DISCIPLE MAKING LEADERSHIP DEFINED
In a few earlier posts, I set the table for Disciple-making Leadership (DmL) by sharing how we need less leadership theory and more leadership actuality.
In a few earlier posts, I set the table for Disciple-making Leadership (DmL) by sharing how we need less leadership theory and more leadership actuality. We then looked at the greatest leader of all time - Jesus - and how His entire life was based on creating disciples to carry His message of redemption.
We now get to the "what" question - what exactly is DmL? I would define disciple-making leadership this way: "individually and intentionally imparting the truth of God for the glory of God. The end result is that another person has grown in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18) whereby they begin to impart the truth of God for the glory of God."
That's a long definition and full of words BUT let's slowly unpack:
Individually - if you look at examples in Scripture, what do you discover? Discipleship occurred primarily in 1:1 settings - there's Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus restoring Peter, Barnabas, and Paul, Paul and Timothy, etc.
Intentionally - stop right now and thumb through the pastoral epistles of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Paul is laser-focused on what these young pastors need to know and need to share. There is not an ounce of coasting in them.
Impart the truth - this is where 2 Peter 3:18 becomes pivotal. Peter, who has been discipled and restored by Jesus, closes his last letter with an admonition - we, as disciples, are to grow in grace and knowledge. He does not stop there but continues - "of the Lord Jesus Christ." We see in John 14 where Jesus clearly asserts that He is the way, the truth, and the life. As such, Peter is echoing that fact. Disciple-making leadership centers on Jesus, and Him alone, as truth.
End result - for each of the pairs mentioned in the first section, what was the result? The disciples took what they learned and then shared it with others, which continued the discipleship trend.
Now that you understand my definition, you are probably wondering - "so what?" How does this become real to me in my life? I have one more thing to answer and I'll turn to your R.O.L.E. in disciple-making leadership.