There are some special characteristics in forming your team:
1. Elect: In the team that the Lord was forming there were all kinds of people, each one with their own personality and temperament. But Jesus saw in them something that they themselves had never seen.
Forming a team is essential in order to conquer the multitudes, because the multitudes will follow each one of your disciples.
“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.”
Mark 3:14-15
2. Formation: God puts people in your hands who are like clay. You must see them though your eyes of faith and with your words, your example and your testimony positively influence their lives.
Within the formation process building friendship is very important. This helps to remove any barrier that the disciples may have towards you.
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:15-16
3. Get closer to the team: Forming a team implies investing time in them, because you have to get to know them outside the church. By getting closer, you can meet their needs, discover values and guide them to bear abundant fruit.
What most favors the disciples is spiritual impartation. Meet with your team regularly and impart a word of faith in them because it brings encouragement and hope.
“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”
John 17:6
4. Self control: The deep wounds of a person often originate from the fact that at some point they were witnesses of physical or verbal abuse.
The same happens with our disciples. Keep in mind that a bad attitude towards them can mark them negatively. It is important for the leader to exercise self-control and always leave positive memories for those around him. Be a respectful leader and don’t treat people indifferently.
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7
5. Focus: It is necessary to dedicate yourself to only one thing. Sometimes a leader tries to do many things at the same time and this blocks him and takes away the power to conquer. Look at the example of Jesus who for three and a half years mostly focused on forming His disciples. Focus on strengthening your team.
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”
Philippians 3:13
6. Teach continuously: The Lord Jesus often went out with His disciples to be alone with them. During those moments He was able to build them up.
Like Jesus, you too can use each situation to minister to your disciples and teach them the Word. Enjoy every moment that you can share with them. Working with your twelve should never be a burden or a heavy task. Be sincere, be dedicated and impart life to them.
“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4:13
7. Transmit the Vision: After giving everything of yourself in forming your team of twelve, you must work with each of your disciples so that they in turn can reproduce themselves in another twelve.
Your great challenge as a leader is to give the correct order to the Vision. You help each one of your leaders in forming their team of twelve, but you also help this second generation of leaders to start a cell group. This results in the key of multiplication: the 144. Through the 144 the multitudes are able to come to Jesus.
“Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.”
Habakkuk 2:2