Home Study Part I
Leadership
Home Study – Part I
A Leadership Course
What is CBI?
Community Bible Institute is a Christian studies school designed “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12)
To learn more about How CBI works, get a copy of the CBI Handbook at the CBI desk in the church lobby, at the CBI desk in the TaraCenter lobby, or by requesting one by email at .
Home Study courses for CBI may be obtained in a hard copy format or may be requested by and delivered as an email attachment.
1
The Powers of the King
Matthew 8:1–9:34
Purpose: To see the power of the King and to learn to please him by growing in faith.
These two chapters are a collection of the miracles Jesus did. The majority of the miracles which Matthew records are in these chapters. For this reason they form a unity. Matthew has organized the miracles to show that Jesus, as the King of the kingdom of heaven, has authority over everything and everyone.
These chapters also emphasize faith. The word faith is used repeatedly. Faith is the proper response to the authority of the King. Faith allows us to receive his authority and opens the knowledge of the kingdom to us.
Someone once commented about a U.S. president: “I don't know where he is going, but I sure like the way he leads.”
Leaders must demonstrate authority. But wise leaders know they must not abuse their authority. They know people follow leaders who also demonstrate integrity and compassion.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus impressed the crowd with his authoritative teaching. In chapters 8 and 9 he demonstrates that he is a worthy King, one in whom we can safely put our trust.
1. Think of someone in your life whom you respect. Why do you respect that person?
2. Read Matthew 8:1–22. In chapters 8–9 Jesus' miracles occur in three groups, followed by a response or reaction. Briefly describe how Jesus demonstrates his authority in verses 1–22.
3. Lepers were outcasts in Jewish society and were required to shout “Un clean, unclean!” wherever they went. What impresses you about Jesus' encounter with the man in verses 1–4?
4. Look at the centurion's response to Jesus (vv. 5–13). Why is Jesus pleased?
5. In verses 18–22 Jesus begins to attract would-be followers. What do these verses teach us about the cost and urgency of following him?
6. Read Matthew 8:23–9:17. What do we learn about the extent of Jesus' authority in this section?
7. The disciples' fear of the furious storm seems natural (8:23–27). Why do you think Jesus views it as a lack of faith?
8. After what had happened to the demon-possessed men, why do you think the townspeople pleaded with Jesus to leave their region (vv. 28–34)?
9. What is the relationship between Jesus' claim to have authority to forgive sins and his healing of the paralytic (9:1–8)?
10. In verses 9–17 Jesus compares himself to a doctor and a bridegroom. Then he discusses garments and wine skins. What do these illustrations teach us about his ministry?
11. Read Matthew 9:18–34. How do people respond to Jesus in this section?
12. Look back over chapters 8–9. How does Jesus want us to respond to his power and authority?
13. How can a knowledge of Jesus' power and authority strengthen our faith?
2
The Leaders and the King
Matthew 12:1–50
Purpose: To feel the security of belonging to the King as we see Jesus handle opposition with wisdom and power.
The opposition to Jesus which had been slowly building now becomes open conflict. As the religious leaders seek to oppose him, Jesus confronts them with the serious consequences of their actions.
Power over people is not easily shared. Wars have been fought, people assassinated and elections rigged in order to gain or maintain power.
The leaders of Israel were becoming concerned over the growing reputation and following of Jesus. Like ripples in a pool of water, the ministry of Jesus and his disciples continued to have a widening impact on the Jewish nation. If Jesus' followers became too numerous, the leaders would end up losing their positions of authority. In Matthew 12 they formulate a strategy to discredit him.
1. How would you feel if untrue rumors were being spread around about you?
2. Read Matthew 12. How would your describe the mood or atmosphere of this chapter?
3. Consider the ways that religious leaders attacked Jesus in verses 1–14. What was their strategy?
4. Jesus answers the Pharisees' first accusation by making three references to Scripture (vv. 3–8). How do these passages prove the innocence of his disciples?
5. As you compare the Pharisees' second accusation against Jesus (v. 10) with their own response (v. 14), what irony do you see?
6. Throughout verses 1–14 how does Jesus' attitude toward people and Scripture differ from that of the Pharisees?
How can Jesus' example guide our own interpretation and use of Scripture?
7. Notice the startling contrast between the religious leaders' attitude toward Jesus and God's attitude (vv. 15–21). How do they differ?
8. In order to discredit the idea that Jesus is the Messiah, the Pharisees charge that his power over demons comes from the prince of demons (v. 24). How does Jesus refute this claim (vv. 25–37).
9. Why will the men of Nineveh and the Queen of the South condemn this generation” (vv. 38–42)?
10. In verses 43–45 Jesus tells the Pharisees and teachers of the law a story. What does it reveal about them?
11. Look back over chapter 12. What factors led to the hardness and unbelief of the Pharisees and teachers of the law?
How can we avoid being like them?
