Leadership: Evaluating God’s Will in Our Ministry

 

Glen Dawursk, Jr. – www.yuthguy.com

 

Worksheet

 

 

Ü Leaders assess the needs of the congregation.

 

In Revelations 2:1-3:9 we find letters to 7 specific churches.  While the letters clearly address the positive and negative issues of the churches as a whole, it is the leadership of these congregations which are being addressed.   They are the ones who have been called by God’s spirit to be the leaders within their congregations.  They are the ones accountable before God.  These letters are a reflection of their leadership.  Read each passage below and access how the needs of each church and evaluate their leadership.

 

 

 

Revelation 2:1-7

To the Church in Ephesus

 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:  These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

 

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Ephesus was doing?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________


 

Revelations 2:8-11

To the Church in Smyrna  

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. 

 

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Smyrna was doing?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

 

 

What is God’s promise in testing according to 1Corinthians 10:13?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Revelations 2:12-17  

To the Church in Pergamum  

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live-where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.  

 

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Pergamum was doing?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Revelations 2:18-29 

To the Church in Thyatira  

"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'-- just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  

 

According to angel, what were the good things the church in Thyatira was doing?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Revelation 3:1-6

To the Church in Sardis  

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  

 

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Sardis was doing?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Revelations 3:7-13

To the Church in Philadelphia  

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Philadelphia was doing?

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Revelations 3:14-19

To the Church in Laodicea  

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Laodicea was doing?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________      

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

ÜLeaders Evaluate the Congregation Based upon Scripture

 

Now consider your congregation and your leadership.  Take an honest look at your church.  Which church is your congregation most similar to?  Explain how or why?

 

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ÜLeaders Pray

 

Say a prayer right now:

_  Praising God for how He makes Himself and His will known through the truth of the scripture. 

_  Ask Him to direct your congregation and its leadership to respond to their needs according to scripture and spiritual discernment. 

_  Ask God to provide for your leadership a plan of action for following His will at your congregation.

_  Open it up for any other prayer requests or concerns.

 

ÜLeaders Choose a Plan of Action

 

Take Home Assignment:  Based upon the church you found most like your own, what are some things your congregation can do to improve your ministry and better fulfill God’s will?  Write them down and bring them back to next weeks Bible Study.

 

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Coming: Next week’s Bible Study Will set up a “process” for developing purpose and setting goals in ministry.

 

 

 

 

 

Leadership: Evaluating God’s Will in Our Church

 

Glen Dawursk, Jr.

 

Leader’s Guide

 

Ü Leaders assess the needs of the congregation.

 

In Revelations 2:1-3:9 we find letters to 7 specific churches.  While the letters clearly address the positive and negative issues of the churches as a whole, it is the leadership of these congregations which are being addressed.   They are the ones who have been called by God’s spirit to be the leaders within their congregations.  They are the ones accountable before God.  These letters are a reflection of their leadership.  Read each passage below and access how the needs of each church and evaluate their leadership.

 

 

Revelation 2:1-7

To the Church in Ephesus

 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:  These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

 

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Ephesus was doing?

 

Ø       Strong doctrine, willing to stand for absolute truth; hard work and perseverance under pressure

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

Ø       They had forgotten their “first love for Jesus.”  They had become strong in “head knowledge” and weak in their heart response.  They emphasized the religion and lacked the relationship.

 

 

Revelations 2:8-11

To the Church in Smyrna  

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. 

 

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Smyrna was doing?

 

Ø       They were a “poor” church struggling with finances, yet their faith made them spiritually rich therefore God allowed their faith to be tested.

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

Ø       Their struggles and temptations were taking a toll upon the small congregation and apparently some of the membership was showing signs of fear and trust in God.

 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

 

 

What is God’s promise in testing according to 1Corinthians 10:13?

 

Ø       That God will never give our congregation more testing than it can handle.

 

 

 

Revelations 2:12-17  

To the Church in Pergamum  

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live-where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.  

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Pergamum was doing?

 

Ø       Even though they were in the midst of a sinful environment, they remained faithful to Jesus name. 

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

Ø       They lost absolute truth and began to compromise their beliefs for the sake of membership.  They allowed relativism to take hold amongst their membership.

 

 

Revelations 2:18-29 

To the Church in Thyatira  

"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'-- just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  

 

 

According to angel, what were the good things the church in Thyatira was doing?

 

Ø       They did good works by serving others and endured their faith.

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

Ø       They permitted a false teacher in their midst and her teachings were confusing the believers.  She professed to be God’s prophetess but in actuality her teachings were a deception from Satan.

 

Revelation 3:1-6

To the Church in Sardis  

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  

 

 

According to the angel, what were the good things the church in Sardis was doing?

Ø       They were active in the community and had a good reputation as an impressive, growing in numbers and “alive” church…

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

Ø       …but in actuality, they were a spiritually dead congregation. 

 

 

Revelations 3:7-13

To the Church in Philadelphia  

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

 

 

According to angel, what were the good things the church in Philadelphia was doing?

Ø       They are a small but faithful congregation who has been dedicated to the Lord and has kept His commands to be patient during trials and temptation.

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

Ø       Nothing.  They are encouraged to continue to maintain their focus on the Lord and to “hold on” to the faithfulness and trust they have in Him.

Revelations 3:14-19

To the Church in Laodicea  

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

 

 

According to angel, what were the good things the church in Laodicea was doing?

 

Ø       Nothing.  This congregation has fallen into extreme mediocrity and is neither for nor against the Lord.  God says He will “spit them out” or refuse fellowship with them because of their indifference.

 

 

What had the church leadership done wrong or allowed that needed improvement?

 

Ø       The leadership desperately needs to heed God’s calling.  They have confused their call to follow the truth of scripture with the desire to please others.  They have seen success in “wealth” as a sign that they are doing the right things and have in turn lost their discernment and commitment to God.  Their “luke warm” status is a symbol of the “head knowledge church” where reliance upon “religion” is above the “relationship” with our Savior.  Jesus was no longer at the throne of their hearts.

 

 

ÜLeaders Evaluate the Congregation Based upon Scripture

 

Now consider your congregation and your leadership.  Take an honest look at your church.  Which church does your congregation most similar to?  Explain how or why?

 

ÜLeaders Pray

 

Say a prayer right now praising God for how He makes Himself and His will known through the truth of the scripture.  Ask Him to direct your congregation and its leadership to respond to their needs according to scripture.  Ask God to provide for your leadership a plan of action for following His will at your congregation.

 

ÜLeaders Choose a Plan of Action

 

Based upon the church you found most like your own, what are some things your congregation can do to improve your ministry and better fulfill God’s will?

 

Coming: Next week’s Bible Study Will set up a “process”
for developing purpose and setting goals in ministry.