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SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE

CONVERSATION STARTER
Who in your life has been an excellent spiritual leader to you? How so?

DEEPER

Read Romans 12:4-8
How can we discern whether someone is truly gifted by the Spirit for leadership — and not just naturally talented or persuasive?

Read Titus 3:4-8; 14. Though not every Christian has the spiritual gift of leadership, all Christians are leaders in the sense that we are to lead ourselves in living a life that’s a proper response to all that Christ has done for us. We’re not to live life on auto-pilot. In what ways are you currently leading yourself in your faith? Where do you feel you’re on “auto-pilot” spiritually?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. What do your impressions of and your relationships with the elders here at Gateway Church look like? If you’re a member, what does your relationship look like with your shepherding elder? What are ways we can pay our respects to them?

How have you personally experienced or observed the leadership structure at Gateway — elders, staff, deacons, Life Group leaders — working together to lead and care for the church? And how do you think this kind of structure helps us grow up into maturity as the body of Christ?

Have you ever found yourself hesitant to follow or trust church leadership — whether because of discomfort, personal preference, or pride? What did that experience reveal to you about your heart or your view of spiritual authority and leadership?

How do you think spiritual leadership differs from leadership in the business or social world? Where should they overlap, and where should they diverge?

What stood out to you in this week’s sermon? What were your biggest takeaways?

Prayer activity: Break up into smaller groups and pray specifically for our elders, staff, deacons, and Life Group leaders, that God would use them to lead our flock in the ways of the Lord, and that we would esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

NOTES

DISCIPLINES
Pray: Pray for our church leadership and those who possess the spiritual gift of leadership — that God would continue to work through them to build up his church.

Read: Consider reading Gateway’s booklet Church Leadership: An Introduction on Leadership at Gateway Church.

Write: Write down any questions you might have from the sermon and submit them to the website to be answered in a future podcast.

Sing: Listen to the worship songs from Sunday throughout the week. Look up the lyrics to each song and spend some time reading them.

Memorize: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

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