9. The Father, Social Power and Church Leadership

Chapter 9

The Father, Social Power and Church Leadership

From the teaching of Jesus and the examples of several early church leaders, we look at how our new relationship with the Father—through Jesus and the Holy Spirit—requires that we change the way people act as (and act towards) ‘fathers’ in the church.

These 10 meditations cover 20 new references to the Father (of the 276 in the New Testament)

(68) Relationships in a Family Kingdom

Our relationship with the Father must change the way we relate to people with social power and the way we exercise it ourselves.

(69) The Power of our Social and Religious Backgrounds

Being a spiritual ‘father’ to ‘sons and daughters’ in God’s family means treating them as adult ‘brothers and sisters’, like Paul did. ...

(70) Overcoming Group Social Power in a Multi-ethnic Church

When cultural diversity of ideas and practices are submitted to Jesus as Lord, ethnic identities can glorify the Father in new ways.

(71) Spiritual 'Fathers' and 'Mothers' in the Father's Family

In his life and letters, Paul modeled how either a man or a woman can play both roles: spiritual ‘father’ and spiritual ‘mother’.

(72) Paul as a 'father' to Timothy

Spiritual fatherhood cannot be claimed because you led someone to faith in Christ; rather, it is about all that happens next!

(73) Four Glimpses of Paul as a 'father' to Titus

Mentoring spiritual sons and daughters as fellow adults is painful, for you must give them time and space, and not hold on to them.

(74) Paul as a 'father' to Onesimus, and to Philemon and Archipus

Helping our spiritual sons and daughters stand up to powerful social structures—as fellow adult sons and daughters of the Father.

(75) Adult Responsibility and Leadership in the Father's Family

Leaders play a role, yet all adult believers are accountable to the Father to walk in truth and love in accord with Jesus’ teaching.

(76) Abiding in the Father Together: as ‘children’, ‘young people’ and ‘fathers’

What John, as a ‘father’, says to three groups of believers who are at different levels of development in the Father’s family.

(77) Confronting Various Kinds of Social and Religious Power in the Church

Religious people challenged to care for the vulnerable, confront the power of wealth and control their tongue—especially those who teach.

View the contents of the next chapter

View the contents of the previous chapter

Bible translation reminders

The word 'YOU' in capitals in the Scripture passage indicates that the second person in the Greek text is plural. A group of people is being addressed. When you see a 'you' in lower case, you know that the Greek is singular, and a single individual is being addressed.

The translation being used is indicated with an abbreviation. PH and GH refer to my own translation for the Gospel 'harmony' and the 'harmony' of Paul's life and letters that I have produced. Whenever a scripture passage is taken from the already published Gospel harmony (GH)—The Good News of the Messiah by the Four Witnesses—the page number(s) will be listed in a footnote at the bottom of that meditation.

See Bible Translations Used if you want to know more about these publications, or if you don't recognize one of the other abbreviations used after the text reference .

Bible References in Italics

When chapter and verse numbers appear in italics in the Meditation portion of the lesson (in parentheses), it means that the text being identified can be found above, in the Scripture passage for that same Meditation.

Further Study

Those who wish to take a bit more time to study each meditation, will need to pay a nominal subscription fee to read the detailed meditations. Click here for more information on what is available to members, or for how to sign up.

Chapter 9 The Father, Social Power and Church Leadership