Complementary Old Testament Passage:
Nehemiah 4:15-23
Sermon Outline:
- Godly Shepherds must pay careful attention to those purchased with God’s own blood
- Wolves from within and from without will subtly bring carnage
- Godly Shepherds are ready to admonish so that none fails to receive the inheritance of Christ
- Godly Shepherds serve out of love for the Lord and His blood-bought sheep
Family Discussion Questions:
- The Bible calls Christians sheep. Who is the Good Shepherd? What are false teachers called?
- Do people teaching bad things always look mean and bad and dangerous?
- Why did Jesus need to die for us to be saved?
- When people warn us that we are not following Christ, is this a mean or kind thing?
- Paul warns the elders that they need to keep watch. Why would he start with them paying attention to themselves first?
- What direction should church leaders anticipate attacks to come from?
- Verse 30 refers to twisted speach. What does that tell us about what dangerous false teaching will look and sound like?
- Admonishment is not typically seen as a kindness. Paul did it constantly. What does that tell us about how common admonishment should be in the life of a church?
- How does this passage let us know more about the role of elders in a church?
- What does all the affection of this passage let us know about how Paul ministered in Ephesus?
- How does this passage demonstrate the divinity of Christ Jesus?
