Leading God’s People God’s Way Lesson 22 – The Law of Explosive Growth

The Law of Explosive Growth To add growth, lead followers; to multiply, lead leaders Mark 3: Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4) a)Leading followers is like addition. Leading leaders is like multiplication. In your leadership are you leading followers, or are you leading leaders? b)Jesus was not influenced by the large crowds that followed him. He chose to focus on training leaders to continue his work after he left. Are you more focused on the crowds, or on a few leaders you can invest your life in?

Our Story in History AD 45AD 70 First missionary journey in Galatia (Acts 13 & 14) c. 47 AD JesusChurch Age c. = circa (about) Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15, Galatians 2) c. AD 50 Beheaded in Rome by Emperor Nero persecution c. AD 68 Jerusalem, including Temple, destroyed by Roman Emperor Titus c. AD 70 Paul Arrested in Jerusalem. Appeals to Caesar. Imprisoned in Caesarea for 2 years on way to Rome c. AD 58 Second missionary journey to Asia, Macedonia, Achaia & Greece (Acts ) c. AD 50 Third missionary journey to Asia, Macedonia, Achaia & Greece (Acts ) c. AD 53

Scriptures to Read Acts 15:36 to 16:5 Acts 15:36 to 16:5 Acts 18:1-11 Acts 18:1-11 Acts 19:8-10 Acts 19: Timothy 4: Timothy 4: Timothy 2: Timothy 2:1-26

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch Jerusalem Antioch Damascus Rome Tarsus Paul and Barnabas carried the letter from the leaders in Jerusalem to the church in Antioch. Judas and Silas came with them. After a while Judas returned to Jerusalem but Paul, Silas, and Barnabas stayed in Antioch.

Paul and Barnabas Separate Antioch Damascus Tarsus Attalia Perga Seleucia Salamis Paphos Ephesus MYSIA GALATIA CAPPADOCIA SYRIA CYPRUS LYCIA CILICIA PHRYGIA Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Paul and Barnabas had such a strong disagreement over John Mark that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took John Mark and went to Cyprus. Paul took Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches Issus Barnabas and John Mark Paul and Silas

Paul Meets Timothy Antioch Damascus Tarsus Attalia Perga Seleucia Salamis Paphos Ephesus MYSIA GALATIA CAPPADOCIA SYRIA CYPRUS LYCIA CILICIA PHRYGIA Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Paul and Silas went to Derbe and then on to Lystra where they met Timothy. Issus

Paul, Silas and Timothy Travel Together Jerusalem Antioch Damascus Rome Tarsus Issus Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Troas ASIA GALATIA SYRIA CYPRUS LYCIA CILICIA PHRYGIA MACEDONIA ACHAIA (GREECE) Philippi Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth CRETE SICILY ITALY Paul, Silas and Timothy travelled through the region of Phrygia and came to the city of Troas. There Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man calling to them to come over and help them… Ephesus

Paul, Silas and Timothy Travel Together Jerusalem Antioch Damascus Rome Tarsus Issus Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Troas ASIA GALATIA SYRIA CYPRUS LYCIA CILICIA PHRYGIA MACEDONIA ACHAIA (GREECE) Philippi Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth CRETE SICILY ITALY So, Paul and his friends went to Philippi where the led Lydia to the Lord. Paul and Silas were thrown in jail after casting a demon out of a slave girl. God miraculously released them by an earthquake. The jailer and his household became believers in jesus that night. Ephesus

Paul, Silas and Timothy Travel Together Jerusalem Antioch Damascus Rome Tarsus Issus Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Troas ASIA GALATIA SYRIA CYPRUS LYCIA CILICIA PHRYGIA MACEDONIA ACHAIA (GREECE) Philippi Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth CRETE SICILY ITALY Paul and his friends went to Thessalonica where they led many to the Lord. But, some Jews stirred up trouble for them so they left and went to Berea. The Bereans received them more openly and examined the scriptures every day to see in what Paul said was true. Ephesus

Paul, Silas and Timothy Travel Together Jerusalem Antioch Damascus Rome Tarsus Issus Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Troas ASIA GALATIA SYRIA CYPRUS LYCIA CILICIA PHRYGIA MACEDONIA ACHAIA (GREECE) Philippi Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth CRETE SICILY ITALY Ephesus Some Berean brothers brought Paul to Athens. Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. In Athens Paul went to the Areopagus and talked to them about the “Unknown God” to whom they had built an altar. Some of them believed in Jesus.

