Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the month “January, 2026”

26 Jan 2026
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Don’t Recruit Those Laying on Their Beach Towels

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. Mark 1:16-20 ESV

Jesus recruits the Barjona and Zebedee brothers after having spent a year off and on with them in various contexts (see John 1-4).  These men were previously disciples of John the Baptist and for a year had left John to be with Jesus while they continued their fishing business partnership (see Luke 5:10).  Now, Jesus recruits them to change their vocation and follow Him full-time as ‘fishers of men’ in training.  Note the characteristics of these men.  

First, these men were already leading industrious, productive lives.  They had formed a business partnership with hired help serving on the Zebedee boat.  They were actively working in their fishing business, leading productive lives.  Peter was already married.  Jesus did not recruit those laying on their beach towels, working on their tans, looking for something to do!  He chose men who were moving forward in life. 

These men had already demonstrated a willingness to obey God and a willingness to sacrifice for Him.  They had left, at least occasionally, their families and fishing to follow John the Baptist.  They then spent time with Jesus for a year, primarily in and around Jerusalem and Judea.  They were willing to stand for righteousness and be identified with John the Baptist, a person who was not well-liked by the religious leaders. They had some emerging demonstrated potential, not just potential.

They demonstrated faith and courage to join with the Baptist rather than conform to the religious norms.  Their hunger for spiritual righteousness was observed by Jesus for a year before He asked them to lay down their nets and follow Him.  It was an incremental and intentional recruit to become world-changers with Him.

In your recruiting of world-changers, look for people with demonstrated potential who are pursuing productive lives. Avoid those who are not!

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12 Jan 2026

Transitioning Leadership

The LORD replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people. Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him. When direction from the LORD is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim–one of the sacred lots cast before the LORD–to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do.” So Moses did as the LORD commanded. He presented Joshua to Eleazar the priest and the whole community. Moses laid his hands on him and commissioned him to lead the people, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses. Numbers 27:18-23 NLT

Note that the above commissioning of Joshua was God’s initiative and probably occurred sometime during the final year of the 40-year pilgrimage in the desert. Joshua had been Moses’ assistant for these past years in the desert, but now it was time for him to begin to assume the mantel of leadership. We can observe the following from this transition:

  1. The transition from Moses to Joshua’s leadership was a process, not a single event. Here in Numbers 27, we see that Moses was to transfer ‘some of his authority’ to Joshua so that he can lead Israel (vs. 20). The final step in this transition would happen just before Moses died (see Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1).
  2. There was a ceremony to mark in the eyes of all the transition of leadership and authority.
  3. The former leader, Moses, and Joshua, the new leader, made this ceremony a spiritual event as it was done in the presence of Eleazar the priest.
  4. Joshua now assumed some duties and authority from Moses as the recognized ‘leader apparent,’ becoming the sole leader with the final personal commissioning and Moses’ death (Deuteronomy 31).

Moses was a faithful servant of God, but he could not lead Israel forever. At the appropriate time, he gave his leadership away, ascended Mt. Nebo, and finished his race. Spiritual leadership is a privilege, not a right. God-honoring leaders will intentionally prepare their successor and transition their authority with forethought. They will know when to hand over their responsibilities, not over-staying their leadership contribution or clinging to their ‘right to lead.’

Remember, there is a difference between role and contribution. Leadership roles come with titles and organizational authority. They come and they go. But contribution and influence in the Kingdom is determined by God as He guides and directs us and is not limited to any title or role. Seek contribution, not titles.

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