THE LIFE OF A LEADER

Week 1: Leaders Live by Example

This includes:

1. Leader Preparation

2. Lesson Guide

1. LEADER PREPARATION

LESSON OVERVIEW

Greatleaders admire other people who lead well and make a difference. In fact, many solid leaders learn skills and habits by imitating and emulating other leaders. This lesson examines the importance of living as an example for other people. We can impact people around us when we live lives that are focused serving others, and ultimately our example ought to point others to Christ.

LESSON OBJECTIVES

  1. WHAT: Leaders need to be people who live by example.
  2. WHY: Whether they realize it or not, leaders are viewed as examples by other people, so they ought to strive to be people who point others toward Christ.
  3. HOW: Through experiential learning and examination ofScripture, students will consider why it’s important to live by example and will each identify a mentor or role model who can help them grow.

PRIMARY SCRIPTURE

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

SECONDARY SCRIPTURES

Romans 12:1-2 and James 4:6

TEACHING PREP

The short overview below is designed to help you prepare for your lesson. While you may not want to convey this information word-for-word with your teenagers, you’ll definitely want to refer to it as you lead.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16.

Today missionaries serve in regions and cultures around the world. To the people they come in contact with, thesemen and women are examples of how a Christian should live. They remain constantly aware of how they are living becausetheir actions are scrutinized closely to see if they actually live out what they preach.

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul was writing to a group of Christians who lived in the Greek city of Thessalonica and essentially were missionaries to their own culture. Paulwrote to encourage them to continue living out their faith and striving to be even more Christ-like in their lifestyles. Paul described the example he set to others and commended his friends for displaying their faith in real ways and pointing others to Christ through it.

THE BEFORE & AFTER [optional]

Text Message Questions

We’ve provided a couple of different text message questions to send out to your students prior to your meeting. Feel free to use one or both of the questions below. As with the rest of the curriculum, edit these questions to fit the needs of your ministry.

  • Is it tough for teenagers to live by example? Let’s talk about it at small group tonight.
  • Is your life a solid example to others? Is your commitment strong or weak? Get some ideas for growing stronger tonight at small group.

Parent Email

We’ve provided you with an email below that you can send to your parents following the lesson. Our hope is to encourage parents to continue the conversation at home. Feel free to edit and customize the email to fit your ministry needs.

Dear parents,

This week we started a two-week small group series called The Life of a Leader. Our first lesson focused on living by example. It is vital that our teenagers learn about the importance of being positive examples that point others to Christ. We discussed how leaders who live by example live like they want others to live, depend on God’s strength, and admit their mistakes. We examined 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 and looked at the example Paul set for his friends.

Here are some questions you could ask your teenager about this week’s lesson to get the conversation flowing:

  • Are you a positive example to others around you? Why or why not?
  • Why is it important to lead a life worth following?
  • How can you improve in your example to others?

Have a great week!

THE LIFE OF A LEADER

Week 1: Leaders Live by Example

  1. LESSON GUIDE

GETTING THINGS STARTED [optional]

Welcome your students and invite them into your meeting area. Open in prayer, and then read the following story to your students:

Three college students went to Uganda, Africa, as part of a film project for one of their classes. They were shocked to discover that thousands of children were fleeing their homes each night to avoid abduction. A rebel force fighting against the government was kidnapping young people, making them child soldiers in its army. Children from 3 to 17 years old left their homes in the middle of the night in an exodus and were known as “night commuters.” They walked throughout the night to reach safe shelters that were up to 12 miles away.

The filmmakers—Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and LarenPoole—started a nonprofit organization called Invisible Children Inc. for the purpose of raising awareness of this issue in the United States. The founders hope to attract other young adults to join their cause and pressure the government to take action against it. They tour the country holding public viewings of the film they made called Invisible Children and holding other rallies in support of the Ugandan people. Their example of taking action to solve a problem has gained worldwide support, ranging from everyday citizens to national leaders.

ASK:

  • What catches your interest most about this story?
  • How is this organization setting an example for others?
  • How did these filmmakers’ example lead to action?

SAY SOMETHING LIKE:People follow leaders who set an example. A tribal chief told a group of African missionaries that he respected them because “you have eaten the same dust we have.” He meant that the Christians lived as the Africans did, suffering the same hardships. Their example allowed them to share the message of Jesus with villagers. Many became Christians as a result. Becoming a leader means living as an example to others.

If you came up with an opening activity, movie clip, or game that worked well with your group, and you’d like to share it with other youth workers, please email us at .