Paul, Silas and Timothy Travel Together Jerusalem Antioch Damascus Rome Tarsus Issus Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Troas ASIA GALATIA SYRIA CYPRUS LYCIA CILICIA PHRYGIA MACEDONIA ACHAIA (GREECE) Philippi Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth CRETE SICILY ITALY Ephesus Paul left Athens and went to Corinth where he met Aquila and Pricilla. Silas and Timothy caught up with him in Corinth. They stayed in Corinth for a year and a half teaching the believers there.

Paul Returns to Antioch Jerusalem Antioch Damascus Rome Tarsus Issus Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Troas ASIA GALATIA SYRIA CYPRUS LYCIA CILICIA PHRYGIA MACEDONIA ACHAIA (GREECE) Philippi Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth CRETE SICILY ITALY Ephesus Paul left Silas and Timothy in Corinth and returned to Antioch. He had brief stops in Ephesus and Jerusalem on the way.

Paul Begins His Third Missionary Journey Jerusalem Antioch Damascus Rome Tarsus Issus Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Troas ASIA GALATIA SYRIA CYPRUS LYCIA CILICIA PHRYGIA MACEDONIA ACHAIA (GREECE) Philippi Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth CRETE SICILY ITALY Ephesus After spending some time in Antioch, Paul again travelled through the regions of Cilicia, Galatia, and Phrygia to strengthen the churched he had planted. Then he went to Ephesus where he preached the gospel in the synagogues. When they Jews rejected his message, he left and went to the Gentiles. He stayed for two years and all the Jews and Greeks in the province of Asia heard the gospel of Jesus.

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4) a)Wherever Paul went he preached the gospel, planted churches and trained leaders to lead those churches. Are you just doing the work of the ministry, or are you also training and developing others to do the ministry? b)Paul personally mentored key leaders such as Timothy, Silas, Aquila and Pricilla. What are you doing to invest you life into others who have leadership potential?

What Do We Learn From Paul? 1. When leaders develop leaders explosive growth occurs. 2. Leaders commit to people and activities that provide explosive growth. 3. Leaders recognize the qualities needed for explosive growth. 4. Leaders who gather followers are very different to leaders who develop leaders.

When leaders develop leaders explosive growth occurs Becoming a leader who leads other leaders requires a whole new way of thinking. You must… 1. Not just do things right, but also do the right things 2. Not just prioritize your schedule, but also schedule your priorities 3. Not just seek fulfillment, but also fulfill your destiny

When leaders develop leaders explosive growth occurs Becoming a leader who leads other leaders requires a whole new way of thinking. You must… 4. Not lead with power, but empower leaders

Leaders commit to people and activities that provide explosive growth Paul’s strategy is as effective today as it was in his day. He focused on four things to create explosive growth: 1. He attracted and equipped people 2. He found and mentored emerging leaders 3. He created new organizations 4. He engaged in the ongoing development of leaders

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4) a)We have learned that leading followers is like addition but leading leaders causes multiplication. As a leader, are you adding or multiplying? b)To create explosive growth, you must first be committed to doing the things, and developing the people, that will bring the growth you desire. Have you identified the people and activities that will provide explosive growth in your team or organization?

Leaders recognize the qualities needed for explosive growth Paul used four images to describe what a good leader looks like. A good leader needs to be… 1. A Teacher 2. A Soldier 3. An Athlete 4. A Farmer

Leaders who gather followers are different to leaders who develop leaders Gather Followers… 1. need to be needed 2. focus on people’s weaknesses 3. focus on the bottom 20% Develop Leaders… 1. want to be succeeded 2. focus on people’s strengths 3. focus on the top 20% There are seven differences between leaders who gather follower and leaders who develop leaders…

Leaders who gather followers are different to leaders who develop leaders Gather Followers… 4. treat everyone the same 5. spend their time 6. ask for little commitment Develop Leaders… 4. treat people as individuals 5. invest their time 6. ask for great commitment There are seven differences between leaders who gather follower and leaders who develop leaders…

Leaders who gather followers are different to leaders who develop leaders Gather Followers… 7. impact this generation Develop Leaders… 7. impact future generations There are seven differences between leaders who gather follower and leaders who develop leaders…

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4) a)Potential leaders should possess the characteristics of a teacher, a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Do your potential leaders possess the qualities needed for explosive growth? b)Consider the seven differences between a leader who gathers followers and a leader who develops leaders. Are you gathering followers or developing leaders?

Homework – Scriptures to Read Luke 5:1-11 Luke 5:1-11 Luke 6:12-16 Luke 6:12-16 Luke 9:1-20 Luke 9:1-20 Luke 9:57 to 10:12 Luke 9:57 to 10:12 Matthew 28:16-20 Matthew 28:16-20