Is Your Church a Place Where Leaders Are Actually Developed?

Internal Audience: Tier 4 – Aspiring Leaders Why: To align with First Assembly Memphis's mission to equip leaders and raise up the next generation of Spirit-empowered servants in the Memphis community.

Quick Answer:A church that develops leaders prioritizes spiritual maturity, biblical training, and practical opportunities for service. At First Assembly Memphis, we believe in equipping every believer to lead in their sphere of influence, grounded in the Word and empowered by the Spirit.

Look, I've been around enough churches in the 901 to know the difference between a church that has leaders and a church that develops them. One has a polished stage presence. The other has a messy back room full of people learning to hear God's voice, open their Bible, and take responsibility for what God has put in their hands.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: most churches talk about leadership development. Few actually do it.

At First Assembly Memphis, we keep this simple and local: Sunday Classes at 9:30 AM, then Worship at 10:30 AM. That rhythm matters because leaders aren't formed by hype—they're formed by Word, worship, and obedience over time.

And the Bible is crystal clear about how leaders are formed and multiplied:

2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” That’s mentorship with a multiplication mindset.

Ephesians 4:11–12 reminds us that pastors and leaders are given “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.” In other words: the church doesn’t just have leaders—it makes leaders.

So let's run an honest audit. Is your church just filling volunteer slots, or is it genuinely raising up the next generation of Spirit-empowered, biblically grounded, gift-operating leaders?

Definition Block: What Is “Biblical Stewardship of Gifts”?

Biblical Stewardship of Gifts means recognizing that your time, abilities, spiritual gifts, and opportunities belong to the Lord—and using them faithfully to serve others, build up the church, and glorify Jesus (1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:4–7). It’s not self-promotion; it’s responsibility with love.

The Ephesians 4 Test: Are Saints Being Equipped?

Paul didn't stutter when he wrote Ephesians 4:11-13. He said the five-fold ministry gifts, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, exist "for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

Notice the goal isn't to do all the ministry for people. It's to equip them to do it themselves.

So here's your first litmus test: Are people in your church learning to operate in their spiritual gifts, or are they just watching a few gifted people perform?

At First Assembly Memphis, we're not interested in creating spectators. We want practitioners. People who can pray for healing and see results. People who can prophesy encouragement over a struggling brother. People who can teach a small group without reading a script someone else wrote.

If your church only celebrates the stage gifts but never creates space for the body to function in 1 Corinthians 12 diversity, you're not developing leaders, you're franchising personalities.

Mentorship > Programs Every Time

I've seen churches roll out leadership "programs" that are basically glorified volunteer orientations. You watch some videos, sign a form, and boom, you're a leader.

That's not how Jesus did it.

He spent three years doing life with twelve guys. They watched Him heal. They saw Him navigate conflict. They learned to pray by praying with Him. And when He sent them out, they had real authority because they'd been with Him (Acts 4:13).

Here’s my pastoral read on it: mentorship is how the local church turns potential into purpose. A healthy church doesn’t just spot “talent”—it helps people grow in character, doctrine, and faithfulness. We identify leaders by watching for humility, teachability, and a willingness to serve when nobody’s clapping.

And the local church is the right place for that because it’s where your gifts get tested in real life—with real people, real needs, and real accountability. That’s how calling gets confirmed and strengthened.

Real leadership development in a Pentecostal context looks like this:

• Seasoned believers mentoring newer believers in how to hear the Holy Spirit's voice

• Hands-on ministry opportunities where people can fail safely and learn from it

• Regular feedback and coaching, not just annual reviews

• Modeling, not just teaching, leaders who let others watch them minister, counsel, and lead

Leadership Pillars at a Glance (Bible + Pathway)

Leadership Pillar	Bible Verse	FA Memphis Pathway
Scripture-formed character	Galatians 5:22–23	Sunday Classes (9:30 AM) + consistent personal Bible reading
Equipped to serve (not spectate)	Ephesians 4:11–13	Serve on a team and learn through mentoring + feedback
Spirit-empowered witness	Acts 1:8	Worship (10:30 AM) + prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit
Faithful stewardship of gifts	1 Peter 4:10	Practice your gifts in safe, accountable environments—start where you are
Humble, teachable leadership	Philippians 2:3–4	Choose coaching, correction, and growth over platform-chasing

In Memphis, Cordova, and Bartlett, we've got incredible potential sitting in the pews every Sunday. The question is: are we intentionally pulling that potential out, or are we letting it stay dormant because we're too busy running programs?

Safe Spaces to Fail (And Learn)

Here's something most leadership books won't tell you: the best leaders have failed spectacularly at least once.

