Message Notes

LEADERSHIP RETREAT
23-24 August 2019

Theme: “Counted Faithful to be put in the Ministry” 1 Timothy 1:12

Friday, 23 August 2019
Session #1

INTRODUCTION

INSIGHTS OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

1. Old Testament

a) Moses

b) David

2. New Testament

a) The Lord Jesus Christ

b) The apostle Paul

FOCUS OF THIS SPIRITUAL RETREAT

1. Leadership Principles of the apostle Paul

2. Understanding of these Principles

a) Discovered in personal experience

i) It has to be experienced

ii) It has to be fathomed

iii) It has to be put into principles so that others can learn/ benefit

b) Developed over time

i) Church at Antioch (Acts 11, 13)

ii) In the Mission field

iii) It would take many years to cultivate leadership principles/ skills

c) Defined as a spiritual gift (Romans 12:8)

i) Leadership is called “proistemi” (προιστημι)

ii) Literally- “to stand before”

iii) Nuance: To lead; to manage

iv) Being a gift, it has to be given by the Lord

GOALS OF THIS SPIRITUAL RETREAT

1. To share lessons of Spiritual Leadership

a) From the Scriptures

b) As seen and practised in Bethany and the IPC Family overseas

2. Relevance:

a) To the Young

b) To the more mature

3. Future of Bethany and the IPC Family at stake:

a) Australia

b) India

c) Myanmar

d) Singapore

A SPECIAL PRINCIPLE: “SONSHIP”

1. In the language of the world

a) The Mentor

b) The Mentored

2. In Biblical language

a) Sonship

b) A special relationship is established

c) It is developed

d) It is maintained

3. The Doctrine of Sonship

a) The relationship between the Lord Jesus and His Disciples

b) The list includes:

i) Teacher (John 13:13a)

ii) Lord (John 13:13b)

c) The Disciples were addressed as “children” (John 21:5)

4. References to Timothy in the New Testament

a) At least 25 times

b) In at least 4 church contexts

i) Philippi (Acts 16)

ii) Thessalonica (Acts 17)

iii) Corinth (Acts 18)

iv) Ephesus (Acts 19)

c) He travelled with Paul and Silas as their assistant

5. The word “Son”

a) Reference to Timothy who began as a disciple (1 Timothy 1:2)

i) A true son (teknon τεκνον)

ii) In the faith

b) Reference to Titus (Titus 1:4)

i) A true son (teknon τεκνον)

ii) In the common faith

c) Reference to Onesimus (Philemon 10)

i) My son (teknon τεκνον)

i) Begotten (to beget, to father γενναω)

ii) While in chains

COMMENDATION OF TIMOTHY
Philippians 2:19-24

1. A true son

a) As if there is a biological relationship (gennao γενναω)

b) Nuances of the word “true”

i) Genuine

ii) Proven

iii) Evident

2. An important spiritual journey

a) Discipleship (Acts 16)

i) Teaching

ii) Learning

b) Fellowship

i) Ministry

ii) Development of relationship

c) Sonship

i) Evidenced

ii) Acknowledged

3. Sonship of Timothy

a) Special relationship: “Sent”
I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly (Philippians 2:19a)

i) Timothy in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3)

ii) Timothy to be sent to Philippi (Philippians 2:19)

iii) Timothy was willing to be “Sent” wherever Paul would send him

b) Like-mindedness
I have no one like-minded (Philippians 2:20a)

i) No one…

ii) Like-minded: Sharing oneness of soul/ mind

c) Quality of care
Who will sincerely care for your state (Philippians 2:20b)

i) Sincerely: genuinely

ii) Care: “worry” (good sense of the word)

iii) Your state: “everything about you”

d) A comparison
For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus
(Philippians 2:21)

i) A reference to other “leaders”

ii) Personal agenda

iii) Own interest

iv) Not the things of Christ

e) Proven
But you know his proven character (Philippians 2:22a)

i) Proven (character)

ii) Tried and tested

iii) Known to all

f) Sonship in the ministry
That as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel
(Philippians 2:22b)

a) As a son with his father

i) Similar characteristics

ii) The son had picked up the ways of his honoured father

b) He served with me in the gospel

i) The verb “serve” (doulos δουλοω)

ii) To serve as a bond-servant

SIGNIFICANCE OF SONSHIP IN SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

1. Clear characteristics

2. Certainty of quality

3. Call to learn and practise sonship

a) In faith

b) In life

c) In ministry

d) In leadership

SONSHIP

The Concept of Sonship was exemplified by Jesus;
His understanding and practice was truly priceless.
There is no comparison that we can ever make;
To attempt a comparison would truly be a mistake.

But we can draw insights and much encouragement;
It was Jesus who taught the idea of a family arrangement.
He made this practice possible when He gave salvation;
Being spiritual sons and daughters are in God’s provision.

Human father-son relationship is not difficult to understand;
But often the human family is dysfunctional and hard to mend.
The spiritual family is an alternative and we see the possibility;
But it still takes a whole lot of effort to build true credibility.

The Apostle Paul was an outstanding spiritual leader;
But he also took time to practise being a spiritual father;
The lessons he taught were not just in the form of doctrine;
His example to his spiritual sons was deeply life-changing.

Charles Tan
Psalm 2; Matthew 3; Mark 3; Hebrews 2;1 Timothy 1; 2 Timothy 1; Titus 1