Elders need to continually be developing leaders. Bob Deffinbaugh, in this five part series, challenges elders to be on the lookout for potential leaders and to take steps in developing them.

1. What was happening when David delayed in appointing his successor?
2. What processes of that day were not being followed that could have helped David develop his successor?
3. Where do we read Paul handing over the baton of leadership of the church at Ephesus?

1. What are some of the pitfalls in today’s churches where leadership succession is not practiced?
2. What are the differences between raising a leader and raising a successor?
3. Why do you think planning for leadership succession is so rare? What do you think are the hindrances to doing it?

1. Contact other churches in your network and ask their leaders what plan or program they have in place for leadership succession.
2. Ask the current elders/leaders in your church how they were prepared for leadership? Were they mentored? Did those who were leaders before them make it clear that they wanted to be succeeded as leaders/elders?
3. Identify three individuals that have potential to become your successor, and begin praying for their leadership development, with the goal of someday seeing them stepping into yours or others’ leadership roles.

1. Which servant leader in the Bible was called the meekest man on the earth?
2. How can we assume Joseph may have been a cocky, immature young man?
3. In which chapter do we read about Stephanas of whom it is written he served the church well?

1. Distinguish between a leader who uses the word “servant” as a lofty title and a leader who is actually a servant.
2. Compare and contrast a biblical servant leader with a corporate leader or CEO.
3. Why is being a servant so difficult to actually put into practice?

If you were to develop a screening test for evaluating whether a potential leader has a servant heart or not, what criteria would you include? How do you yourself stack up to that screening test?

1. What was Elijah’s cause of depression?
2. How many pastors leave the ministry every month according to the research the speaker quoted?
3. Where do we read the story of Elijah, of his conquest and depression?

1. Why do you think so many leaders in the church today feel lonely?
2. Can an elder in an elder-led church experience similar feelings as Elijah’s? How can shared leadership help guard against those feelings?
3. What do you think are the signs that an elder may be experiencing spiritual depression?

1. Think back through your efforts at leading in the church or other Christian organizations. Were there times when you experienced burnout, depression, discouragement or loneliness? How did that feel? How did you find your way out of it? Share this with one other person, not so much to get counsel, but to break the “silence” and the “shame” that sometimes keeps men from honestly acknowledging these experiences.
2. List out in your own words the benefits of shared leadership as it relates to the leaders own struggles with loneliness, depression, or isolation.

1. What symbol emphasizes suffering more than any other?
2. Which passage in Scripture tells us that all who desire to live godly lives will be persecuted?
3. In what way is suffering a platform for leading?

1. How do you understand suffering as being an essential qualification of leadership?
2. Is it possible for a person’s suffering to turn them away from Christ? What’s the difference with a person whose sufferings take them deeper with Christ?
3. In what ways does your suffering help you lead or teach others, even if they have not suffered in the exact same way as you?

1. If you have experienced suffering, write out how this has helped your leadership as opposed to before you experienced that suffering? How have your leveraged that experience to help you lead or shepherd more effectively?
2. If you have not experienced suffering, talk with an elder who has gone through it. How do they view it as being a gift?

1. What is the intent for writing the book of Proverbs?
2. What are the two aspects the speakers stressed in raising up leadership?
3. What is one clear Scripture passage about training faithful men to carry on?

1. How can you distinguish between a person who genuinely strives for leadership for godly reasons versus one who is striving for selfish ambition?
2. What are some practical ways you can identify when God’s hand is genuinely on a person for leadership in the church?
3. What are the dangers of a person being in a position of leadership, but that not being God’s sovereign choice?

1. Talk to your church elders or leaders for examples of how God’s sovereignty and human responsibility have been experienced in your church through the years.
2. Make a study of key leaders in Scripture (Peter, Paul, Samuel, Moses, Joshua, for example) and how both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility were seen in their becoming leaders. What principles can you learn for leaders in the church today?
3. Write down two lists: a) What are the evidences that God has chosen you for leadership and b) What evidences do you see in other potential leaders that may suggest God is choosing them for leadership?