10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
Basic Discipleship
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson
This material is copyrighted c2002 and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.
To order a copy of Basic
Discipleship,
please visit our Publications section.
PHASE 4
GROWTH TO MATURITY
SESSION 10
Think of this title: An Effective Potter. A potter molds, forms and shapes. Our God is the ultimate potter. The key verse for this entire Basic Discipleship course is 2 Timothy 2:2 which says, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." That's mentoring, molding, shaping, the work of a spiritual potter. That's the work every child of God is assigned to do. Yes! Every child of God, not just preachers or super-sancta believers (if there is such a being). Discipleship minister, you are a spiritual potter and the task is innately a part of your disciple. Hopefully by now he realizes that reality. If he doesn't (or hasn't committed himself to the task), do all you can to help him assume the real purpose of his spiritual existence.
Note well that this session is about being an "effective" potter, not just about being a potter. It is a how to exercise. Many good Christians would like to be effective potters. They just don't know how. It seems that many of the more rudimentary and fundamental elements of pottering are not so obvious to most. They can't seem to make the connections between success with others and such factors as example, vision, responsibility, consistency and service. People do not follow other people because they are magic or because it was ordained in the stars that they do so. No! They follow because certain characteristics in the one they're following motivate, inspire and move them. As surely as sowing and reaping have a definite connection, there is also a connection between honesty and trust. People do not entrust their lives to those who are irresponsible and they do not follow people who have no vision, no plans and who do not seem to know where they are going. Neither are they moved by those who say and do not.
This session focuses on several of the connections between success in the molding of others and the factors that are directly connected. To improve one's success with others, one must identify and improve upon those factors upon which this kind of success depends. It's not magic; it's dedicated, hard work. This kind of success largely depends upon a deliberate effort to be used of God in the lives of others. With work in the right areas of your life, you and your disciple can become more and more effective as spiritual potters.
Do not let the length of this lesson intimidate you. It will not take long to come up with the right answers. It will take longer to absorb the impact of each clue. The clues constitute a concise summary of the characteristic under consideration. Each clue could become the subject of an entire study. You are encouraged to study these clues carefully. Discuss them with your disciple. They provide helpful insight into greater effectiveness as a spiritual potter.
Let your disciple hear you praying for him. He needs to know that you are his friend, that you are with him and that you are expecting him to move on to great service and usefulness in the work of God. Be sure to get the next assignment into his hand.
You want to do it. Yes! You really would like to make a difference for the better in the lives of others. Your heart is there to influence, to lead, to help your brothers and sisters. You'd love to see them grow in the Lord and come to a place where they, too, can stand and carry on the good work of God. You realize there is more to it than merely starting someone in a discipleship course like this and handing him a new study sheet each week for a year. That's important and a very definite step in the right direction, but that's not all it takes.
This session is a very how to study. It will bring into focus many of the more subtle factors that mean the difference between success and failure with other people. Those "factors" are not so commonly understood by the masses. It is not difficult to spot two very closely matched individuals, both of whom are sincere and desirous of helping and making a difference. Each is a Christian. They believe essentially the same. They are of similar ages and backgrounds and look very much alike, yet one seems to succeed with leading and impacting others while the other languishes. Why? What's the difference? Why do some seem to be effective potters, molders of other people while other well-meaning souls are not?
CHARACTERISTICS
OF THOSE WHO
HAVE POWER WITH OTHERS
Below is a list of leadership traits. You will find all or most of these characteristics or traits in all good leaders, those who command the respect and following of others.
To be an effective potter in the work of God, you must make these characteristics your own. As you work this exercise, keep evaluating yourself. See which of these characteristics are you and which ones are not you. This exercise can help you identify areas of your life that need work.
Study the clues carefully. Each clue will give you more insight into the nature of the characteristic. The clues can serve as guides for your improvement and growth.
In the blanks provided, write the leadership characteristic that best
matches the Bible passage and the clues.
1. They are
servants
2.
They are patient &
forebearing
3. They are
educators
4.
They are dreamers
5. They are people
of truth
6.
They possess a spirit of excellence
7. They
know harmony
8. They
take a stand
9. They really
care
10.
They have a zealous, positive spirit
11.
They are pragmatic
12.
They are responsible
13.
They are good examples
14.
They are winners
15.
They are tough
16.
They are initiators
17.
They are competent
18.
They are consistent
19.
They keep growing
20.
They are not saviors
21.
They walk with God
22.
