Issue #151, March 18, 2015
Great leaders equip and release others to accomplish good things, but not many leaders see the connection between their equipping and the Great Commission. In the last issue we noted that servant leaders see the need for workers to accomplish the ultimate task of leadership and join in prayer that God will raise up those workers. They know that their own leadership is directly connected to Jesus’ words, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20). Servant leaders equip workers to fulfill this call.
Servant leaders equip workers by identifying calling.
Great coaches identify the strengths of each of their players, and leaders identify the unique calling of everyone on their team. Some do this for their own benefit and to accomplish their own objectives, but servant leaders realize that since God has called each person to be a part of the Great Commission, their role as leaders is to help their followers identify their specific calling. Some will be called to plant churches among the unreached or to church leadership. But others will be called to shape the life of a young man in the community by coaching the football team; others will be called to excellence in the teaching profession and others in business. In any realm, servant leaders recognize that the gifts of those whom God has entrusted to their leadership are ultimately about discipling the nations and bringing God’s rule into their sphere of influence. Church leaders see their members as workers for the Great Commission. Likewise, business owners see their workers as either potential followers of Jesus or disciple-makers called to participate in the Great Commission. All servant leaders use their influence to help those under them see this reality.
Servant leaders equip workers by developing gifts.
Identifying gifts helps to focus potential in a certain area, but every person can develop these gifts to be used more fully for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Servant leaders see their role as helping to “prepare God’s people for works of service” (Ephesians 4:12). They encourage, correct, train, and provide opportunities so that those under their leadership will become more effective and focused on doing their part of the Great Commission. This role of equipping will greatly strengthen the local church, the business, or the classroom where the servant leader is working. But servant leaders see equipping as a way to fulfill the Great Commission. Every person and every gift is needed for the fulfillment of Jesus’ commission and servant leaders equip followers to do their part.
Servant leaders equip workers by expecting obedience.
Jesus made it clear to His leadership team that their work is teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Servant leaders seek to bring every person on their team to a greater level of obedience to the commands of Christ. This includes how they talk, relate to authority, handle finances, care for their bodies, treat their environment, and share with the needy, as well as how they fulfill the Great Commission. Servant leaders measure their success not by the size of their team or the financial strength of their organization, but by the amount of increased obedience to the call of Jesus. Think about your team. Are they growing in obedience?
Servant leaders continually look at their world of influence and ask, “How can I use my influence to bring more people to Jesus, how can I disciple them and equip them to be a part of what God has created them to do?” Servant leaders recognize that their equipping is for an ultimate goal: bringing the nations to Jesus.
For further reflection and discussion:
- How would you rate your effectiveness as a leader who equips others? Reflect on the purpose of your equipping; is it to accomplish your own goals or God’s goals for those you lead? What difference will it make in your day to day leadership if you focus on equipping persons to fulfil the Great Commission?
- If you are in business leadership, how does your business help fulfill the Great Commission? What impact does your business have on individuals who work with you? Think about your suppliers and customers. How are your profits used for Great Commission work? Do you see those who work for you as either potential disciples or disciple-makers whom God has entrusted to you for equipping? What difference would it make if you saw them this way? How can you communicate this to them? What does obedience mean on your team?
- If you are a church leader, in what specific ways are you helping your members be more faithful to the Great Commission? Are you actively equipping them to walk in obedience to all the commands of Jesus? In what ways have you focused on building your own church instead of strengthening God’s kingdom? What changes do you think God is calling you to make?
- Reflect on your leadership at home. As you equip your children, are you thinking of preparing them to be workers for the Great Commission? What difference would this make in your training?