Are good leaders born or made? Are they found or formed? Culture and context will shape our answer as we guard the gospel of Christ. William invites us to put on honour-shame glasses when considering Paul’s pastoral wisdom to Timothy, the young church planter. We’ll see how these instructions to honour spiritual kaumātua or elders who lead beautifully, rebuke those who don’t and even drink a little wine without fear of being cancelled all still have relevance for Christians seeking to honour Christ in today’s culture.

Michael Rhodes talks with some of the keynote speakers of the upcoming 'Tuning our hearts to the Psalms' conference (17-18 July 2024) in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, New Zealand. We hope you enjoy listening in and perhaps even get inspired to register for the conference at carey.ac.nz.

What attitude should church leaders have towards those they shepherd? And how do you care for those in need with limited resources? In 1 Timothy 5:1-16, Paul first encourages young Timothy to treat all his congregation with the same care and honour he would give his own family. He then presents an ancient congregational-care case study that has helpful applications for churches and organisations today that seek to care well when resources are limited.

Melissa Wilson, Pastor at Beachlands Baptist Church, teaches leaders to

be aware of the quiet killers, set up training plans, and find their champions.

1 Timothy 3 ends with some of the most beautiful, exhilarating God-talk in all of Paul’s letters. However, the passage begins with a teaching about leadership that we will almost certainly find off-putting. What might Paul’s words tell us about God’s invitation to have our lives shattered and re-made by an encounter with Jesus? And what might he teach us about the “beautiful work” that leaders in God’s church can do to help us along the way?

These eight verses have been a lightning rod for Christians and our debates about the role of women and men in the church. Jonny looks at the passage in the light of the church’s witness and the destructive effects a localised heresy is having on the believers in Ephesus. Studying the text through this lens leads to four contemporary insights for the church today. (Resources to come)

What is the priority for new (and old) churches in their life, learning and worship? According to Paul, “first of all”, they should learn to pray – for societies and communities and those whose decisions and actions affect them. This anchors the believers in what God wants for the world and turns them outwards to participate in God's saving purpose. Does the worship of our churches do that?

No matter who you are, your story matters, and it directs your ministry. That for which we are called, we are also empowered to accomplish.

In the first paragraphs of this letter, Paul outlines his purpose in writing to Timothy and the problem they have in Ephesus with false teachers. He also introduces the theme of the letter: that everyone will “know how to behave in the household of God.”