Outline: A Godly Leader raises leaders

Note: This is the tenth installment in our series on biblical leadership.

A Godly Leader raises leaders

Selected Verse

Establish the need: Have you thought about raising up leaders?

Purpose: Today we shall three points so that as a Christian leader we would raise up other leaders

• The importance of raising up leaders
• The examples of raising up leaders
• How to cultivate raising up leaders

What I mean by “raising leaders”

• Originally I was trying to make this lesson on delegating responsibility but I thought there is a deeper principle in how we delegate responsibility as a leader: We want to delegate in such a way that the person we are delegating responsibility we are hoping that they become leader.
• Raising leaders mean not just raising the next person to be in charge of everything or someone replacing your position but also for them to be a leader in doing what they are good at.
  • For example: A pastor raising someone to be a deacon or a church treasurer, etc.
• Also raising someone as a leader doesn’t mean always they are doing new things but also that the person is a leader in what they do in the sense of what we saw the definition of leader is: influencing others in a good way.
  • For example: Someone at church is good at evangelism.  Now the pastor raises him to be able to teach others to evangelize also as well, so the evangelist is leading and influencing others to do the work of God.

The importance of raising up leaders

1. Reason 1: It is good to have multiple leaders:
   1. “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” (Acts 14:23)
      1. In the context this is describing Paul’s ministry and what he did as he travled “to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch” (Acts 20:21b)
      2. Notice here Paul and his missionary team appointed multiple elders in each church.
      3. These leaders are entrusted to the Lord to serve and to minister.
   2. “From Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the church.” (Acts 20:17)= Notice the church at Ephesus has many elders, that is, many leaders.
   3. See also Acts 21:18, 1 Peter 5:1, 1 Peter 5:5 = Church has more than one elders, that is, more than one leaders.
2. Reason 2: A fellow leader can support another leader: “And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set.” (Exodus 17:12)
   1. It is clear from Numbers 4:34 that Aaron is considered among the leaders of Israel along with Moses.
   2. Here in the context the Hebrews were in battle against Amalekites.
   3. To achieve victory Moses had to raise his hands.
   4. But Moses’ hands wee heavy and Aaron helped him.
3. Reason 3: Raising leaders helps you with your priority
   1. Problem arose: “Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.” (Acts 6:1)
   2. It becomes an issue of priorities for the Apostles: “So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables” (Acts 6:2)
      1. Here the Apostles spoke to the congegation of their priorities as Apostles.
      2. Notice they state the order of priority.
      3. Serving tables is important but not more important than other things. So what are they to do?
   3. Solution: Appointing of leaders to take care of this task: “Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the [d]ministry of the word.”” (Acts 6:3-4)
      1. Notice the Apostles got the congregation to vote for these leaders who will take care of the food distribution (3).
      2. Requirements for these leaders are given (3).
      3. The Apostles are then able to focus on their priorities because these new leaders are raised up (4).
4. Reason 4 Raising another leader mean someone could lead when and where you are not present: “For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.” (1 Corinthians 4:17)
   1. From 1 & 2 Timothy we know that Paul raised up Timothy to be a leader of Christians.
   2. Here we see Paul is sending Timothy to help and lead the church in Corinth.
   3. Thus we see having raising other leaders can help in that another leader can lead when you as a leader are not present.
5. Reason 5: Raising other leaders means if you are unable to lead there will still be leaders for the good of others
   1. Paul the last time he saw the Ephesian elders knew he wasn’t going to see them anymore: “And now behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face” (Acts 20:25)
   2. Yet he had the elders to continue to lead the church even after his departure: “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He [v]purchased [w]with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28)

The examples of raising up leaders

Positive example of Moses:

1. Moses’ father in law visited and asked a question: “Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” (Exodus 18:14)
   1. Problem: Moses overworked.
   2. Also implied in the text is that Moses is the only one serving a whole nation in this way.
2. Problem identified: “Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.” (Exodus 18:17-18)
   1. Statement in verse 17 that this is not good.
   2. Reason why it is not good is stated in verse 18a: Moses will wear out
   3. Reason why it is not good is stated in verse 18b: Moses cannot do this alone
3. Solution proposed is delegation: “19 Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, 20 then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will carry the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their places in peace.”.” (Exodus 18:19-23)
   1. Notice the delegation begins with training and teaching (20)
   2. Then there is identification of potential leaders (21)
   3. Also there’s appointment of leaders according to certain amount, probably according to ability where the more capable leaders are in charge of more (21)
   4. Then there is the appointment to the task of leading (22)\
4. Moses adopted the advice: “24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 Then they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult matter to Moses, but they would judge every minor matter themselves.” (Exodus 18:17-26)

Positive example of Jesus

1. Given how this is already a long study we won’t go into details.
2. Still think of the 12 Disciples Jesus picked and trained to be Apostles.

How to cultivate raising up leaders

1. See it is as a priority to raise leaders given the reasons why raising leaders are important. Review those reasons especially the reason that we might die and having other leaders ready to fill in is important.
2. Pray for God to raise up leaders
   1. Reflect on this verse: “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14)
   2. We might find that verse amazing and want to right away say this is true only according to His will!
   3. Yet since God’s will is for us to disciple/mentor and also He desire for leaders to be raised up, then we need to know when we pray for this we are praying in His will!
3. Look for those who are faithful: “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
   1. In the context this is Paul telling Timothy to raise up those who can teach and remember teaching is one way people are leading.
   2. Clearly faithfulness is a character to look for identifying a leader.
   3. As a young Christian my first discipler was a janitor in my high school and I will never forget his lesson to me that to be a leader I needed to be “F.A.T:”
      1. Faithful
      2. Available
      3. Teachable
4. Delegate tasks
   1. Delegate what you are ready to let go of.[1]
   2. Be careful of taking back what you delegate.
5. Equip them to do the work
   1. Leaders should equip people for their task!
   2. That is especially true with spiritual leaders, see Ephesians 4:12. If you are a spiritual leader that is your mission!
6. Be an example
   1. There’s many passages in which Paul told the church to follow in His example as Paul followed Christ: 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 1:6.
   2. Therefore as leaders let us do the same!
7. Have the person follow you as you do the task of ministry[2]
   1. Paul had Barnabas with him during his ministry travel in Acts 13.[3]
   2. Paul had Silas with him at the end of Acts 15.[4]
   3. Paul had Timothy and Silas with him in Acts 16.[5]
   4. Paul had Priscilla and Aquila with him in Acts 18.[6]
8. Empower by appoint them offices (Titus 1:5)
9. Realize new leaders will make mistakes. Be ready to exhort and encourage and counsel.
10. Desire to see one you are raising up as a leader as fellow peers
11. Guard your heart from jealousy
    1. I love how in the New Testament we have two smart individuals: Paul and Luke.
       1. Luke is a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and excellent writer of historical details in Gospel of Luke and Acts.
       2. Paul knew his Scripture, just look at the richness of his epistles!
    2. Yet Paul and Luke worked together well as a team! There was no pride or jealousy hindering them!  2 Timothy 4:11 indicate Luke remain with Paul even when Luke was the only one still there. [7]
12. Stay focus to the mission
    1. This is the one way one can make sure not to be jealousy and envious!
    2. Also the mission is why you want to focus on making leaders, so that you can help multiply the effort towards the goal.
    3. This is especially important in the goal of the Christian with the Great Commission of letting others know about Jesus and salvation!
13. Worth reading Gary’s post adding his thoughts to this post.

[1] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 172.

[2] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 168.

[3] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 148.

[4] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 148.

[5] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 148.

[6] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 148.

[7] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 192.

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