Mark Dever on Raising Up Leaders

Mark Dever Raising Up Leaders 1/30/2011

More pre-conference notes from the Desiring God conference on prayer.

Raising up leaders...

Look. We are not creating leaders. We have a stewardship for a season in the lives of others. A pastor in Australia calls these people "blokes worth watching." We should be opportunistic. Hang around. Membership directory. This keeps all the members on the radar screen.

Trust. It is your obligation to believe the best about people. Don't make people prove themselves first. A lot of leaders are too conservative. We try to help people use their gifts. Some people are too conservative and don't raise up leader.

Personal time. Give time personally. Mark 3:14-15. We need to be available. Don't build walls too much. They can't imitate you if they don't know you. Read Coleman's Master Plan of Evangelism. Go with someone to buy a belt! Think of applications for messages by using a grid for each point and ask people. My sermon is being made better and they are being discipled. Talk with each other. Internship program. 

Delegate. Part of what is going to need happen is that I realize that God can work through the lives of others. How does the congregation perceive how I treat others. Give others an opportunity to teach. I keep some quiet lists that no one sees. Create a culture of trusting delegation to others. Get a young man hire him when he's a cub, he'll chew things up for awhile, and then you'll have a lion who will love you for life. Be willing to give up your pulpit. People should want tp hear God's word preached, not hear you preach.

Feedback. Give godly honesty. Get the bad stuff up front. Then I will know where you stand. Prov 16:13, 23:23, 24:26. Invite honest feedback. Give godly encouragement. Give it and receive it. Demand that people chew on you. Submit yourself regularly to criticism. 

Authority. A clear teaching of complementarianism helps the men step forward.

Clarity. The more you explain, there you have leaders being attracted.

Humility. Conta-envy. You cannot envy other's gifts. Be careful about you humor and about personal illustrations. Get texts from me and little else. This gives space for others to grow up. Pray about others by name. Be more tender-hearted and thick-skinned.