Session 4: Grow Spiritual Leaders

Read "Grow Spiritual Leaders" text from the State of the Church.

Sharing God's Word

"Christ will live in your as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love.
"Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! God does it by not pushing us around but by working with us, the Spirit deeply and gently within us. - Ephesians 3:17-20

Review Section 4 of the State of the Church: Grow Spiritual Leaders

Spiritual leaders with faith have conviction, character, and understanding.
Spiritual leaders with fire have calling, passion and vision.
Spiritual leaders with fruitfulness have gifts that are being expressed through the body of Christ.

Have you faith? Have you fire? Have you fruit?"

Reflect and discuss

Consider the people who have served as spiritual leaders in your life. What traits did they possess? What are the defining characteristics, for you, of spiritual leadership?
"John Wesley's used to ask his followers: "Have you faith, have you fire, have you fruit?" How would you respond to Wesley's query?
Within increasing numbers of retiring clergy, The United Methodist Church and the Baltimore-Washington Conference are facing a challenge of finding qualified leaders to pastor their churches. How can the church better create "a culture of call," to help identify potential leaders? What is it doing to "call, equip, send and support spiritual leaders"?
Spiritual leaders thrive among the clergy and laity. To what ministry has God called you? How are you serving as a leader in your church or community? Consider prayerfully, to what additional ministries might God be calling you?

Going Deeper, Wider, Further

Spiritual leaders multiply by assisting those they encounter to grow in faith. Identify one person in your congregation who you feel demonstrates the gifts, graces and skills of a discipleship. Take a moment to have a conversation with that person or to write them a short note that acknowledges those gifts and encourages them to use and develop them in ministry.

Close with Prayer

Creator God, we confess that we may not always feel up the tasks confronting the church. We ask you to make us bold, make us fearless, give us hearts that break and souls that dare, so that we might be wise and generous leaders in your name. Amen.

State of the Church study guide:
Session 1: Becoming the Good News
Session 2: Grow Mission
Session 3: Grow Disciples
Session 4: Grow Spiritual Leaders
Session 5: Grow Congregations