Developing Leaders

[Coaching Lesson #7 from our Serving Leadership Development Program—Achieving Organizational Effectiveness, Phase 4]

Leaders who develop followers grow their organization only one person at a time. But leaders who develop leaders multiply their growth. John Maxwell says, “To add growth, lead followers; to multiply, lead leaders.”

To build God’s Kingdom here on earth and to reach the millions who do not know Jesus, we must do exactly as Jesus did—develop leaders who in turn develop others to lead. The disciples followed Jesus’ example and as a result saw a rapidly reproducing church movement.

Paul’s Formula to Grow Leaders (2 Timothy 2:2)

Paul understood the basic principles of growth and the need to develop leaders. His strategy remains as effective today as it was 2,000 years ago. His strategy was to: 

1. Attract and equip people,
2. Find and mentor potential leaders,
3. Engage in the on-going development of leaders, and
4. Release them, when they were ready to do ministry on their own.

Paul used this strategy to develop new leaders and plant new churches everywhere he went. He taught leaders like Timothy to do exactly what he did. This resulted in the tremendous growth of the church. Just imagine what could be done today if we too would follow Paul’s example and develop leaders.

Case Study: Priscilla and Aquila—Leaders who Developed Leaders (Acts 18:24-28)

Leadership doesn’t mean just getting others to follow. To lead like Jesus did, we must equip and prepare others to lead. Priscilla and Aquila illustrated this principle.

Priscilla and Aquila had been coached and mentored by Paul during his time with them in Corinth. They later traveled on to Ephesus where they met Apollos, and after hearing him preach, decided to coach and mentor him. Because of the time Apollos spent getting equipped by Priscilla and Aquila, he too became an important leader of the early Church.

Discussion Questions:

1. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul gives us a methodology for developing leaders who develop leaders. Paul developed Timothy, who developed “reliable” people, who in turn became “qualified to teach others.” How can this process be used to “multiply” leaders?
2. Why is on-going coaching and mentoring critically important to the growth and development of new leaders?
3. What can happen when new and inexperienced leaders are not properly equipped and prepared to lead a ministry or church?