)
LESSON AIMS: After participating in this lesson, each
student will be able to:
1.
Recount the leadership
characteristics of the righteous shepherd.
2.
Compare and contrast
the ways Jesus fulfils the image of the righteous shepherd with the ways human
leaders do.
3.
Write a note of
appreciation to an elder or other leader in his or her church.
INTRODUCTION
Bad leadership often seems to be no leadership at
all. It has lost its focus on the future in terms of a vision for the people
and knowledge of how to get there. Bad leadership has a tendency to perpetuate
itself by not preparing future leaders. The younger person who is a potential,
future leader remains apathetic and unchallenged.
Bad leadership in a church has recognizable traits.
One such trait can be called the ruling elder syndrome or the ruling
preacher syndrome. This is a top-down attitude: “I am the boss!” Churches do
need strong leadership, but that is not the same as being a dictator.
Lack of communication and lack of delegation are
also traits of bad leadership. Also, immoral people sometimes are in leadership
positions. I remember three churches I have served as an interim minister where
I thought a key leader was living an immoral life and was attempting to hide
it. Three is bad enough, but I am thankful it wasn’t more! Our lesson today
addresses the issue of bad leadership and God’s solution.
[Please note that you
are free to reproduce this lesson for your Sunday school classes. The talk
points (in red prints) are to help your
discussions.]
A. SHEPHERDS’ FAILURE –
Jeremiah 23:1-2
1. What safeguards can a church use to
minimize the chance of a leader’s harming God’s people? (In financial areas; In teaching; In interaction with people.)
2. How do we guard against worldly
leadership principles and practices that might result in a “scattered flock” if
brought into the church? (Principles of political
leadership; Principles of business leadership; Principles of military
leadership.)
3. What advance plans does your church
have in place to deal with leadership failure? What improvements need to be
made? (For a matter of doctrinal defection; For a
matter of moral failure; For causing divisiveness; For personal or family
issues.)
B. LORD’S ACTIONS –
Jeremiah 23:3-6
1. What are some ways to make sure your
church “will place shepherds” for her future? (Awareness
of consequences of not doing so; Methods of identifying future leaders; Methods
of leadership training; Having younger leaders “at the table” vs. having them
merely “in the loop.”)
1. How do the qualities of church
leaders in 1 Timothy 3 connect with or reflect the idea of “the Lord Our
Righteousness”? (In terms of reputation; In terms of
temperament; In terms of ability or aptitude.)
CONCLUSION
There is a reason God chose David to be king: David
was a man “after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). In spite of David’s sins
(2 Samuel 11 & 12), he was a good leader. Toward the end of his life, he
uttered great words that apply to every good leader: “The God of Israel
spoke,... ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear
of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like
the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth’” (2 Samuel
23:3-4). The greatest son of David, Jesus Christ, is the ultimate leader in
this regard.
Jesus turns leadership on its head for the church.
Whereas secular leaders exercise authority and power, leaders in God’s church
are to be servants (Mark 10:42-45). Jesus washes his disciples’ feet (John
13:14-17). He is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (John
10:11-15).
Peter never forgot that model. In his twilight
years, Peter could write to the church elders, “Be shepherds of God’s flock
that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because
you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to
serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the
flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory
that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:2-4). Amen!
PRAYER
O Lord God, we pray for good leadership in the
church. May your Spirit move those of humble spirits to rise in our moment of
greatest need to care for your flock. In the name of the good and righteous
shepherd, Jesus our Lord, amen.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Good leaders lead justly in the fear of God.
NEXT WEEK: NEXT WEEK: AUGUST 26, 2012: GOD
PROMISED TO BE WITH US –Ezekiel 34
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