They are decisive
1. They are people of truth Proverbs 3:3-4. Psalm 91:1-4. Psalm 61:6-7. Psalm 51:6
Clues:
A. Means always speaking that which is honest and right.
B. Means that one's conduct agrees with his words or speech.
C. Involves identifying and dealing with real issues and substance, not merely issues of little or no importance or substance while true issues are ignored or avoided.
D. Involves true diagnosis.
E. Involves
true medicine that addresses reality.
2. They take a stand Ephesians 6:10-18
Clues:
A. These have convictions and are not afraid to let them be known.
B. These are willing to defend those within their care.
C. This demands boldness in being for some things and against other things.
D. This implies pressure and the courage to face it.
E. The
ability to do this demands availing one's self of information and equipment.
3. They really care Zechariah 11:17. Jude 22
Clues:
A. Leadership demands more than a mere "professional" arrangement.
B. This characteristic will send one to the aid of those within his care even when doing so means hardship and inconvenience.
C. These make it their business to know the needs and state of their people.
D. This characteristic cannot co-exist with selfishness and slothfulness.
E. This
characteristic restrains one from becoming side-tracked and from neglect of his
people.
4. They are servants Matthew 20:25-28
Clues:
A. Jesus said practice of this characteristic is the way to true greatness.
B. This characteristic causes one to seriously look for the needs of others.
C. Real leadership is not seized; it is earned by this characteristic.
D. One way to practice this characteristic is to meet the needs of others.
E. Only love
can motivate consistent practice of this characteristic.
5. They know
harmony Romans 12:18. 1
Corinthians 1:10.
Psalm 133:1-3
Clues:
A. Without practice of this characteristic there will be divisions and lack of cooperation.
B. In Matthew 12:25 Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand."
C. It would be almost impossible to sustain this condition apart from forgiveness.
D. Achieving this condition demands a great degree of tolerance.
E. Production
of this condition creates the best environment for cooperation and progress.
6. They are educators Proverbs 15:7. Hosea 4:1-6
Clues:
A. Teachers have some of the most profound and lasting influence of all people.
B. "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:9-10).
C. All true leaders make it their business to ever instruct and upgrade those who follow them.
D. This can be accomplished by verbal instruction and by visible example.
E. In one
way or another, we are all practicing this characteristic for the better or for
the worse.
7. They are patient and forebearing Colossians 3:12-15
Clues:
A. This characteristic is needed since there are no perfect people.
B. Growth and bringing people to maturity takes time.
C. If people are condemned and put down when they fail, they can easily become discouraged and possibly turn away from serving God.
D. In view of God's approach to each of us, practice of this characteristic should not be so difficult.
E. Acceptance
of the reality of the frailty of all men is the basis for this characteristic.
8. They are winners Philippians 4:13. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Clues:
A. In view of the finished work of Jesus Christ, the victory for all believers has already been won.
B. These people take 1 Corinthians 10:13 literally.
C. These know that whatever comes, they have the Lord and He will sustain them.
D. This characteristic has much to do with attitude.
E. There is
no legitimate reason why every believer should not have this spirit.
9. They are tough 2 Timothy 2:3. James 5:11. Ezekiel 2:6-7
Clues:
A. Leading and serving is very hard work.
B. Having this characteristic does not mean one is hard and calloused. It does mean he is durable and not fragile or easy to break.
C. A true shepherd bears this characteristic.
D. People who lack this characteristic will soon become wearied or offended in their efforts to strengthen and up‑build the lives of others.
E. Those
with a thin skin will not see much success in the work of the Lord.
10. They are pragmatic 1 Corinthians 9:20-22
Clues:
A. This characteristic has to do with flexibility and finding a way to get the job done.
B. This characteristic means one can bend and adapt without breaking or departing from the truth.
C. This philosophy is result oriented.
D. When people lose this characteristic, they stagnate.
E. These are
the people who don't take "No" for an answer.
11. They are dreamers Proverbs 29:18. Hebrews 11:24-27
Clues:
A. These are the ones who have the ability to see what others do not see.
B. Without this characteristic the people perish.
C. Don't ever be afraid to open your spiritual eyes to the possibilities.
D. Old Testament Joseph had this characteristic.
E. These
have direction in their lives. They're going somewhere.
12. They are initiators 2 Timothy 2:4. Joshua 7:10-13. 2 Kings 7:3-4
Clues:
A. These are the ones who do not wait on others to start.
B. These are the ones who prefer offence over the status quo.
C. The Bible process of sowing and reaping demands this characteristic.
D. These are self-starters.
E. These do
not measure themselves by others; their standard is God.
