How Would Jesus Develop Your Team?

I have several mentors. I have even met some of them. Others I have not. A mentor I have never met personally but who has impacted me deeply is Dr. Howard Hendricks. I heard him say something several years ago that still has great meaning today. He said: “We have spent too much time studying the message of Jesus and not nearly enough time studying His methods.” His point was not to belittle Jesus message but to make much of the very practical nature of how Jesus developed His team.

Luke 9 is a case study in the practical nature of Jesus’ transformational leadership development with the Twelve. It clearly illustrates how Jesus brought about deep change in the hearts of those on His team. He did it through relationship, in real time and with practical steps that are reproducible. As you read the list below observe, they were a community of believers doing life together and out of that relationship:

1. He sent them out on His behalf. (9:2)
2. He gave them a real Kingdom advancing opportunity. (9:2)
3. He gave them the tools and resources they needed. (9:1)
4. He gave them clear instruction and direction. (9:3-5)
5. He gave them a chance to debrief and celebrate their experience. (9:10-11)
6. He gave them chances to see a God sized vision. (9:12-17)
7. He helped them process change in their life and ministry. (9:18-27)
8. He kept them focused on the heart of the mission. (9:28-36; 51-56)
9. He involved them in His practice of prayer. (9:28, 37)
10. He showed them how to stay united while processing team conflict. (9:46-48)
11. He helped them develop a Kingdom perspective. (9:49-50)
12. He helped them manage their time and priorities. (9:57-62)

If we were to read this list without knowing the source we might think it is from Fast Company or The Harvard Business Review. I think it supports Dr. Hendricks' observation. So, how would Jesus develop your team? He would probably do life with them and send them out on a Kingdom-advancing opportunity, give them the tools they need, give them clear instruction…you’ve got it from here.


By Bob Bumgarner