Bible Studies for Adults

Purpose:
The purpose of these studies is to achieve in the brothers of the Divine Grace Church a
personal and spiritual development of their lives through the deep study of the Word of
God that confronts them and takes them to a higher state of reflection that allows them to
understand and discern the times in which you live. In addition, it allows you to act
appropriately according to the commandments that God has established in his Word.

Lived principles that must be achieved by a biblical Christian.

A Christian who is committed to the almighty to love him, surrender and obey him
throughout his life will have the following profile.

1. A growing communion with God. (I make a clarification at this point, in reality this
should be the last point since we are talking about a process that does not end and is
continuous)
2. A growing and proven spirituality.
3. Submission to the Bible as the ultimate authority in all areas of your life.
4. A firm commitment to God.
5. Recognize and submit to the authorities placed by God.
6. He keeps reading, studying and searching the Scriptures.
7. Prove to be a follower, disciple, imitator and practitioner of the commandments of
the Lord in everything.
8. He testifies with his life to the new life in Christ, being an example of devotion,
commitment and sacrifice.
9. Know and exercise the gift(s) that the Holy Spirit has imparted to you.
10. He submits to the will of God.

Each point in the framed table above will be studied separately to achieve your maximum
understanding of what a Christian should be like, his behavior, his way of thinking, the
character that should stand out in the life of a person who has been filled with the Holy
Spirit. . They will be supported biblically, not to give moral value to the topics, but rather
each point has been consciously extracted from the Bible as what should be part of our
daily lives.

The meeting location for Bible studies may vary according to the consensus of the
interested group. The studies are planned to be carried out monthly. In addition, extra
meetings will be held with the group of brothers in order to have a time of coexistence and
mutual edification in such a way that it does not interfere with Bible studies. All this is
done under the consensus of the group.

Something important that must be considered is the participation of unbelievers in the

1 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
If in such case the proposed topics could not be covered this year, those that remained to be
covered would remain as a continuity for the following year.

What Can God's Precious Word Do For Me?

“For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword; and
penetrates to the division of soul and spirit” (Hebrews 4:12).

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of Jehovah is
faithful, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, rejoicing
the heart; The precept of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:7-8).

The Word of God can do the following:

2 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
1. It can make me wise for salvation: “And from childhood you have known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus”
(2 Timothy 3:15).

2. It can work powerfully in me: “For this reason we also give thanks to God without
ceasing, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you
received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which is at
work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

3. It can feed me and help me grow: “Like newborn babies, long for unadulterated
spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).

4. It can build me up: “And now, brothers, I commend you to God, and to the word of
his grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those who
are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

5. It can keep me on God's path: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

6. It can strengthen me: “I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him
who is from the beginning. I have written to you young people, because you are
strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1
John 2:14).

7. It can give me certainty: “I have written these things to you who believe in the
name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John
5:13).

8. It can keep me from sin: “I have kept your sayings in my heart, so that I would not
sin against you. Order my steps with your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over
me” (Psalm 119:11, 133).

9. It can keep me from error: “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “You are erring,
ignoring the Scriptures and the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).

10. You can warn me: “And these things happened to them as an example, and they
are written to warn us, to whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore, let him
who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12).

As Bible readers and Bible believers, we should be looking for a commandment to

11. It can protect me: “and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 and compare with Matthew 4:1-12).

12. It can penetrate my soul: “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper
than any two-edged sword; and penetrates to the division of soul and spirit, of joints
and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

3 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
13. It can keep me from fear of the future: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of
wars; Take care that you are not troubled, because all this must happen; but the end
is not yet…Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”
(Matthew 24:5, 35).

14. You can put a song in my heart: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with grace in your hearts
to the Lord with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3 :16).

15. It can give me joy: “The commandments of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The precept of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8 and see Psalm
119:111).

