the G sides

2 minutes @ 2pm for 22 days

Like we said yesterday, Jesus’ style of leadership starts with followership…serving. Hence the term ‘servant leadership.’

The best example of servant leadership in scripture is in John 13. Jesus washes the disciples feet. Couple of things pop in the story concerning servant leadership.

1. Jesus had all authority in heaven…and chose to wash feet with that authority. Any authority or leadership in the Body must/should force us to serve first and foremost.

2. Servant leadership is about pointing people to Jesus and his mission/purpose, not giving them necessarily what they want. Peter’s interaction with Jesus shows us this in spades. He first tells Jesus no, you can’t wash me. Jesus corrects him – if I don’t wash you, you’re not going to be a part of what I’m doing. Then Peter goes the other direction of all in. Jesus agains tells him – that’s not what you need either.

This one is huge and people get confused on this point. Jesus isn’t here to serve us what we want or what we think we need. He’s here to serve us in terms of what God wants and what He needs. What that means on a practical level is at times hearing “No” from God and others.

It’s also freeing to understand that from a ‘leader’s’ point of view. My goal then as a pastor is not to be a Customer Service Rep to the congregation, at their beck and call, giving them what they want. My goal is to be the chief listener to the Spirit, being and doing what He wants for us all. Not everyone that shows up at church has this as their goal…and that’s okay. But it sets up opportunities for us to say to each – “No. What about this instead? Could Jesus want this instead?”

As followers of Jesus, we’re here to serve Him, His mission, and His purpose. Not ours.

More tomorrow.