A tomato plant produces tomatoes. A tomato manufacturing plant produces canned tomatoes, tomato paste, sauce, and juice. Everything that the manufacturing plant produces is tomato-related. The Toyota Automotive manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Kentucky produces Toyotas, not Fords or Chevys. The automotive plant in Bowling Green Kentucky does not produce Toyotas. The only cars coming out of the plant in Bowling Green are Corvettes. When a person or organization sets out to produce something, it produces that particular item. With this in mind, what does the New Testament church produce?
Most people involved in a church would respond with answers as Christians or disciples. And that is true. Yet, is there more? The church is called to make disciples who look, walk, and act like Christ, correct? In making disciples Jesus also produced leaders. Should this not also be an obligation of the church today?
Jesus’ original Disciples became leaders in the early New Testament church. But he also called some of His disciples to go to their own community and become leaders. Mark chapter five tells of a demon-possessed man whom Jesus cast out the demons and healed the man. The man begged to go with Jesus, but in verses 19-20 we read, “Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”
We are seeing fewer church leaders being produced in churches today. We are also experiencing fewer disciples to be leaders in culture, in our communities. Our task/obligation is to build growing disciples to go into the world and make more disciples. Our joy should be to produce disciples who become leaders in business, in organizations, government, and all walks of life.
Tomorrow’s leaders are going to come from somewhere. Should it not be from the church? In a world filled with darkness and despair should the church not be the cutting-edge producer of leaders? Who in your church, your circle of influence can you encourage and pray for Christian leadership as school teachers and administrators, for local government Christian leaders, for manufacturing plant Christian leaders, for sports team Christian leaders? Who in your circle of influence should you be praying for, asking God to raise up as the next generation of leaders? Where is your leadership role?
Can the church once again become the major for leadership production for the arts, for government, schools, for our children’s sports teams, and the corporate world? I believe it can once God’s people get on our knees interceding for our current and future leaders in all areas of life.
Is your church producing leaders for the church and for our world? Who are the leaders your church is preparing and producing today? What is your God-given role in becoming and producing Godly leaders for today and our next generation?