16. It can encourage me and keep me going: “For the things that were written before
were written for our learning, so that through patience and the comfort of the
Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

17. He can set me free: “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him: If you
continue in my word, you will truly be my disciples; and you will know the truth, and
the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

18. It can make me holy: “Sanctify them in your truth; Your word is truth” (John
17:17).

19. It can save (deliver) my soul: “Therefore, putting away all filthiness and
abundance of malice, with meekness receive the implanted word, which is able to save
your souls” (James 1:21).

20. It can reveal Jesus Christ, the object of saving faith: “But these are written so that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you
may have life in his name” (John 20:31 ).

Characteristics of Christian Maturity:

By J. Hampton Keathley III

Introduction

It should be emphasized at the beginning of this study, that we are addressing this topic, not
because the writer sees himself as the perfect example of a Christian leader or his maturity, but
because this is one of the elements most lacking in the church. today and because the qualities of
spiritual maturity are very decisive in the life of the church and society as a whole. This series of
studies was originally developed because I realized the need for these qualities in my own life and
in my ministry in my position of leadership as a pastor or teacher and leader of men.

4 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
These studies were developed in a team training environment for men for their role as church
leaders, as fathers, and as effective members of a society that desperately needs to see what
authentic biblical Christianity should look like. One of the reasons for this study was a series of
videos I purchased, called “Motivation/Leadership,” from one of my Dallas Seminary teachers, Dr.
Howard Hendricks. One of the videos is titled "Characteristics of a Christian Leader." And, as the
name of the video suggests, it was very motivating for me to develop a series of studies on this
topic.

The qualities that should characterize, over time.[1] It is the biblical/spiritual element, at least in part,
that makes the marks of Christian leadership Christian. to Christian leaders, they are also the marks
of spiritual maturity, as described in the Bible. Although all of the qualities that will be discussed in
this series are not exclusive to Christianity and are also generally promoted and taught in the
secular world, many of them, by their nature, are distinctive of the Bible or biblical Christianity. Thus,
the characteristics that should mark a Christian leader are also the marks of biblical maturity, which
in essence are the product of true spirituality. In fact, biblical spirituality can be described by the
term maturity since Christian maturity is the result of the growth produced by the ministry of the
Spirit in the light of the Word.

However, as we consider these marks of maturity, we are faced with the reality that they are
qualities that should be found in the lives of all believers - male or female. So let me emphasize that
this study has an application for all of us, whatever our specific role in the church or in society. As
members of the Body of Christ, we are all potential leaders to some degree, whether as a husband
or wife, father or mother, or as an office worker. As Christian men and women, we have a
leadership role when we lead others to Christ and when we seek to act as salt and light within
society. For both men and women, these are qualities that will increase their ability as husbands or
wives, as fathers or mothers, or as co-workers in the gospel of Christ in ministries such as AWANA
Sunday Bible School, or in home Bible study.

A Primary Personal and Corporate Objective

One of Paul's primary personal and ministerial goals was to achieve greater and greater levels of
spiritual maturity and to see all Christians do the same. The goal of evangelism is not just to see
people come to Christ. In reality, the main mandate of the Great Commission is not evangelism, but
making disciples. Naturally, evangelism includes evangelism; but it goes further. [2]

Spiritual maturity was a major concern and key objective for Paul and other writers of the New
Testament epistles, as is clearly seen in the following passages (see Ephesians 4:12f; Philippians
3:12f; Colossians 1:28; 4: 12; 1 Corinthians 2:6; James 1:2;

One of the key Greek words used here is 'teleios', “having obtained the end, the purpose, complete,
perfect.” It was used for a mature, grown adult. Comparing Hebrews 5:13 with verse 14 and 1
Corinthians 2:6 with 3:1, we see an instructive contrast. Teleios—'mature'—is contrasted with the
word for 'baby'—ne,,pios', in both passages. Thus, in a spiritual sense, teleios speaks of someone
who is fully developed, spiritually mature according to the spiritual qualities detailed in the New
Testament.

Therefore, spiritual growth and greater and greater levels of maturity are key objectives of Scripture
and a key responsibility for church leaders (Ephesians 4:11ff.) and for individuals in their own lives
(1 Peter 2). :2; James 1:20).

