Lesson 4: A Shepherd’s Teaching
4. Acts 20:28-30
5. John 21:15-17 – Biblical leadership’s most basic duty—“Feed my sheep.”
6. 1 Thess. 5:12-13 – Elders admonish believers.
e. Teachers are great leaders because of three basic reasons.21 i. Teachers have great influence.
ii. Teachers can bring about great change.
iii. Teachers can invoke the highest levels of followers’
development. (Consider the levels of interaction between leader/followers.)
1. Lowest level – Command 2. Second level – Tell 3. Third level – Sell
4. Fourth Level – Teach – Followers own the ideas and implement them into their lives. Teaching empowers!
a. Model b. Delegate c. Coach d. Entrust
II. The Essentiality of Knowing Key Bible Doctrines
a. In the context of 7 Oaks Church of Christ, church leaders need to be able to fulfill Titus 1:9. Shepherds must know the truth and be able to teach it in a one-on-one (conversational) way and be able to refute false doctrine. Elders are the guardians of the flock. They have to be able to detect when false teaching is being done from the pulpit, in the classroom, or by individuals.
b. Preparing yourself for this task
i. Involve yourself in daily study of God’s word.
1. Read the Bible daily in some organized fashion.
2. Read brotherhood journals, blogs, and books.
3. Listen to the Bible while driving or exercising.
ii. Take our Bible classes and sermons seriously.
1. Prepare for class.
2. Commit to teaching and you will learn even more.
3. See sermons as opportunities to increase knowledge and collect resources.
c. Focus on understanding some key doctrines (While this list is not exhaustive, it gives you a basic overview of key doctrines you should seek to know and understand.)
i. Bible
1. The significance of the inspired Word of God.
2. The authority of the Word of God.
3. The major sections and background of the Bible.
21 Taken from Bredfeldt, Great Teacher, Great Leader, 19-28.
ii. Jesus
1. Essential to know of his miracles and basic teachings (Mat. 5-7)
2. Understand and be able to share the story of his death, burial, and resurrection.
iii. Church
1. The distinctive non-denominational nature of the church.
2. The aim of the restoration plea and its purpose.
3. How the NT church is to be organized and led with elders, deacons, and ministers.
iv. Worship
1. The responsibility of male spiritual leadership.
2. Reasons why we sing without instruments of music in worship to God.
3. The significance and importance of the Lord’s supper, prayer, giving, and preaching
v. Salvation
1. Salvation only being available through Christ.
2. The necessity of belief, repentance, confession, and baptism.
3. The purpose of baptism to forgive sins and add one to the church.
4. The necessity of faithfulness in life (one can fall from grace).
vi. Moral Doctrines
1. An understanding of Biblical sexuality and gender.
2. An understanding of marriage, divorce, and remarriage.
d. Resources you should have in your library.
i. Dan Chambers. Churches in the Shape of Scripture: Churches of Christ and the Quest to be More than Just Another
Evangelical Church (Franklin, TN: FaithWorks Press, 2012) ii. Paul Sain, Ready Reference for Growing Christians (Pulaski,
TN: Sain Pub., 1991)
iii. Defending the Faith Study Bible, NKJV, Apologetics Press iv. Edward C. Wharton, The Church of Christ: The Distinctive
Nature of the New Testament Church (Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate Co, 1997)
v. Websites:
1. ChristianCourier.com 2. ApologeticsPress.org
3. Biblecourses.com/studymaterials 4. Biblecharts.org
III. Some Tips on Communicating the Bible
a. As an elder, you must work to be comfortable talking about Scripture and faith issues in one-on-one or small group conversations. Some examples of elders teaching and using Scripture:
i. During elders’ meetings
ii. Young person wants to talk to you about baptism
iii. A couple wants to meet with you to discuss marriage struggles they are having.
iv. You visit a wayward brother to discuss with him his alcoholic addiction.
v. A discussion in Bible class about worship leads a few members to suggest women should take a more active role in public leadership.
vi. A church family has experienced a tragedy. You arrive at the hospital first and are ushered into the family’s room where they are grieving a loved one’s passing. They ask you to read a Scripture and have a prayer.
b. How do you prepare for a teaching/speaking assignment at church?
i. Determine your topic or text.
ii. Use aids such as commentaries or Bible dictionaries to help you understand the passage.
iii. Use assigned curriculum or a good sound book.
iv. Develop your points with adequate Scripture support.
v. Develop questions. Don’t ask “yes/no” questions, but ask thought provoking, opinion-based questions.
vi. Keep the class focused on life transformation and the lesson you want to communicate.
IV. Applications from this Study
a. I heard a story about a good man who was put up for the eldership at his congregation. He was well-liked and influential at the
congregation. His wife was the only one who privately objected to the elders about him serving. She said that he was a fine man, but he didn’t know his Bible. The elders talked to him about this, and sure enough, he didn’t have a good understanding of the Word of God. He did not serve as an elder at that point. Brothers, our wives know the truth! We must prepare ourselves with basic knowledge of God’s word, so we can share this knowledge with others.
b. Push yourself to teach in a classroom--be it children or adult. It will cause you to grow, set an example to others, and prepare you for future assignments.
c. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know, but I will seek to find out.” You don’t have to fear not knowing, but you should fear not caring about not knowing!
Lesson 5: A Shepherd’s Care