3
Ambassadors for Christ
2 Corinthians 5:11–6:13
Purpose: To discover that the ultimate ground of our defense before people is the gospel itself, shamelessly shared in terms of the realities of our life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes the emergence of the superleader under Hitler:
It is essential for the image of the Leader that the group does not see the face of the one who goes before, but sees him only from behind as the figure stepping ahead. His humanity is veiled in his Leader's form. [Quoted in Ray Anderson, Minding God's Business (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986), p. 5.]
In contrast, Paul defends himself by showing his face and declaring himself defended in the gospel but defenseless in himself. In the last study Paul invited us to marvel at the contrast between the glory of the resurrection life of Jesus and these jars of clay. Now he invites us to look into his heart to see how utterly convinced he is about the gospel's message of reconciliation.
1. Think of a time when you defended yourself in the context of a strained relationship. To what did you appeal?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:11–21. Paul defends his ministry and message of reconciliation in this passage. What accusations might Paul's opponents have made about his ministry (vv. 11–13)?
How does Paul explain his true motives and goals (vv. 11–14)?
3. In describing his message, Paul uses the words reconciliation and reconciled five times (vv. 18–20). What does it mean to be reconciled to God?
4. According to Paul, what has Christ done to make reconciliation possible (vv. 14–21)?
5. What has meant the most to you about your new relationship with God through Christ?
6. Why do you think Paul would tell the Corinthians, who are already Christians, “Be reconciled to God” (v. 20)?
7. Why would the Corinthians be more likely to accept Paul as God's messenger if they fully accepted the message he preached?
8. Read 6:1–13. What would it mean for the Corinthians—or us today—to receive the grace of God in vain (v. 1)?
9. To what further credentials does Paul point in order to commend himself to the Corinthians (vv. 3–10)?
With which of these can you personally identify? Explain.
, if the Corinthians want to boast about him they should note how God's power has been
10. Why would such a paradoxical list of credentials remove rather than place stumbling-blocks before people trying to find their way to God?
11. Reviewing 5:11–6:13 as a whole, what is Paul's strategy as an ambassador for Christ?
12. How might Paul's example help us be more effective ambassadors, especially to people who are “turned off” by Christianity?
Referring to the words of Charles Wesley's familiar hymn, James Denney says, “It is the voice of God, no less than that of the sinner, which says, ‘Thou, O Christ, art all I want; more than all in Thee I find.’ ” [James Denney, A Man in Christ (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1907), p. 243.]
4
Super-Apostles, Super-Leaders
2 Corinthians 11:1–33
Purpose: To learn how to identify and follow true Christian leaders.
In his book Servant Leadership Robert K. Greenleaf wrote, “We live in the age of the anti-leader, and our vast educational structure devotes little care to nurturing leaders or to understanding followership.” [Robert K. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership (New York: Paulist Press, 1977), p. 4.]
Most people in the Western world are double-minded about leadership—fascinated but fearful, wanting strong leadership but guarding themselves from it by protective fences. In this chapter Paul continues to respond to the fresh news he has from Corinth. He not only shows how the super-apostles are not their true leaders, but also gives us a basis for identifying real Christian leadership.
1. What feelings do you get when you hear that a charismatic leader is accumulating a huge following?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 11. What are Paul's motives for challenging the so-called super-apostles who are winning over the Corinthians (vv. 1–6)?
3. How does Paul express his long-term goal of ministry in Corinth (vv. 2–3)?
Why do you think betrothal rather than marriage is such a good image of the goal of Christian ministry?
4. Why do you think Paul's decision to “preach the gospel free of charge” was so important in defending his ministry (vv. 7–12)?
5. When would it be right for a Christian leader to be financially supported by his followers?
6. Looking at the whole chapter, what marks of the super-apostles justified Paul's description of them as false, deceitful and masquerading?
What kind of Christian leadership today might fall under the apostle's judgment?
7. The Corinthians might not have agreed with Paul's assessment of the super-apostles. What words might they have used to describe their experience of being led by these charismatic giants?
8. In contrast, what does Paul boast about as the mark of his own leadership (vv. 16–33)?
Why would his escape from Damascus (vv. 32–33) be such a good example of this?
9. What have you learned from this study about the marks of true Christian leadership?
10. What have you learned about being a healthy follower?
5
Viewing this Unfinished Motion Picture
2 Corinthians 1–13
Purpose: To establish the long-term benefits of having studied 2 Corinthians.
These study questions form a review of the entire book, one question for each study. While many themes are explored in 2 Corinthians, the truth that is strained through Paul's large heart suggests the theme for this final study: What is a Christian like on the inside. Do not linger at length on any one question, but try to review the book as a whole, noting and encouraging personal sharing and personal benefits gained. You may wish to conclude by reading a few representative verses, thanking God for what he has revealed: 1:3; 1:20; 3:6; 4:7; 5:1–5; 7:2–4; 8:8–9; 10:3–6; 11:2–3; 12:8–10; 13:4; 3:11–14.