The Agents God Used for Growth

5 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
Growth and maturity are not acquired naturally. The baby in Christ requires being healthy and
consistent. There are certain agents that God uses to develop spiritual growth and lead us to
deeper maturity in Christ:

1. Obviously, the Word is a key and necessary element for spiritual growth (1st Peter 1:23-2-3; 2nd
Peter 1:3-4; 3:18; John 17:17). In John 17:17, the Lord prayed for the church and said, “Sanctify
them by your truth; Your word is truth". The reference here to 'sanctify' or 'sanctification' is
fundamentally a synonym for growth and maturity. And it expresses the Lord's objective for all
believers.

2. The leaders of the church (Ephesians 4:11ff; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; James 5:14). [3]

3. The care and concern of the body of Christ as a whole (Ephesians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11ff.).

4. The sufferings or challenges of life (James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 1:6; Psalm 119:67, 71, 75, 92).

5. Lastly; but no less important, the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16f; 1
Corinthians 2:6-3:4).

What Does a Mature Christian Look Like?

To one who is becoming like Christ in Character (Ephesians 4:13)

So what exactly does a mature Christian look like? The mature Christian is a believer whose life
begins to take on the character of Christ. But what is that exactly? What are the specific qualities
that mark a person as Christ-like? This is the focus and point of this study; But before we begin to
consider some of these qualities, there are several things we want to cover as a basis before
defining and analyzing the qualities of maturity.

Defining the Marks of Maturity

In general, how can we define the marks of spiritual maturity? These brands, according to how they
are used in this study, involve three things:

(1) They are goals and they give us an objective that every Christian must deeply desire.
Here we have goals for which—if we are referring to relationships with Jesus Christ—we will fight
for the way an athlete fights to reach the band at the end of the race. In essence, this should
encompass part of our life purpose, because to the extent that these marks are achieved, we will
also achieve other goals that God has for our lives.

As we have seen, spiritual growth and maturity are important themes of the New Testament; But
there are two passages that approach spiritual growth and maturity from the point of view of the
goals that we should desire:

Philippians 3:12-16

“Not that I have already achieved it, nor that I am already perfect; but I press on, to see if I can take
hold of that for which I was also taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I myself do not claim to
have already attained it; But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what
is ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. So, all of us
who are perfect, let us feel the same; And if you feel otherwise, God will also reveal this to you. But

6 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
in what we have reached, let us follow the same rule, let us feel the same thing” (Philippians 3:12-
16).

In this passage, the apostle describes his constant struggle for growth toward spiritual perfection
(spiritual maturity), and even though we never reach full maturity while in this earthly body, this
quest is presented as a goal (skopos, “a goal , a mark on which to fix your eyes"). The apostle, to
achieve his desire in this search, used two picturesque words. We see the first in Philippians 3:12
with the term “I continue.” In Greek 'doiko', which means "to run after, pursue, go towards" and
therefore, "fight for, seek." The other word is found in verse 13, “attain.” In Greek, 'ep-ek-teinomai',
a compound word used in the middle voice that literally means: “to reach out towards something.”
The metaphor behind the words used here is that of a race surely based on the Isthmian games of
ancient Greece. The terms used portray a runner leaning forward with his entire body and hands
trying to reach the finish line with his eyes fixed on it.

1 Timothy 1:3-6

“As I begged you to stay in Ephesus, when I went to Macedonia, so that you would command some
not to teach different doctrines, nor to pay attention to fables and endless genealogies, which lead
to disputes rather than the edification of God which is by faith, so I order you now. For the purpose
of this commandment is love born of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of unfeigned faith,
from which things some have turned aside and turned away to vain talk” (1 Timothy 3-6).

Here, again we see the idea of a goal; but verse 6 approaches it from a negative point of view,
showing what happens when we do not focus on the right goals. “For the purpose of this
commandment is love born of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of unfeigned faith, from
which things some have turned aside and have turned away to vain talk” (1 Timothy 5-6).

