A Mature Christian Leader

A Mature Christian Leader

A Bible Teaching Series by Pastor James McClurg, 2022

Copyright 2022, JAM Books. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

ISBN 978-0-6454298-0-0

This book or parts thereof is freely available for sermon material or church or personal Bible study, provided acknowledgement of the author is given where appropriate.

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Scripture quotations marked as 'The Source New Testament' are from The Source: With Extensive Notes on Greek Word Meaning. © 2004 by Ann Nyland. Used by permission of Smith and Stirling Publishers. All rights reserved.

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Acknowledgements

I wish to thank the following people who assisted by making suggestions to the content and helping to proof-read the manuscript:

Pastor Rob Booth-Jones, Senior Pastor, Mackay Christian Family Church, Queensland, Australia

Pastor Dallas Hobbs, Senior Pastor, Living Word Church, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

Dalme Hobbs

Sean Taggart

My wife, Anthea

I also wish to acknowledge and thank the following people, whose assistance was invaluable in completing this project.

Those from Slade Point Christian Life Centre in Mackay, Queensland, Australia, who patiently attended meetings when I first taught an earlier draft of the material in this book.

My wife, Anthea, for encouraging me along the way to complete the manuscript and publish the book, and for surrendering the many long hours that went into preparing and writing this material.

Doctor Shaun Marlow, World Harvest Ministries, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia for assistance with the process of publishing the manuscript.

Mrs Emily McClurg and Mrs Carley Nolan for book cover design, publishing design, website design and development, and assistance with publishing the document.

The words of the Apostle Paul (quoted from the AMP) :

'I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behaviour - a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],' (Ephesians 4:1)

'The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach¹ in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others.' (II Timothy 2:2)

'For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [lives with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age, ' (Titus 2:11, 12)

'But solid food is for the [spiritually] mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between what is morally good and what is evil.' (Hebrews 5:14)

1 - Lit through, footnote in AMP Bible text

Foreword

Pastor James McClurg has written a very thorough and thought-provoking study of the letters of Paul to Timothy and Titus, which I commend to any man or woman aspiring to a leadership position in the Kingdom of God.

It has been said that leaders are born with the ability to lead and are not made. However, I see in scripture that Jesus called different kinds of people to follow Him, and He brought forth the desired leadership qualities in their life. There is no reference in scripture that these men were leaders before Jesus called and empowered them.

Any person, male or female, who aspires to lead for the Lord, can grow into that role if they are prepared to pay the cost of growth by application of the word to their life. This means allowing the work of the Holy Spirit (II Corinthians 3:18) to do the necessary adjustments to Christian character development, including thinking, attitude, and humility. Availability is more important than aptitude and ability.

Time and again in scripture, both Old and New Testament, God chose the foolish things (people) of the world to confound the wise (I Corinthians 1:27).

In the last forty-six years, I have never regretted for a second that I became a Christian, or that I gave my life to Him in service and love. My prayer for you is that you too can say that at the end of the adventure of knowing and serving God, it was totally worth it.

May you be blessed as you read, reflect, pray over, and apply the principles expounded by Pastor James in this well-written book.

Pastor Rob Booth-Jones

Senior Minister, Mackay Christian Family Church

It is a privilege to have known Pastor James McClurg for the past five years. He is a man of prayer and a teacher of scriptural principles. Many have found his teaching practicable for daily living. His experience as a senior pastor for thirty years plus, along with the many years preaching and teaching around our nation, has certainly given him the wisdom and experience to expand on the subject 'A Mature Christian Leader'.

As I read through this book, I found myself evaluating my own life afresh. Am I living up to the values of a good leader in the body of Christ ? There are a number of areas in which Pastor James gives a very balanced view. In the section 'A believer must not be given to drunkenness', I believe Pastor James makes some valid points as so many have different views depending on how you were taught from a new convert, or family upbringing.

In this book, Pastor James brings us back to what does the scripture say ? In another section of this book, we are asked the question 'Am I temperate ?' Unless you go to the scripture, most of us would not know the answer to this.

I found this teaching not to be condemning but causing a conviction to rise up to a greater accountability in the Lord. You will be blessed as you study this subject.

Pastor Dallas Hobbs,

Senior Pastor, Living Word Church, Bundaberg

Director, Connexions, Ltd, Australia

Table of Contents

Purpose of this Bible teaching series

Introduction to A Mature Christian Leader

Life Quality Number 1 - Above Reproach

Life Quality Number 2 - Faithful to his wife

Life Quality Number 3 - Temperate

Life Quality Number 4 - Self-controlled

Life Quality Number 5 - Respectable

Life Quality Number 6 - Hospitable

Life Quality Number 7 - Able to teach

Life Quality Number 8 - Not given to drunkenness

Life Quality Number 9(a) - Not violent

Life Quality Number 9(b) - but gentle

Life Quality Number 10 - Not quarrelsome

Life Quality Number 11 - Not a lover of money

Life Quality Number 12 - Manage his own family well

Life Quality Number 13 - Not a recent convert

Life Quality Number 14 - A good reputation with outsiders

Life Quality Number 15 - Not pursuing dishonest gain

Life Quality Number 16 - Keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience

Life Quality Number 17 - Not overbearing

Life Quality Number 18 - Must love what is good

Life Quality Number 19 - Upright

Life Quality Number 20 -Holy

Life Quality Number 21 - Disciplined

A self-evaluation of what you have learned from this study

References

Purpose of this Bible teaching series

I have been an ordained christian minister (or pastor) for more than 36 years. Over that time, I have had the privilege of meeting many wonderful christian men and women who obviously love God with all their heart and are sincere in their christian life. Many of these dear people claim to be mature or growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ. These people honestly seek to grow closer to God in their own christian lives, but often lack an understanding of how to live as a mature christian man or woman consistent with Biblical teachings.

The Bible, which I believe is our ultimate source of truth, provides what I call Life Qualities that characterise a mature man or women of God. Each life quality is discussed in detail in this book in the order they appear in the Bible. My prayer for you as you consider these life qualities is that God will challenge you, as he has challenged me, to grow towards a more mature, Godly lifestyle.

There is a short section named 'Personal Application' at the end of the discussion on each Life Quality. This section is designed to stimulate your thinking on what you have just read and allow the Holy Spirit to challenge you to become more like Him in your daily life. If you carefully read each section and seek to apply what you learn to your own life, you will be well on your way to living as a mature man or woman of God.

At the back of this book is a self-evaluation of what you have learned from this study. If you honestly answer the questions, considering what you have read regarding each Life Quality in the text, you will be able to evaluate your maturity level as a christian.

Are you still a 'babe in Christ' even though you may have been a christian for several years (or longer) ?

Yours in Christ,

Pastor James McClurg

March 2022

Introduction to A Mature Christian Leader

We live in a time when information is available on almost any subject using a computer, mobile phone, tablet or other device. Solutions to most things that trouble us, physically, mentally, or spiritually can be easily accessed. Instant formulas can be downloaded on how to cook the perfect meal to how to grow in our spiritual life or the latest teaching from any 'hot' gospel preacher. Many christians approach spiritual maturity with this same type of thinking, expecting instant results from an internet download or spiritual formula.

➢ 'You must crucify all of self (or the flesh)' some say, and then you will suddenly rise to a new level of spirituality.

➢ Some claim that 'discovering your spiritual gifts' and beginning to function in the body of Christ as God