Sunday School Lesson for March 13, 2011: Leadership Qualities (1 Timothy 3)

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.



2 Peter 3:11b
….what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives..



1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.



Ephesians 4:1
[ Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ ] As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.







First things first: Pray for the people of Japan. The images we’ve seen of the destruction they are facing can’t begin to speak to the amount of suffering they are enduring and will continue to endure for sometime. Our prayers and support are greatly needed and will be graciously valued and accepted.

I’ll be brief this week. Christian character has been the focus for these last two lessons. Worship: the theme for this quarter. In chapter three of Paul’s letter to Timothy, he exhorts Timothy to look for leaders who exhibit their worthiness for Christian leadership by their life’s example. He is speaking to Timothy of men, in particular, who can join with Timothy to govern the growing Church in Ephesus. However, the same quality of character should be sought and demonstrated by all believers, men and women, from the pulpit to the door. When we, by life example, display worthiness of character, we worship God. The suffix ‘-ship’ from the word ‘worship’ is defined as the quality, condition or state of being: i.e. friendship (being a friend), hardship (enduring hard times), discipleship (being a disciple). Thus, worth ship or worship, as the term is used today simply speaks to the act of being ‘worthy’ to God as much as it speaks to the act of assigning worth to God in our personal lives through giving, serving, praising, etc.,(Worship). Christian worship then, in the life of the believer, is demonstrated in good character or ‘worthiness’. Good personal character doesn’t label us as Christians, only our acceptance of Christ’s gift at the cross does that. But good personal character lived daily, pursued daily in the life of the believer is worship. With that, I have to close (I’ve gotten sleepy and I think I’m talking in circles, or rather, writing in circles :). God Bless! Enjoy the lesson!



.wb





1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.





♫…What’s His name?’ ‘Jesus!’, ‘What’s His name?’ ‘Jesus’…♫