Timothy, as a Christian leader, was burdened with the responsibility of instructing the false teachers
he was facing in Ephesus, as they were dealing with matters concerning the religion of men and
futile speculations. Two reasons are given:

The first reason is that such speculations are useless and do not promote God's administration.
This refers to God's redemptive plan that includes spiritual growth and maturity, which are achieved
by faith in the truth of the gospel, the Word (verse 4).

But the second reason is a huge failure to both understand and achieve biblical goals. The goals
mentioned in this text have two faces: (a) those that promote God's redemptive plan or
administration of promoting the message of Christ and (b) that which will be the result of faithful
biblical teaching - Christian love (' agape') authentic.

In relation to this goal, Paul points out that these false teachers have gone astray. In verse 6, 'to go
astray' is 'to miss the point', “not reaching the goal carefully” and therefore, “not achieving the goal.”
Not only must we have biblical goals, but we must also remain focused on them, just like the runner
focused and trying to reach the final goal. One of the great dangers we all face is failing to maintain
alertness and focus on biblical goals. It is too easy to get sidetracked by life's various problems and
world attractions.

(2) Maturity marks are also identification and confirmation marks . They identify and confirm
the reality of Christ in our lives. As such, they mark us with the seal of Christ throughout our lives.
Again, we must emphasize that no one fully reaches this level; There will always be room for
growth, so these are the things we should always keep in focus (cf. 2nd Peter 1:12-15). Today,
churches have, to a large extent, lost their identity. It is generally very difficult to distinguish
believers from non-believers based on their character, values, priorities and goals.

7 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
(3) As marks of identification and confirmation, they make the possessor of these qualities
an example, a model to follow . These qualities demonstrate the reality of Christ and make
believers truly influenceable in the right way. Therefore, one of the great goals and products of
achieving the goals of maturity is that these brands allow Christians to become examples of the
Christian life and the life-changing power that exists in these people and in the work. of Jesus
Christ. All Christians; But especially those involved in leadership roles, they must come to recognize
that God has called them to become models of Christlikeness. We will say about it later.

The Nature of Maturity as a Product of Spirituality

Although this has already been mentioned, the relationship of maturity and spirituality is important
enough to demand elaboration. Unless one recognizes the elements of spirituality and their role in
biblical maturity, many of the qualities detailed below will be sought by people for their own energy
or strength. The result will not be true spirituality or maturity; but a human reformation (see Luke
11:23-26 and Colossians 2:20-23).[4] I think the next point will clarify all of this and many of these
qualities of maturity, which are also qualities of biblical leadership are unique because of the
element of biblical spirituality and its role in producing Christ-like change and maturity. . Biblical
spirituality involves four distinct factors: [5]

(1)Biblical spirituality that leads to maturity first involves regeneration , which causes one to
be born again through the Spirit of God, through faith in the person and work of Christ. By
the new birth, we are brought into a vital relationship with God. This new spiritual life provides the
necessary spiritual source and equipment (a new nature, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, union with
Christ, etc.) for spiritual growth and change (see Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:16- 19; 1 Corinthians 2:14-
16; James 1:18-21; In 1st Peter he makes it clear that the new birth is basic and necessary for the
new birth to occur. Based on the reality of their conversion or spiritual regeneration, Peter calls for
the expression of fervent love for one another. This regeneration purified their souls, brought
forgiveness for sins and a new spiritual nature or inner person; one who had the ability to know and
have communion with God. However, this was the work of the living, indwelling Word of God (verse
23). Therefore, in this passage, we are shown the vital role of the Word of God in both instances.
Naturally, this leads to the next vital element of biblical spirituality so necessary for the change that
leads to Christlikeness, to which Peter quickly shifts in 1 Peter 2:2: “Like newborn babes, desire
milk. unadulterated spiritual, so that through it you may grow to salvation” (spiritual growth and
change) .

