Foundations of Leadership: Doctrine, Growth, and Service

 

Summary

In our journey as Christian leaders, it is crucial to maintain a strong grasp of the core teachings or doctrines of the Bible. Paul, in his letters to Timothy, emphasizes three priorities for leadership: watch your life, watch your doctrine, and stir up the gift within you. These priorities form the foundation of our leadership training modules, focusing on life, doctrine, and skills. Paul advises Timothy to practice these principles diligently, highlighting the importance of progress over perfection. This progress in godliness, truth, and the cultivation of gifts not only benefits us but also encourages those we lead. If they witness our growth, they are inspired to grow as well.

The qualifications for leaders, as outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, boil down to character and competence. However, it is equally important to watch our doctrine. Elders must hold firm to the trustworthy word, enabling them to instruct in sound doctrine and rebuke contradictions. Similarly, deacons must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Paul further instructs Timothy on being a good servant of Christ, trained in the words of faith and good doctrine.

This module aims to equip you with a solid understanding of basic Christian doctrines, enabling you to lead and serve effectively. Doctrine, meaning teaching, is the gathering of God's words spoken through prophets, apostles, and supremely through Jesus Christ. To begin, we address three foundational questions: Who is God? What is the human problem? What has God done about it? By exploring these questions, we delve into our beliefs about God, ourselves, and the salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ. Join us in this module as we watch our doctrine and grow in our leadership journey.

Key Takeaways:

1. Progress Over Perfection: Embrace the journey of growth in godliness, truth, and the cultivation of your gifts. Progress, not perfection, is the goal. As you grow, you inspire those you lead to pursue their own growth. [00:58]

2. Character and Competence: Leadership qualifications focus on character and competence. A leader must embody these qualities, reflecting the teachings of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. This foundation strengthens your ability to lead effectively. [01:46]

3. Holding Firm to Doctrine: Elders and deacons must hold firm to the trustworthy word, enabling them to instruct in sound doctrine and rebuke contradictions. This steadfastness in doctrine is essential for effective leadership. [02:06]

4. Training in Faith and Doctrine: Being a good servant of Christ involves being trained in the words of faith and good doctrine. This training equips you to lead and serve others well, grounded in the truth of the Gospel. [02:19]

5. Foundational Questions: Understanding who God is, the human problem, and what God has done about it forms the basis of our beliefs. These foundational questions guide our exploration of Christian doctrine and our leadership journey. [03:22]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Leadership Priorities
- [00:27] - Watch Your Life and Doctrine
- [00:44] - Focus on Life, Doctrine, and Skills
- [00:58] - Embracing Progress Over Perfection
- [01:14] - Encouraging Growth in Others
- [01:31] - Qualifications for Leaders
- [01:46] - Character and Competence
- [02:06] - Holding Firm to Doctrine
- [02:19] - Training in Faith and Doctrine
- [02:36] - Understanding Basic Doctrines
- [02:51] - The Meaning of Doctrine
- [03:09] - Gathering God's Words
- [03:22] - Foundational Questions
- [03:37] - Conclusion and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Timothy 3:1-13
2. Titus 1:5-9

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the three priorities Paul emphasizes to Timothy regarding leadership? ([00:12])
2. How does Paul describe the relationship between progress and perfection in leadership? ([00:58])
3. What are the qualifications for leaders mentioned in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and how do they relate to character and competence? ([01:31])
4. According to the sermon, what does it mean to hold firm to the trustworthy word? ([02:06])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might the emphasis on progress over perfection influence a leader's approach to personal growth and leadership? ([00:58])
2. In what ways do character and competence complement each other in effective leadership, according to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1? ([01:46])
3. Why is it important for elders and deacons to hold firm to sound doctrine, and how does this impact their ability to lead? ([02:06])
4. How do the foundational questions about God, the human problem, and God's solution shape our understanding of Christian doctrine? ([03:22])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own leadership journey. How can you focus on progress rather than perfection in your personal growth and leadership? ([00:58])
2. Consider the balance between character and competence in your life. Which area do you feel needs more attention, and what steps can you take to develop it? ([01:46])
3. How can you ensure that you are holding firm to sound doctrine in your daily life and leadership? What resources or practices might help you in this area? ([02:06])
4. Think about the foundational questions discussed in the sermon. How do your beliefs about God, humanity, and salvation influence your leadership style and decisions? ([03:22])
5. Identify a specific gift or skill you have. How can you cultivate and use it to inspire growth in those you lead? ([00:27])
6. How can you encourage others in your community to pursue growth in godliness and truth? What role can you play in their journey? ([01:14])
7. Reflect on a time when you faced a contradiction in doctrine. How did you handle it, and what did you learn from the experience? ([02:06])

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Growth, Not Perfection
Progress in godliness, truth, and the cultivation of your gifts is a journey, not a destination. As you grow, you inspire those you lead to pursue their own growth. This principle emphasizes the importance of progress over perfection, encouraging leaders to focus on continuous improvement rather than an unattainable ideal. By embracing this mindset, you not only benefit personally but also set a powerful example for others. Your journey of growth becomes a source of inspiration, motivating those around you to embark on their own paths of development. [00:58]

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." (2 Peter 1:5-7, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you can focus on progress rather than perfection. How can you take a small step today to grow in that area?


