Anglican Church Of Nigeria Weekly Sunday School/ Bible Studies Manual For August 25, 2019 : TOPIC – Ungodly Leadership in the Church: Causes and Consequences.
Study 2/22
August 25 Trinity 10
SUB-THEME/2: GODLY LEADERSHIP
TOPIC – Ungodly Leadership in the Church: Causes and Consequences.
TEXT: Acts 4:1-17. Church of Nigeria 2019 Bible Study
AIMS: To
i. differentiate between the two sets of ungodly leaders in the New Testament;
ii. uncover the causes of ungodliness in church leadership;
iii. identify the consequences of ungodly leadership in the Church;
iv. discover ways of averting ungodly leadership in the Church.
INTRODUCTION:
True leaders guide aright; ungodly leaders mislead the people. In this study, we shall consider a group of leaders known as the Sanhedrin – the Council that ruled in Israel during the period of Jesus and the apostles; the highest ruling body, court of justice or the Supreme Court among the Jewish people, usually headed by the high priest. The body consisted of Sadducees (chief priests and elders) and Pharisees (scribes). Our text shows why they ordered the arrest of Peter and John. This study calls our own commitment to question.
STUDY GUIDE
1. a) Differentiate between the two sets of ungodly leaders in the NT from Acts 4:1-17 and Matt.26:14-16; John 12:6; Rom16:18; Gal.2:4; Phil.3:14-19; 2 Tim.2:16-18.
b) Those in the second group were in Christ’s fold but became ungodly. Why? What lessons from this?
c) What else can cause ungodly leadership in the Church today? Acts 5:17-18; 6:1-2; 7:51-53; 1 Cor.3:1-4.
2. a) What are the possible consequences of ungodly leadership in the Church? Acts 7:57-59; 9:1-2; 1 Cor. 3:1-4.
b) Would you think that some of our leaders were responsible for the springing up of new generation Churches by their action or inaction? Discuss. See Acts 5:29-42.
3. How may we avert or at least greatly reduce the chances of raising ungodly leaders in our church? Add to Acts 13:1-3.
CONCLUSION:
In order to avoid ungodly leadership, the Church should stick to biblical principles in selecting people into various leadership positions and back up those so selected.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
If the Church can successfully overcome ungodly living, then she can stamp out ungodly leadership.
MEMORY VERSE: Romans 16:18.