(2)Biblical spirituality that leads to biblical maturity is also the result of biblical wisdom
imparted by the Holy Spirit and by the study of the Word . It is this biblical wisdom that gives
spiritual discernment, because the Word of God enlightens the believer's understanding with the
spiritual principles and moral guidelines of the mind of Christ, to guide their lives (see Colossians
1:9, 28; 2:6 -7; 1 Peter 2:1-2; Psalm 119:105; This is also evident in Paul's comment on the spiritual
man in 1 Corinthians 2:15-3:3. There it says: “the spiritual judge all things.” While some see the
phrase: "he who is spiritual" ('pneumatics', "belonging to the spirit, spiritual" or "of one who belongs
to or is activated by the divine Spirit") [6] to refer simply to one who is saved in contrast to the
unregenerate person (verse 14), the context supports a different understanding of the word spiritual.
The apostle is speaking about a person who, through the controlling and teaching ministry of the
Spirit, has grown beyond the basic ABCs of the milk of the Word (cf. 3:1-3) and therefore is able to
discern all things. The fact of being saved does not give the ability to have this kind of discernment.
This discernment is the product of spiritual growth in the knowledge and application of the
Scriptures, which takes time (cf. Hebrews 11:11-14).

(3)Biblical spirituality that leads to maturity involves the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of
the believer. Today, we hear a lot in the secular world about spirituality, using terms such as
“entering into communion with your spirit,” or “contacting a higher power”; but this is New Age
thinking and is actually a part of the lies and false doctrines of Satan, who seeks to promote human

8 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
reform by attempting to lead man to become a god himself. Satan's methods always ignore man
and the work of Christ. Biblical spirituality is the work of the Holy Spirit who comes to dwell in each
believer and only the one who believes in Jesus Christ at the moment of faith in Christ. Therefore,
the Holy Spirit is a prominent member of Divinity who is involved in producing spirituality in every
believer in Christ. As Ryrie comments:

«This does not mean that the other persons of the Divinity do not have their particular work in this,
nor that the believer himself has no responsibility, nor that there are no other means of grace; but it
does affirm His primary role in spirituality. The ministries of the Spirit involve teaching (John 16:12-
15); guide (Romans 8:14); prayer (Romans 8:26); the exercise of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7);
warning against the flesh (Galatians 5:17) and all of these depend, for full manifestation, on the
filling of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).” [7]

Believers are commanded to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) and to “walk in the Spirit”
(Galatians 5:16), which means to be controlled, guided, and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. [8]

(4) Biblical Spirituality that leads to maturity involves time —time to grow and mature in our
walk with the Savior.

«If the spiritual person judges, analyzes or discerns all things (1 Corinthians 2:15), he requires time
to obtain knowledge and to gain experience to discern all things... This should not be done in a
single night; It is something that is true only in a mature Christian.

I think that in the word maturity, we have the key to the concept of spirituality, because Christian
maturity is the growth that the Holy Spirit produces over a period of time in the believer. To be sure,
not all people require the same amount of time; but sometimes it is necessary for everyone. It is not
the amount of time itself that determines maturity; But what is important is the progress that is
achieved and the growth that is acquired. The growth rate multiplied by time is equal to the
distance, so the distance to maturity can be covered in a shorter time if the growth rate is
accelerated. And it will be accelerated if none of the controls that must be given to the Holy Spirit
are retained by the person.

Here we have a proposed definition of spirituality, which attempts to be concise and at the same
time keep in mind the aforementioned factors. Spirituality is a mature and developing relationship
with the Holy Spirit. Although this may simply be another way of saying that spirituality is Christian
maturity, it attempts to more openly delineate the factors that the Spirit controls over a period of
time. Certainly, the definition satisfies the requirements of the description of the spiritual man that
we see in 1 Corinthians 2:15, who is experiencing a relationship of growth in the Holy Spirit, will be
able to discern all things and at the same time, not be understood for others". [9]