Day 2: Character and Competence in Leadership
Leadership qualifications focus on character and competence, as outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. A leader must embody these qualities, reflecting the teachings of these scriptures. This foundation strengthens your ability to lead effectively, ensuring that your leadership is grounded in integrity and skill. By prioritizing character and competence, you build a solid foundation for your leadership, enabling you to guide others with wisdom and authenticity. [01:46]

"Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." (1 Timothy 3:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your own character and competence as a leader. What is one specific area where you can seek to grow or improve this week?


Day 3: Steadfastness in Doctrine
Elders and deacons must hold firm to the trustworthy word, enabling them to instruct in sound doctrine and rebuke contradictions. This steadfastness in doctrine is essential for effective leadership, ensuring that leaders are grounded in truth and able to guide others with clarity and conviction. By holding firm to sound doctrine, you provide a stable foundation for those you lead, fostering an environment of trust and growth. [02:06]

"He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." (Titus 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your understanding of sound doctrine. How can you deepen your knowledge and commitment to these teachings in your daily life?


Day 4: Training in Faith and Doctrine
Being a good servant of Christ involves being trained in the words of faith and good doctrine. This training equips you to lead and serve others well, grounded in the truth of the Gospel. By investing in your own spiritual education, you prepare yourself to guide others with wisdom and insight, ensuring that your leadership is rooted in a deep understanding of faith and doctrine. [02:19]

"If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed." (1 Timothy 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to further your training in faith and doctrine? Consider setting a specific goal for your spiritual growth this month.


Day 5: Exploring Foundational Questions
Understanding who God is, the human problem, and what God has done about it forms the basis of our beliefs. These foundational questions guide our exploration of Christian doctrine and our leadership journey. By delving into these questions, you gain a deeper understanding of your faith and its implications for your life and leadership. This exploration not only enriches your personal spiritual journey but also equips you to lead others with greater insight and compassion. [03:22]

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." (Romans 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of the foundational questions of faith. How can you explore these questions more deeply in your personal study and prayer time?

Quotes


welcome to watch your Doctrine now these modules are designed for Christian leaders and one of the key qualifications for any Christian leader is that you have a good grasp of the main teachings or doctrines of the Bible when Paul wrote to Timothy about leadership he gave three priorities watch your life watch your Doctrine and stir up the gift that is in you [00:00:02]

keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching watch your life and Doctrine closely now our leadership training modules have three focal points life keep a watch on yourself Doctrine keep a watch on your teaching and skills Paul says to Timothy do not neglect the gift that you have been given [00:00:29]

now notice that Paul says practice these things immerse yourself in them so that all may see your progress and I'm so glad that Paul uses the word progress and not perfection you know the greatest blessing that you can bring to the people that you lead is to make progress in your pursuit of godliness in your grasp of Truth and in the cultivation of your gifts [00:00:54]

if the people you lead see growth in you well they're going to be encouraged because if you can make progress well so can they now if you haven't done the module on watch your life I commend that to you read the qualifications for leaders in first Timothy chapter 3 or Titus Chapter 1 and you'll see that they all boil down to character and competence [00:01:23]

but Paul also says that we must watch our Doctrine an elder must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught so that he may be able to give instruction in sound Doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it and Paul makes a similar statement in regard to deacons they must hold the mystery of the Faith with a clear conscience [00:01:49]

and later Paul tells Timothy what it looks like to be a good servant of Christ Jesus being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed now that's the focus of this module the aim is to help you get a good grasp of some basic doctrines of the Christian faith so that you will be able to lead and serve others well [00:02:19]

now this word Doctrine simply means teaching God has spoken to us over hundreds of years and he did this through prophets and apostles and supremely through our Lord Jesus Christ but what has God said well Doctrine gathers together what God has said in the scripture and the place to begin is with three foundational questions that form the framework of this module [00:02:46]

who is God what is the human problem and what has God done about it now in this module we're going to look at what we believe about God what we believe about ourselves and what we believe about the salvation that God has accomplished in Jesus Christ so join us for this module watch your Doctrine [00:03:05]

Paul advises Timothy to practice these principles diligently, highlighting the importance of progress over perfection. This progress in godliness, truth, and the cultivation of gifts not only benefits us but also encourages those we lead. If they witness our growth, they are inspired to grow as well. [00:00:58]

The qualifications for leaders, as outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, boil down to character and competence. However, it is equally important to watch our doctrine. Elders must hold firm to the trustworthy word, enabling them to instruct in sound doctrine and rebuke contradictions. [00:01:46]

Similarly, deacons must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Paul further instructs Timothy on being a good servant of Christ, trained in the words of faith and good doctrine. This module aims to equip you with a solid understanding of basic Christian doctrines, enabling you to lead and serve effectively. [00:02:06]

To begin, we address three foundational questions: Who is God? What is the human problem? What has God done about it? By exploring these questions, we delve into our beliefs about God, ourselves, and the salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ. [00:03:22]

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Transcript
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