We grow by putting God’s word into practice, continued:

Managing a family and a congregation require similar skills.

I Peter 1:7 - Our faith as a Christian is tested as though by fire through adversity.

James 1:2-4 - We should meet the trials of life with joy.

Luke 4:1-13

The devil will tempt anybody!

I Corinthians 10:12 - Do not think you are beyond temptation. If the devil would try to tempt Jesus, he will not shy away from tempting anyone!

The devil’s gonna hit you where it hurts!

Jesus was intensely hungry after fasting for forty days and the devil offered him bread.

Job 1:11 - The devil decides how to tempt Job.

Job 2:9-10 - The devil uses evil pain and suffering to tempt men. He knows that people tend to question God when tragedy strikes.

Job 31:1

The devil quotes scripture

Luke 4:9-12

The devil only flees for a season.

Luke 4:13

Acts 20:28-31 - We must always be on alert for temptation.

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is sympathetic to our plight.

We grow by learning God’s word.

I Peter 2:2 - We are to desire God’s word.

Hosea 4:6 - The Israelites were destroyed because of lack of knowledge.

We have many methods available to help us learn God’s word: sermons, Bible studies, teachings from more knowledgeable Christians, and our own study.

II Peter 1:13 - It is helpful to be reminded of things we’ve learned before so that we do not forget God’s word.

We grow by putting God’s word into practice.

Hebrews 5:12-14 - We must study and practice so we will be ready for the solid food of God’s word.

I Timothy 3:4-5 - An elder must show his spiritual maturity by managing his own house well.

John 10:11 - Jesus is the good shepherd.

The relationship is directly between Jesus and His sheep.

God has also provided for a congregational arrangement in which elders act as shepherd of the congregation. The sheep are still directly subject to the chief shepherd, which is Jesus. They have an additional relationship to the elders of the local congregation. (Acts 20:28

Each congregation is always to be independent. If a local church is not developed such that is has elders, it should still be independent.

Shepherds are to feed, lead, and oversee the flock.

Each congregation is to have a plurality of elders if men are qualified. Elders are always spoken of in the plural in the Bible (Titus 1:6.

Paul used “flock” to teach that a congregation is to support the preaching of the gospel.

As relates to the local flock:

Shepherds are to lead in the will of the Chief Shepherd.

Sheep are to follow the shepherds when they follow the Chief Shepherd.

Sheep are to recognize the necessity of staying with the flock.