Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the tag “disciplemaking”

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!

Posted in #4 REPRODUCE - Developing More Leaders and tagged , , , , , ,
23 May 2022
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It’s Not the Great Suggestion!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.  Matthew 28:18-20  ESV

This passage has been called the Great Commission, not the Great Suggestion!  It is a command given to all followers of Jesus Christ.  It is “great” because it is the culmination of all Jesus taught and because of the scope of the commission – the whole world.

Disciples (followers) of Jesus are to make other disciples as they go through life.  These new disciples are to be baptized (publicly identify with Jesus) and taught to obey the whole Word of God.  Then, they too are to go and do the same, eventually reaching all the nations (peoples) of the earth.  With each succeeding generation, the Great Commission stands as a fresh, new challenge.

  • God has always had the whole world on His heart.  What do the following passages say about God’s heart for the world? — Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 49:6
  • After the resurrection, Jesus repeated this commission several times in various forms.  What else did Jesus say in the following verses when He reminded the disciples of His world vision? — Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:4-8

Question to ponder:  How are you personally involved in helping to fulfill the Great Commission?

Passages for further study:  John 3:16-17; Revelation 7:9-10

Posted in #1 KNOW- How a Leader Thinks, #3 DO - What a Leader Does and tagged , , , , , , ,
06 Sep 2021

Follow-up: Helping New Christians Grow

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed–God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2:5-8 ESV

When someone trusts Christ as their Savior their sins are forgiven, and they are born again.  That is, they are born a second time, born spiritually, into God’s family.  These new believers are spiritual babies and as such, need special care.  They must be loved, cared for, fed, and protected to insure healthy spiritual growth to maturity.

Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, called follow-up “spiritual pediatrics.”  It is helping another believer grow in the basic foundations of their walk with God.  It means imparting God’s truth, as found in the Bible, to others.  But in addition, it is the giving of oneself, motivated by love, to another so that they may know God intimately.

  • Trusting Christ, salvation, is the beginning of a spiritual growth process that continues our entire life.  What do the following passages say about growing in Christ? — Philippians 3:12-14; Colossians 2:6-7; 2 Peter 1:5-9
  • Helping another believer grow in Christ is a great privilege and responsibility.  What is said in the following passages about helping others grow in their relationship with God? — 1 Corinthians 3:5-15; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-13; 2 Peter 1:12-15

Question to ponder:  Has God placed someone in your life and leadership for you to help them grow spiritually in Christ?

Passages for further reflection: 1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Colossians 1:28-29

Posted in #3 DO - What a Leader Does, #4 REPRODUCE - Developing More Leaders and tagged , , , , , , , ,

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