One of the things high-caliber leaders do is that they select and train their own replacements. Good leaders know that they cannot lead forever or even be around forever, so they do something proactive about it. If senior leadership is deeply invested in the long-term health of the organization and want it to outlive them, they invest thought and energy into training up individuals from within their company so that one day the operations and management of the corporation can be handed over to the next generation. The leadership in churches is supposed to do something very similar. Elders and ministers cannot be around forever or lead the church forever. Instead of being bothered by this, church leaders do something proactive about it. Because church leaders are invested in the long-term health and stability of their congregation and want it to outline them, they invest time and energy into training up the next generation of men to be leaders. Paul laid out this very concept to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2. “…and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Notice two things about this verse:

First, we can count four ‘generations’ of disciples represented in this verse. In the first place we have Paul. Then we have Timothy, who was trained by Paul. Timothy is supposed to train faithful men—the third ‘generation.’ Finally, those faithful men will teach ‘others’—the fourth ‘generation’—and from there the cycle just keeps repeating itself. Just as disciples are called to make more disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) so teachers in the church train others to become teachers as well. This is how the gospel gets passed on from generation to generation: disciples who make disciples who make disciples who make disciples… until Jesus comes back.

Second, notice what Paul says to Timothy about training disciples to become teachers and future leaders in the church. Paul mentions two characteristics these future teachers must possess (faithfulness and ability) but he puts the priority on faithfulness. He told Timothy to entrust these things to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Timothy is not to seek out gifted men to be teachers who might become faithful one day. No, he is to seek faithful men who will also be able to teach. Faithfulness is more foundation than ability or gifting.

So to men in the church, I offer this two-part challenge. First, are you prioritizing growing in faithfulness? If you want to be a leader in the church, faithfulness is the primary qualification. Second, are you doing your part in passing on the faith to the next generation? Someone taught you everything you know. Will you take the time to teach and train the next generation so that they too can one day train others?