Leading God’s People Leading God’s People God’s WayGod’s Way

Lesson 19 – The Law of PrioritiesLesson 19 – The Law of Priorities

The Law of The Law of PrioritiesPriorities

Leaders understand that activity is not Leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishmentnecessarily accomplishment

Ephesians 5:15-16 Ephesians 5:15-16 1515Be very careful, then, how you live—not Be very careful, then, how you live—not

as unwise but as wise, as unwise but as wise, 1616making the making the most of every opportunity, because the most of every opportunity, because the

days are evil days are evil

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)

a)a) Paul says we must be wise and not Paul says we must be wise and not unwise. Think about your own life. Do unwise. Think about your own life. Do you sometimes find yourself making you sometimes find yourself making unwise choices or decisions? If yes, unwise choices or decisions? If yes, what can you do to change that?what can you do to change that?

b)b) Paul warns us that the days in which we Paul warns us that the days in which we live are evil. In other words, we must live are evil. In other words, we must keep a watch on how we live lest we be keep a watch on how we live lest we be enticed by evil. Do you ever feel evil enticed by evil. Do you ever feel evil pulling at you? What does Paul say pulling at you? What does Paul say about how we can overcome that pull?about how we can overcome that pull?

Our Story in HistoryOur Story in History

AD 25 AD 50

Jesus begins his ministry c. AD 27. Peter called as a disciple

Church is born on Day of Pentecost c. AD 30. Peter preached and 3000 were saved

Nehemiah Church Age

c. = circa (about)

Jesus’ crucifixion, death & resurrection c. AD 30

Peter preaches Gospel to House of Cornelius – 1st Gentile believers c. AD 41

Seven deacons appointed to serve widows at the direction of Peter and the other apostles c. AD 31

Peter

Peter’s miraculous release from prison c. AD 44

Scriptures to ReadScriptures to Read

Mark 9:1-13Mark 9:1-13 John 21:1-19John 21:1-19 Acts 1:1-26Acts 1:1-26 Acts 2:1-47Acts 2:1-47 Acts 6:1-7Acts 6:1-7

Capernaum

Jesus called Peter and his brother Andrew to follow him.

Jesus Calls Peter to Follow HimJesus Calls Peter to Follow Him

Sea of Galilee

Capernaum

After the crucifixion the disciples were discouraged. They did not understand what Jesus meant when he said he would be “raised from the dead”. Peter decided he was going fishing, and the others said they would go with him.

Peter Goes FishingPeter Goes Fishing

Sea of Galilee

Capernaum

They fished all night and caught nothing. Early in the morning Jesus appeared on the shore and asked them if they had caught anything. When they said “No” He told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. They did, and caught 153 large fish.

Peter Goes FishingPeter Goes Fishing

Sea of Galilee

After telling His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives. The disciples watched Him go into the clouds…

Jesus Ascends toHeavenJesus Ascends toHeavento

Beth

lehem

to Emmaus

to Samaria

to Bethany

Mou

nt o

f

Oliv

es

Garden of Gethsemane

Temple

Golgotha

Upper Room

The disciples left the Mount of Olives and returned to the upper room. A few days later they selected Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot.

Judas Iscariot ReplacedJudas Iscariot Replacedto

Beth

lehem

to Emmaus

to Samaria

to Bethany

Mou

nt o

f

Oliv

es

Garden of Gethsemane

Temple

Golgotha

Upper Room

On the Day of Pentecost 120 believers were in the upper room. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

The Day of PentecostThe Day of Pentecostto

Beth

lehem

to Emmaus

to Samaria

to Bethany

Mou

nt o

f

Oliv

es

Garden of Gethsemane

Temple

Golgotha

Upper Room

The Day of PentecostThe Day of Pentecost

Jerusalem

Rome

There were God-fearing Jews from all over the known world, who heard the 120 believers speaking in their own languages.

Cyrene

Crete

Libya

Egypt

Judea

Arabia

Mesopotamia

Elam

Media

ParthiaCappadocia

Pontus

Asia

Phrygia

Pamphylia

Peter stood up and preached the gospel to the people of Jerusalem. About 3000 were saved that day.

