T hursday March 13
What Jesus Left
Future generations testify regarding the success of previous efforts.
Whenever those efforts generate lasting results, the principles underlying those accomplishments should be studied and replicated. Did
Christ’s disciple-making methodology produce significant outcomes?
Of course it did. It changed the world. None of us, in fact, would be
reading this Bible study guide more than two thousand years later, were
it not for Christ’s success in His training of the early church leaders.
Read Acts 1. What does this first chapter in the formation of the
early church show us about the need for God-ordained leaders?
What were they looking for in a leader? (See vs. 22.) What can
we take away from this need for ourselves as we seek the right
leaders?
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Jesus established His kingdom and exemplifie d the principles that
would perpetuate its growth. Pioneering the pathway through darkness
to sunrise, Christ selected leaders whose weaknesses were overshadowed by His strength because they completely depended upon Him.
Although lightly esteemed by the religious leaders and academically
deficient, they outshined the Pharisees where it counted: transparency, humility, dependence, and authenticity. How crucial that all of
us, whatever our positions in the church, display such characteristics.
Over time, those who possessed a substantial formal education and an
elevated social standing became part of the church.
“As Christ’s representatives the apostles were to make a decided
impression on the world. The fact that they were humble men would not
diminish their influence, but increase it; for the minds of their hearers
would be carried from them to the Saviour, who, though unseen, was
still working with them. The wonderful teaching of the apostles, their
words of courage and trust, would assure all that it was not in their own
power that they worked, but in the power of Christ.”—Ellen G. White,
The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 22, 23.
What do you look for in church leaders? Why? What are the top
three things that you want to see in them? Bring your answers to
class on Sabbath and compare answers.
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