Peter denied Jesus three times. Paul had a falling out with Barnabas. David… well, we don't have time for that list.

But God didn't discard them. He developed them through it.

A church that develops leaders creates environments where people can:

• Try preaching a five-minute message without the pressure of a Sunday morning crowd

• Pray for someone and miss it without being shamed

• Lead a small group and realize halfway through they're in over their heads, then get coaching to improve

We need cohort-based environments where leaders grow together, share struggles, and sharpen each other (Proverbs 27:17). Not polished highlight reels. Real, raw, messy discipleship.

If your church punishes mistakes instead of using them as teaching moments, you'll never develop leaders. You'll just create people who are terrified to step out in faith.

Practical Skill Development Anchored in Scripture

Leadership in the church isn't the same as leadership in the marketplace, though there's overlap.

Biblical leadership requires:

• Vision-casting rooted in God's Word, not cultural trends (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

• Communication skills that edify, not just entertain (Ephesians 4:29)

• Conflict resolution guided by Matthew 18, not HR handbooks

• Discernment through the Holy Spirit, not just gut instinct (1 Corinthians 2:14-15)

Churches that develop leaders offer training in these areas. Not as one-off seminars, but as ongoing rhythms woven into the life of the church.

At First Assembly Memphis, we're committed to equipping people not just with theory, but with practical tools they can use Monday through Saturday. Because leadership doesn't stop when you leave the building on Sunday.

The Holy Spirit Factor

Here's where Pentecostal churches have a massive advantage: we believe the Holy Spirit still empowers believers today.

That means leadership development isn't just about acquiring skills. It's about partnering with the Spirit to do what only He can do.

Acts 1:8 says, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me."

A church that develops leaders teaches people how to:

• Recognize the Spirit's leading in decision-making

• Operate in spiritual gifts (prophecy, healing, discernment, etc.)

• Depend on supernatural strength instead of just grinding harder

• Walk in boldness that comes from being Spirit-filled (Acts 4:31)

If your church's leadership training could be run by a secular motivational speaker with zero theological adjustments, something's missing. We're called to raise up anointed leaders, not just competent managers.

Measured Growth: Are People Actually Maturing?

Okay, real talk: how do you know if leadership development is working?

You measure it. Not with attendance charts, but with spiritual maturity markers:

• Are people growing in their knowledge of Scripture?

• Are they operating in their spiritual gifts with increasing confidence?

• Are they leading others to Christ?

• Are they walking in holiness and character (Galatians 5:22-23)?

• Are they able to mentor the next generation?

Ephesians 4:13 says the goal is "unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

That's the standard. Not "did they complete the leadership class," but "are they becoming more like Jesus?"

At First Assembly Memphis, we're not satisfied with surface-level growth. We want deep roots, strong character, and leaders who reflect the heart of God to the Memphis community.

Your Next Step

If you're reading this and thinking, "I want to be developed as a leader," here's what I'd say:

Don't wait for someone to tap you on the shoulder. Start serving. Start praying for people. Start studying Scripture with intention. Ask a mature believer to mentor you. Show up to opportunities where you can learn by doing.

Leadership isn't a title. It's a calling that's cultivated through faithfulness in small things (Luke 16:10).

A Prayer for Our Current and Future Leaders

Jesus, thank You for the leaders You’ve placed in Your church. Give our current leaders wisdom, humility, and endurance. Raise up new leaders with clean hands and pure hearts—people who love Your Word, serve Your people, and follow the Holy Spirit with courage. Protect our homes, strengthen our families, and help us lead like You: with truth and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Next Step (Don’t Overthink It)

If you're reading this and thinking, “I want to grow as a leader,” here’s a simple move: join a Sunday morning class and ask somebody to help you take a next step. Growth happens in community—and leadership development starts by being teachable.

And if you're in the Memphis area and looking for a church that's serious about equipping the next generation of leaders, come visit us at www.famemphis.net. I’d love for you to jump into a leadership development class or a Sunday morning class and start building the muscle of spiritual leadership.

Want to go deeper?

If you’re looking for the heart behind what we do, you can read our Mission and Vision.

Sunday Grounding + Next Steps (Local + Online)

Sunday Classes: 9:30 AM Worship: 10:30 AM

Also, for transparency and compliance: today (March 9) we have a Pastoral Staff Meeting at 9:00 AM.

If you're in Memphis, Cordova, Arlington, Bartlett, or the 901, join us in person: 🌐 www.famemphis.net

Outside the area? Join our online church community: 🌐 www.boundlessonlinechurch.org

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