The Introduction noted that 2 Corinthians gives us the inside view of a first-century Christian—the apostle Paul. But this is no snapshot, no still picture, but rather a motion picture of a person in process. Second Corinthians was written at more than one sitting, as Paul responded to fresh pressures and problems. We see him (and the Corinthians) at his worst, with his feelings bent out of shape, not frozen into a verbal portrait but rather expressed dynamically, sometimes hanging out awkwardly. This exquisite transparency is the genius of the apostle. It is also the genius of this lovely letter and of the faith Paul longs for his dear Corinthians—and us—to wholeheartedly embrace. A short review will firm up its abiding value to us in exploring what the Christian life is like on the inside.
1. What do you find hardest to hear from a highly respected person when he (or she) reveals his inmost thoughts?
2. Now that you have completed studying the letter, what new insights do you have into the comfort of God experienced by the Christian (1:1–11)?
3. As followers of Jesus, how can we hear God's affirmation, his “yes” in the realities of our daily life (1:12–2:17)?
4. How have you been encouraged to become more bold through discovering that you are a letter from Christ, a person who reflects God's glory to those around you (3:1–18)?
5. How has knowing that we have “this treasure in jars of clay” affected your view of ministry (4:1–5:10)?
6. What kind of ambassador for Christ will commend the Christian faith to the world (5:11–6:13)?
7. What have you learned about experiencing godly sorrow, rather than worldly sorrow (6:14–7:16)?
8. Paul says that God loves a hilarious giver (9:7). What have you learned about the sources of Christian generosity (8:1–9:15)?
9. Christians can be tough and tender at the same time. How do you think it is possible to tear down strongholds and to build people up at the same time (10:1–18)?
10. What stereotypes or caricatures of spiritual leaders have been challenged by this letter (11:1–33)?
11. Paul's great watchword is, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (12:10). When have you seen God's power displayed in the midst of your weaknesses (12:1–21)?
12. According to Paul, what is God looking for in the life of a follower of Jesus (13:1–14)?
13. How has this letter added to your understanding of what it means to live by faith?
6
Who Can Lead?
1 Timothy 3:1–16
Purpose: To see the basic qualifications of Christian leaders, and the basic direction of Christian leadership.
Some churches and fellowships have a few people who are willing to lead. Those people may end up feeling burdened and alone. Other churches have people who are willing to lead, but not ready. If there are not enough leaders, however, the work of the church will not get done.
The church of Ephesus was in the latter category. Those who were willing to lead were immature. And Timothy could not hope to carry out his mission against false teachers unless the leadership was healthy.
1. What are the qualities you look for in Christian leaders? Keep a list to refer back to later.
2. Read 1 Timothy 3:1–16. Verse 1 is often misread. Which is “noble”: the desire to lead or the task of leading? Why?
3. Consider two categories of qualification—character and ability. How do the qualities mentioned in these verses divide into these two categories?
4. Compare Paul's list to yours. What is alike and what is different?
Why do you think Paul's perspective differs from ours (if it does)?
5. What do you think is Paul's reason for insisting that a leader's relationships must work in the spheres of both church and family (vv. 5–6)?
6. How is this principle of leadership exercised in your own church or fellowship?
7. Have you ever seen a new Christian take a leadership position with the kind of results described in these verses? Describe what happened.
8. What is Paul teaching here (v. 7)? How have you seen this principle obeyed or disobeyed?
9. “Deacon” simply means “servant.” In the passage it seems that deacons deal with the more practical affairs of church life, rather than with teaching. Given that, why do you think the point about doctrine in verse 9 is made with so much emphasis?
10. Why do you think Paul included the instructions of verse 11?
11. What are two benefits of “serving well,” according to verse 13?
How have you experienced this?
12. What do verses 14–16 tell us about Paul's purpose in writing this letter?
13. Verse 16 was probably a hymn sung in the church at Ephesus. The word translated as “deep truths” in v. 9 is rendered “mystery” here. We can say that the result Paul wanted from good Christian leadership was that these truths would be revealed. Therefore, when people look at our fellowship, what should they see?
7
True and False Ministry
1 Timothy 4:1–16
Purpose: To draw out the key elements of real Christian ministry, and help people discern it from the counterfeit.
With this chapter Paul's strategy for Timothy starts to emerge clearly. Timothy's mission was to deal with the false teachers. Paul sees, however, that fighting false teachers with ideology alone is fruitless. The real mission is that the church be healthy so that Jesus Christ is communicated through it. So he spoke of prayer and leadership first. With that foundation in place, Timothy will be able to turn his attention directly to the problems at hand.
1. Is there an older Christian in your family or church who has given you good advice? What was it?
2. Read 1 Timothy 4:1–16. “Later times” means later than Paul's ministry. This time was at hand for Timothy. Read Paul's prophecy in Acts 20:29–30. What is Paul predicting?
3. What is the nature of the teachings described in verses 2–3?
4. Why is this teaching—which could seem to be “superspiritual”—really a doctrine of demons (vv. 3–4)?
5. When you think of “false teaching,” do you think of teachers who are morally too loose or too strict? Explain.
Which kind were these? Why?
6. Who are the modern examples of such leaders?
7. What was Timothy's personal life to be like (vv. 7–16)?
How was it to differ from that of the false teachers?
8. Why do you think you are motivated at some times and not motivated at other times for training in godliness (v. 7)?