No Plan B
In Disciple-making Leadership, Jesus offers only one way to lead
In our modern world, all sorts of leadership styles are promoted. A quick search online identifies these 7 as the more common for business settings - autocratic, pacesetting, transformational, coaching, democratic, affiliative, and delegative. Is it not interesting that the one style Jesus commanded is not listed there?
Matthew 20:25–28 (ESV)
25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Read through that passage again. Do you see Jesus saying this is the preferred method but there are other leadership styles? No! Jesus says that leadership is service and, in closing, offered himself as the ultimate example of servant leadership. Many in our modern world will smile and make a comment about the nicety of Jesus as a person or religious icon; however, they will quickly denounce his applicability to leadership. If you find yourself thinking that, then ask and answer these questions:
Did Jesus work with and lead imperfect people?
Did Jesus gain a following by living what He taught?
Did Jesus face an ever-growing list of time-consumers that He had prioritize?
Did Jesus encounter criticism and opposition while effectively dealing with it?
Did Jesus sacrifice His ego for the greater good of others?
Did Jesus face temptations to take short-cuts that would elevate His popularity and reputation?
Did Jesus have to perform HR functions of sourcing, recruiting, developing, and retaining talent?
Did Jesus stick with His principles even when it was costly?
The answer to EVERY question above is YES! Every question above is also one that leaders face regularly. As such, Jesus is a great model for leadership.
Simply put, if you want to implement disciple-making leadership, then you must do so by using the style that Jesus dictates. If you are leading at home, in church, at work, in the neighborhood, or wherever, you are commanded to be a servant leader.
Greatness and leadership come through service - it’s just that simple!