H01. Levels of Leadership – A
List of the Online Lessons: A B C D E F G H
H01. Levels of Leadership – A
To the scattered believers of his day, the apostle Peter writes, „You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession…“(1 Peter 2:9) And we see the meaning of all the wonderful things we have become in Jesus through the continuation of that verse, „that you may declare the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.“ We have become a chosen race and a royal priesthood, etc., to spread the Good News about Jesus that He has transformed our lives from darkness to light. All who have become that chosen race, royal priesthood, etc. in Jesus are called to this task. That is, all followers of Him! (Not only gifted evangelists…!)
In our diagram of four fields, this includes the first and second fields. (Recall the picture of the four fields down here.) We are to connect with people where they are and lead them clearly to Jesus. We are to be their guides – or leaders – on their personal journey to the Savior. This is the minimum leadership in a healthy movement that every Christian is to exercise.
We call this level of leadership within a movement a „diligent sower.“ I will call it a „level one leader“ – „L1“.
When someone accepts Jesus, he/she necessarily needs discipleship. This is the third field in our diagram! In the book of Acts, we observe that as new believers appeared at new places, the apostle Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, identified local leaders among them who cared for others and commissioned them to further develop and protect that community. (Acts 20:20) Certainly they were to continue to sow diligently. (After all, that’s what all followers of the Lord Jesus do, according to 1 Peter 2:9!) Moreover, they were to be concerned about what the fourth field in our diagram involves – that is, development of a new small community – the family of God = the local church. In this way they not only lead others to the Lord and on the journey of discipleship, but in addition they are guides or leaders in functioning of the newly formed family of God. They have reached a man of peace and his neighborhood or they have won a few other individuals, joined them into the family of God, and together with those new people they are reaching to more and more.
I will label them „Level Two Leader“ – „L2“ – „Church Planter.“ There’s a bundle in that picture from the fourth field in the red cloud…
L1 is sowing abundantly and leading people to Jesus. L2 is doing the same and also forming new families of God – informal churches – with new believers.
Some of those who are reaching people and forming small churches begin to help their new believers (and maybe the older ones) to start Discovery groups themselves in addition to reaching individuals and then turning them into other new informal families of God. Thus, small churches are being formed within the movement that are no longer the result of one leader’s own small work, but are the result of other leaders developing others so that they become L-2’s! In our diagram of the four fields, it is the circle in the middle.
That’s the „Level Three Leader“ – „L3“ – the „Church Planter Multiplier“. He has learned to mobilize believers and impart skills and confidence to plant new families of God. Through the ministry of L3, a whole network of new churches is being established quite naturally.
L1 abundantly sows and leads people to Jesus. L2 is doing the same, and creates new small churches with new believers. L3 does what L1 and L2 do, plus trains other leaders and helps them to form new churches with their new people, too.
When someone’s ministry goes beyond his own network of new churches that have been formed around him and helps form other brand new networks, movement practitioners call that leader „L4“ – „Movement Trainer.“ He has a vision beyond his own capabilities. He knows how to mobilize believers, and train them to be effective in ministry. He provides them with sources of encouragement and experience and supports them in general.
As an example, Apostle Paul connects his co-workers with each new place. He writes to the Philippians about Timothy, „I have no one else like-minded who is sincerely concerned about your welfare…“ (Philippians 2:20)
Furthermore, Paul commends Epaphroditus to them, „Receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in high esteem.“ (Philippians 2:29) That’s what we call „networking“ today. Or, „Barnabas‘ cousin Mark, about whom you have been instructed, greets you.“ (Colossians 4:10)
The L4 leader is not the owner or administrator of the ministry he is doing! He is merely a coach, counselor, an encourager, inspirer. He helps those who have started new fellowships to start more and more; and, most importantly, to teach someone to start such fellowships. So he builds L3’s…
There is another level in the processes of the movement. In order to keep the time limit of 5 minutes, I have to save it for next time. Be sure to check it out.
Lord Jesus, your strategic thinking as you worked with your leaders is amazing…
Four fields in the heart of God – see section I. It’s possible!
