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Lessons about Delegation from Jesus

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Walk As Jesus - Lessons About DelegationWe could look at Jesus’ earthly ministry and draw a number of conclusions about delegating. Here, however, we want to primarily learn lessons about delegation from Jesus’ Great Commission right before He ascended to heaven.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)

Lessons about Delegation from Jesus, the Master Delegator, Seen in the Great Commission

If we want to master any kind of skill, we need to look to the Master Himself of anything and everything pertaining to leadership, teaching, and all else. As the Master Delegator, Jesus did the following:

1) Jesus laid the groundwork for delegating.

Prior to giving the Great Commission Jesus had spent three years with His disciples teaching and demonstrating discipleship. From the start Jesus made the long range goal clear in calling them to be fishers of men (Matt. 4:19). Their time with Him prepared them for the big assignment to come when He was no longer with them, that of going and making disciples of all nations.

2) Jesus delegated what was His to give.

The Father had given Jesus all authority in heaven and earth. He didn’t need people to do His work yet valued their participation. He could do it all Himself but chose to involve them in the process.

3) Jesus provided what they needed to fulfill this responsibility.

  • the commissioning (what responsibility they were given)
  • the how-to (instruction)
  • the on-going support (His presence – always available, always accessible)

4) Jesus didn’t micromanage.

Jesus gave the Great Commission as He was on the verge of leaving them. He entrusted them with this responsibility and then ascended back to heaven. While He provided specifics of what was involved in going and making disciples of all nations, He did not specify exact methodology and style for baptizing and teaching.

In addition to what you can read here, the Steering the Church Toward Discipleship Leadership Guide pulls out 4 elements church leaders need for effective delegation that grow out of this study.

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3 Replies to “Lessons about Delegation from Jesus”

  1. These days Jesus is often thronged by crowds, but on this particular occasion, Jesus calls his disciples together, apart from the crowds, in order to give them a training exercise and a mission — their first.

    • Yes, what we read in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 would be their first mission after He ascended back to heaven. Though He promised to be with them always, it wouldn’t be a physical presence as they had been used to. He had sent them on missions without Him joining them prior to His death, resurrection, and ascension but they were able to come back to Him for feedback and debriefing. See Luke 9:1-10 for when He sent out the twelve disciples and Luke 10:1-24 for when He sent out seventy-two of His disciples.

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