Leadership Selection and Training: The Most Vital Element in Building Multiplying Disciples

What are the principles by which mature leaders select younger leaders? What are the most effective ways of training leaders in the words and ways of Jesus? Why do certain people drop out of the discipleship process? How can we help emerging leaders continue to grow and finish well? The Gospels reveal a picture of our Lord as one who was constantly developing men to be leaders. He chose and trained the Twelve, the Seventy-Two, and left a group of 120 in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost to take the gospel to the world. Without these carefully selected and equipped leaders, it is probable that the life and message of our Lord would have faded and died within a generation. Paul encouraged Timothy to entrust the things he had heard from the apostle “to faithful men who would be able to teach others also” (II Tim. 2:2). Since “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Mt. 9:37), we must pray that the Lord will send out more workers into the harvest. How can we effectively choose and train leaders today?