[featured_image]This is a four-part series on developing leaders.
Good leaders intentionally developmore leaders.
If you are a church planter, pastor, or elder, you have a responsibility to raise up and develop godly leaders around you. You can’t just expect that God will bring you “ready to go” leaders. You have to be intentional about raising them up!
Beginning with a clear picture of the type of leaders that you are developing will help you focus intentionally on specific areas of their growth and development.
Here are sixteen categories to consider in determining if someone is qualified to serve in a leadership role in a local church. They are also sixteen areas to pay attention to as you work to intentionally develop spiritual leaders around you.
16 Categories for Spiritual Leadership Development
We covered the first 8 categories in part 1 and part 2.
- Christ Follower –Radical Obedience to Jesus
- Character –Demonstrates Godly Fruit
- Calling –Called to Lead God’s People
- Core – Practices Spiritual Disciplines
- Conviction – Embraces & Defends Sound Doctrine
- Community – Lives Authentically in Close Relationships
- Commission – Makes Disciples who Make Disciples who Make Disciples
- Clarity – Clearly Articulates Mission, Vision & Values
9. Contact – Invests in Friendships with Unbelievers
Jesus was a friend of sinners. I often ask church leaders if there are any non-Christians who consider them friends. Too often leaders in the church don’t have any friends outside the church. How then can they have a good reputation with outsiders (1 Tim 3:7)? Spiritual leaders must invest relationally with those in the harvest. How else will they make disciples of non-disciples?
10. Contribution – Gives Generously to God’s Work
Spiritual Leaders recognize that God is the Source of everything. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him! As stewards/managers of all that God has entrusted to them, they see themselves as a channel of God’s blessings to others and generously contribute to the work of the gospel. They give time, talents and treasures to further God’s kingdom work.
11. Connection – Actively Participates in Local Church Life
The author of Hebrews instructs believers to “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” In the New Testament, every believer is connected to a local assembly. There are no lone ranger Christians. Spiritual leaders are given to lead the church and must be actively involved in the church’s engagement in the mission of Jesus.
12. Compatibility – Shaped for Leadership
God is the One who shapes leaders. He is the one who gives the gift of leadership to certain believers. Not every Christian should strive to become a spiritual leader in the church. Those who have been called and gifted to lead should function as leaders in the church. Spiritual leaders must identify how God has uniquely shaped them to lead by discerning their gifts, talents, and abilities. There must be evidence that God has shaped a leader for leadership.
Tomorrow we’ll conclude by looking at these four categories…
13. Commitment – Tested Through Difficulties
14. Competence – Evidences Leadership Skills
15. Capacity – Able to Lead by Serving and Caring for People
16. Chemistry – Relates Well with Other Leaders
God develops leaders over a lifetime! This is His intention and design. He uses people, circumstances, Scripture, and multiple processes to conform a leader to the image of Christ. As God develops a leader’s character, that leader is able to lead God’s people to accomplish His purposes. Join God in the developmental process in your life; then help others in their leadership growth and development.
How are you growing in each of these 4 Categories?
If you are a leader, how will you intentionally develop other leaders to grow in each of these 4 Categories?
