WHAT DOES GOD WANT TO DO IN AND THROUGH ME?
A) Unworthy goals
1) Results – Numbers! Look at Jesus. How many did He basically train? Was He successful? If we base success on numbers what do you say to the missionary or pastor who has faithfully and diligently labored for many years and seen few conversions? Granted we can sometimes use that as a crutch but if we are faithfully pursuing the avenues God has given us, then leave the results up to God. (1 Corinthians 3:5-8)
2) Perfectionism - it is not the definition for excellence. You want to develop excellence (1 Corinthians
3) Bigger - “Bigger is not better. Look at Jesus (John 6:66-67). He taught true discipleship and lost people. Mega churches and their pastors are given too much press. We assume that large crowds mean God’s blessings!” (Chuck Colson) See Chapter 9 – Spiritual Pitfalls, Section H.
B) Worthy Pursuits
1) Spiritual Maturity. “Take people from where they are at to where God wants them to be” (Henry Blackaby). We need to help our people see God and that they are ambassadors, representatives for Him if they name Jesus as Savior (2 Corinthians
A TOP LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE OF JESUS
No Success Without A Successor
a. Faithfulness of Timothy - 2 Tim 2:2 - Four generations of mentoring in that verse; what we learn – pass it on to others.
Phil
b. Pass it on -
1. Jesus developed successors by continual mentoring by how He lived, what He taught and said or did not say, and simply by who He was.
2. He developed successors by constantly evaluating - accountability
3. He went after leaders - picked the 12 and had 3 very close to him – Mark 3:13-15
4. He taught the apostles to pray...
a. He did it - Luke 5:16 -
b. Let the disciples see it - Luke 9:18 -
c. Asked questions, thought it through, did it with him. - Matt 6:6-13
d. Disciples did it - Acts
e. Disciples reprodu
5. CHALLENGING EXERCISE - Model – Write down 5 most influential sermons in 30 sec. Next list 5 most influential people in 30 sec. Listing impacting people is easier than influential sermons. Discuss why this is true. We need to be investing in people (and still giving sermons), because long-term effects are much greater and deeper.
a. 1 Thess 2:8 - Paul said they not only shared the gospel, but also their lives.
b. John Maxwell –“Once you reach a certain level in your leadership, the most valuable thing you have to give is yourself. Find someone to pour your life into. Then give him time and resources to become a better leader.”
6. My friend Bert and the stove – My stove needed fixing so Bert came to guide me to fix the stove. He was there, gave me the tools, offered suggestions and encouraged me. The stove got fixed. - Example of mentoring
7. Mentors:
a. Give to whom they mentor timely advice; letters, articles, books or other helps that offer perspectives; finances; freedom to emerge as a leader via empowerment.
b. Risk their own reputations for the mentoree.
c. Model various aspects of leadership functions to challenge mentorees to move toward and beyond them.
d. Direct mentorees to needed resources that will further develop them.
e. Co-minister with mentorees, in order to build them up.
2)
ADDING VERSUS MULTIPICATION ILLUSTRATION
If two people (Disciple A and Disciple B) begin to disciple two people for a year, after one year both original disciples have two disciples. Discipler A selects two new disciples for the second year, while Discipler B encourages his first two disciples from Year One to also disciple others with him. After the second year, Discipler A has 5 people in his group, including himself, while Discipler B has 9 (each of three disciples discipled two). Following this process, after three years Discipler A has 7 in his group, while Discipler B has 27. After four years, A has 9, B has 81; five years, A – 11, B – 243; six years, A – 13, B – 729.
Now Discipler A has done all the work, while Discipler B has spread the work to all involved and is applying Ephesians 4:11-13. This is a math formula, and some people will take less or longer time to be discipled so they get to the part of reproducing themselves spiritually, plus some will simply not be discipled or disciple others. The point is Discipler B is following the Biblical model that has been used throughout Scripture – Jethro and Moses, Moses and Joshua, Eli and Samuel, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and the apostles, Barnabas with Saul and Mark, Paul with Silas, Timothy, Titus and Philemon.
If we follow the Discipler B model, in one lifetime we could see the world won to Christ. That is what it is all about. (Judges 2:6-10) In one generation they can forget what God has mightily done for them.
