|
Chapter |
Title |
Passages |
Sketch # |
|
1 |
God as Shepherd |
Psalm 23; John 10:1-5, 10-15 |
1 |
|
2 |
The Call of a Shepherd |
John 21:15-19; Ezekiel 34:1-6 |
2 |
|
3 |
Shepherds Appoint Shepherds |
1 Peter 5:1-4 |
14 |
|
4 |
Shepherd Leadership Without Authority |
Acts 27:21-28:10 |
60 |
|
5 |
A Leader Leads By Serving |
Mark 1:40-44, Mark 5:24-34 |
3 |
|
6 |
A Leader Serves by Leading |
John 13:1-17 |
4 |
|
7 |
The Servant’s Question |
Mark 10:32-52 |
103 |
|
8 |
Servanthood and Power |
2 Kings 2:1-22; 1 Kings 19:19-21 |
152 |
|
9 |
Ambition to Serve |
Matthew 6:31-33; Mark 10:41-45; Luke 14:7-11; 1 Timothy 3:1; James 3:13-16 |
15 |
|
10 |
Why Be a Servant? |
Mark 10:41-45 |
5 |
A look at the two most common images the scripture uses for leadership and how Jesus teaches and models these classic leadership images for us. He calls us to be like him, shepherding the flock of God as he did and serving those in need, just as he did.
|
Chapter |
Title |
Passages |
Sketch # |
|
1 |
Our Sacrifices and God’s Glory |
Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 1:1-3; Proverbs 3:9-10; Psalm 50:7-15 |
11a |
|
2 |
Who Works for Whom? |
Isaiah 64:4; Luke 12:35-38; Acts 17:22-25; Mark 2:16-17 |
11b |
|
3 |
Freedom to Fail |
Matthew 14:22-33 |
48 |
|
4 |
Motivation for Discipleship |
Mark 8:34-38; Mark 10:28-31; Mark 10:41-45 |
12 |
|
5 |
Why Did Jesus Go to the Cross? |
Mark 10:41-45; Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 2:1-11; Mark 15: 6-15, 20-22 |
13, 109 |
|
6 |
Distraction and Focus |
Luke 10:38-42 |
84 |
|
7 |
The Lost Boys and the Searching Father |
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 |
71 |
|
8 |
One Warrior, Two Kings, Three Servants, and Elisha |
2 Kings 5:1-19 |
154 |
|
9 |
The Master Who Serves |
Luke 12:22-38 |
77 |
Leaders can be tempted to believe they are working for God, which makes them God’s heroes. We don’t work for God—he works for us. He’s not our slave—he’s the master! But he is the master who serves! We don’t feed him, we don’t serve him: he has no needs. We get into trouble; he gets us out. That makes him the hero of our lives, and he likes it that way.
|
Chapter |
Title |
Passages |
Sketch # |
|
1 |
Asking Good Questions |
Mark 5:9; 8:22-30; 9:14-29; 10:35-37; 10:51 |
34 |
|
2 |
Wisdom and Influence |
1 Kings 3:5-28; James 1:5-8 |
35 |
|
3 |
Gentle Exhortation |
Ezekiel 33:1-9; Hebrews 3:12-14 |
8 |
|
4 |
Sin and Conflict |
1 Samuel 25:14-36 |
9 |
|
5 |
Influence by Telling Stories |
Luke 10:29-37; 12:13-21; Mark 4:10-12, 21-25 |
74, 76, 94 |
|
6 |
Have Salt in Yourselves |
Mark 9:30-10:16 |
|
|
7 |
Putting It All Together: Hearably Debunking Sin’s Lies |
Luke 7:36-50 |
72 |
|
8 |
Engaging the Hearers |
Nehemiah 8:1-12 |
31 |
|
9 |
Confusion and Discernment |
Luke 24:13-35 |
32 |
|
10 |
Doers of the Word |
James 1:17-27; Luke 8:4-18 |
33, 73 |
Studies on verbal influence, asking questions, addressing sin and conflict, reconciliation, and forgiveness. It also includes three studies on leading people into inductive, transformative Bible discussions in small groups.
