Called to Serve
Introduction
This Sunday at Mount Olive, we celebrated the ordination of Marco Aso as a deacon and were reminded from Scripture that church leaders are called to serve with humility, integrity, and courage. We were also challenged as a congregation to trust our leaders, encourage them, hold them to a godly standard, and pray for them faithfully. Above all, we remembered that our service flows from the hope we have in Jesus—and that same hope is available to you.
Discussion Questions
Outline
I. What is an Elder? 1 Timothy 3:1-13
· The Elder should be an example in attitude, conduct, attendance, witness, and speech.
II. What is a Deacon? Acts 6:1-6
· Deacons should humbly serve the church whenever they see a need.
III. What is the Church’s Role?
· The best thing you can do for your deacons is pray for them.
Study Questions
1. When you hear the word “leader,” what qualities immediately come to mind? How do those compare to the biblical qualifications in 1 Timothy 3?
2. Read 1 Timothy 3:1–13. Why do you think Paul focuses so heavily on character before competence? What stands out most to you in that list of qualifications?
3. Read James 5:14–16. How does this passage reinforce the expectation that spiritual leaders should be accessible, prayerful, and involved in the needs of the people?
4. Last week, Pastor Keven reminded the deacons to, “Never forget who you truly serve.” How does remembering that leaders ultimately serve God, not people, change the way they handle criticism, praise, or discouragement?
5. 2 Samuel 11 is an example of “friendly fire” in the Bible. What happened? In what ways can churches unintentionally wound their own leaders? How can we guard against that?
6. Read Ephesians 1:15–17 and Ephesians 6:18-19. Why is it important that the church pray for their spiritual leaders? What might happen in your church if prayer for leaders became a consistent, intentional priority?
7. CALL TO ACTION: Memorize Ephesians 6:18. Talk with someone about how you’ve seen spiritual leadership in a church done well and how you’ve seen it abused. Pray for your deacons and ministry leaders by name this week.