C.A.C Sunday School Manual For October 5, 2025 Lesson 37: Title - PAUL KEEPS DISCOVERING AND DEVELOPING LEADERS (1)

C.A.C Sunday School Manual For October 5, 2025 Lesson 37: Title - PAUL KEEPS DISCOVERING AND DEVELOPING LEADERS (1)

CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria And Overseas* 

 SUNDAY SCHOOL

Theme : PREPARING GOD'S PEOPLE for LEADERSHIP* 

 JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2025

 OCT 05, 2025.

 

 LESSON 37

 Unit 5: Leadership Preparation In The New Testament (II)

Topic: PAUL KEEPS DISCOVERING AND DEVELOPING LEADERS (1)

Memory Scripture

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). 

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COMMENT:

2:2 We should pray for those in authority around the world so that their societies will be conducive to the spread of the Good News. Paul's command to pray for kings is remarkable consider- ing that Nero, a notoriously cruel ruler, was emperor at this time (A.D. 54-68). When Paul wrote this letter, persecution was a growing threat to believers. Later, when Nero needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in A.D. 64, he blamed the Roman Christians so as to take the focus off himself. Then persecution erupted throughout the Roman Empire. Not to only were Christians denied certain privileges in society, some were even publicly butchered, burned, or fed to animals.

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Paul identified and nurtured leaders like Titus and Silas, validating his dedication to empowering others and spreading the Christian message.

BRIEF COMMENT

The memory scripture, 2 Timothy 2:2, perfectly aligns with the theme of the Sunday School lesson, "Paul Keeps Discovering and Developing Leaders." This verse underscores the imp importance of mentorship and discipleship in leadership development within the Christian community. It emphasises the principle of passing on knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insights from one generation to the next. Just as Paul invested in Timothy, encouraging him to pass on what he learnt to others who would also teach, this Scripture highlights the cascading effect of leadership development. It illustrates the responsibility of experienced leaders to equip and empower emerging leaders, creating a cycle of growth and maturation in the Church. Overall, 2 Timothy 2:2 reinforces the significance of intentional leadership training and the continuation of spiritual heritage through discipleship, a central theme in Paul's ministry of discovering and nurturing leaders.

*Our DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS Stated that* 

 1. Effective leaders lead by example, fostering a culture of integrity and ethics.

 2. Let us admit we are not perfect role models and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us using Paul and his group as an example.

*BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:17-38* 

 *AIM of this lesson is:* To show how Paul discovered, converted and developed Titus and Silas.

*INTRODUCTION* 

 *TEXTUAL SOURCE: Acts 15:36-41; 16-18; Titus 1:4-9; 1 Peter 5:12*

Lesson 37, the 4th in the 5th unit of this series, delves into: "Paul Keeps Discovering And Developing Leaders (1)." It sheds light on how Paul continued to develop leaders and teachers around him throughout his ministry. Paul, a Roman citizen and former member of the Sanhedrin, underwent transformation upon becoming an Apostle of Jesus Christ, redefining his identity, mission and purpose. His life serves as an exemplary model for discovering and nurturing leaders. Are you receptive to being mentored by godly leaders, like Paul? May God help us to fulfil His purpose in our lives. Amen.

*LESSON OUTLINE* 

 *I. PAUL AND SILAS* 

 *II. PAUL AND TITUS*

*SHORT STORY OF SILAS* 

The lives of the first Christian missionaries can be described with many words, but boring is not one of them. There were days of great excitement as men and women who had never heard of Jesus responded to the gospel. There were dangerous journeys over land and sea Health risks and hunger were part of the daily routine. And there was open and hostile resis tance to Christianity in many cities. Silas was one of the first missionaries, and he found out that serving Jesus Christ was certainly not boring! 

Silas's name appears in Acts at the end of the first church council on the Jewish/Gentile problem. The majority of early Christians were Jews who realized that Jesus was the fulfillment of God's Old Testament promises to his people, however, the universal application of those promises had been overlooked. Thus, many felt that becoming Jewish was a prerequisite to becoming a Christian. The idea that God could accept a Gentile pagan was toe incredible. But Gentiles began to accept Christ as Savior, and the transformation of their lives and the presence of God's Spirit confirmed their conversions. Some Jews were still reluctant, however, and insisted these new Christians take on various Jewish customs. The issue came to a boiling point at the Jerusalem council but was peacefully resolved. Silas was one of the representatives from Jerusalem sent with Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with an official letter of welcome and acceptance to the Gentile Christians. Having fulfilled this mission, Silas returned to Jerusalem. Within a short time, however, he was back in Antioch at Paul's request to join him on his second missionary journey. 

Paul, Silas, and Timothy began a far-ranging ministry that included some exciting adventures. Paul and Silas spent a night singing in a Philippian jail after being severely beaten. An earthquake, the loosing of their chains, and the resulting panic led to the conversion of their jailer and his family. Later, they narrowly missed another beating in Thessalonica, prevented by an evening escape. In Berea there was more trouble, but Silas and Timothy stayed to teach the young believers, while Paul traveled on to Athens. The team was finally reunited in Corinth. In each place they visited, they left behind a small group of Christians. 