TEACHING POINTS

The goal of the Teaching Points is to help students capture the essence of each lesson with more discussion and less lecture-style teaching. The main points we have chosen are (1) Be what you want others to become, (2)Depend on God’s strength, not human effort, and (3) Be willing to admit mistakes.

Remember: All throughout these lessons, it’s up to you to choose (1) how many questions you use, and (2) the wording of the main points—keep ours, or change the wording to make it clearer for your audience.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16together as a group. Consider dividing verses among your students so everyone has a chance to read.

SAY SOMETHING LIKE:Let’s look at three key ideas about living as an example.

1. Be what you want others to become

SAY SOMETHING LIKE:In 1 Thessalonians, Paul was writing to a group of Christians who lived in the Greek city of Thessalonica and essentially were missionaries to their own culture. Paul described the example he set to others and commended his friends for the way they were living and displaying their faith.

ASK:

  • What people serve as God-honoring examples to you? Why are they such solid examples?
  • Why did Paul see the need to encourage these Christians?
  • Why is living as an example to others so important for us as Christians?

2. Depend on God’s strength, not human effort

ASK:

  • Whatdoes it mean to lead a life that is dependent on God’s strength? What do you think that looks like?
  • What risks are associated with being dependent on God’s strength?
  • When do you find it easiest to rely on your own effort instead of turning to God?
  • Why is it so important for Christians to depend on God for their strength rather than themselves?

SAY SOMETHING LIKE:God wants us to depend on his strength, not our own human effort.Human strength is limited, but God’s power is unlimited. Christian leaders guide people toward lives that are impossible to live without God’s help. Christians cannot live a supernatural life apart from supernatural power. Leaders learn to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to provide all the resources needed to accomplish God’s work. In Galatians 3:3, Paul tells us this:Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

3. Be willing to admit mistakes

ASK:

  • Do you like to admit when you’ve made a mistake? Why or why not?
  • Have you ever admitted a mistake in front of others? If so, how did they respond and treat you after your admission?
  • When a leader doesn’t admit mistakes, what does that say to you?

SAY SOMETHING LIKE:Leadersought to admit their mistakes and seek forgiveness when necessary. There is something powerful about a leader who says, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.” It reminds everyone that the leader is human. There is no such thing as a perfect leader. When you take steps into leadership roles, eventually you will make mistakes and disappoint other people. But if you demonstrate humility, you’re on the path to becoming a leader worth following.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION [optional]

ASK:

  • Read Romans 12:1-2. How do these verses connect to the idea of living as examples for other people?
  • Read James 4:6. Why does God oppose the proud? Why does humility matter so much to God?

APPLICATION

“An Example Worth Following” Activity [optional]

SAY SOMETHING LIKE:One of the best ways to learn how to be a leader worth following is to learn from someone else’s example. When we are mentored, we can learn from thatperson’s example on how better to live as an example to others.

Let’s begin by spending time in prayer, asking God to bring to mind the names of people who might serve as a mentor or role model. After praying, select three people who:

  • Know and love God.
  • Know you well.
  • Love you despite the flaws they know about you.
  • Want you to succeed in life.
  • Are willing to invest time in you.

Use the following chart to help you identify and evaluate potential mentors. Mark an “X” on the continuum where you think that person rates on the specific criterion.

CRITERIA / 1st Person / 2nd Person / 3rd Person
Low High / LowHigh / LowHigh
Knows and loves God. / / /
Knows me well. / / /
Loves me despite flaws the person knows about me. / / /
Wants me to succeed in life. / / /
Willing to invest time in me. /

After evaluating the candidates based on the criteria listed below, circle the name of the person you will ask to be your mentor.

Give students time to work through this activity.

ASK:

  • How do you hope to grow through the involvement of a mentor or role model?
  • How will you approach the person you’d like to become your mentor or role model? How will you explain the opportunity and why it would be beneficial to both of you?
  • What are ways you can grow as an example to others? What specific steps can you take?

After your discussion, take time to pray as a group. Thank God for his guidance and for giving you examples of leadership lived out. Ask God to give wisdom to your students and to help them grow in their commitment to living as an example to others.

SUMMARY

End your lesson here. Provide your teenagers with a quick summary or take-home challenge based on (1) the content of this lesson, (2) the dialogue that took place during the lesson, (3) your understanding of the issues and struggles your teenagers are facing, and (4) the big picture of your youth ministry and what your leadership team wants accomplished with the teaching and discussion time.

FOR KEEPS [MEMORY VERSE]

Encourage and/or challenge your teenagers to memorize the verse below.

You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers (1 Thessalonians 2:10).