This month are we talking about how to Lead Like Jesus because
1. Jesus was the best leader the world has ever seen
2. We are all leaders
Let me say this again, no matter who you are, what you do, or where you find yourselves in life, you are a leader because being a leader isn’t about a title or position, it is about influence, and we all have influence. If you are a parent or grandparent- you have influence. If you have a job - you have influence. If you volunteer in an organization - you have influence. If you are a neighbor, friend, or member of any group - you have influence. Most important of all, if you are a follower of Jesus - you have influence, and we are called to use our influence in both good and Godly ways. To make the most of the influence we have, we need to learn how to be the best leaders we can be, which means learning to lead like Jesus.
While a servant’s heart is the primary motivation in good leadership, and a commitment to empower others as part of a team is the best way to work with others as a leader, the greatest power a leader has is vision. All great leaders have a compelling vision of a preferred or better future that inspires people to move from “here to there”. A strong vision first talks about how the status quo is simply no longer an option. We can’t stay here anymore. Then the vision needs to give a picture of a better future that we feel passionate about and that draws us in and then influences others.
In 1789, William Wilberforce stood before the British Parliament and spoke of the day when no man, woman, or child would be bought or sold like animals. Not only was the status quo of slavery not an option, it would be a better world if slavery was abolished. Wilberforce led with vision and while it took 44 years, in 1833, slavery was abolished in England.
In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood before huge crowds in Washington DC and spoke of the day when no man, woman or child would be judged by the color of their skin. He had a vision, or as he said, a dream, where black children and white children would live together, play together, learn together, work together, and worship together as one. That vision was so compelling that it helped change our nation and heal some of our racial divide. That vision continues to help us work for a better future. The status quo of racism is not an option and we will experience a better nation when we come together as one.
All great leaders have a compelling vision of a preferred future. Henry Ford and the Wright brothers had a vision for better ways to travel. Walt Disney had a vision for better ways to entertain people. Bill Gates had a vision about how computers could improve all of our lives - we are still waiting to see how that one works out. All great leaders have a compelling vision that not only drives them forward but influences those around them, and Jesus also led with vision. In fact, before He preached a sermon, healed the sick, or called any of His disciples, Jesus issued an invitation for two men to simply come and see. John 1:38-39
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
We don’t know what those two men saw, or the vision that Jesus shared with them, but we do know that it was so rich and compelling that they left everything behind to follow Him. The vision Jesus had for the world was powerful, and He lived it with such clarity and passion that it influenced people to live their lives differently. That vision continues to influence people today.
While we don’t know what those two men saw that day, we do know that the vision of Jesus that inspired, motivated, and changed people was simply this: if you will love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as much as you love yourself - you will experience all the fullness of life.
Jesus knew that it would be this kind of love that would not only make people’s lives better, but it had the power to make the world better. In short, this was what life in the Kingdom of God looks like. When Jesus said, the Kingdom of God is at hand, He was saying that a new life can be experienced, and a new world can be created, if we will love God and love others. Jesus not only talked about this kind of love, He lived it. Jesus gave Himself fully to God and others and people came from all over to experience the power of this love and try it in their own lives.
One person who came to Jesus for this was Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a man who had gotten rich by cheating people in business and because of his wealth, he thought he had it all. But after having lunch with Jesus, he was so moved by Jesus’ vision of love, life, and community that he decided to give half of his money away and vowed never to cheat people again. The vision of Jesus led Zacchaeus to change his life and through that change, Jesus' vision began to change the world.
Another person who had her life changed because of the vision of Jesus was a woman from Samaria. Not only were Samaritans looked down upon by the Jewish people, but this woman had been looked down upon by her own people. On a hot afternoon, instead of ignoring this woman as everyone else did, Jesus treated her with dignity and grace. The vision of Jesus not only changed her life but she then used her influence to lead other people to Jesus. The vision of Jesus was so passionate and inspiring that it drew in so many people that Jesus ended up spending 2 more days in Samaria so He could share with everyone His vision of life and faith.
