One of my favorite areas of study is the idea of leadership. I’ve read a significant number of “great authors” in this area. And I’ve learned a few things after twenty years of leadership study and reading, and twenty years of experience in ministry striving to do things better and better for God’s glory. One of them is this: Leaders develop leaders.

Now, before you leave, let me explain a little further.

I’ve discovered that leaders develop two kinds of people.

There are the leaders who develop followers.

And then there are the leaders who develop more leaders.

And the two are drastically different.

In ministry, I believe our goal has to be to develop more leaders, who, in turn, will develop more leaders, who… You get the point.

On one hand, this is simple discipleship. But on the other hand, this is exponential evangelism.

Anyone can develop followers, people who will go along with that leader for the ride, but who lack any motivation or passion to bring others with them.

But it takes a lot more effort to develop leaders. It’s hard work. You have to invest a lot of yourself in them. And there’s always the possibility that they might end up being a better leader than you are.

But if you want to be the best leader that you can be, you have to learn how to develop more leaders.

You will never build a great church, ministry, youth ministry, from the pulpit or stage. Building a great ministry means one on one, life on life, discipleship.

That’s developing leaders.

So, let’s ask the question: Are you developing leaders or followers? What, specifically, are you doing to develop more leaders?