Category Archives: Leadership

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)

Change is inevitable in the Church, especially if we want to grow. How leaders manage that change can make the difference between it being accepted or resisted. Leaders must honestly assess their approach to change management and seek the kind of balance that leads to a healthy means of navigating change. Our spiritual gifting can affect our approach.

How a Leader’s Spiritual Gifts Can Affect Change Management

People with the spiritual gift of leadership are visionary. Those with the gift of administration are administrative. And, leaders with the gift of pastor are shepherds. Each of these leaders tend to approach change from a perspective that aligns with their gifting.

Visionary Leaders (gift of leadership) are the change makers whose emphasis is on propelling the ministry forward.

Administrative Leaders (gift of administration) are the change implementers whose main concern is developing a plan and procedure to best accomplish change.

Shepherding Leaders (gift of pastor) are the change navigators out to help people cope with and navigate through the change.

Of course, people’s personalities and gift mix also factor in to the way a leader approaches change.

Seeking Balance for a Healthy Approach to Change

It shouldn’t be hard to see that we need all three types of leaders for a healthy change process since they each tend to focus on different aspects of change. To move forward, we will have to make changes yet we must be careful we don’t charge ahead with little thought to doing so efficiently and with people a priority.

Change Management is one of the 15 leadership responsibilities found in the Balance in Church Leadership Based on Spiritual Gifting resource. In addition to considering what motivates and concerns these leaders in change management, it looks at what’s needed for each of them to overcome challenges to bring greater balance into the change process.

For more on Change Management: Church Leaders Practicum on Change

What does it take for a church leader to be prepared for ministry? Can we ever be truly prepared?

Preparation Should Begin with an Understanding of the Basics

To effectively lead God’s Church, we need to understand God’s intent:

• His Purpose for the Church to love Him with all our hearts and to love others
• God’s Design for the Church to function interdependently as a body
• God’s Mission for the Church to go and make disciples
• His Heart for the Church that we be Christ-like in both character and conduct
• God’s Power for the Church to accomplish all we do by and through His strength and His resources

Realize, however that we need to apply these basics to ministry. We must see the connection between what we know from God’s Word and specific tasks and issues church leaders face.

Preparation Through Formal Training

To prepare for ministry we could go to Bible College or Seminary where we can earn a bachelor’s degree, Master of Arts, or Master of Divinity. Or, perhaps we could take some correspondence or online courses about the Bible and how to do ministry. We could attend conferences and receive ongoing ministry training through our church.

Learning God’s Word is important (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17) and getting equipped for ministry (Eph. 4:11-12) is beneficial, but will it truly prepare us for ministry? So often a great divide exists between book learning and real-life ministry. Even if blessed to have taken courses with practical assignments, projects, and other hands-on learning experiences, no amount of training will ever thoroughly prepare us for everything we encounter in ministry.

Get Prepared for Ministry But Expect the Unexpected

God wants us to give Him our best (1 Cor. 10:31) which very well may mean some training to equip us. But, we must always remember that effective ministry ultimately isn’t dependent on our backgrounds and education. God is the One who changes lives and grows His Church (1 Cor. 3:7).

So, if we encounter the unexpected, for which we’re unprepared, we don’t have to let it discourage or disillusion us. Our knowledge and ability to articulate what we know aren’t the Source of power by which we effectively serve.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

Jesus said, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn. 15:5)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:13)

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Pet. 1:3)

Our training isn’t the foundation on which we stand firm in ministry; God is (Ps. 40:2-3). We have a “rock that is higher” than us to whom we can call when our “heart grows faint” (Ps. 61:2).

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Ps. 18:2)

Perhaps the best way to become better prepared for ministry is to refresh our hearts and minds about this Great God on whom we depend. Here are two resources to help:

• Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool
• The Ministry Worker’s Devotional: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Previously we considered excuses we might give to bypass the planning process centered on practical-sounding reasoning. Perhaps when pointed out to us, we’ll acknowledge that kind of thinking doesn’t align with God’s ways. When, however, our excuses for not planning sound spiritually motivated, we may need more convincing that our thinking is misguided.

Misguided Reasoning for Bypassing the Planning Process Though It Sounds Spiritual

Misguided reasoning often is based on half-truths. What we say could be true, making us feel our excuses are legitimate. As in anything we do, we must consider the whole counsel of God.

Excuse #1: It doesn’t matter how we do something as long as we love God. If we just focus on love, everything will take care of itself.

