Paradox: Following in the Age of Leading // Meghan Hendrickson
Channel: Park Cities Baptist Church
Date: 2021-06-27

SERMON RESPONSE GUIDE

PRIMARY SCRIPTURE: 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-13
1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

KEY POINTS
In the Kingdom of God, the best leaders are the best followers.
Jesus doesn’t call us to lead. He calls us to follow.
How we follow Jesus in our private lives will influence how we lead in our public lives.
In the Kingdom of God, following well is marked by commitment, authenticity, and Christ-centeredness.
MEMORY VERSE
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
-Luke 9:23 ESV

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
 
1: What is distinctive about following in the Kingdom of God (compared to the world’s understanding of following)?
 
2: Why do you think the world tends to elevate leading over following?
 
3: How would you describe the relationship between serving, leading, and following in the Kingdom of God?
 
4: Read Galatians 5:13-26 and Luke 9:23-25 in light of today’s sermon from 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and answer:
 
How does Galatians 5 help us to do Luke 9?
 
How does Luke 9 explain why we do Galatians 5?
 
5: How were you encouraged by today’s message?
 
6: How were you challenged by today’s message?
 
7: How is God inviting you to respond to today’s message?

PRAY
Lord, we confess we have been quick to take the lead in life, and slow to follow you in our everyday lives. Teach us how to pick up our cross and follow you one day at a time. By your grace, train us to keep in step with your Holy Spirit as we walk through life hand-in-hand with you: our Savior and our Lord.

REFERENCES
For those interested in further study, our pastors want to share resources that have aided them in their sermon preparation (in conjunction with the Bible and the Holy Spirit):
 
·      Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature While Remaining Emotionally Immature by Peter Scazzero
·      Jesus on Leadership: Timeless Wisdom on Servant Leadership by C. Gene Wilkes