God inspired writers to record various events in Scripture for our learning. — “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4) — The word “everything” takes us beyond the commands of Scripture to examples or situations. We may not find a specific command for everything we do, like developing future church leaders, but we do find precedence in the Word to guide us.
The Precedence for Making the Development of Future Leaders a Priority
While Scripture doesn’t specifically command us to make the development of future leaders a priority, it does give precedence for it. Throughout Scripture we find examples of how God used someone to develop a future leader. The process and the time involved might have varied but the precedence to make the identification and training of future leaders a priority comes through.
Look at Joshua emerging from Moses’ leadership and Elisha from Elijah. Into the New Testament we read about Paul with Timothy. For the greatest example of leadership development, look at Jesus with His twelve disciples.
The Precedence for Identifying Future Leaders
Consider the Old Testament examples cited above for help identifying leaders. God spoke to them about who would be their successors.
So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him.” (Num. 27:18-23)
The Lord said to him …. anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet … So Elijah went from there and found Elisha … and threw his cloak around him. … Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. (1 Kings 19:15-21)
Into the New Testament, we find that the Apostle Paul noted something special in Timothy, having received input from others about him. Paul knew this young man had potential.
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. (Acts 16:1-5)
Let’s not forget Jesus. Though God in the flesh, Jesus prayed prior to choosing the twelve.
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles. (Lk. 6:12-13)
The Precedence for Training and Equipping Future Leaders
Looking at the previous examples, we see that all the future leaders went through a training phase that helped develop them as leaders — mentoring, apprenticeship, discipleship.
Joshua: One of the twelve sent to spy out the promised land (Num. 13:16), Joshua also served as Moses’ aide (Ex. 24:13; 33:11), seeing firsthand what it meant to lead the Israelites. God told Moses to “commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him” (Deut. 3:28) to prepare him to succeed Moses as leader.
Elisha: He likewise spent time at his mentor’s side, as he followed Elijah and became his servant (1 Kings 19:19-21), remaining committed to the end. When Elijah asked what he could do for Elisha before being taken from him, Elisha replied, “let me inherit a double portion of your spirit” (2 Kings 2:1-12). Having spent time with Elijah, Elisha knew the power of God.
Timothy: The Apostle Paul forged a relationship with Timothy, calling him “my dear son” (2 Tim. 1:2; 2:1). Timothy received much verbal and written instruction (2 Tim. 1:13) from Paul, as well as an example to follow (2 Tim. 3:10-11). Paul exhorted Timothy to in turn mentor others. — “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Tim. 2:1-2)
The Disciples: The twelve disciples had the privilege of spending three years in the presence of Jesus, learning from Him and then being sent out. — “He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk. 3:14-15)
Key Point in Developing Future Church Leaders
As we develop future church leaders, let’s also take note of one more important point seen in the precedence of these biblical examples. Leadership transitions came after development of those leaders through mentoring, apprenticeship, and discipleship. Yet, they weren’t to rely on their training but rather on the God who would be with them.
God commanded Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.” (Deut. 31:23)
After picking up the cloak Elijah left behind, Elisha struck the water with it and asked, “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?”, and the water divided (2 Kings 2:13-14).
Paul told Timothy, “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you — guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Tim. 1:13-14) and “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 2:1)
Jesus commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples, saying, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)