*A Contrast in Leadership*
Many famous leaders have failed in this essential element of leadership. When Franklin Roosevelt won his fourth term as president in 1944, many suspected he would not live to finish his term and that the presidency would inevitably fall to the vice president, Harry Truman. This was one of the most critical periods in American history. The world’s first nuclear bomb was nearing completion, and an executive decision would soon be required regarding whether to use it. As the most devastating war in human history drew to a close,
In comparison, General George Marshall kept a “black book” of all the soldiers he believed showed promise for future leadership. Whenever he encountered someone who demonstrated leadership ability, he added his name to the book. When a vacancy came up in the officer corps, he referred to his book, where he kept track of an ample supply of qualified candidates. This system enabled
3) Developing others – Am I interested in developing the next generations? Invest in others! Give yourself away!
a) 1 Samuel 8:1-6 – Samuel didn’t help to prepare the next generation.
b) Philippians 4:9, Titus
Whatever people heard Paul say or saw him do, they were to
imitate his example, put it into practice.
| The Law of Reproduction: From Shepherding to Developing | |||||
| Paul modeled more than mere nurturing of his young disciple, Titus; the apostle developed him as a leader: He focused not merely on meeting immediate needs, but on producing a leader who could go on meeting needs without Paul’s help. Paul had a passion for developing leaders such as Timothy and Titus. Consider the necessary progression for growing beyond mere shepherding (the many), to equipping (the 70) and developing (the apostles): | |||||
| Shepherding | Equipping | Developing | |||
| 1 | Care | 1 | Train for ministry | 1 | Train for personal growth |
| 2 | Immediate-need focus | 2 | Task focus | 2 | Person focus |
| 3 | Need-oriented | 3 | Skill-oriented | 3 | Character- oriented |
| 4 | Masses | 4 | Many | 4 | Few |
| 5 | Maintenance | 5 | Addition | 5 | Multiplication |
| 6 | Feel better | 6 | Unleashing | 6 | Empowering |
| 7 | Immediate | 7 | Short-term | 7 | Long-term |
| 8 | Nurture | 8 | Teaching | 8 | Mentoring |
| 9 | What is the problem? | 9 | What do I need? | 9 | What do they need? |
| 10 | They begin to walk | 10 | They walk the first mile | 10 | They walk the second mile |
c) Delegate – “Effective executives do not make a great many decisions. They concentrate on the important ones” (Peter Drucker). LESS IS MORE principle. Utilize spiritual gifts to accomplish this.
d) Give freedom to fail forward. What errors or mistakes have you made in your life? What did you learn from them?
Learn from mistakes, don’t take back or meddle when given responsibility. Business history provides a famous example of the hazards of interference by leaders. Henry Ford gave his only son, Edsel, the responsibility for overseeing his automotive business. The younger Ford had some innovative and practical ideas that would have made the company more efficient in the face of growing competition. Yet as Edsel moved to implement his ideas, the elder Ford constantly countermanded his son’s orders and proceeded to undermine Edsel’s authority in every way possible. The relationship between father and son was irreparably damaged. Finally, Edsel’s fragile health broke down, and the Ford Motor Company languished under the administrative quagmire (pages 137-138, Spiritual Leadership).
e) Recognize the success of others (Roman
While Harry Truman was in the White House, the kitchen staff baked him a birthday cake. After the meal, Truman excused himself from the table and went to the kitchen to thank the cook. This was the first time any of the staff could remember a president entering the kitchen for any reason, let alone to say thank you. On a much larger scale, Truman knew that Europe would need to be reconstructed after World War II. Truman’s secretary of state, George Marshall, presented a seventeen-billion-dollar European Recovery Program plan that would help to rebuild Europe and would hurtle the United States into world prominence. Truman’s advisors encouraged him to dub it the “Truman Plan,” named after the president who authorized it. Truman deferred, insisting that it be called the “Marshall Plan” after the man who had helped develop it. Truman would often be quoted as saying,
“It is remarkable how much could be accomplished when you don’t mind who receives the credit.” Such self-effacing leadership endeared Truman to people. (page 139, Spiritual Leadership)
f) Give encouragement and support to empower people. You are there when your people need the support (Jesus and Peter, many times). How do you encourage someone? What do you say? Get in small groups and each share something encouraging about each person in your group.
Barnabas and Paul (Acts
Barnabas was willing to work with Paul when everyone else was fearful of Paul.
The Law of Empowerment: Elders Are to
Paul helps us to see four levels of leadership development. He himself represented the first level. Titus was to teach older men and women, representing the third level. Finally, Titus was also to teach the young men and women, representing the fourth level. Each level was to model leadership and mentor others in leadership. This is the pattern throughout Scripture:
1. Abraham and
2. Jacob and Joseph 10. Elijah with Elisha and the prophet
3. Jethro and Moses 11. Elizabeth and Mary
4. Moses and Joshua 12. John the Baptist and disciples
5. Naomi and Ruth 13. Jesus and the Twelve
6. Eli and Samuel 14. Barnabas with Saul and Mark
7. Jonathan and David 15. Paul with Silas, Timothy, Philemon,
8. David and Mephibosheth
During the crucial battle of
4) Bring Glory to God
a) For whom are you doing service – yourself or God?
b) Whom do you desire to receive the credit? (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:16-17; Ephesians 5:19-20; Psalms 134)
Whatever you do, do it all for God’s glory. He is the focus of all we do, not us.
