SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
One of the crying needs not only in society but also in the church is finding leaders we can trust. This was also true for the early church, which faced growing pains and subsequent problems that created a need for good leaders to solve them. In Acts 4 we find the Apostles exercising Godly wisdom in selecting leaders they could trust. Good leaders are effective in responding to problems, are flexible and have a strong sense of identity. As a result they can be trusted when facing tests and are affirmed by the community. Good leadership is essential because with it the church and the gospel flourish.
GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
1. Do you consider yourself a leader? Why or why not? How do you think a Biblical understanding of leadership differs from society's understanding of leadership? How are they similar?
2. Have you ever been asked to lead a team or a project, but you didn't feel that you had enough people to accomplish the task? Describe the experience. How did it feel?
3. Can you think of some examples of good leaders in your life? What characteristics make them good leaders?
4. What leadership qualities do you see in yourself? Have others noticed leadership qualities in you? Discuss and share.
INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.
2. Read Exodus 18:13-26:
13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" 15 Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and instructions." 17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.• Explain the context of this passage. (Exodus 18: 1-12) Discuss Israel’s experiences in Egypt and God’s direct involvement in Moses’ leadership.
• How do you imagine Moses must have felt, ruling for the people morning till night? (vv. 13-14) Can you think of a personal experience similar to Moses’ situation? How did you get through it?
• What does Moses say about his responsibility to the people? (vv. 15-16) Is this responsibility a bad thing? Jethro indicates that Moses’ method of teaching the people will wear Moses out, as well as the people. (v. 18) How do you think the people might have experienced this process? What might they have felt? Have you experienced something similar? Discuss.
• What is Jethro’s solution? (vv. 19-22) How does this solution allow Moses to fulfill his responsibility to the people and to God? What does this solution tell you about Christian community and leadership? Discuss.
• What kind of leaders does Jethro tell Moses to select? (v. 21) Are these characteristics similar to your description of a good leader? Are they different? Can you see similarities between Jethro’s new method and Rich’s description of good leadership? Discuss.
• Moses was the sole ruler of Israel, but he still listened to Jethro’s advice. (vv. 24-25) What do you think this says about the importance of listening to good advice as a leader? What might have happened if Moses had ignored Jethro’s advice? Have you ignored leadership advice only to find out that you should have listened? Discuss and share.
3. Take some time and consider the characteristics of a good leader described in Rich’s sermon and in the Exodus 18 passage.
• How are you becoming the type of person that God can use as a leader?
• In what areas can you allow the Holy Spirit to empower you to be a better leader? Are their members of your small group that can help you? Consider partnering with another person in your group and encourage each other to grow in these areas.
• Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit how your small group can equip and empower one another to be good leaders. Consider ways to encourage each other to be leaders in your families, work, church, and community.
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