Leaders of the church must be spiritually mature. In this portion of the overseer’s qualifications, Paul highlights moral purity, a sober mind, a sound mind, and an ordered mind. These traits reveal that godliness involves more than fleeing certain vices; it requires earnestly pursuing Christ, who alone can transform our character and conduct. May the Lord not only raise up leaders who exemplify these qualities but also grow all of us into greater likeness to Jesus.
Who shepherds the church of God? The answer begins with Jesus Himself. The church belongs to Him. He is its head, its foundation, and its life source (the vine). He has placed elders as stewards and overseers to shepherd His people according to His Word. Biblical eldership is a high calling. Men who serve in this capacity must be above reproach, with nothing to hinder or compromise their faithfulness to Christ. In this introductory study, we explore five biblical principles of eldership: the office, the work, the qualification, the appointment, and the aspiration.
This passage of Scripture presents Christ in the stunning reality that He is truly God and truly man. He is the Savior God who took on human flesh and soul and truly obeyed the Father for our salvation. His obedience took Him to the depths, even unto death, even death on a cross. But this is not where the story ends. The Father then gave to Him supreme exaltation, supreme name, and supreme worship. All of this came about not only to secure salvation for sinners, but also to becomes the pattern for every believer’s life. The pathway to glory is the pathway of the cross.
What fits a man to shepherd God’s people is a moral integrity and clear biblical thinking. These are the first two marks of a mature spiritual leader.
Church leadership matters because Jesus cares. When He restored Peter, Jesus’ thoughts were fixed on the care for His sheep. Christ loves His church. Shepherding is an excellent work, for it reflects the heart of Christ that seeks the spiritual welfare of His flock.
Christ, in His humanity, possessed a genuine human will, which He submitted perfectly to the Father. He did what every man should have done but could not because of his fallenness. In contrast to man, who sought equality with God, Christ, though equal to God, submitted to the Father’s will.
As Christian comes to the cross, he learns that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. Through His death on the cross, Christ paid the penalty for our sins, bringing forgiveness and freedom from the bondage of sin to those who believe in Him.
Through Christian’s experience, we learn that true faith means more than simply knowing about Jesus. We must repent of our sins, trust in Christ as our Savior, and deny ourselves to follow Him as Lord. In Christ, we find the joy of salvation and the beginning of a new life.
As Christian continues through the Interpreter’s House, he encounters a man trapped in a cage, representing someone who has turned away from Christ to pursue the pleasures of the world. This serves as a serious warning against hardening our hearts and reminds us to seek the Lord while we still can.
Through the vision of the unprepared dreamer, we also learn about the certainty and seriousness of God's coming judgment. We are reminded to examine our faith, persevere in following Christ, and share the gospel with others so they too may be rescued from judgment.
As Christian continues through the Interpreter’s House, he sees a roaring fire that cannot be extinguished, even as someone continually pours water on it. He learns that Satan seeks to destroy our faith, but Christ continually sustains and strengthens the faith He has begun in us.
Through the scene of the palace, we also learn that believers are called to actively fight the good fight of faith. Though we face opposition and spiritual battles, we must persevere with courage, trusting in Christ to preserve us.
When God promises to make a mere servant, Jeroboam, into the king of Israel, what does He expect from him in return?
When was the last time you completed a really big project? Today, we’ll learn about how Solomon completed a really big project, building the house for God. But more importantly, we’ll learn Solomon’s response and prayer to God.