Love for God is indeed the greatest commandment. That command, however, comes with qualifications. We’re to love Him “with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind” (Matt. 22:37). Notice that we’re to love Him with all of our mind. God expects us to use our minds, not to merely coast through life, or to barrel through it. — “The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.” (Prov. 14:8)

Excuse #2: We shouldn’t look for trouble. We should merely trust God and keep moving forward.

Even Jesus said “each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt. 6:34). Just prior, however, Jesus said, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). Seeking is a striving after, not just laying back and waiting for something to happen. It’s about trusting God to provide for us as we seek after His will, not worrying. Jesus also spoke of counting the cost and sitting down to consider what to do before moving forward (Lk. 14:28-32). We plan to prevent problems, to avoid trouble. — “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” (Prov. 22:3)

Excuse #3: We have little control over what’s going to happen so planning is futile. We should get out of the way and let God have control.

Scripture does indicate that “in their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Prov. 16:9). Yet, God encourages us to exercise wisdom and understanding in what we do. We’re told to “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16). This suggests we take time to stop and think through what we do, to discern that which is the best course of action. — “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. (Prov. 24:3-4)

This doesn’t eliminate trust in God to have the final say. Rather, we look to God for His wisdom throughout the entire planning process. — “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” (Prov. 3:5-7)

For more about aligning with God in the planning process, go to: Strategic Planning

Despite God’s Word telling us that “the wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways” (Prov. 14:8), some may still bypass the planning process citing the need for expediency. They justify themselves with practical-sounding excuses.

The Excuses Given for Bypassing the Planning Process

The remainder of Proverbs 14:8 links folly and deception to a lack of planning. — “The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.” — We must therefore consider that though our reasons seem practical, they may in the long run hinder rather than advance God’s work in our midst. “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death (destruction).” (Prov. 14:12)

Excuse #1: Time is short. We can’t waste time in planning.

To the contrary, shortness of time gives us even more reason for planning. Planning helps us keep on track with God’s desires. If we rush ahead without carefully considering what needs to be done, we might do a lot but possibly not what we should be doing. — “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.” (Prov. 19:2)

Excuse #2: The end result is what matters, not how we get there.

Perhaps the end result is all that matters to us, but process also matters to God. When we bypass planning, we skip a process God uses to get others involved. — “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Prov. 15:22) — Though it sometimes may take longer seeking input from others, and the result may not always be what we think, we must remember God’s design for the Body to operate interdependently. We work together to accomplish God’s purposes, even in the planning stages, because the process matters to God.

Bible Verses Pointing to How It’s More Practical to Plan

God wants us to make “the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). This is preceded by being “very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise” (Eph. 5:15). It’s followed with “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Eph. 5:17). To make the most of every opportunity therefore requires discernment, wisdom, and perspective, which we gain by giving thought to our ways (Prov. 14:8). For more, read the following posts:

• Making the Most of Every Opportunity Requires Discernment
• Making the Most of Every Opportunity Requires Wisdom
• Making the Most of Every Opportunity Requires Perspective

God also wants us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24). One of the best ways to spur people on to get involved is to include them in the planning process. If we bypass planning and merely expect people to go along with our “off-the-cuff” endeavors, we do little to motivate them.

Also read: Leadership Skill: Strategic Planning

Church leaders, do you want your church body to engage in Body life, living out the one another passages of Scripture with everyone doing their parts? Do you want people to treat their spouses and families well? Do you want them to extend the love of Christ to people in the workplace? Do you want people to reach out with charity and kindness to those in need? Do you want people to work out conflict and find unity in the midst of diversity? — Then follow Jesus’ ways and be an example of servanthood.

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Pet. 5:2-3)

Notice that we’re to be eager to serve, doing so willingly and authentically.

Ways Leaders Exemplify Servanthood

While serving can manifest itself in what we do, it also comes out in our attitudes and how we treat others.

• Leaders have many opportunities to be a servant example by the way they treat those who criticize, falsely accuse, or betray them.
• Leaders can exemplify being a servant in the way they deal with personality conflicts, differences of opinion, and philosophical challenges.
• Leaders can model servanthood in their approach to people who seem unlovable, difficult, or hard to reach.
• Leaders can demonstrate servanthood by respecting all people regardless of age, spiritual maturity, gender, type or position of ministry, etc.

In a world disillusioned and distrusting of people in leadership, someone who authentically leads in these ways as a servant, will tend to get people’s attention in a good way. This is the kind of leader who can make a real impact in people’s lives.

Also Read: Church Leadership Qualities: Be a Servant