Great Commission Baptists need leaders who are like Jesus. The leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention is not made up of a few entity heads or committee chairpersons. Rather, local churches that make up our cooperative convention are where the leadership of the SBC is found. If the Southern Baptist Convention is to resemble our Lord, it will be because there are Jesus-like leaders in our local churches. When Jesus-like leaders saturate our churches, they will saturate our convention.
The challenge that lies before us is not solved by a few leaders who are determined to be more like Jesus. The SBC needs an explosion of Christlike leaders. To see this task accomplished, we can’t merely be Jesus-like leaders; we must also develop Jesus-like leaders. If Great Commission Baptists are to endure, we will do so with continual waves of fresh, godly leadership. Here are at least four intentional efforts we must take to develop Jesus-like leaders in our churches.
Preaching
Imploring a Southern Baptist to value preaching is akin to imploring a child to play in the sand at the beach. Our love for preaching is intrinsic to who we are as Baptists. Preaching is beneficial for our churches in multiple ways, including the development of more godly leaders. Indeed, Paul says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Preaching is often the most effective way to communicate in churches, so let us harness that power to develop Christlikeness among aspiring leaders. Preach the Word. As you do so, preach that God’s model is for godly leaders to lead churches. Preach that true leaders are filled with kindness and decency rather than meanness and pride. Preach that biblical leadership is rooted in servanthood, not selfishness. Our churches need more leaders, and they need you to teach them what true leadership looks like.
Presence
Actions speak louder than words. This trite saying is unforgettable because it’s largely understood and agreed upon. We can say that we value humility, holiness, and a heart like Jesus. However, unless we model it through our presence with our people, as the psalmist says, our words are like chaff that the wind blows away. If we want to develop others who lead like Jesus, we must lead like Jesus. We must be bold when it is time to be bold. We must be gentle when it is time to be gentle. We must despise arrogance and desire humility. We must flee sin and follow Jesus. We must be living examples of how to lead the way of Jesus.
Jesus practiced this same presence among His disciples. Consider how He modeled humility, servanthood, courage, faithfulness, and more. Jesus not only talked the talk; He walked the walk. He lived it internally, and He lived it externally. To develop other Jesus-like leaders, we must not only possess the characteristics of Jesus; we must also model them.
Practice
Practice makes perfect, right? Not all the time. However, practice certainly does help us improve. If we are to develop leaders who lead like Jesus, we must allow them to spread their wings and actually lead. Consider when Jesus sent His followers out two by two. Were they fully developed leaders? Certainly not. Yet, He allowed them to minister before they were perfect.
Think about those who have invested in your leadership development. Did they allow you to lead before you were a perfect leader? Of course, they did (after all, you and I are still not perfect leaders). So, if you want to develop godly leaders in your church, let developing leaders learn to lead. Let them practice. Learn from our Lord’s model of developing others. Shape your own Jesus-inspired process, work the process, and trust the process.
Patience
When you unleash developing leaders, you will need to develop patience. Patience is an essential tool in the task of developing other leaders. Of course, others were patient with you when you were developing as a leader. The same is true for me. Sometimes, I cringe when I think back on some of the foolish mistakes I made as a ministry intern, a young staff member, or just last week (at times).
Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that was wonderfully exemplified in Jesus’s life and ministry. Consider how patient He was with Simon Peter despite his frequent foolishness. Recall His redirecting instruction when James and John wanted to sit at His right hand and left hand in the coming kingdom. Think about how Jesus lovingly developed the apostles after they were unable to cast out demons.
Make no mistake: the foundational future of the local church is built upon Jesus Christ. Part of our Lord’s good design for the church is that she will be led by leaders who are like Him. The Southern Baptist Convention may be down, but we are not out. If we are to rise up and thrive, we will only do so by fixing our eyes on Jesus and following His ways. Therefore, go and be a Jesus-like leader. Likewise, go and develop Jesus-like leaders.
Editor's Note: As a part of its commitment to fostering conversation within the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist Review may publish editorials that espouse viewpoints that are not necessarily shared by the TBR team or other contributors. We welcome submissions for responses and rebuttals to any editorials as we seek to host meaningful conversations about the present and future of our convention.
Matt McCraw
Matt McCraw is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Bartow, Florida. He has served in various local church roles, including student ministry, missions, and pastoral ministry. Matt has a Bachelor’s degree from Boyce College, and an M.A. and Ed.D from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of the recent book, Leading the Jesus Way, and also serves as a part of the team at Church Answers. Matt enjoys the outdoors, reading, and spending time with his wife and kids.