#BibleLesson Timeless Truths: Unconventional Leadership



As Christians, our goal or assignment is to improve people and their lives. Like it or not, that means Christians are leaders.

When we think of leadership in America, the stereotypical leadership model is
      ·      Loud
      ·      Assertive
      ·      Aggressive  
     
      Jesus' ministry taught a "let’s fix it message" for that model.

  • Jesus had 3 years to demonstrate what Godly leadership is like. 
Let’s look at His model.

He didn’t hurry. 

  • He waited for three days after hearing Lazarus was near death before He went to his home. When Jairus’ daughter is near death, He took time to heal a woman who’d had a bleeding issue for 12-years before he went to Jairus’ house. (Mark 5:22-37)

His aim was small and tightly focused. 
  • He talked about the Kingdom of God a lot. He compared it to a mustard seed, yeast in flour, Hidden Treasure and a pearl of great worth, and a fishing net. (Matthew 13)

He wasn’t often anxious. 
  • He slept in a boat through a massive storm on Lake Galilee. (Luke 8) He told His followers
“Don’t worry about things—food, drink, and clothes. For you already have life and a body—and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat—they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food—for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothes? Look at the field lilies! They don’t worry about theirs. Yet King Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as beautifully as they. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O men of little faith?
Imperial Crowns. A version of a lily from the Middle East.
“So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.
“So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.” (Matt 6:25-34. Living Bible)

He didn’t fill His day with “stuff.” 
  • He often started by going out alone and praying. In addition, Mark 6:30-32 relates the following.
The apostles now returned to Jesus from their tour and told him all they had done and what they had said to the people they visited.
Then Jesus suggested, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” For so many people were coming and going that they scarcely had time to eat.
So they left by boat for a quieter spot.

His “Leadership Team” was ill-prepared for that task. 
  • Fishermen and a tax collector are included. Unprepared, mostly uneducated, all over the map lifestyle-wise, not one a religious leader, not one had influence or power, most were disrespected and marginal. It’s frustrating and comical how often they just didn’t get it.

He didn’t work with existing leadership. 
  • Instead of spending all his time in Jerusalem learning from and teaching the religious elite, he traveled, talking to the common, the poor, healing the sick, eating with pretty much everyone, going to the most parties possible.

He invested in the lives of a select few—even then, they didn’t really “get it.” 

  • After three years, of following Jesus, His disciples still believed that they’d been chosen because they were special and that even among them there were some more important than others. They argued about who among them was the greatest.

He emphasized that leaders were supposed to serve. 
  • He demonstrated by washing the feet of His Leadership Team. At the Last Supper, He says, 
“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:25-27)

According to today's standards, Jesus’ leadership was unconventional. 
  • In spite of that, His leadership proved to eternally effective. 
  • When you really think about it, it’s relatable and so encouraging.

Lesson learned: 
Leadership is available to anyone by serving others.


Special thanks to Pastor Jeff Jimenez of Mission Church of the Nazarene for the central teachings in this post.

SEO: Bible study, New Testament, thinking, knowing God

Follow me on 
Twitter: @CRDowningAuthor

My website is: www.crdowning.com

My Blogs
Life as I see it. Topics rotate between those of general interest to lovers of life,  authors, teachers—probably you, too.  Posts on Tuesdays and some Mondays.  http://crdowning-author.blogspot.com/?alt=rss

My Christian Context. Posts M/W of discussion questions. Thursdays - Timeless Truths. Fridays - Expressions of Faith. https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/  

I'd appreciate your feedback on Blogger!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts