It seems that the "super-apostles" who were leading the Corinthians astray were doing by parading their intellectual credentials to be considered trustworthy leaders. They were commending themselves to thne Corinthians for their "wisdom" (10:12), their trained speaking ability (11:6) and their heritage (11:22ff). In response Paul could perfectly well have advanced his own education as evidence of his own qualification for leadership, but he doesn't. He advances his sufferings in the service of Christ (11:23ff), his weakness (12:5), divine revelation (12:1ff) and apostolic miracles (12:12ff).
Read moreDiscipling and Training
Some elements to think about when discipling leaders include: how to help them live the whole of their life and exercise their leadership based on a daily appreciation of justification and grace; how being adopted as Sons of God shapes character, goals, relationships; how prayer and worship life are central to their joy in God; how growing in Christ-likeness will mean outdoing others in humility, repentance, forgiveness and kindness; what exhibiting the Galatians 5 fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives actually means in practice.
Read moreTraining Preachers
2 Peter 1 says that if we are growing in godly character this prevents us from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. All preachers note well: we can have knowledge of God that is true but is ineffective and unproductive if we are not growing in Spirit-filled character.
Read moreFormation
It made me think about how crucial it is to have ambitions for the next generation to exceed us. How good am I at encouraging the next generation to be heroes of the faith, with a real sense of gospel adventure? Nowhere near as good as I want to be.
Read moreFormation
I love having training for junior leaders that includes things like how to lead out of a heart of forgiveness. I don't know anywhere else that happens. And what leaders don't need that?
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