He took them on a mission instead of into a classroom.
After Jesus called his disciples to this new level of commitment, they began engaging in Jesus’ ministry. Dann Spader likes to say that Jesus took the disciples on six “fishing trips,” which are recorded in Luke’s Gospel. They first fished for people at the synagogue where Jesus cast a demon out of a possessed man (Luke 4:31–37).
Next, they fished among the sick and hurting. Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and many others showed up to be healed and delivered from demonic oppression (Luke 4:38–41), after which Jesus took his men on a mission trip of sorts, touring neighboring villages and preaching the gospel (Luke 4:42–44). The third fishing trip is in Luke 5:1–11 where Jesus miraculously filled their boats with fish for all to see. Fishing trip number four was the healing of a leper (Luke 5:12–16). Number five was the healing of a paralytic (Luke 5:17–26), and the final trip was the call of Matthew (Luke 5:27–32). In each of these cases, Jesus did the heavy lifting. He did miracles. He was the center of attention and focus, but the disciples still played a part.
When Jesus called his men to a higher level of leadership commitment, he didn’t stick them in a classroom. He didn’t say, “So, guys, we are going to meet for the next twelve months at the synagogue, and I’m going to take you through a few scrolls.” Instead, he got them out of the building and showed them where God was at work. He wanted them to experience firsthand God’s working in a powerful way. Your Team Leaders don’t need another seminar; they need to see God at work. They don’t need another Bible study; they need to be exposed to the power of God in such a palpable way that they are transformed. This isn’t some kind of charismatic experience: it’s seeing how God changes lives.
They needed to see, smell, taste, and hear God at work.
Part of Zach’s story is how going on mission trips to Zambia dramatically impacted him and how he could see that his life made an eternal difference. That is what your Team Leaders need to see. They need to see it, smell it, taste it, and hear it. Why? Because seeing God at work will give them a hunger for God to use them in a powerful way for the rest of their lives.
He led them into their community and invited them to join him.
How did Jesus do this? He led them into their community. Invite your Team Leaders to join you in ministry in your own community. Take them to a local homeless shelter to share your faith. Take them to hand out backpacks to needy kids in the fall. Take them to pray for teachers and principals in your neighborhoods. Take them to have lunch with a businessman. Take them on a short-term mission trip. The key is to take them! Join God in what He is doing, and then talk about what that would look like in their life.
When you say, “Let’s go,” their lives will never be the same.
Jesus effectively told His men, “Okay, men, let’s go!” and they followed him. You need to do the same. Take your Team Leaders where they can see God at work, and it will change their lives forever. The disciples were never the same, and your Team Leaders won’t be either.
This blog features an excerpt from one of our books, The Disciple-Making Leader.