The biblical characteristics that a Christian leader needs are only found in one who has reached a
certain degree of maturity in Christ. We are not surprised that the apostle, when discussing the
qualifications of elders in 1 Timothy 3, warned against choosing a new convert (3:6). But the fact
remains:

“Not that I have already achieved it, nor that I am already perfect; but I press on, to see if I can take
hold of that for which I was also taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I myself do not claim to
have already attained it; But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what
is ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 3:12-14). [10]

The Characteristics of Christian Maturity and Leadership

9 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
Before considering the qualities that should characterize a mature Christian and a Christian leader,
it is necessary to consider their uniqueness. It is thought that doing so will allow us to focus on the
supernatural element involved and how Christian maturity and leadership must find its source in a
personal relationship with the living Christ, through the Holy Spirit and in the light of God's special
revelation. : the holy Bible. Following is a summary of six features: [eleven]

(1) Both Christian maturity and leadership is characteristic because of the nature of the
leader's position as a servant, in contrast to the secular world's view. Christ put a lot of
emphasis on this on a number of occasions (see Luke 22:24-27; Mark 10:35-45). Furthermore,
regardless of one's position in the home or in the church, the biblical principle is that there is only
one who is “number one,” and that is Christ. It is He who must have preeminence in the life of the
church (cf. John 13:13; Colossians 1:18 with 3rd John 9-11). One of the priorities of leadership is
total submission to the authority and leadership of Christ.

(2) Both Christian maturity and leadership are characteristic of the nature of their character
requirements. While the secular and corporate world may speak of the need for moral character, it
will lack certain qualities of character that are strictly Christian in nature, such as submission to the
Lordship of Christ, complete faith in the doctrine of Scripture, and those characteristics cited in 1
Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:7-9.

(3) Both Christian maturity and leadership are characteristic of their source. In Scripture, the
special abilities of being a Christian leader are explicitly cited as the product of the gift of the Spirit.
While all Christians have a responsibility to lead in certain capacities—as parents, Sunday School
teachers, and as members of society—the Holy Spirit, the giver of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians
12:7), bestows a special gift. leadership as described in Romans 12:6-8:

“Therefore, having different gifts, according to the grace given to us, if the gift of prophecy, let it be
used according to the measure of faith; or if of service, to serve; or he who teaches, in teaching; he
who exhorts, in the exhortation; he who distributes, liberally; the one who presides, with care ; He
who shows mercy, with joy” (Romans 12:6-8; author's emphasis).

Leadership is a gift sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit, like all spiritual gifts, to the point of
salvation when a person is united to the body of Christ through the work of baptism by the Spirit (1
Corinthians 12:12- 13). This giving of the Spirit equips each believer for service in the body. For
some, this involves the gift of leadership:

Human beings cannot choose their gifts, nor receive credit for them, nor assume that their gifts
make them superior beings. «The gifts are shared among Christians; not everyone receives the
same ones; But all gifts come from the Spirit, so there is no room for rivalries, discontent or feelings
of superiority. [12] The fact that the Holy Spirit is the source of leadership capacity and sovereign
election creates a freedom from pride and arrogance among those responsible to Him.

The gift of leadership is not a matter of a certain personality type. Peter was a leader by virtue of his
personal strength (Acts 4:8-12); James by virtue of his practical wisdom (Acts 15:12-21); Paul by
virtue of his intellectual capacity (as seen in his sermons and epistles); Timothy by virtue of his
sacrificial service (Philippians 2:19-21) and John by virtue of his heart disposed toward God and
man (as seen in his writings). All of these leaders shared these virtues; but each of them had a
different personality that marked them in an exclusive way. This demonstrates the fact that
leadership is not a matter of human personality, but of divine sovereignty. In the same way that the
gifts of the Spirit are not reserved for a few outstanding people [13] The spiritual gift of leadership is
not reserved for a special type of personality.

