TUESDAY March 25, 2025
The Essentials of Leadership
A bishop then must be ... able to teach....
1 Timothy 3:2
Among the long list of qualifications given that are essential for the position of an overseer is the God-given gift to teach. A leader in any capacity in the church has to be diligent in the study of the Scriptures: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
Do you have the patience to study the Bible? It takes much time, labor, and meditation to discover God's values and insights in His Word. A pastor, for sure, needs to study so that he is able to feed the flock of God. He cannot be lazy in his studies; otherwise, he will become a disgrace in the pulpit.
Listen to Peter’s exhortation to the elders, they must diligently feed the flock of God with the right heart and motives:
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away (1 Peter 5:1-4).
Peter’s exhortation included a warning. Preaching God’s Word is to be freely given; it is not to be used for monetary gain––that is called fleecing the flock of God. There cannot be an overemphasis on taking offerings. As you go systematically through God’s Word, the subject of giving will come up, and it will be taught. However, the main focus is always to be on the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ––the Gospel message.
Are you a man or woman of God’s Word? What is your message to the people you minister to?
I have one message: that Jesus Christ came, he died on a cross, he rose again, and he asked us to repent of our sins and receive him by faith as Lord and Savior, and if we do, we have forgiveness of all of our sins.
~Billy Graham~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
