6. Humility - Study Questions

This Study Guide is for the Humility article by Ken Boa. Read it first.

Appendix: Study Guide for MEN7/52 Leadership Series

MEN 7/52 is a men's ministry of bible.org. Our desire is to see all men become true followers of Jesus Christ 7 days a week/52 weeks a year.

The Men’s Bible Study Leadership Series is presented by bible.org to help you build and fortify men in preparation for their roles as leaders in their families, churches, communities, and workplaces.

It is a leadership series because no matter what age or station in life a man finds himself, he is called to lead. Leadership hates a vacuum. If a man of God doesn’t stand up and lead, then someone else will and the consequences can be drastic for generations.

It is also a discipleship series because building men’s leadership requires ongoing personal relationships with someone who will shepherd and mentor them over the long term. Just as Christ lived in a community of relationship with His disciples, preparing them to lead, so too must we if we are to grow and be effective.

There are sixteen lessons that are designed to be conducted over a thirty-two week period. Your group should meet weekly at a specific time and place. First, participants should be expected to read all of the Scripture verses thoroughly, on a daily basis, and be encouraged to meditate on them. Second, they should read the article carefully and look for aspects of it that impact them personally. Third, they should complete the discussion questions thoughtfully, completely, and honestly, and diligently address personal applications. Finally, they should be prepared to share their answers during your group sessions.

The articles used in this series are written by Dr. Kenneth Boa. Dr. Boa is engaged in a ministry of relational evangelism and discipleship, teaching, writing, and speaking. He holds a B.S. from Case Institute of Technology, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. from New York University, and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford in England.

By the time your group has finished this series, relationships and spiritual bonds should have formed. Authentic spiritual interdependence will be experienced, and men will know they are not alone in being who and what God wants them to be. It will be critical for the group to either stay together for the next series, or to stay in close touch weekly to continue the shepherding experience and forming true Christian brotherhood.

Lesson 8

Leadership Qualities: Humility
God expects us to acquire the same humility as Christ.

Read “Leadership Qualities: Humility” by Ken Boa and listen to his audio message online.

1. What other character traits go together with humility?

2. When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, what three things did He understand about Himself before He assumed the role of a lowly servant?

3. What are the three things that we learn about Our Lord that are the essence of true humility?

4. When we recognize our need for God’s grace and mercy, what three characteristics become evident in us?

Read Philippians 2:1-11, John 13:1-5, Hebrews 5:8-10, Luke 19:10, Mark 10:43-45, John 1:10-13, John 3:5-8, Ephesians 1:3, Philippians 3:20-21.

Jesus lived a life of ultimate humility and demonstrated obedience through His sufferings. He knew the power that He had over all things. Yet, He exhorted His disciples to be sacrificial servants like Him, demonstrating it by washing their feet, being rejected by His own people, and dying for our salvation.

5. Describe, in your own words, what it means for you to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus.

6. If you were to have the same attitude as Christ, what would it mean if you were made “nothing”?

7. What would it mean in your life to be “obedient to death”?

8. Jesus had the power of God, yet He stooped to wash His disciples’ feet. What opportunities do you have to demonstrate similar humility?

9. How do the sufferings in your life train you to be obedient (see Hebrews 5:8-10)?

10. What happens when we receive Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior?

11. In John 3:5-8, what does Jesus tell us is required to enter the kingdom of God?

12. What do we receive in return (see Ephesians 1:3)?

13. Where is our citizenship?

Read Ecclesiastes 3:10-11, Ephesians 6:7-8, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:2, 1 Peter 5:5-7, Proverbs 3:34.

Those who earnestly seek God, pray to Him, and call on His name will find Him. They will prosper through Him, will have their hearts revived, and will be esteemed by Him.

14. In order to reap God’s rewards, how must a believer serve?

15. Describe the areas of your life in which God has prospered you.

16. In what areas of your life do you need God’s prospering?

17. How much time do you spend each day praying to God and calling on His name?

18. How much time do you spend each day seeking Him by reading and meditating on His word?

19. What keeps you from praying to Him and seeking Him as often as you should?

20. What will you do to spend more time in prayer and in the Word?

21. According to Isaiah 57:15 and 66:2, what does God do for the lowly and the contrite?

22. In 1 Peter 5:5-7 and Proverbs 3:34, what is God requiring from His people?

Read Proverbs 25:27, John 5:41-44

Jesus teaches, and models, that God does not honor those who seek their own honor, or the praise of men. Those who seek the praise of men cannot accept Christ and do not receive praise from God.

23. What changes do you need to make in your attitude and in your life so that you will seek only to honor God, and not just yourself?

24. Are there times and circumstances in which you seek the praise and acceptance of others, and not God’s? Please describe.

25. Are there situations in your life in which your honor of God and acceptance of Christ will threaten the opinions other have of you?

26. What will you do, beginning today, to cultivate a Christlike attitude of humility? Who will help you?

Read Deuteronomy 8:10-18

27. Please share with someone how this passage impacts your thoughts and feelings about your position before God and His requirement for humility.

Memory Verse: Philippians 2:5-7

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.