THEMES FROM THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS AND THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (a) Highlight Jesus' call of the twelve disciples ( 11 marks) (b) Identify four good qualities...

(a) Jesus' call of the twelve disciples

As the ministry of Jesus grew, He needed men whom He could train and send out to preach. Before choosing them, Jesus went out into the hills to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God, seeking the Father's guidance in the choice.

When it was day, He called His disciples to Himself, and from them He chose twelve, whom He named apostles, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.

The twelve He appointed were:

• Simon, whom He surnamed Peter;
• James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, whom He surnamed Boanerges, that is, "sons of thunder";
• Andrew (Peter's brother);
• Philip and Bartholomew;
• Matthew (the tax collector) and Thomas;
• James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus;
• Simon the Cananaean (the Zealot);
• and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Him.

Jesus called ordinary men, fishermen, a tax collector and others, not the learned or powerful. He called them personally, and they left their occupations to follow Him. He appointed them for a threefold purpose: to be with Him (fellowship and training), to be sent out to preach, and to have authority over unclean spirits and diseases. This showed that the work of the Kingdom was to continue through chosen human instruments.

(b) Four good qualities of a Christian leader

1. Humility - a willingness to serve rather than to be served.
2. Honesty and integrity - being truthful, trustworthy and free from corruption.
3. Prayerfulness and faith in God - depending on God for direction and strength.
4. Love and compassion - caring for the welfare of the people led.