|
Chapter Title |
Passsage/s |
Sketch # |
|
Preparation for the Kingdom |
Mark 1:1-20 |
90 |
|
The Healing Touch of God |
Mark 1:40-2:17 |
91 |
|
New Wineskins for Fresh Wine |
Mark 2:18-3:6 |
92 |
|
Concentric Circles of Intimacy |
Mark 3:7-19 |
93 |
|
The Secret of the Kingdom |
Mark 4:1-34 |
94 |
|
Fear and Faith: The Two Storms |
Mark 4:35-5:20 |
95 |
|
Fear and Faith: The Two Daughters |
Mark 5:21-43 |
96 |
|
Ministry and Rest |
Mark 6:30-52 |
97 |
|
Second Chance Ministry |
Mark 6:35-44, 8:1-10 |
98 |
|
Listen to Him! |
Mark 8:21-9:8 |
99 |
|
Only By Prayer |
Mark 9:9-29 |
100 |
|
Have Salt in Yourselves |
Mark 9:30-10:16 |
101 |
|
Wealth and the Kingdom of God |
Mark 10:17-31 |
102 |
|
The Servant’s Question |
Mark 10:32-55 |
103 |
|
The Fig Tree and the Temple |
Mark 11:7-25 |
104 |
|
Render to Caesar, Render to God |
Mark 11:27-12:17 |
105 |
|
Acceptable Offerings |
Mark 12:38-44; 14:3-11 |
106 |
|
Birthpangs and Death Throes |
Mark 13:1-37 |
107 |
|
The Two Trials |
Mark 14:53-72 |
108 |
|
The Ransom and the Model |
Mark 15:1-39 |
109 |
|
The Faithful Women |
John 20:1-18, Mark 16:1-8 |
110 |
Developing Disciples and Reproducing Leaders. Studies in the Gospel of Mark on the methods, model, and message of Jesus regarding how we grow as disciples and multiply our ministry and character in others.
|
Chapter |
Title |
Passages |
Sketch # |
|
1 |
The Lost Boys and the Searching Father |
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 |
71 |
|
2 |
The Two Debtors |
Luke 7:36-50 |
72 |
|
3 |
The Sower and the Soils |
Luke 8:4-18 |
73 |
|
4 |
The Lawyer and the Good Samaritan |
Luke 10:25-37 |
74 |
|
5 |
Teach us To Pray |
Luke 11:1-13 |
75 |
|
6 |
The Cheated Brother and the Rich Fool |
Luke 12:12-21 |
76 |
|
7 |
The Master Who Serves |
Luke 12:22-38 |
77 |
|
8 |
Parties and Priorities |
Luke 14:1, 7-24 |
78 |
|
9 |
Count the Cost |
Luke 9:57-62; 14:25-35: |
79 |
|
10 |
The Shrewd Manager |
Luke 16:1-9 |
80 |
|
11 |
The Rich Man and Lazarus |
Luke 16:19-31 |
81 |
|
12 |
How to Pray So that God Hears You |
Luke 18:1-14 |
82 |
|
13 |
The King’s Business |
Luke 19:11-27 |
83 |
Developing Disciples and Other Treasure in Heaven. Studies on the surprising and surprisingly relevant Parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. A meditation on prayer, money, friendship, honor, and investing in things that last.
