During Jesus’ three years of ministry with His disciples they saw every thing He did and how He ministered to people. By following Jesus example, and the enabling of the Holy Spirit, the disciples became powerful ministers of the gospel wherever they went. And through the power of the Word and miraculous signs and wonders they established the foundations of the early church.
Show Them
Read the following scriptures and sum up with one to two words what Jesus was modeling to them.
(2) He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
(3) Give us each day our daily bread.
(4) Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’ ”
(2) He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:
(34) and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Luke 17:4 (NIV)
(4) Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
Luke 23:34 (NIV)
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Train Them
(11) Command and teach these things.
(12) Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
(13) Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
(14) Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
(15) Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
(16) Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
What instructions and training was Paul giving to Timothy?
(2) And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
How did Timothy learn to teach from Paul?
(14) But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
What skills will we gain through training in the Word?
Empower Them
(18) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
(19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What was Jesus authorizing the disciples to do?
(1) When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
(2) and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
What did Jesus give the disciples as he sent them out?
(8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
How did they receive power?
What was the power for?
Acts 13:1-3 (NIV)
(1) Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
(2) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
(3) So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
1 Timothy 4:14 (NIV)
(14) Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
What did laying hands on them signify?
Ask a Friend
- How have you developed as a disciple / leader?
- Can you share an example of something you have done to help develop someone’s leadership?
Application
What have you learned about leadership from this study, and are there any steps you could take to grow in the area of leadership?
Prayer
Lord, I’m so thankful for your example and for the people you put in my life to disciple me and train me to become a leader. Help me to help others grow in their faith and become leaders.
Key Verse
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me – everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
