Growth & Teachability 

 If We Don’t Learn from History, We Will Repeat It

Good leaders are continual learners. We must keep learning, or we will stop leading. We cannot afford to stagnate, for our world and out people are changing too quickly. New insights and new opportunities appear all the time.

Zechariah needed to learn from the past. His Hebrew forefathers had failed to follow Yahweh. God warned Zechariah to take heed and not follow in their footsteps. God told him to learn from:

1. The past: Israel’s previous years were to warn future generations

2. The prophets: These men of God spoke God’s word and cautioned Israel to listen.

3. The people: The people repeatedly failed to repent and felt miserable.

4. The problems: Trials served to punish the people for their disobedience.

5. The present: Zechariah found himself in a similar predicament.

6. The principles of God: God’s truth cried out to Zechariah’s generation.

Sunday AM

Growth

21 Christian Growth Issues in the Bible

2 Pet. 3:14-18

I. Tomorrow Gets Better When You Get Better Today

a. 2 Pet. 3:18

II. Go After Wisdom

a. Prov. 4:1-27

III. Information Is Not Enough

a. Matt. 13:1-23

IV. Why We Must Keep Learning

a. Heb. 5:11-14

b. Heb. 6:1-12

Sunday PM

Eternal Life: Now & Future

1 John 5:9-13

I. Eternal Life Is A Present Reality for The Christian

a. 1 John 5:11-13

b. 1 John 5:12; John 6:53-58; John 6:63; 1 John 2:24-26; John 5:24; John 6:47; John 10:27-30

II. Eternal Life Is The Christian’s Hope

a. Titus 3:7; 1 Pet. 3-5, 8-9

b. Matt. 25:46

c. Rom. 2:6-7, 10

d. Rom. 6:22-23

e. Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:25; Gal. 6:7-8

III. Christians Forfeit Eternal Life By Returning To Sin

a. Jude v. 21

b. 1 John 5:3

c. John 10:27-30

d. Acts 8:22-24; 1 John 1:9

Growth The Role of the Wilderness

Luke 4:1-13

The role of the wilderness in the preparation of a leader cannot be overemphasized. Both Luke and Matthew record Jesus’ time in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry. Jesus spent 40 days alone, in a desert, abstaining from food and noise and distraction. Both Gospel writers tell us this was a time ordained by the Holy Spirit.

So what happens to leaders in this wilderness season?

Luke gives us a hint:

1. We recognize that God will lead us into seasons of growth, not gratification.

2. We fight battles and overcome temptations to take shortcuts.

3. We learn discipline and the art of depending on God.

4. We are broken of self-sufficiency and self-promotion.

5. We solidify our sense of mission.

6. We gain perspective.

7. We are prepared to enter our vocation.