We usually think of John the Baptist as a prophet and preacher, raising his voice alone in the desert. But an integral part of his ministry was identifying and raising leaders around him. Although we don’t have much information about John’s disciples, a careful reading of his story shows that John called and equipped a team around him. Consider these glimpses into his leadership team: Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” (Mark 2:18). One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Mt 11:2-3). Like Jesus, John preached to crowds, but raised a few leaders called disciples. He poured his life into a few leaders and teaches all servant leaders to do the same.

John engaged leaders.

We don’t know how John called them or how many there were. But it is clear that he called a significant team of leaders. John’s vision was to turn the nation around and he knew he could not do that alone. He knew that he needed a team and recognized that a part of his calling was to identify, equip, and empower other leaders. His disciples were his leadership team. They responded to his call, embraced his vision, and devoted themselves to his cause. Servant leaders realize that they cannot do all the work. They are willing to work hard, but they don’t do all the work. They understand their role is to identify others around them who will help carry out the vision. They deliberately and strategically engage others on their teams. Servant leaders humbly acknowledge that their gifts alone will not achieve the vision and they need the strengths of others to complement their team.

John equipped leaders.

We do not have a lot of information about what John did to train his team of leaders. But it is clear that he invested in their personal development. He taught them to pray and they fasted “often” (see Luke 5:33). He taught them the spiritual disciplines he had learned in the desert and which they also needed. He invested time in their lives even when it might have been easier to do the work himself. John was intentional about developing his team and he reproduced himself in their lives. Servant leaders invest in others not only because they want a team around them but because they see the potential in the lives of others. For servant leaders, equipping others is about more than accomplishing their vision, it is about releasing the potential in others. So they invest in the development of their team. They teach, correct, evaluate, and encourage as a part of the equipping process. Servant leaders acknowledge that the measure of their success is not only in what they do but who they equip.

John empowered leaders.

As John equipped his leadership team, he also gave them power to help in significant ways. Crowds of people came to hear John and he surely empowered his team to help as he taught and baptized. We know that Jesus’ disciples actually baptized, and it is likely that John’s disciples also helped him in this way. They engaged in conversation with others, which in one instance (see John 3:25) led to an argument over religious practices! When John was in prison he trusted his disciples to go and ask Jesus if He was the one they were waiting on. After Herod murdered John, his disciples came and buried him. In these ways, it is evident that John not only equipped his team, but empowered them to contribute in meaningful ways. As a servant leader, he recognized that as other leaders develop and grow they need to be empowered to make significant contributions to the team. Servant leaders seek not to gain power, but release power to others. John did it well and left an example for us to follow.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Who is on my leadership team at home, at my business, profession or church? Have I deliberately selected others to take the journey with me? Do they know I have chosen them? Have they embraced and share in my vision? Do I have people on my team that can complement my weaknesses? What steps can I take today to let my team know how much I value them?
• What is my plan for equipping my team? Have I made it clear that I am committed to their growth and development even beyond their tasks on my team? Have I invested time and money into their growth? Am I thinking of next steps for each of my key leaders and working with them to become more effective leaders?
• Do my leaders feel increasingly empowered in their roles? Am I giving them more and more difficult assignments and trusting them to complete the work? When they fail, how do I respond?

Great leaders equip and release others to accomplish good things, but not many leaders see the connection between their equipping and the Great Commission. In the last issue we noted that servant leaders see the need for workers to accomplish the ultimate task of leadership and join in prayer that God will raise up those workers. They know that their own leadership is directly connected to Jesus’ words, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20). Servant leaders equip workers to fulfill this call.

Servant leaders equip workers by identifying calling.

Great coaches identify the strengths of each of their players, and leaders identify the unique calling of everyone on their team. Some do this for their own benefit and to accomplish their own objectives, but servant leaders realize that since God has called each person to be a part of the Great Commission, their role as leaders is to help their followers identify their specific calling. Some will be called to plant churches among the unreached or to church leadership. But others will be called to shape the life of a young man in the community by coaching the football team; others will be called to excellence in the teaching profession and others in business. In any realm, servant leaders recognize that the gifts of those whom God has entrusted to their leadership are ultimately about discipling the nations and bringing God’s rule into their sphere of influence. Church leaders see their members as workers for the Great Commission. Likewise, business owners see their workers as either potential followers of Jesus or disciple-makers called to participate in the Great Commission. All servant leaders use their influence to help those under them see this reality.

Servant leaders equip workers by developing gifts.

Identifying gifts helps to focus potential in a certain area, but every person can develop these gifts to be used more fully for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Servant leaders see their role as helping to “prepare God’s people for works of service” (Ephesians 4:12). They encourage, correct, train, and provide opportunities so that those under their leadership will become more effective and focused on doing their part of the Great Commission. This role of equipping will greatly strengthen the local church, the business, or the classroom where the servant leader is working. But servant leaders see equipping as a way to fulfill the Great Commission. Every person and every gift is needed for the fulfillment of Jesus’ commission and servant leaders equip followers to do their part.

Servant leaders equip workers by expecting obedience.

Jesus made it clear to His leadership team that their work is teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Servant leaders seek to bring every person on their team to a greater level of obedience to the commands of Christ. This includes how they talk, relate to authority, handle finances, care for their bodies, treat their environment, and share with the needy, as well as how they fulfill the Great Commission. Servant leaders measure their success not by the size of their team or the financial strength of their organization, but by the amount of increased obedience to the call of Jesus. Think about your team. Are they growing in obedience?

Servant leaders continually look at their world of influence and ask, “How can I use my influence to bring more people to Jesus, how can I disciple them and equip them to be a part of what God has created them to do?” Servant leaders recognize that their equipping is for an ultimate goal: bringing the nations to Jesus.

For further reflection and discussion:

• How would you rate your effectiveness as a leader who equips others? Reflect on the purpose of your equipping; is it to accomplish your own goals or God’s goals for those you lead? What difference will it make in your day to day leadership if you focus on equipping persons to fulfil the Great Commission?
• If you are in business leadership, how does your business help fulfill the Great Commission? What impact does your business have on individuals who work with you? Think about your suppliers and customers. How are your profits used for Great Commission work? Do you see those who work for you as either potential disciples or disciple-makers whom God has entrusted to you for equipping? What difference would it make if you saw them this way? How can you communicate this to them? What does obedience mean on your team?
• If you are a church leader, in what specific ways are you helping your members be more faithful to the Great Commission? Are you actively equipping them to walk in obedience to all the commands of Jesus? In what ways have you focused on building your own church instead of strengthening God’s kingdom? What changes do you think God is calling you to make?
• Reflect on your leadership at home. As you equip your children, are you thinking of preparing them to be workers for the Great Commission? What difference would this make in your training?