Silas leaves the story as suddenly as he entered it. Peter mentions him as the coauthor of 1 Peter, but we do not know when he joined Peter. He was an effective believer before leaving Jerusalem, and he doubtless continued to minister after his work with Paul was completed. He took advantage of opportunities to serve God and was not discouraged by the setbacks and opposition he met along the way. Silas, though not the most famous of the early missionaries, was certainly a hero worth imitating. 

 *Strengths and accomplishments* 

* A leader in the Jerusalem church 

* Represented the church in carrying the "acceptance letter prepared by the Jerusalem council to the Gentile believers in Antioch 

* Was closely associated with Paul from the second missionary Journey on 

* Sang songs of praise to God while in jail with Paul in Philippi 

* Worked as a writing secretary for both Paul and Peter 

 Lessons from his life

* Partnership is a significant part of effective ministry 

* God never guarantees that his servants will not suffer 

* Obedience to God will often mean giving up what makes us feel secure 

 Vital statistics

Where:* Roman citizen living in Jerusalem 

Occupation:* One of the first career missionaries 

Contemporaries.* Paul, Timothy, Peter, Mark, Barnabas 

LESSON EXPOSITION

 I. PAUL AND SILAS (Acts 15:36-41; 16-18; 1 Pet. 5:12)* 

Men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:26). 

a) Silas, also known as Saul (Hebrew) or Silvanus (Latin), was a key figure in the early Church. He was a Hellenistic Jew and Roman citizen (Acts 16:37). 

b) Acts 15:36-41: The Paul-Silas collaboration nurtured Silas' leadership as they engaged in preaching, teaching and Church founding. This equipped Silas to lead effectively in the Church.

c) v. 22: Silas joined Paul in ministry. This shows Silas' leadership growth as he assumed responsibilities that fostered his development in the early Christian community. Recognised as a leader in the early Church, he began to exhibit leadership traits at an early stage.

d) 16:11ff: Silas showed resilience in Philippi amid persecution, actively helping in Church founding. This demonstrates determination and perseverance as a leader in adverse conditions

e) 17:1ff: Silas support for Paul amid opposition in Thessalonica and Berea showed his commitment, loyalty, adaptability and steadfastness, crucial for effective leadership.

f) 18:1ff: Following Paul to Corinth, Silas provided boost and solidarity in the missionary work, showing his faithfulness and support for fellow ministers (cf. 15:32), characteristic of godly leaders. 

g) 1 Pet. 5:12: Silas' impact and legacy in spreading the gospel and strengthening the early Church are highlighted. With his contributions, he is recognised as a faithful brother, showing that he had been well-groomed.

h) Silas' journey highlights the significance of mentorship and practical experience in leadership development (cf. 2 Tim. 2:2). Believers are encouraged to identify and nurture emerging leaders, fostering a legacy of leadership in the Church of Christ 

*II. PAUL AND TITUS (Titus. 1:4-9)*  

a) Tit. 1:4: Titus, a Gentile Greek, joined Paul's team in Antioch (cf. Gal 2:1-3) and became a faithful servant of the Lord. Their meeting in Antioch opened their ministry partnership and laid the foundation for Titus' leadership development under Paul's guidance. 

b) vv. 4,5: Titus worked with Paul to found churches and spread the gospel in Crete. Entrusted with overseeing the churches, Titus showed leadership honed through mentoring and guidance to teach and uphold sound doctrine (cf. 2:1-8).

c) Obviously, Paul provided on-going encouragement and support to Titus in his leadership role, contributing is Titus' growth and development as a leader (cf. 2 Cor. 7:13-15).

d) vv. 5,9: Paul's epistle to Titus (cf. 2:1) instructed him on sound doctrine and leadership responsibilities, showing Paul's confidence in Titus' development as a leader in Crete 

 

e) vv. 6-9: Paul entrusted him with the task of selecting qualified leaders based on God's standards, because Paul believed in his growing leadership, godly character and spiritual maturity. 

f) Titus's exemplary leadership in Crete set a lasting example for future Christian leaders and contributed to the expansion and strengthening of the early Church (cf. 2:7-8). 

g) Titus' journey with Paul exemplifies the process of developing leaders in the early Church. Through mentorship, ministry and sound doctrine, Titus emerged as a capable leader, impacting the Church in Crete and future generations of Christian leaders 

LESSONS DERIVED

1. Leadership is a noble calling, yet not for the faint-hearted.

 2. A leader's character is paramount, as it forms the foundation for spiritual leadership, delineated by Paul's precise standards.

QUESTIONS

 1. What is the significance of Silas in the Bible?

 2. What instructions did Paul give to Titus in his letter?