Leadership Development equips churches and ministry teams to identify, train, and empower leaders for long-term discipleship and mission. Explore practical, Bible-based resources on mentoring, coaching, apprenticeships, and building leadership pipelines for elders, staff, and volunteer leaders. You’ll find guidance on cultivating character, clarifying competencies, delegating responsibility, and creating a healthy culture where leaders grow and multiply. Whether you’re developing emerging leaders, strengthening current leadership, or building a repeatable process for your church, these articles help you invest in people who can faithfully lead in Jesus’ name.
A Sunday school convention conversation prompts a searching question: do ministers truly “seek the Lord” amid relentless demands? Mark A. Taylor reflects on vocational ministry’s pressures—and the quiet danger of being consumed by the work.
March 4, 2007
A practical reframing of “TEAM” for ministry and life: thick skin, humility, accountability, and managing yourself. Learn why a “we” mindset strengthens relationships, builds resilient teams, and reflects Christ’s love in community.
January 28, 2007
Three leadership models shape today’s church, but only one is biblical. Randy Gariss contrasts storefront and foreman approaches with shepherding—personal pursuit, prayer, compassion, and responsibility for God’s people.
January 20, 2007
By Victor M. Parachin In 1964 as Winston Churchill”s health was rapidly declining, former President and World War II Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower visited his friend. Eisenhower sat by the former prime minister”s bed for a lengthy period of time. Neither man spoke. After a while, Churchill slowly raised his hand and painstakingly made the “V” for victory sign, which he was well known for, often flashing it to the British people during the darkest days of World War II. Eisenhower, fighting back tears, stood up, saluted Churchill, and left the room. Composing himself, Eisenhower spoke to his aide in
January 6, 2007
A leadership lesson from an elderly worshiper highlights why strong leaders handle problems so congregations can worship. The article outlines a shepherd’s responsibilities—lead, guide, feed, and protect—and calls church members to submit to spiritual leadership.
December 31, 2006
Jesus chose imperfect people and shaped them into leaders. This article explores the qualities he modeled and sought—humble service, compassion, discernment, prayer, action, delegation, and courage—for leaders serving the local church today.
November 19, 2006
A pastor reflects on the hidden danger of people-pleasing in leadership and the temptation to make decisions by popular opinion. Looking to Moses, he urges leaders to pay attention to God’s voice and remember their call.
November 8, 2006
Veteran minister Charles Cook reflects on what strengthens a church, how leaders grow, and why family stability matters. He also shares lessons from missions work and how suffering reshaped his priorities.
October 22, 2006
Stephen Bond reflects on training for and completing a 2.7-mile open-water swim across Donner Lake—and the leadership lessons it reinforced about big goals, preparation, opposition, mindset, and realizing untapped potential.
September 10, 2006
Church peace is not the absence of trouble. This article equips leaders to prepare for disputes with humility, Matthew 18 wisdom, and practical steps that model reconciliation for the sake of the gospel.
August 6, 2006
Jeff Krajewski reflects on Paul’s counsel to Timothy, apologizes for youthful arrogance, and invites older and younger leaders to pursue humility and unity as the church navigates change together.
Psychologist James Prochaska’s “stages of change” framework—first observed in how smokers quit—offers churches a practical way to understand denial, intention, planning, action, and the ongoing work of maintaining change.
Debbie Jones reflects on her calling to ministry, the expectations women often face, and the ways churches can encourage women to develop and use their gifts to build up Christ’s church.
March 12, 2006
Hardship can reshape spiritual leaders—restoring humility, tenderizing compassion, and deepening dependence on God. Greg Marksberry reflects on how suffering can recalibrate a leader’s heart toward Christlike service and lasting impact.
March 5, 2006
In this excerpt from Trading Places, Steve Wyatt shows how Jesus shaped John’s passion into steadfast love—affirming uniqueness, rejecting manipulation, and modeling servant leadership that calls people to grow within an atmosphere of acceptance.
February 19, 2006
Jesus doesn’t oppose greatness—he redefines it. Dave Smith reflects on Mark 8 and Mark 10, showing how true greatness is lived through servanthood, sacrifice, and daily faithfulness when ministry includes suffering.
February 15, 2006
A youth-group story about taking work too seriously leads to a challenge for church leaders. Barna survey results highlight a gap between what pastors believe about members’ priorities and what members report.
December 11, 2005
Coaching helps ministers move forward with clarity, courage, and accountability. Ken Gosnell explains why pastors need a coach to navigate isolation, prioritize wisely, and model continual growth—because even champions don’t thrive without one.
December 11, 2005
Coaching helped Bob Harrington lead through early church-planting heartbreak and grow as a leader. Learn what ministerial coaching is, how it serves planters and staff, and how Church Coaching Solutions trains coaches for Restoration Movement leaders.
November 23, 2005
By Jon Weece Risk. Freedom to fail. Dream big. Think outside the box. Try again. These words are frequently spoken by leaders at Southland Christian Church, Lexington, Kentucky. We like these words and others””like creative, innovative, daring, and even crazy””because they make us take deep breaths, cause our hearts to race, and make us swallow hard. These types of words keep us up at night and drive us to our knees. Leaders at Southland are not afraid of climbing the high dive. We like to take risks; we”ve come to realize that fear is a great faith-builder for our team.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
July 16, 2026
Stuart Powell
July 14, 2026
Landon Shuman
July 14, 2026
David Faust