True empowerment pairs increased responsibility with increased authority to get the job done. Read Mark 3:13-19.

Jesus deliberately chose twelve for His leadership team from several hundred close followers. Verses 14 and 15 say, “He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” Jesus carefully selected mature or rapidly maturing leaders, gave them a title, responsibilities, and the authority to complete the task. True empowerment always includes the authority to fulfill the responsibilities of the job assignments.

When they understand team dynamics, leaders choose team members carefully. Read Mark 3:13-19.

Jesus’ ministry had amassed hundreds of faithful followers. These were individuals that actually spent time with Jesus and followed Him from town to town to listen to His preaching and to minister to His needs. From this large pool of followers, Jesus selected twelve men to become His apostles, His entrusted messengers and ambassadors. This was such a significant decision that Jesus prayed all night to prepare for it. This was a decision that Jesus made alone with only the guidance of God.

Effective leaders select specific team members very carefully and for specific reasons. Read Mark 2:14-17.

It could be argued that Jesus formed the most effective team in human history. He chose 12 individuals that He dedicated three years of His life to mentor. These 12 individuals, after only a few years with Jesus, took His message to the known world and even now, 2,000 years later, Christianity is still changing individuals and changing the world.

Leaders can lead effectively when empowered by their organization. Read Matthew 28:18-20.

Jesus was preparing to return to the Father as He turned over the daily activity of His mission to His disciples. He had invested nearly three years in their training and now was empowering them to carry on His work. As Jesus empowered His disciples He provided leaders with some helpful principles of empowerment:

The God-honoring view of how a leader gains greatness is a mirror image of what most leaders assume. Read Matthew 20:20-28.

Jesus had a very intimate moment with His disciples in Matthew 17-19 when He laid out for them the treatment He would receive leading to His death in Jerusalem. He was making clear to them how He, the Son of God, would be called upon to sacrifice for those He led. He must have experienced some disappointment when in the following hours James and his brother John, two of His closest disciples, made a request (through their mother) for positions of power when He returned to heaven. Jesus’ response clearly defines His view of how a leader gains power.