The following provides suggested answers for the Message Based Discussion Questions from the message presented on June 1, 2014. The answers (below the message outline) are designed to stimulate thinking, not prevent it.

1 Tim. 5:22,24; Acts 20:28-30

How do you honor leadership?

1) Honor leaders in Jesus name 5:17-18

• 1 Tim. 1:3; 4:1; 1 Cor. 9:7-14; [Deut 25:4; Luke 10:7]

 3) Receive no accusations without verified witnesses 5:19-20

3) Remain impartial toward leadership before Jesus 5:21-23

• 1 Cor. 10:31

4) Examine leadership with Jesus’ eyes 5:24-25

• Matt 16: 15-17; 21-23

Jesus is the true Leader! Disciple men to lead by means of Jesus.

• Believe the best, but don’t ordain without 1 Tim. 3:1-13. Carefully investigate the lives of potential leaders. Don’t rush to put a man in leadership who is not ready or not proven.
• Do not listen to a charge from one person. If more than one, or it is publicly made, investigate the charge for purity sake. Don’t be nice to be nice. Doctrine and the church are far more important than the leader. Leaders will come and go, doctrine and the church remain. Remove bad leaders, appoint new ones, but not too quickly 1 Tim. 5:19.
• Honoring a leader never over-shadows the necessity for holiness. Correct sin, because it is costly to the church. We should fear sin in the church Acts 5:1-11.
• Scripture is the foundation for authority for equipping to every good work 2 Tim. 3:16-17.

Message Based Discussion Questions

1) Describe what you remember about the leadership in the first church you attended.

• One pastor was tall calm and always together. I could follow his three points, while another pastor was more difficult to follow, although he preached from a biblical text.
• There was another pastor that was somewhat younger and he tried hard, but it was difficult to understand what he was talking about. He was involved with the youth, but did not join in on the activities. They all wore robes in church and were solemn. 

Digging deeper:

2) If a leader sins, should he be held accountable? _yes__ What should we learn from Scripture about accusations (cf. Deut. 17:6; 19:15)? What kinds of things motivate people to make accusations?

• Deut 17:6 – a man is not executed over the witness of one person, but with two or three and he committed a capital offense, he would be executed.
• Deut 19:15 – one man shall not accuse another, but only by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses shall a matter be established.
• People make accusations, because they have a personal agenda
  • Because someone is in their way.
  • Because they didn’t get their way.
  • Because that is the only way they can get ahead.
  • Because they misunderstood.
  • Because they are under pressure and they want to divert the attention
  • Because they want someone else to go down instead of them
  • Because they have pride
  • Because they were offended years earlier
  • Because they are jealous of the person
  • Because they don’t like a person

3) Are angels observing your actions? _yes__What have angels watched and done with man (cf. 1 Pet. 1:8-12; Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4; Matt. 4:11; 25:41; 1 Tim. 3:16; 5:21; Eph. 3:10-11; 1 Cor. 4:9)?

• Jude 6 – some angels went outside of their domain, but are now in tartarus
• Matt .4:11 – they ministered to Jesus
• 1 Tim. 3:16 – they observed the humanity of Jesus
• Eph. 3:10-11 – they are watching the church
• 1 Cor. 4:9 – they are observing us as “spectacles” of God’s grace.
• 1 Tim. 5:21 – they observe how leadership is chosen and how the church functions under the authority organism that God chose.
• Matt. 25:41 – they await the eternal fire prepared by the Lord
• 2 Pet 2:4 – angels are not able to watch, because those who violated the women prior to the flood are kept in chains of darkness in Tartarus.
• 1 Pet. 1:8-12 – they watch how grace is working out through us and our dependence on the Lord

4) Should grace cover over all sin, so all is forgiven and not dealt with? ___no__ What should the church learn regarding discipline (consider passages like: Matt. 18:15–18; Rom. 16:17–18; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Cor. 2:6–11; Gal. 6:1–3; 2 Thess. 3:6–16; 2 Tim. 2:23–26; Titus 3:10; and 2 John 9–11)?

• Rom. 16:17-18 – note those who cause divisions in the church, especially those who are contrary to the doctrine and avoid them.
• 2 Cor. 2:6-11 – when a brother genuinely repents, let him return to the church and restore him to fellowship.
• 2 Thes. 3:6-16 – When a brother doesn’t want to work, then don’t enable him to keep on sinning, but withhold food and fellowship from him. Note him and avoid him.
• Titus 3:10 – reject a man from fellowship if he has been admonished twice
• 2 John 1:9-11 – If a brother does not abide in Truth, then he does not have God and he must be saved.
• 2 Tim. 2:23-26 – when a brother is in opposition, then approach him humbly if perhaps God will allow him repentance and escape the snare of the devil
• Gal. 6:1-3 – when a brother sins, check yourself and if you have credibility with him, then come alongside of him and help carry his burden.
• 1 Cor. 5:1-13 – if a brother is sinning, put him out of the church (prevent him from fellowship with other Christians), so that the devil can deal with him and he will repent and return.
• Matt. 18:15-18 – that individuals should approach individuals first, then bring someone else in as witnesses to the restoration process, but not for grumbling sessions, then even before the whole leadership team

Making application of the message to life:

5) What are the benefits of honoring spiritual leadership in the church (Heb. 13:7,17)?

• Heb. 13:7 – remember those who rule over you and consider their conduct, so you can learn the easy way, rather than the hard way of life
• Heb. 13:17 – obey those who are in leadership for it would be unprofitable to not follow them.

6) What are godly ways to hold spiritual leadership accountable to be humble servants of the Lord?

• If the leader doesn’t respond, then bring someone with you and if that doesn’t work, then request to appear before the leadership.
• Seek to encourage before and after. If there is sin, cut it out and off from the church.
• Get to know them in time and ensure they are growing in their relationship with Christ and by discipling others.
• Follow the PAUSE principle.
• Live a godly life yourself and exercise humility in all things, like you may have not seen things correctly or heard something accurately.
• Approach them individually if something is noticed, but not in public

7) If you see a church leader sin, what would you do? How will you restore holiness to the church? How are you a part of the process?

• Restore holiness by cutting out the sin and putting on holinessI am not his judge, but his friend, who will come alongside to help, not hinder or condemn. 
• I will stick with him, because the Lord may use me to be His glove to help guide the leader back to the Lord.
• I should be an advocate to help in the process.
• Go to him individually. Take a witness if he doesn’t respond. Take it before the board if necessary.