LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
The Connection Between Discipleship and Leadership
Submitted to Dr. Gary Waller,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500 – B08
Discipleship Ministries
by
Edwin Malave Vazquez
October 04, 2021
Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................1
Developing Leaders and Disciples ...............................................................................................1
Leadership .....................................................................................................................................3
Healthy Church: The Goal for Discipleship ...............................................................................5
Assessment Based on the 10 Kingdom Leadership Principles...................................................5
Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................6
Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................8
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Introduction
God's calling to all his followers is to go all over the earth to make disciples. In Matthew,
Jesus told his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).1 To
achieve this to its fullest, leadership is required. Although leadership and discipleship are not the
same, there is a great connection between the two concepts; rather, a cause and effect. The more
leadership within a healthy church, the healthier the discipleship process will be for believers.
There are different views on leadership and on the role of a leader. The main manual on
the leadership of the kingdom of God is found in the scriptures. There is a great difference
between the leadership of the world and the leadership that Jesus teaches us. In this work we will
be studying the connection between discipleship and leadership based on the similarities found
when developing leaders and disciples. In addition, the different views of leadership taught by
Earley and Dempsey, as well as Putman, Harrington and Coleman, will be studied. In addition, it
will be explained how a healthy church is the goal of discipleship. Finally, a self-evaluation of
the author's local church will be made based on the 10 Kingdom Leadership Principles found in
the Lecture Note of the class DSMN 500.
Developing Leaders and Disciples
When speaking of leadership, there is a misconception that leadership is associated with
the authoritarianism of one person over others to meet their own needs, when in reality healthy
leadership goes beyond this. On the contrary, a leadership seeks the growth of the followers so
1 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the English Standard Version (Wheaton,
IL: Crossway, 2008).
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that they achieve their purpose in God. Healthy leadership must have a developmental and
relational focus, as well as that needed in discipleship.
Putman, Harrington and Coleman explain about discipleship that there are five stages of
discipleship. Although the believer must progress in each of these stages, a spiritual father (stage
five) is necessary to help the disciple in this process, to create the necessary opportunities for this
disciple to put into practice what he has developed within. It is not about being served by people
who are in the process of maturity, it is about serving those who are in the process of maturity.
Jesus said in in Gospel of Mark, “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44).
Leaders who value people above all else, even when times are tough, can trust that
everyone can come together to overcome any adversity. When the leader builds relationships and
values people, he can make sure everyone advances forward in the midst of difficulties as
everyone is committed to the leader. There is a healthy environment for everyone to work
towards the same vision, even when it involves sacrifice from all.2
The process in leadership, as in discipleship, is related to reproduction. All have been
called to fulfill the Great Commission established in Mattew 28. Therefore, as leaders help
disciples to grow and become leaders, they must continue the process of making new disciples to
become leaders. In other words, you have to create disciples who create disciples and leaders
who create leaders. To accomplish both, you need to establish healthy relationships based on
service.
Leadership
2 Simon Sinek, Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t (New York: Penguin
Random House LLC, 2014), 86.
2
Both in the writings of Earley and Dempsey, and in the work of Putman et al. great
insight into leadership is provided. Earley and Dempsey states that “At the very core of Christian
leadership is the idea that I am here to help you grow and develop.”3 On the other hand, Putman
claims that “The solution to ensuring lasting disciples are produced involves a fundamental shift
in our thinking, from informing people to equipping them.”4 This means that the leadership
approach is nothing more than developing the people you lead.
Earley and Dempsey provide four fundamental principles of leadership: personal
involvement, influencing others, vision and direction, and the overall development of those in
charge, while Putman provides similar principles focused on authenticity and transparency in the
process. On the subject of personal involvement, Earley and Dempsey propose the idea of
focusing on the people within the church or organization and not on the organization with its
objectives.5 For his part, Putman uses Jesus as the leadership reference, remembering that Jesus
gave more importance to relationships before doing anything else.6 When Jesus called the
disciples to follow him, he began by making a personal commitment to them, “Follow me, and I
will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). Jim Collins testifies that “The executives
who ignite the transformations from good to great did not figure out where to drive the bus then
get the people to take it there. They first got the right people on the bus.”7 It can definitely be
concluded that in leadership people are more important.
3 Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey, Disciple Making Is …: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion
and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2013), 94.
4 Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples
Who Make Disciples (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013), 98.
5 Earley and Dempsey, Disciple Making Is…, 194.
6 Putman, DiscipleShift, 118.
7 Jim Collins, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t (New York: Harper
Collins Publishers, 2001), 41.
3
In the principle on influence, both groups of authors emphasize this topic with different
approaches. Earley and Dempsey suggest that influence is led by example,8 while Putman
affirms that the influence occurs within a framework of transparency and authenticity. If there is
transparency and authenticity in the leader, this creates the necessary atmosphere for healthy
relationships to be established that keep followers engaged in the discipleship process.9 The
signature of a good leader is that they can help people understand their gifts and use them to the
best of their ability.
