Raising Leaders who Raise Leaders

17th June 2025

The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others

2 Timothy 2: 2 (NIV)

One of the significant reasons that a Disciple Making Movement (DMM) multiplies is that genuine DMMs are constantly raising and releasing new leaders. In a DMM the purpose of the leader is not just to lead. It is to identify, train, launch and support new leaders.

Disciples in a DMM are not just seen as followers. We are not looking to create Sunday believers, who turn up for a meeting but are never invited to go deeper. Every disciple is seen as a potential disciple maker, and every disciple maker a leader.

Equipped to share

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Every Discovery Bible Study (DBS) includes the question "Who are you going to tell?". The expectation is that all members of the DBS group will be sharing with their family, friends or community. This may be by retelling the Bible story or, more likely in the initial stages, sharing how the story affected them. People who are genuinely being transformed by their encounter with God will be more likely to share how this is changing their lives.

Equipped to lead

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

John 12: 20-22 (NIV)

As people share how God is changing their lives, we often find that others ask to come along to the DBS group. Inviting individuals to join an existing group grows the group (addition). Rather than doing this, it is far better to ask these people if they have any others who would like to study together, and start a new DBS group (multiplication).

When starting a new group it might seem natural to lead it ourselves, however, this acts to limit growth as one person can only run so many groups. If we really mean to raise leaders a better approach is to allow the person who shared in the first place to be the one to start the new group.

Allowing new believers to rapidly move into the role of leading small groups is a great way of raising people into leadership. It is one of the reasons that the DBS approach is kept simple. We need every member to know that they are capable of stepping into that role.

Equipped to multiply

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Ephesians 4: 20-22 (NIV)

Paul says in Ephesians that the role of leaders is to build the whole body up. The job is not simply to grow the number of our followers, but to see that those followers are equipped to do the same. This means investing into leaders and ensuring that they are doing the same themselves. It may mean encouraging others who have the potential to be more successful than we ourselves are.

A good leader is not threatened by this. Our goal is to see God's kingdom grow, not our own.

Having a good mentor is one of the best ways to accelerate you leadership growth. Encouraging emerging leaders to mentor others is one of the best ways to accelerate multiplication.

If you are servious about your leadership journey and don't already have a mentor, we encourage you to find one. Ask leader who your trust or visit Christian Mentor.