|
Chapter |
Title |
Passages |
Sketch # |
|
1 |
Fear and Faith |
Mark 4:35-5:20 |
95 |
|
2 |
Successful Failure |
Matthew 14:22-33 |
48 |
|
3 |
Temptation in Transitions |
Luke 4:1-13; Mark 8:27-38; John 13:25-30; Mark 14:32-42 |
|
|
4 |
Resisting God |
John 13:1-17 |
49 |
|
5 |
Creed in Crisis |
Psalm 73 |
131 |
|
6 |
Ministry and Rest |
Mark 6:30-52 |
98 |
|
7 |
Second Chance Ministry |
Mark 7:24-28; 8:1-10 |
99 |
|
8 |
Burnout |
1 Kings 19:1-18 |
18 |
|
9 |
Disappointment |
1 Samuel 1:9-18; 2:1-11 |
|
|
10 |
Suffering |
Romans 8:18-39 |
128 |
|
11 |
Life and Death |
John 11:1-7, 17-44 |
114 |
|
12 |
The Lifelong Journey |
Mark 1:17-20; 1:35-38; 8:29-38; John 13:3-8; Mark 14:26-31; John 21:17-22 |
69 |
|
13 |
Navigating Life’s Turns |
|
|
A look at burnout, failure, resistance to God’s work, disappointment, disillusionment, temptation, anxiety, fear, suffering, loss, and death. A meditation on becoming an excellent learner of the (hard) lessons of one’s own life: overcoming, avoiding, going through difficulties and navigating these turns with skill and hope. Whether it is adult development or deep discipleship, failure, disillusionment and suffering have much to teach us.
|
Chapter |
Title |
Passages |
Sketch # |
|
1 |
The Leadership and Vision of King David |
1 Chronicles 29:1-19 |
21 |
|
2 |
Leading with Vision |
Haggai 1:1-15 |
23 |
|
3 |
Standing in the Gap: Prayer and Planning |
Nehemiah 1:1-2:8 |
22 |
|
4 |
Recruitment and Resentment |
Nehemiah 2:9-3:11 |
161 |
|
5 |
Opposition to Change |
Nehemiah 4:1-23 |
162 |
|
6 |
Leaders Share and Lift Burdens |
Nehemiah 5:1-19; 6:15-16 |
163 |
|
7 |
Delegation and Empowerment |
Exodus 18:13-26; Acts 6:1-7 |
61 |
|
8 |
A Capable Team Leader Who Can Find? |
Proverbs 31:10-31 |
143 |
|
9 |
Preparing for Growth |
2 Kings 4:1-7 |
26 |
|
10 |
Leadership Styles |
Mark 1:17-20, 35-38; 4:10-13, 24-25; 6:6-13, 30; Matt 28:18-2 |
10 |
|
11 |
New Wineskins for Fresh Wine |
Mark 2:18-3:6 |
91 |
|
12 |
The Developmental Organization |
|
|
A look at the leadership wisdom of Moses, David, Solomon, Haggai, Elisha, Nehemiah, and Jesus regarding mobilizing teams and groups to accomplish the mission.
|
Chapter |
Title |
Passages |
Sketch # |
|
1 |
A Crisis of Idolatry: Aaron and Moses |
Exodus 32:1-29 |
16 |
|
2 |
A Crisis of Succession: Touch Not the Lord’s Anointed |
2 Samuel 1:5-16; 2 Samuel 16:5-14 |
63 |
|
3 |
A Crisis of Sin: Nathan Confronts David |
2 Samuel 12:1-15; Psalm 51 |
64 |
|
4 |
A Crisis of Rebellion: The Wasted Potential of Absalom |
2 Samuel 14:25-26; 15:1-12; 18:9-15 |
65 |
|
5 |
A Crisis of Confidence: David Flees Absalom |
2 Samuel 15:13-31; 18:33 |
66 |
|
6 |
A Crisis of Perspective: Calamities Large and Small |
2 Kings 6:1-23 |
154 |
|
7 |
A Crisis of Wisdom: Leading When You Don’t Know What to Do |
2 Chronicles 20:1-30 |
155 |
|
8 |
A Crisis of Ethical Influence |
Esther 4:10-17; 5:1-7; 7:1-10 |
|
|
9 |
Geopolitics and Idolatry Hezekiah 1 |
Isaiah 7:1-14; 2 Kings 16:1-9; 2 Chronicles 28:22-25 |
156 |
|
10 |
The Great Restoration Hezekiah 2 |
2 Chronicles 29:1-30, 36 |
157 |
|
11 |
The Great Passover Hezekiah 3 |
2 Chronicles 30:1-27 |
158 |
|
12 |
God’s Great Commitment to his Name Hezekiah 4 |
2 Kings 18: 36-37; 19:1-20, 32-37 |
159 |
|
13 |
The Legacy of Success Hezekiah 5 |
2 Kings 20:1-21:2 |
160 |
|
14 |
The Humility of Moses |
Exodus 32:7-14; Numbers 12:1-16 |
164 |
A look at leadership choices when your original plan isn’t working or when facing internal or external opposition: leading when you don’t know what to do, and leadership without authority. This Bible study sequence was inspired by the events of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it useful in preparation for any crisis.
