Leadership 201

How do you make a leader? For some time, the thought was that leaders are born. But that’s simply not the case. That concept is decidedly unchristian. It leads to the notion that leadership is all about gifts and abilities – certainly important components – and not that leadership is about influence. Here’s an example. A Christian leader must be humble. Is humility a gift or ability? Well, James 3:13 says that humility comes from wisdom. Paul, in Galatians 5:22-23 lists nine fruit of the Spirit. But in Colossians 3:12 there is a parallel list with the insertion of “humility” as well as “compassion.” So, while I wouldn’t dogmatically say that these two qualities need to be added to our list of nine fruit of the Spirit from Galatians, I will say that humility is something God develops in our life. Therefore, leaders can be made.

(How well do you know me? Many of you have already guessed where I’m going to go with this. Maybe that makes me boring and predictable. Maybe it makes me sure of where to look for guidance and instruction. I’ll let you decide…)

In three short years, Jesus started a movement that remains to this day. And He started that with a handful of misfits. So how did He manage to prepare these guys to carry on with His great work after He had left? Sanders wrote,

Jesus trained His disciples superbly for their future roles. He taught by example and by precept; His teaching was done “on the road.” Jesus did not ask the Twelve to sit down and take notes in a formal classroom. Jesus’ classrooms were the highways of life; His principles and values came across in the midst of daily experience. Jesus placed disciples into internships (Luke 10:17-24) that enabled them to learn through failure and success (Mark 9:14-29).

That’s what we’re doing in our CONNECT small groups ministry. CONNECT is a Leadership Factory. Our Commission from the Lord is to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20). A disciple is a follower, not just a learner. A disciple is striving to be like the Master. And the proof of discipleship is engagement in the work of making disciples. Is that how you view your involvement in your CONNECT group? Do you understand that you are actively engaged in a Leadership Development program which closely resembles on-the-job training?

Maybe you haven’t jumped into a small group yet. Maybe you’re worried about the misfits with whom you’ll be yoked, guys like Peter, John, or Judas. Maybe you’re worried that you might be the one labeled “misfit,” like Thomas. Maybe you just think that what you’re already doing is good enough and you don’t need redemptive community to be a true disciple. I guess the question is, “How’s it working for you?” Or better yet, “Where are the disciples you have helped produce?” It’s easy to pick them out. They’re the ones out there, making more disciples.