by Bob Lowman
LeaderLessons is an effort to communicate with pastors and leaders in the Metrolina Baptist Association and beyond. Our first theme, “Focused Obedience,” utilizes Hebrews 12:1-2 as the theme text: “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.” Our second theme, “Obedient Love” continues to call us to obedience out of love for our Lord. The theme verse is 2 John 6: “And this is love, that we walk in obedience to His commands.”
Obedience to God and His Word is an issue for each of us in the church. We know plenty, but are we doing what we know? Are we obeying what God has told us to do? If we had to compare how much we know to how much we are obeying, how would we measure up? Yes, obedience is a daily issue, and I for one need some help in living the obedient life.
First, that help comes from my relationship with Jesus – I must keep my eyes focused on Him if I am to be successful in obediently following Him. This is why being focused is so important to obedience. As Hebrews 12 says, I must get rid of everything that hinders and the sin that entangles my feet so that I can run the race, live the life, eyes fixed, focused on the Lord.
Second, I need accountability -– I need brothers in Christ who will walk with me and help me stay focused on Jesus and obedient to His Word. I need fellow Christians who will help, pray, listen, challenge, and encourage me. With my experience over the past 30+ years as a pastor and leader, I know that other pastors and leaders need the same kind of encouragement in order to practice focused obedience as a follower of Jesus and a servant of God.
So, LeaderLessons was born. My prayer is that God will use what He teaches me through these articles to encourage and help my fellow Christians — those who follow Jesus and serve His church where He has planted us.
We will also be gathering small groups of pastors together for prayer and partnership in different communities around Metrolina throughout the year. If you would like to host one of these gatherings, please let me know and we will include your location in our schedule. Watch for other groups and gatherings you can be part of, to encourage and equip you as you live and serve in the surrounding areas.
Please join me in this journey, praying that God will make this a year of obedient love for us and for the churches we serve. May our loving obedience cause others to see the Body of Christ in a new way, actually being who God has called us to be and doing what God has told us to do in this Metrolina mission field and to the ends of the earth.
Bob Lowman, Jr.
bob@metrolina.org
LEADERLESSONS 2018 “Who Is My Neighbor?”:
LeaderLesson 1 My Neighbor Is Someone Who Appears on My Path
LeaderLesson 2 My Neighbor is Poor
LeaderLesson 3 Saints in Satan’s City
LeaderLesson 4 Mentoring Relationships
LeaderLesson 5 A Divine Appointment at 7-Eleven
LeaderLesson 6 3 Ways to Be a Good Neighbor
LeaderLesson 7 Who Is My Neighbor?
LeaderLesson 8 Neighbors in Cave Experiences
LEADERLESSONS “Obedient Love”:
LeaderLesson 23 What Does Obedient Love Look Like
LeaderLesson 24 An Open Letter to Southern Baptists-Have We Lost Our First Love
LeaderLesson 25 Saints in Satans City
LeaderLesson 26 Ten Dangers of Denial in a Declining Church
LeaderLesson 27 4 Trends for Churches to Consider
LEADERLESSONS “Focused Obedience”:
LeaderLesson1 Character
LeaderLesson2 Commitment
LeaderLesson3 Courage & Risk-taking
LeaderLesson 4 Dependence on God
LeaderLesson 5 Humility
LeaderLesson 6 Integrity
LeaderLesson 7 Disqualified to Serve
LeaderLesson 8 Focused Obedience
LeaderLesson 9 Obedience in Scripture
LeaderLesson 10 The Obedience of Christ
LeaderLesson 11 The Secret of True Obedience
LeaderLesson 12 The Importance of Time with God
LeaderLesson 13 Prayerful Rest
LeaderLesson 14 Autopsy of a Deceased Church
LeaderLesson 15 Ten Signs of Hope for a Declining Church
LeaderLesson 16 Prayer for the Church
LeaderLesson 17 The Last Ten Minutes
LeaderLesson 18 More on Integrity
LeaderLesson 19 Christ the Great Divider
LeaderLesson 20 Parable of the Fishless Fishermen
LeaderLesson 21 Reaching the Nations in our Neighborhoods
LeaderLesson 22 A Call to Obedience