Jesus led with vision. He told stories that said a better life isn’t found in more gold but in more grace. He talked about a kingdom that wasn’t open to just a few people but to everyone willing to love God. Jesus performed miracles that helped see the preferred future that could be found in God’s kingdom. As part of this vision, Jesus also saw potential in people.
When Jesus looked at Zacchaeus, He didn’t see a rich man who had cheated others all his life, He saw a man who could be generous and live with integrity and thoughtfulness. When Jesus saw a woman who often hid from others because of the poor choices she had made in life, He didn’t see a sinner but a leader who could inspire others to love God. Jesus didn’t just have a vision for a preferred future, or a better world, He could see the God given potential in each and every person.
We often forget how radical it was for Jesus to call 4 fishermen to be His first disciples. He called them because he saw their potential to change the world when no else did. You see, in Jesus’ day, if you were to be a disciple of a rabbi, it was because you were literally the best of the best. As a young child, you first had to memorize the Torah, which is the first 5 books of the Bible. You didn’t memorize the names of the books, or where you might find teachings like the 10 Commandments, you had to memorize it completely. If you couldn’t do it, you were sent home to work in the family business.
The best students then had to go on and memorize the rest of the Old Testament, all the history, law and prophets. If you couldn’t do that, then you were also sent home. Because Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen, we know that they weren’t the best of the best. They didn’t measure up. They didn’t have what it takes to be a rabbi, or even the disciple of a rabbi, but Jesus saw their potential. Jesus reached out to ordinary people who didn’t measure up by the standards of the world and invited them to follow Him. Jesus saw their potential and knew God’s power and love could do amazing things in people’s lives.
One of the most powerful ways we can lead like Jesus is to see the God given potential in the people around us. Last week Justin talked about taking the time to invest in other people, and that needs to be one of the priorities of any vital church. Are we investing in one another? Are we working to identify and develop the gifts that people have? Are we encouraging people to step out in faith and walk with Jesus in new ways? Do we see the potential in others and the better future that comes when people live into that potential?
I have said many times that I would not be here today if my home church had not invested in me. They saw potential when I didn’t. Youth leaders, music directors, and pastors all invested time and energy in me, and they helped me see what I could do and be so much more than I ever imagined. What excites me about Faith Church is that I believe we have these kinds of leaders. From children and youth workers, to music directors, to small group and Sunday School leaders, we have teams of people who will invest themselves in you and help you see what God sees in you.
One of the new ways we are trying to invest in people is through spiritual coaching. We have a small team of people who are willing to take the time to walk with you and invest themselves in your spiritual life. If you are interested in talking with a spiritual coach, please let us know, and if you think this is something you would be interested in, let us know as well so we can share with you what this looks like.
Jesus led with vision. He saw a preferred future and potential in people and this vision was so compelling that people were willing to give up everything to live into it. Jesus' vision was so inspiring that people left the old life behind and became a new creation. Let us have eyes like Jesus so that we can see the possibility of God’s kingdom being lived out fully in our world. Let us passionately love God and love others in ways that truly influence our world. And let us not only see the God given potential in others but take the time to invite them to live in that potential by the grace and power of God. If we can have this kind of vision we will be leading like Jesus and moving people more fully into the Kingdom of God.
Next Steps
Lead Like Jesus - Vision
How would you describe the vision Jesus had for the world?
● How did Jesus work to make this vision a reality?
● What can you do to make this vision a reality?
How do the following passages reflect Jesus’ vision for the world?
● Matthew 5:1-10
● Matthew 11:1-6
● Matthew 14:13-21
● Matthew 18:1-5
Jesus not only saw a preferred future (the Kingdom of God) but potential in people. What potential did Jesus see in
● Zacchaeus - Luke 19
● The Samaritan Woman - John 4
● The 4 fisherman: Peter, Andrew, James and John
Jesus not only saw potential in people, but He invested in them as well. Whose investment of time, energy, faith, and love has made a difference in your life? Who can you invest in?
If you are looking for someone to invest in you, please contact the church office and ask about our spiritual coaches or visit bellefontefaith.com/coach.
