FeelLast week I wrote about building a better leader. I thought we’d take our cue from Jesus, the greatest leader, and examine a few leadership principles He demonstrated.

The first thing I’d like to look at is the important principle of selection. When Jesus came to earth he chose a dozen men to be his disciples (Luke 6:13-17, Mk 3:13-19). They weren’t scholars or men with special talents. In fact, one might say that he chose individuals woefully inadequate for the job of starting a worldwide movement.

It’s worth pointing out though that regardless of their abilities, or lack thereof, Jesus devoted large amounts of time to invest in those leaders he selected. He regularly got away from the crowds and spent time teaching them and answering their questions.

Raising Up Next Generation Leaders In The Church

While some churches are doing an outstanding job of leadership development, many still struggle with releasing the next generation of leaders. Instead of following Jesus’ example of reproducing himself in the lives of his disciples, we see churches today that function more like a tightly run corporation with high level leaders guarding trade secrets.

Why are our churches doing such a dreadful job training up new generations of leaders? When will we learn that we’ll accomplish more when we continue to invest in the next generation and allow them to fly further than we ever could have.

Here’s some things to think about:

• Are you looking for individuals that you can train to replace you?
• Can your ego handle it if you train up leaders who are better than you?
• Do you intentionally pour into the lives of those who serve under you and give them the tools to succeed?
• In what specific ways are you investing in the next generation of leaders?

Feel free to jump in and add your thoughts. Have you had someone who has poured into your life as a leader? If so, how has it helped you grow as a leader?

[photo: japi14]