Breakthrough Pathways

Overview

While it’s true that churches today face leadership challenges, we stand at the cusp of an exciting opportunity for growth and transformation. The abundance of leadership resources available to us is not a sign of crisis, but a testament to our collective desire for positive change and improvement.

Jesus’ words to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” weren’t just an observation, but a call to action. Today, we can answer that call with renewed vigor and purpose. By reimagining what constitutes a worker, servant, or leader in God’s kingdom, we open doors to untapped potential within our congregations.

Consider the inspiring example of Peter and John in Acts 4:13. These “uneducated, common men” astonished the religious elite with their boldness and wisdom. Their transformation through their time with Jesus reminds us that true leadership isn’t about academic credentials, but about a heart transformed by Christ.

We stand at a thrilling juncture where we can rediscover and reinvigorate the concept of the Priesthood of believers. Imagine the powerful impact of equipping all believers for the work of ministry, as outlined in Ephesians 4:12. This approach doesn’t just solve a leadership shortage; it unleashes a tidal wave of passionate, committed individuals ready to serve God’s kingdom in diverse and meaningful ways.

The development of Breakthrough Pathways is a beacon of hope in this journey. It’s not just another leadership resource; it’s a tailored solution designed to nurture both established and emerging leaders in our churches. By focusing on cultivating Christ-like character and practical skills, Breakthrough Pathways promises to create a rich, diverse pool of capable leaders ready to guide our churches into a bright future.

As we embrace this inclusive, empowering approach to leadership development, we can look forward with excitement to a future where our churches are vibrant centers of spiritual growth, community impact, and Kingdom expansion. The leadership challenge before us isn’t a crisis – it’s an invitation to participate in God’s transformative work in ways we’ve never imagined before. Let’s step forward with hope, enthusiasm, and expectation, knowing that as we equip and empower all believers, we’re not just solving a leadership problem – we’re unleashing the full potential of the Body of Christ.

Values

A value is not just a belief, but a transformative characteristic that you hold dear and that manifests itself in your real-world behavior. As a leader, your role is not just to inspire, but to ignite a fire within others, guiding them to live by the highest values and experience profound personal growth.

Over 20,000 books exist on Christian leadership. All of them could be contributors to leading, but the hard reality is that where there aren’t followers, there aren’t competent leaders with good tools. The Christian leader’s job is to stimulate people to invest their time, talents, and treasure in the divinely defined spaces. How people behave shows you what’s going on. Many people, but by no means the majority, have found a breakthrough pathway for their life. The Breakthrough Pathways that we espouse inspire people to grasp the values they may have been missing and build their lives to put these values into practice.

• Definition

Some of the Christian leadership literature has noted a higher degree of life change with smaller groups than the larger groups. We agree, but we further espouse narrowing the scope to three people meeting together. There are a variety of reasons for that commitment. We have noted that small groups in churches have high benefits. However, attendance in those small groups might need to be more consistent. Other activities sometimes take priority. With a group of three, there is a higher possibility of finding a time when all can meet their defined obligations.

• Deliberate

For an individual to enter into one of our Breakthrough Pathways, there needs to be deliberate commitment on the part of each individual so that the relationships don’t break down. It takes focused personal ownership for every individual to participate in the Breakthrough Pathway we define. The triads we work with rotate individuals so that different people meet and develop relationships on a regular schedule. Most Christians, especially men, will agree that they haven’t developed relationships within their local church that encourage them and facilitate their personal growth.

• Demonstration

With many attempts to develop spiritual growth, people are willing to discuss things that ought to be true in the ideal but fail to get the action necessary. We build systems to create the conditions where each individual must demonstrate that they are changing their behavior according to the principle under consideration. To achieve this, we build in specific, measurable activities. Members in a triad will notice where one person thrives and succeeds or languishes and fails.

• Discovery

We have found that the best way for people to uncover what they really think and analyze how they are behaving is to speak out their inner thoughts in discussion with some others speaking heart to heart. There is much to be gained by listening to a lecture, a sermon, or a monologue, but for to actually change a life, individuals need to expose their own thoughts to one another and hold each other accountable.

• Development

While there is something to be said for breaking even and swimming up the river of life, nobody wants to mark time. One significant way to help people actually change and grow is to work interactively with others of like mind.

Growth is not an option. Achieving it seems elusive in many churches. It is easier to say that we want to be like Jesus than to actually understand the changes that this requires in life. After all, our objective in the church is always to present everyone mature and fully developed in Christ.

• Devotion

One of the critical characteristics of any Breakthrough Pathway is for every individual to have complete devotion to the others they are working with. We have seen deep devotion on the battlefields in earthly wars. We need even more profound devotion from the individuals on the battlefield of the growing eternal Kingdom.

• Dependency

Independence may seem appealing, but true growth comes from acknowledging our dependency on the Lord of Lords. It’s about recognizing the Holy Spirit’s work within us and embracing our reliance on God. As Jesus once said, “Without me, you can do nothing.” This dependency is not a weakness, but a source of strength and growth.

• Duty

Duty is essential for leadership and spiritual growth, yet often overlooked today. Leaders must embody stewardship, service, and obedience (Phil. 4:9)—acting, not just deciding. True leadership means engaging authentically, setting an example, and serving others. Breakthrough comes when we embrace duty, sow faithfully (Ps. 126:6), and act with purpose. The call is clear: will you lead with conviction and transform your community?

• There is More

The well regarded pastor of the 1800s Charles Haddon Spurgeon published a collection of sermons highlighting the value ofthe Word of God in any life. The book title was simply, “More to Be Desired Than Gold.” This collection of sermons by the renowned preacher highlights the value of the Word of God and its impact on the believer’s life.

The secret is not in some mystical experience or additional special revelation. It is in getting down to business with the things that God has already defined for us to live. Those breakthrough pathways are not in the knowledge we gain by filling our head, nor even in the comfort we gain by filling our hearts, but in the practical ways we use our hands to build the kingdom of God.

When you get involved on a breakthrough pathway, your example makes a palpable difference in the world around you, and perhaps in many other places around the globe. It’s time to set aside the mundane. Quit dipping your straw in a surface water puddle, and immerse your dipper in a well that will never run dry. This will give you a breakthrough pathway you will never regret.