|
Chapter |
Title |
Passsages |
Sketch # |
|
1 |
Apprentice Apostles |
Mark 6:1-13, 30 |
41 |
|
2 |
The Secret of the Kingdom |
Mark 4:1-25, 33-34 |
94 |
|
3 |
The Accidental Missionary |
Genesis 12:1-4, Jeremiah 29:1-14; Mark 10:29-31 |
43 |
|
4 |
Plan B Ministry Vision |
Acts 15:35-16:15 |
57 |
|
5 |
Discernment, Chaos and Plan B Ministry |
Acts 16:16-34 |
58 |
|
6 |
Paul’s Mission Statement |
Acts 26:1-32 |
59 |
|
7 |
Leadership Without Authority |
Acts 27:21-28:10 |
60 |
|
8 |
Cross-Cultural Entry Posture |
Acts 10 |
70 |
|
9 |
Apostolic Incarnation |
Gal. 2:11-14; 1 Cor. 9:19-27; 2 Timothy 2:1-9 |
62 |
|
10 |
The Missionary Task |
Matthew 28:16-20 |
128 |
What principles can we glean from the teachings of Jesus and the stories of Peter and Paul in the book of Acts? How do we prepare for cross-cultural mission as servant leaders? How can we faithfully incarnate the gospel in our words and deeds?
|
Chapter |
Title |
Passages |
Sketch # |
|
1 |
Realms and Rulers |
Genesis 1:1-2:3 |
132 |
|
2 |
The Groundling and His Lifesaver |
Genesis 2:4-25 |
133 |
|
3 |
The Fall and Its Consequences |
Genesis 3:1-24 |
134 |
|
4 |
Cain and the Lord’s Regard |
Genesis 4:1-16 |
135 |
|
5 |
The Flood and the Promise |
Genesis 6:5-22; 7:1; 8:18-22; 9:1-17 |
136 |
|
6 |
Towers and Altars |
Genesis 11:1-9; 12:1-9; Mark 10:29-30 |
137 |
|
7 |
Judgment and Mercy |
Genesis 3:8-13; 4:8-10; 6:11-13; 8:20-22; 11:1-9 |
138 |
|
8 |
How Long, Oh Lord? |
Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 |
140 |
|
9 |
Mocking Riddles and Worshipful Silence |
Habakkuk 2:2-20 |
141 |
|
10 |
In Wrath, Remember Mercy |
Habakkuk 3:1-19 |
142 |
Studies in the first 11 chapters of Genesis, from the creation to the calling of Abraham at the beginning of chapter 12, and in the book of Habakkuk. Looking at God’s intentions with creation and the corruption of human nature due to the fall. This is a clear-eyed but surprisingly hopeful and relevant message for disciples today.
More Topical and Biblical Sequences
The Sketches of Leadership are modular and flexible and do not need to be delivered in any particular order, so an experienced trainer can use them in their own context with maximum flexibility. However, some sequences of Sketches have a logical progression and topical continuity.
- Basic Biblical Leadership (10-27 Sketches)
- Gospel Survey Sequence: Ministry Insights from Jesus
- Old Testament Foundations for Ministry
- Jesus' Parables in Luke: Becoming Rich Toward God (13 Sketches)
- Mark's Gospel: Making Disciples (20 Sketches)
- Sermon on the Mount: Building to Last (5 Sketches)
- Elijah and Elisha: Dependence on God and His Provision and Power (8 Sketches)
- Genesis 1-12: Sin, Judgment and Mercy (8 Sketches)
- Hezekiah: Organizational Reform and Renewal (5 Sketches)
- Habakkuk: God's Surprising Work in the World (3 Sketches)
- OT Character Studies (Moses, David, Nehemiah)
