Living in the Image of God M05S08
First of a two-part study of relationships among leaders and followers, when two or more organize to execute a mission or project. The study is based in part on the partnership of Paul and Barnabas and in part on the call of four disciples on Lake Galilee. God called Paul and Barnabas to a Gospel mission, chose Paul as leader, and did not explain the choice. He can call people to a mission by choosing a leader and providing others opportunity to join as followers. Also, he can assign a mission to a group of people and guide them to choose a leader. In the case of Paul and Barnabas, he called them to the mission and guided them to choose Paul as leader. The choice became evident through their interactions with Elymas in Paphos and at a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. When God calls people to a mission, he assigns them responsibilities as leaders or followers, choosing leadership based on intrinsic qualities that are understood better as they perform the responsibilities. Also, as we see in Part 2 of the study, he values leaders and followers alike.
This is the first of a two-part bible study on understanding relationships among leaders and followers, when two or more organize to execute a mission, for the advancement of worship directly or indirectly through other aspects of living. The first part of the study is based on the partnership of Paul and Barnabas. The second part is based on Christ teaching through interactions during his call of four disciples on Lake Galilee.
The partnership of Paul and Barnabas began with Barnabas re-introducing Paul (then known as Saul) to the disciples in Jerusalem. The partnership continued in Antioch when Barnabas brought Paul to collaborate with him in planting a church. Later, the church they planted in Antioch commissioned them to a mission of international evangelism, to propagate the Gospel among Gentiles (i.e., non-Jews). The bible does not discuss their choosing a leader, but shows Paul providing leadership early in the mission, through interactions with Elymas in Paphos and at a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch.
The two-part study leads to understanding that the choice of a leader often is based on intrinsic qualities that may not be clear at the beginning but are understood better as the leaders and followers perform their individual responsibilities to the mission or project. When God calls people to a mission, he assigns them responsibilities as leaders or followers, choosing leadership based on his assessment of the people and mission requirements. Also, as will be discussed in Part 2 of the study, he values leaders and followers alike and rewards each mission participant based on their capacity, irrespective of serving as leader or follower.
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