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But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does it. Ephesians 4:7-16 (NKJV)
1. What are your thoughts when you hear about the statistics of such a high percentage of full-time ministers or pastors in considering quitting the ministry? Discuss why the pastor role must be a calling from God to serve and not be taken as just another secular job.
(Matthew 9:9; Matthew 4:18)
2. Explain what are the main roles and responsibilities of a local pastor and how are your expectations different? Will you listen to a pastor whom you have never identified as your pastor?
(Ephesians 4:7-8, 11; 1 Peter 5:2; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12)
3. Discuss if you struggle with obedience and submission to the pastor’s leadership when you do not agree on the direction, strategy or methods, and what may be the root issues with your attitude of disagreement. How can you be a blessing once you have identified a church to be your home church?
(1 Chronicles 16:22; Numbers 12:1-2)