The world will change more rapidly through the people you lead and disciple than it will through you alone. So, what greater reason to grow in your leadership than to ensure your leadership focuses on making disciples who make disciples who make disciples far beyond your tenure or relational influence? Here are three things to keep in mind as you move forward in leading and disciple-making.

1. Balance leadership development and discipleship.

Somewhere along the way, the importance of growth as a ministry leader became disconnected from the need to grow as a disciple-maker. But biblical, spiritual leadership balanced with making disciples is incredibly impactful! Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church.” Later in chapter 28 he said, “[You] go make disciples.” Jesus invested in His disciples so that they might lead by making disciples to bring the Gospel to the world. It’s about leading and disciple-making.

2. Reconnect the words of Jesus to the ways of Jesus.

This is about walking the walk, not just telling someone how to walk. It is imperative that today’s Christian leaders remember not only the words of Jesus but also the ways of Jesus. There is a difference between teaching God’s people and making disciples—teaching increases knowledge; discipleship develops Christlike character. 

Jesus did lots of teaching, but He also invested intimately in the disciples; He walked with them, talked with them, and ate with them. Jesus shared life with the disciples. He used teaching as a springboard for discipleship. 

Discipleship, modelled for us in the WAYS of Jesus, compels us to invite others into the rhythms of our life. We invite them to experience how we rest with God, how time with fellow believers refreshes us, and how we interact and invest in relationships with those who don’t yet know Jesus. 

Discipleship is interaction; it is giving and taking, listening and speaking, modeling and trying, trying and failing, failing and forgiving, getting back up and trying again. Relationships are the thread of discipleship! 

It’s both “Do you love me?” and “Feed my sheep.” 

It’s both “Well done, good and faithful servant” and “Get behind me, Satan.”

It’s “You are healed” and “You go heal them.” 

It’s “I am the bread of life” and “You go feed them.”

3. Reorient Your Priority List.

Jesus has called you to make disciples. Go back to the Great Commission and ensure that the #1 mission of the church is to make disciples. That mission was never meant to take a back seat to buildings and programs, and it cannot be the afterthought anymore. Too many Christians are living as if their faith is for Sundays only. Discipleship helps them learn (by watching you and other disciples) how to integrate Jesus into their everyday lives, with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Discipling people to follow Jesus is profound and life-changing. This way of leading gives hope and courage, it opens doors and reveals a new picture of our family in Christ. And ultimately, by the power of the Spirit, it brings about breakthroughs and kingdom celebrations. Our prayer is that your renewed discipleship focus will result in kingdom impact beyond what you can imagine. And with the Spirit at the helm, the multiplying effects of discipleship are infinite!

Finally, remember…

1. You can build programs and pathways to discipleship, but don’t allow the task of making disciples to overpower the relationship with the disciples themselves.
2. Allow the Holy Spirit to encourage you through God’s Word and His people as you raise the importance of discipleship in your church context.
3. Your identity is not in any amount of success. You are a child of your Father in Heaven who makes you His own.
4. You will find that making disciples is far less efficient than hoped for but, over time, far more fruitful than you imagined.

This article is adapted from the PLI ebook Navigating Ministry: Six Leadership Essentials. If you’d like to read more, you can download the full ebook for free here.