The gift of leadership is discovered and developed in the same way as other spiritual gifts; that is,
through life experience, training and maturation process. Even though it is the product of the

10 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
presence of the Spirit and the grace of God, this gift requires diligence, faithfulness, hard work and
commitment if it is to be exercised effectively. [14]

(4) Both Christian maturity and leadership are characterized by practicality. Christian
character required being a divine leader, biblically speaking, having its source in a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. It must be the product of a life filled with the Word and the Spirit
(controlled life) (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18), which results in a life changed into the likeness
of Christ. Paul, addressing those who sought sanctification through the law or legalism, wrote:

“I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live
in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not throw
away the grace of God; For if righteousness came through the law, then Christ died for nothing”
(Galatians 2:20-21).

Leadership requires great wisdom, strength and endurance; but the Christian leader can always
count on the presence and provision of the Spirit of God, along with the presence of the indwelling
Savior.

Christians who possess this gift can exercise it in secular environments, such as business, politics
or education; but non-Christian leaders in those areas cannot ask for the power of the Spirit. This
truth is one of the most unique elements of Christian leadership. Christian leaders have many things
in common with non-Christian leaders: both must communicate with those who follow them; Both
must use their skills effectively when exercising their leadership.[fifteen] But only Christian leaders
can count on the Holy Spirit to fulfill their purpose of afflicting and changing others in their spiritual
area. The power of the Spirit will not make your leadership perfect; [16] but it will guide them in a
growth model of Christian maturity as well as allowing them to have a spiritual impact that they
would not have in any other way or by any other type of leader. [17]

(5) Both Christian maturity and leadership are unique in their ambition and motivation .
Ambition is a strong desire to accomplish something or achieve a specific goal. The difference
between a worldly or a Christian ambition is the nature of the ambition (fame, power, prestige,
position, effective service, glory of God, etc.) and the motives behind that ambition. In 1 Timothy
3:1, the apostle wrote: “True word: If anyone desires the bishopric, good [kalos: 'beautiful, useful,
noble, advantageous, etc.'] desire [epithumeo...: 'sets his heart on , wishes'” (author's emphasis).
This aspiration (ambition) to be an elder, position of leadership and responsibility in the church, is a
desire to do a fine, noble or divine work. But the apostle defines it as a “good work.” This removes
the focus from the idea of position and places it on the function or responsibility that goes along
with the work. But no matter how noble it may be, if the motives are wrong (e.g., for prestige, to
build an ego, for power and controlling others, rather than to serve sacrificially, etc.), then ambition
becomes contaminated. For a classic illustration of a good ambition becoming contaminated by
selfish motives, compare Mark 10:35-45 with Luke 22:24-30.

«Nothing can be uglier than the attitudes we see here. But nothing can be more surprising than the
response that Christ gives to these attitudes. He did not attack them for being ambitious and he did
not reject them for being offensive and ambitious. Instead, he redefined ambition and transformed it
into service to others, without taking away from the compelling desire to achieve goals. Ambition is
transformed into humility directed toward service to others rather than proud self-serving. Ambition
is redefined from being of service to self to service to others (Mark 10:43-45) and includes
instruction on how to be first. It is fulfilled through the holy ambition of slavery according to the
pattern of the Lord Jesus Christ. “He demonstrated ambition in the best sense of the word, as the
One who willingly sacrificed Himself to save others.” [18]

(6) Both Christian maturity and leadership are exclusive in their authority . The authority of a
Christian leader comes from Christ; but in his responsibility as a leader, he is a servant in two

11 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
respects: (a) He is a servant of Christ and operates under the authority and leadership of Christ.
Christ is the head of the church, the Chief Shepherd and the One who always has the preeminence
and office. Christian leaders have no authority in themselves. (b) The Christian leader must act as a
servant to those he leads. This is beautifully expressed by Paul, in 2 Corinthians 4:5: “For we do not
preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants [doulos: 'slaves'] for
Jesus' sake.”

In the context of the nature of Christian maturity and the exclusivity of Christian leadership, certain
qualities have been briefly touched upon in that the leader is a model, the source of training and of
the concept of the servant. We will continue with a more detailed discussion regarding the
characteristics of spiritual maturity, which, of course, are also the characteristics of Christian
leadership.

