Session One Take the Lead: Calling Leaders Micah 2:13 (NLT) Your leader will break out and lead you out of exile, out through the gates of the enemy cities, back to your own land. Your king will lead you; the LORD himself will guide you. Place on Overhead: This is a year when you will lead people to freedom- past the barriers, into the fullness and focus of Gods purpose for their lives. Your authority will undeniable and God will make known your assignments. In order to accomplish this, it's going to be a challenging year. Challenges that if embraced will produce a wealth of increase in both our personal lives and the lives of many others. Ultimately it will enhance the effectiveness and expansion of Gods work, laying the foundation for the next generation. For the Christian leader, the challenge will be overcoming fear, reprioritize the value scale of our lives and commit to the ultimate call we all have; to share the good news of the gospel with the lost, to disciple them into a deeper more consistent walk with God and build platforms for them to serve others. The writer of Hebrews understood this when he penned Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. When he uses the word provoke he means "to incite or irritate" (from Strong's Concordance). We need someone pushing us forward in the word and work of God. He also said, "Don't leave out getting together with each other," which leads me to address a major misconception and that is "I don't need the church to be saved." This is so true, but I believe you need the church to stay saved. Strategically this will be a year that we move from the inside out in two differing ways. 1 1. Personally- Philippians 2:12 13 (NLT) Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more
important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. The hidden work of the heart that has taken place through salvation must be lived as evidence to the world around us. 2. Corporately- James 1:27 (NLT) Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. The engagement with our community in both subtle and extravagant ways will grow our spiritual gifting and validate to those who are feeling lost that God sees them and is reaching for them. We must take the lead- God works in conjunction with faith believing humanity. God empowers them to lead in varying ways but always with the same purpose: to lead humanity back to a relationship with God and live in His purpose for creation. Identity is a source of empowerment. When we answer the question of identity, we have then defined our responsibility. Who do men say I am? Matthew 16:13 (NLT) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? Acts 11:26 (NLT) When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) We have a leadership problem: From Eli to Samuel- 1 Samuel 2:12 (NLT) Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the LORD 1 Samuel 8:1 3 (NLT) As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. 2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. 3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. The Calling of a Leader- 1 Samuel 8:4 5 (NLT) Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 Look, they told him, you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have. Why? 1 Samuel 9:16 (NLT) About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry. 2
1. A Private Conversation- 1 Samuel 9:26 27 (NLT) At daybreak the next morning, Samuel called to Saul, Get up! It s time you were on your way. So Saul got ready, and he and Samuel left the house together. 27 When they reached the edge of town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead. After the servant was gone, Samuel said, Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God. 2. A Personal Calling- 1 Samuel 10:1 (NLT) Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul s head. He kissed Saul and said, I am doing this because the LORD has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession. 1 Samuel 10:9 (NLT) As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel s signs were fulfilled that day. Luke 1:31 33 (NLT) You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end! John 15:16 (NLT) You didn t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 3. A Spiritual Impartation- 1 Samuel 10:5 6 (NLT) When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. 6 At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. 1 Samuel 10:10 11 (NLT) When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 11 When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet? 12 And one of those standing there said, Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is? So that is the origin of the saying Is even Saul a prophet? Matthew 3:16 17 (NLT) After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. 3
Acts 1:8 (NLT) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 4. A Public Presentation- 1 Samuel 10:20 23 (NLT) So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the LORD, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the LORD, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the LORD, Where is he? And the LORD replied, He is hiding among the baggage. 23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else. Luke 4:14 (NLT) Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. Acts 4:33 (NLT) The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God s great blessing was upon them all. 5. A Mixed Celebration- 1 Samuel 10:24 (NLT) Then Samuel said to all the people, This is the man the LORD has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him! And all the people shouted, Long live the king! 1 Samuel 10:26 (NLT) When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But there were some scoundrels who complained, How can this man save us? And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them. (acted deaf) Matthew 13:54 58 (NLT) He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles? 55 Then they scoffed, He s just the carpenter s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things? 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family. 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. Acts 2:13 (NLT) But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, They re just drunk, that s all! Acts 2:37 (NLT) Peter s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, Brothers, what should we do? 4
Close: 1 Samuel 10:7 (NLT) After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. 1 Samuel 11:4 6 (NLT) When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears. 5 Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, What s the matter? Why is everyone crying? So they told him about the message from Jabesh. 6 Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry. Matthew 4:17 (NLT) From then on Jesus began to preach, Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Matthew 28:19 20 (NLT) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. God has an agenda in the earth. It's an unfolding plan that requires participation with each generation. Culminating in a complete restoration of humanity and creation. Romans 8:19 23 (NLT) For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 5
God works with Leaders- The Called A crisis is often the opportunity for Leader to provide a way forward. One of the first leaders Noah 1. Start with the Why? 2. Building a Boat when theirs no water 3. Expecting the Un-expecting- As in the days of Noah 4. A Life that rises above 5. Salvation of the Eight Matthew 24:37 39 (NLT) When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. You are the answer to someone's problem. You are the salvation to someone else's bondage. 6
Session Two- Abraham 1. Moving to Where? 2. The Delay Doesn t mean Denial 3. Living through 4. Doing the Impossible with Possible in Mind- 5. Warring 7
Session Three Isaac Session Four- Jacob 8