13. They are competent 2 Timothy 2:15
Clues:
A. Having this condition demands skills and abilities.
B. Reaching this condition usually demands learning or education.
C. Sometimes this condition demands experience.
D. This characteristic is rarely innate to anyone. Even those born with natural abilities must develop them.
E. Mastery of this characteristic with others involves four stages: (1) ability to see a need, (2) a plan to address the need, (3) involving others in the plan and (4) keeping an eye on the enterprise.
14. They are good examples 1 Timothy 4:12. Titus 2:7-8
Clues:
A. Potential
followers are almost always more interested in who and what their leader is than
in what he can say or do.
B. Leadership is a lifestyle, not merely a series of instructions and commands.
C. People follow those who practice what they preach.
D. It's the strength of integrity and example that moves people in the Lord's work to follow with zeal, enthusiasm and loyalty.
E. No one
can sit by and watch in a detached way from the lives of those whom they would
touch and expect success.
15. They are responsible Proverbs 25:19
Clues:
A. Irresponsibility is one of leadership's most defeating flaws.
B. Failure to have this trait is well know for blaming someone else.
C. Those with this trait do not pass the buck.
D. These see that the job gets done.
E. No one is going to long stay with someone upon whom he cannot depend.
16. They are consistent 1 Corinthians 15:58
Clues:
A. "Oh, consistency, thou art a rare jewel!"
B. With this trait comes the ideas of faithfulness and dependability.
C. In the Bible the most successful servants of God such as Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel and Paul always had this characteristic.
D. The trait is the product of commitment to fixed positions.
E. This
characteristic is the taproot of trust which is vital to leadership.
17.
They possess a spirit of excellence
Malachi 1:6-8,12-14.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Clues:
A. God will never be satisfied with less than your best.
B. These believe that things that are worth doing at all are worth doing right.
C. These know that they must ultimately give account to God for the jobs they do.
D. This spirit should not be the exception; it should be the rule, one’s routine.
E. This
spirit in one is very inspiring to followers.
18. They are growing 2 Peter 3:18. 1 Timothy 4:15
Clues:
A. These are continuing to improve, enlarge, increase.
B. To keep this up, believers must stay in the word of God.
C. One area of life where this should occur is in character.
D. Another area where this should occur is in efficiency.
E. Pride and
laziness will prevent this process in one's life.
19. They are not saviors Jeremiah 17:5. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6
Clues:
A. These do not try to be all things to all people.
B. These work diligently to turn people from themselves and to the Lord as the source of real help.
C. The Lord is the real problem solver.
D. Those who violate this rule often are workaholics who take too much on themselves to their own overload and burn-out.
E. The
leader's role is not to do it all, but to teach others to assume responsibility
also.
20. They are decisive James 1:8. 1 Kings 18:21
Clues:
A. These make a decision and move forward.
B. Making good decisions requires good home-work: fact-finding and knowledge of the options.
C. People do not long follow those who do not seem to know where they are going.
D. Few things seem to motivate followers like clear-cut, firm direction in
their leader.
E. Indecision
is confusing.
21. They have a zealous, positive spirit Titus 2:14. Galatians 4:18. Philippians 4:8
Clues:
A. Enthusiasm is contagious!
B. Negativism is contagious!
C. Believers have every reason in the world to have a positive outlook.
D. A negative, pessimistic, complaining person is discouraging.
E. The Bible
teaches believers to look up with joy.
22. They walk with God Genesis 5:24. Genesis 6:9. Acts 4:13
Clues:
A. No person who fails here will long stay in a position of effective leadership.
B. God is our source of strength. We must stay in touch with Him.
C. There is no excuse for failure to stay close to God.
D. This characteristic requires frequent (1) time in God's word and (2) prayer.
E. When you maintain a constant touch with Jesus, many will see it and want to follow you.
Food for Thought
1. How did you score? Circle your grade. "A" "B" "C" "D" "F"
2. Are people drawn to you for spiritual guidance? If not, why not?
3. Have people turned away from you? Is the reason found on the above list?
4. Do you really think that improvement by you in any one of the 22 points is beyond your ability?
5. Do you know people who really need your spiritual help?
6. What do you suppose would keep them from following you?
7. Impacting other people is really not magic at all. It's adherence to Bible basics.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"