Jesus developed His disciples into a highly effective force for righteousness that changed the world forever. From Jesus' first calls for the disciples to join Him until the last frightening good-byes on the Mount of Transfiguration, He used the events and time they shared together to build these men into a leadership team for the Early Church—a leadership team that impacted the world.

Jesus drafted ordinary people. He developed them beyond their fondest dreams and produced some of the most effective leaders the Church has ever known.

Jesus called the disciples to an incredible goal. He wanted them to win their world, a goal that required them to be in top shape spiritually. To get them ready for their incredible conquest, Jesus kindled a team spirit inside them that would not quit, even when they fumbled the ball.

Jesus helped the disciples grow through Christian service. His disciples increased their impact on the world when they stopped watching from the sidelines and actually went onto the field to participate in the action. He showed them and us that when team members leave the stands and move onto the playing field, they automatically create positive peer pressure that keeps them and others at the task.

Jesus gave the disciples intense on-the-job training. Each day Jesus put His disciples through strenuous spiritual workouts. Their conditioning took place in a mobile training camp. Their classrooms included hillsides, roadways, and seashores-once they were in a boat in the middle of a lake. Jesus frequently used the Old Testament as their playbook. To get them in shape, our Lord drilled them on the fundamentals of love, forgiveness, transformation, dependence on God, and holy living. Jesus shaped their perspectives and stretched their souls for effective service.

Serving on a church decision-making team can radically change a person!