[1] See the article by Charles C. Ryrie, Sacred Library , Vol. 126-503, July '69.

2
In this verse, there is a main verb: “make disciples” (mathe, teusate, imperative of mathe, teruoser
or become a disciple), “make a disciple, teach.” “Go..., baptize. .., teach” are all participles. The first
has all the characteristics of a principle of circumstantial attention that obtains the mood of the main
verb that follows it. It has an imperative emphasis; but the fact that Jesus used this participle
demonstrates the emphasis that it has. He put in making disciples. The following participles,
“baptize..., teach,” are participles of adverbs of means and tell us how to make disciples through
baptism (includes evangelism) and through teaching. explanation, see L Grammar beyond the Base
An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament", by Daniel Wallace, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1996,
pp. 640-645.

[3] James 5:14 is used here, because there is good evidence in this passage that it is not referring
to a physical illness, but to those who are spiritually weak and need encouragement, edification,
and help from leaders. of the church for its growth and victory over sin. For a more detailed
explanation of this point of view, see the article by Daniel R. Hayden in Sacred Library , Vol. 138, #
551, July 1981, pp. 258s.

[4] The point of this story is that change brought about by human means (such as Jewish exorcism
or human reformation) will fail. The only truly effective change is that which occurs through faith in
Christ and that which grows in His life. The key is that there has been no faith in Christ, which
means that the Holy Spirit has not come to dwell in the individual. If an exorcism or other kind of
human reform occurs and there is no response from God through Jesus Christ, the way will be clear
for the devil to return to the world; They are patterns for him to master again.

[5] This material is adapted from the book “What is Spirituality?” , by Charles Ryrie, Sacara Library ,
Vol. 126:503, July 69, Theological Journal Library CD, Galaxie Software.

[6] Walter Bauer, F. Wilbur Gingrich, Frederick W. Danker. A Greek English Lexicon of the New
Testament and Other Early Christian Literature , University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1979,
electronic medium and G. Abbot-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament , T. &T.
Clark, 1973, p. 368.

[7] Ryrie, Electronic Theological Bookstore, Galaxie Software.

[8] For more details on this topic, see Part 2, Lessons 4 and 5 of The ABCs of Christian Growth:
Setting the Foundation on our website: http://www.bible.org/docs/splife/abc/toc.htm.

12 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.
[9] Ryrie, Electronic Theological Bookstore, Galaxie Software.

[10] Stanley D. Toussaint, “The Spiritual Man”, Bibliotheca Sacra , Vol. 125:498, April-June 1968,
Electronic Theological Bookstore, Galaxie Software.

[eleven] For a complete analysis of each of these characteristics, see the article by William D.
Lawrence in the Sacred Library , Vol. 144-575, July 1987, pp. 318s. Lawrence cites seven
characteristics; but I have combined two of them, because they are very related to each other.
Furthermore, although he focuses only on Christian leadership, in these characteristics I have
included the concept of maturity.

[12] Lawrence, citing Warren Bennis and Burt Namus, Leaders (New York: Harper & Row, 1985), p.
5.

[13] Lawrence, taken from Leon Morris, The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians , Grand Rapids:
Wm. b. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1958, p. 170.

[14] William D. Lawrence, Bibliotheca Sacra , Vol. 144-575, July 1987, pp. 320-321.

[fifteen] Lawrence, for a secular discussion of these elements, see Bennis and Nanus, Leaders , pp.
19-86; For a thought of this nature from a Christian point of view, see Fred Smith, Learning to Lead
(Waco, TX: Word Books, 1986), pp. 32-44.

[16] Lawrence, taken from Sanders, Paul the Leader , p. 41.

[17] Lawrence, pp. 321-322.

[18] Lawrence, pp. 323-324-

13 God commands us to obey and comply with all his commands, not to question him,
much less think that because of sin and our imperfection we are not capable.