The Day of PentecostThe Day of Pentecostto

Beth

lehem

to Emmaus

to Samaria

to Bethany

Mou

nt o

f

Oliv

es

Garden of Gethsemane

Temple

Golgotha

Upper Room

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)

a)a) Peter grew in his ability to focus on, and Peter grew in his ability to focus on, and walk out, God’s priorities for his life. Are walk out, God’s priorities for his life. Are you growing in your ability to find out you growing in your ability to find out God’s priorities for your life? Are you God’s priorities for your life? Are you being obedient to walk them out?being obedient to walk them out?

b)b) Peter and the other leaders clearly Peter and the other leaders clearly understood what their priority as leaders understood what their priority as leaders must be. Do you clearly understand you must be. Do you clearly understand you priorities as a leader? How does that priorities as a leader? How does that help you in deciding what you must do?help you in deciding what you must do?

What Do We Learn From Peter?What Do We Learn From Peter?

1.1. Leaders put first things first.Leaders put first things first.

2.2. Leaders see everything but focus on Leaders see everything but focus on the important things.the important things.

3.3. Leaders invest their time in what Leaders invest their time in what produces the greatest returnproduces the greatest return..

4.4. Leaders position people where Leaders position people where everybody wins. everybody wins.

Leaders put first things first Leaders put first things first

As you order your activities to keep As you order your activities to keep moving towards success, keep these moving towards success, keep these two things in mind: two things in mind:

1.1. Understand what is most important Understand what is most important

2.2. Know that God blesses right priorities Know that God blesses right priorities

Leaders see everything but focus Leaders see everything but focus on the important things on the important things

Peter saw the big picture but was able to Peter saw the big picture but was able to focus on his priorities. He shows us that focus on his priorities. He shows us that focused leaders always: focused leaders always:

1.1. Determine the validity of the need.Determine the validity of the need.

2.2. Look for a leadership opportunity.Look for a leadership opportunity.

3.3. Delegate the task to competent people.Delegate the task to competent people.

4.4. Publicly confirm and commission their Publicly confirm and commission their people.people.

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)

a)a) Leaders put first things first. In other Leaders put first things first. In other words, they focus on the most important words, they focus on the most important things. How do you decide what comes things. How do you decide what comes first?first?

b)b) Leaders see everything, the big picture, Leaders see everything, the big picture, but they focus on the important things, but they focus on the important things, the right things for them to do the right things for them to do personally. Are you focusing on the personally. Are you focusing on the right things?right things?

Leaders invest their time in what Leaders invest their time in what produces the greatest returnproduces the greatest return

Peter learned to invest his time on the Peter learned to invest his time on the important things. Here are five ways important things. Here are five ways people spend their time :people spend their time :

1.1. Focus on Focus on UrgentUrgent – Loud things first – Loud things first

2.2. Focus on Focus on UnpleasantUnpleasant – Hard things first – Hard things first

3.3. Focus on Focus on UnfinishedUnfinished – Last things first – Last things first

4.4. Focus on Focus on UnfulfillingUnfulfilling – Dull things first – Dull things first

5.5. Focus on Focus on UltimateUltimate – First things first – First things first

Leaders position people where Leaders position people where everybody winseverybody wins

It is the leaders job to put the right people It is the leaders job to put the right people in the right places. Evaluate people in the right places. Evaluate people based on the following:based on the following:

1.1. The influence test The influence test 2.2. The relationship test The relationship test 3.3. The credibility test The credibility test 4.4. The spiritual test The spiritual test 5.5. The administrative test The administrative test 6.6. The attitude test The attitude test

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)

a)a) Effective leaders do not waste their Effective leaders do not waste their time; they invest it in the things that are time; they invest it in the things that are important. Are you investing your time important. Are you investing your time wisely?wisely?

b)b) It is the leader’s job to put the right It is the leader’s job to put the right people in the right places. Have you people in the right places. Have you positioned yourself and your people for positioned yourself and your people for maximum effectiveness?maximum effectiveness?

Homework – Scriptures to ReadHomework – Scriptures to Read

Exodus 2:1-25Exodus 2:1-25 Exodus 3:1-22Exodus 3:1-22 Exodus 4:1-31Exodus 4:1-31 Exodus 12:31-42Exodus 12:31-42 Hebrews 11:23-29Hebrews 11:23-29