Vision, as one of the leadership principles, can be defined as “a clear mental image of a
preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants and is based upon an accurate
understanding of God, self and circumstances.”10 Putman states that a clear and passionate
vision, which must be shared frequently, guides spiritual development to occur in the believer.11
By understanding that God wants leaders to participate and influence the development of people
I cannot help but want to share the vision and work to make it come true. Earley and Dempsey
say that vision becomes clearer when we spend more time with God and his word.12
Healthy Church: The Goal for Discipleship
Earley and Dempsey say that “a healthy church is a representation of God's people
coming together to fulfill God's mission for His glory.”13 In other words, it is in a healthy church
that all the elements are in place for discipleship to occur.
8 Earley and Dempsey, Disciple Making Is…, 195.
9 Putman, DiscipleShift, 100.
10 George Barna, The Power of Vision: How You Can Capture and Apply God’s Vision for Your Ministry
(Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1992), 28.
11 Putman, DiscipleShift, 126.
12 Ibid.
13 Earley and Dempsey, Disciple Making Is…, 213.
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A spiritually healthy church will effectively pass the gospel from one generation to the
next, and will reach the lost within the community. In addition, it will create an environment
where everyone is encouraged to grow in their faith. Biblical knowledge should only be seen as a
sign of spiritual health if you are in obedience. Knowledge only counts if it is applied to life. In a
spiritually healthy church, new believers will eventually grow to the point of greater spiritual
maturity. That is, they are capable of sustaining their own walk with God. In the same way, a
spiritually healthy church will create a culture in which leadership develops. Leaders will not
only guide people, but will serve as mentors to future leaders.
Assessment Based on the 10 Kingdom Leadership Principles
The 10 Kingdom Leadership Principles bring a good understanding of what a leader
should give importance to. Ultimately, it is our priorities that will shape the culture of the church.
The author will assess himself within the three areas of discussion, kingdom perspectives,
kingdom principles, and kingdom practices.14
Within the perspectives of the kingdom, the author understands that he has no problem
aligning himself with them, although he has struggled with point two, You are not a leader.
Consciously or unconsciously, man has a struggle for power. Although, as a Christian leader, the
author wants to serve others, human nature wants to be recognized. Mike Donehey argues that
the term leader is a human creation to spiritualize human greed and man's lust for power.15
However, although the term is one perhaps invented by man, the role of the leader is a biblical
one, leading people to their destiny in God.
14 DSMN 500. Lecture Notes: 10 Kingdom Leadership/ Followership Principles (Lynchburg, VA: Liberty
University, 2015), 1.
15 Mike Donehey, Finding God’s Life for My Will: His Presence is the Plan (USA: WaterBrook, 2019), 64.
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Within the principles of the kingdom, the author understands that he must improve in the
time he spends with God. Very well says the Lecture Note, “to represent King Jesus you must
spend time with Him.”16 This is a constant battle that many Christian leaders face, not on
purpose, but because they become so involved in the church program, in ministry responsibilities
that they do not spend enough time with the source of all life, God.
Within the practices of the kingdom, the author understands that he must improve in
connecting people with Jesus. The responsibilities of the ministry and the lack of focus with the
great commission have diverted attention from preaching the gospel to the people around him,
family, friends, neighbors, etc.
Conclusion
The foundation that is placed on a piece of land determines the size and structure of the
building to be built. You cannot expect to build a great twenty-story tower when the foundation
that was laid was for two stories, at any moment it will fall and cause chaos or tragedy. God has
called his Church through Christ to raise up a great harvest of souls and build many lives in order
to live the abundant life promised in John 10:10. For this goal to be achieved we must form a
discipleship within a healthy church. Because that's what it takes to do the Lord's work. A
Church that is not sick on the inside so that on the outside it looks attractive to the sinner and to
those who want to reconcile with God again. Worshiping God, Maintaining a strong fellowship,
Discipleship to the new convert, Serving in the work and reaching others are the basic purposes
of a Church of great impact and that causes people to join it and stay in that place.
People are looking for God, but they need disciples who know how to attract them by
spiritual means but with training for that praiseworthy goal. God wants a healthy church that
16 DSMN 500, 10 Kingdom Leadership, 2.
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worships God, disciples, serves, fellowships, and shows others the way to meet Jesus. This
requires leadership: productive, that produces the desired result, proactive, that moves people
towards a desired end, and perpetual, that continues to work without ceasing.
7
Bibliography
Barna, George. The Power of Vision: How You Can Capture and Apply God’s Vision for Your
Ministry. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1992.
Collins, Jim. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t. New York:
Harper Collins Publishers, 2001.
Donehey, Mike. Finding God’s Life for My Will: His Presence is the Plan. USA: WaterBrook,
2019.
DSMN 500. Lecture Notes: 10 Kingdom Leadership/ Followership Principles. Lynchburg, VA:
Liberty University, 2015.
Earley, Dave and Rod Dempsey. Disciple Making Is …: How to Live the Great Commission with
Passion and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2013.
Putman, Jim and Bobby Harrington. DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make
Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013.
Sinek, Simon. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t. New York:
Penguin Random House LLC, 2014.
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