6. Don’t be afraid to issue an invitation and challenge right away. Jesus didn’t wait until Zacchaeus had been to the newcomers' membership class and proven his faithfulness. He invited Zacchaeus to spend the afternoon with Him. “And by the way, let’s throw a party at your house.”

7. Don’t be surprised when the old guard gets their undies in a bunch. They are upset that Zacchaeus doesn’t pass the background check. When you take a risk with a promising but raw new leader, there may be some on your team that won’t understand. Be respectful, but sometimes you’ve got to follow your gut.

8. Don’t underestimate the transforming power of food. Jesus invited Zacchaeus to a meal, not a Bible study. Food is disarming and socially inviting, and it encourages meaningful conversation. Build food into your teambuilding budget. (Better yet, recruit short, rich crooks. They can pay their own way.)

9. People are more likely to respond to grace than rules. Zacchaeus knew the rules. He was more than willing to follow them when extended grace. When you build a culture of grace, you’ll have less to fight about.

10. When salvation comes to the whole household, the potential for multiplication is staggering. I look at my own family as an example. Because someone didn’t overlook the leadership potential in my “short little crook” grandfather, there is a “household” of Surratts reproducing kingdom life all over the planet.

Why do you think people overlook unlikely leaders?

Greg Surratt is the founding pastor of Seacoast Church, one of the early adopters of the multisite model. Located in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Seacoast has been recognized by various media as an innovative and influential thought leader in future strategies for church growth and development.

For the original article, visit gregsurratt.org.

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