We use many words to describe leaders. Powerful, authoritative, persuasive, strong, bold, and visionary are often used. But have you ever heard a leader described as graceful or filled with grace? Not very likely! But Jesus was a leader “full of grace” (John 1:14).

What is grace? One of the most common definitions of grace is the unmerited favor of God. It is God’s favor on our lives, giving us blessings that we don’t deserve. Grace is not something we work for or deserve, it is unmerited.

So, what does it mean to lead with grace? In the next three issues we’ll seek to discover how to lead like Jesus, full of grace.

Paul wrote words we will consider carefully: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Paul wrote these words about grace to all believers, not just to leaders. But how does this deep work of grace impact the way we lead? Servant leaders first receive grace.

Servant leaders acknowledge they need grace.

Paul makes it clear that we all, including leaders, are saved by grace, the gift of God. Why do leaders need grace? Leaders are action oriented, world changers! They appear to be able to do things on their own.

But Paul reminds us that we can’t make it on our own. All our leadership gifting and capacity is not enough to earn our salvation. All the good deeds we do as leaders will not make a difference in our status with God.

Servant leaders acknowledge that they are the first ones who need grace!

Servant leaders admit their tendency towards work instead of grace.

Why does Paul need to point out that what God has done for us is “not by works, so that no one can boast”? He recognizes that leaders tend to measure themselves by what they accomplish and boast about it to others. Leaders measure success by what they have or accomplish. They measure success by the size of their vision or by the number of people who follow. All these measurements can give status to a leader, but this is not grace based leadership.

Servant leaders acknowledge with humility that none of their work is a cause for boasting. They admit their own tendency to boast of their work instead of God’s grace.

Servant leaders accept God’s gift of grace.

Paul challenges us all to accept God’s gift of grace as the only way to walk with Jesus. When first coming to Christ, most people feel a deep sense of a need for God’s grace. But with time, as God works to transform our lives and calls us into leadership, it is easy to shift our focus from the need for God’s grace in our own lives to the need other people have for God’s grace. Servant leaders remember that they must continually accept God’s gift of grace.

Receiving grace profoundly shapes the way we lead. Servant leaders see their leadership as a gift from God to be used for His purposes. They do not see their leadership as something they deserve because of good performance. They humbly learn to keep receiving grace at the top of their daily “to do” list. They pause to remind themselves that all their leadership achievements are nothing compared to the grace God has given them.

Servant leaders lead with grace by first receiving God’s grace.

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• How often in my daily life do I recognize that I need God’s grace? What can I do to make this a more living reality in my life?
• After Paul successfully planted many churches and was recognized as an apostle in the church, he said that he was the “worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15-16). How did this view of himself shape his leadership? What can I learn from Paul’s example about receiving God’s grace even after leadership success?
• In what ways do I tend to measure my significance by my accomplishments? How does this impact my view of God’s grace? What do I need to do to turn my boasting towards God’s grace instead of my work?

Copyright, Global Disciples 2019. 

Leaders enjoy success and many leaders are eager to boast about what they have accomplished! Boasting is talking with excessive pride and drawing attention to oneself. But Paul reminds us that love “does not boast” (1 Corinthians 13:4). And he challenges us to speak the “truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). So, servant leaders are called to speak the truth without boasting.

In the last issue, we looked at a scenario in which another person was succeeding, and you were asked to respond. (The challenge was to speak truth without envy.) Now, let’s reflect on what you say when you are the one with great success!

Imagine that you have just completed a large project in your church, business or profession. You worked hard on the project for the last six months. Finally, it was accomplished, and the results were far beyond your expectations and acknowledged by many as outstanding. Your friend who has not heard about your success stops to talk with you and asks you, “How are things going with your work?” What will you say to your friend and how will you say it?

Servant leaders learn to speak truth in this situation without boasting.

Speaking the truth without boasting requires balance.

For many personalities, it is most natural to respond to your friend’s question with boasting. You might say, “Wow, this is a fantastic time of progress for me. I have been working so hard on this project and it has succeeded beyond what I imagined. Everyone is so impressed, and they have been sending me text messages of congratulations!” Since it sounds so good, you continue, “I expect that what I did will soon be announced in our organization’s monthly report!” Boasting usually leads to exaggerating the truth!

Other leaders may have a very low view of themselves or been taught to be humble. They may find it difficult to acknowledge success. You might respond to the question, “Well, nothing too great is happening, you know, the normal ups and downs of work!” In your attempt to avoid boasting, you also avoid truth!

Servant leaders learn a proper balance by speaking truthfully but without boasting.

Speaking the truth without boasting reveals maturity.

As leaders begin their journey, their personality impacts their ability to speak the truth without boasting. But as leaders mature on their journey, they allow God’s spirit to shape their responses. Those who are quick to boast recognize that “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6). Those who tend to minimize their own success learn from Jesus’ words, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

As leaders mature, they also learn to acknowledge that whatever they accomplish is a gift from Him and done for His glory. They learn to say with Isaiah, “LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us” (Isaiah 26:12).

Servant leaders demonstrate maturity as they speak truth without boasting.

Speaking the truth without boasting reflects Jesus.

Jesus made truth claims that were astonishing. “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) in one of many examples. Jesus boldly spoke what was true even when others interpreted His claims as blasphemous. But He made these claims without a hint of boasting and gave the glory to His Father. “The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work” (John 14:10).

Like Jesus, servant leaders learn to boldly speak the truth without boasting.

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• What is my natural tendency about my successes: to boast or to minimize the truth? What is the result in my leadership?   
• When have I spoken with boasting? What was the result in my own life and in the life of the person to whom I spoke?  
• Reflect on Paul’s boasting in 2 Corinthians 7:14. “I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.” Was he boasting about himself? What can we learn from his example?
• Can I think of another time when Jesus could have boasted but instead spoke the truth without boasting?  What can I learn from His example?

Copyright, Global Disciples 2019. 

Leadership Nuggets from Ephesians, 2

Servant leaders have grace to lead. Paul’s discourse on grace in Ephesians 2:1-10 provides great insight for the role of grace in servant leadership. Grace has been described as “unmerited favor,” God’s lavish goodness to each one of us. The grace Paul describes for all believers also has significant implications for servant leaders.

Grace provides perspective on our past.

Paul paints a dismal picture of our past (2:1-3). It included spiritual death, living under the dictatorship of the enemy and gratifying the desires of our flesh. He wants to ensure that every believer recognizes that except for the grace of God we would still be completely lost. Servant leaders acknowledge that they have come a long way from this dismal past. There is no difference between the leader who was privileged to grow up in a strong Christian environment and the one who spent years in open disobedience. Both acknowledge that apart from the grace of God, their sinful past would determine their future. They are forever grateful for the great change God has made in their life.

Grace perceives leadership as a gift.

“And this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” Paul makes it clear that the favor we have received from God is a gift, not the result of our effort. Servant leaders recognize that salvation and subsequent opportunities to serve in leadership are not based on their own goodness but on the grace of God. They humbly acknowledge that the influence they wield in their homes, businesses, churches, or working places is a precious gift from God.

Grace provides perspective on victories.

Leaders love to see results and celebrate victories. These celebrations can easily become focused on the leader who made it happen and encourage boasting about the success. Paul makes it clear that grace means “no one can boast.” Servant leaders work hard, but they recognize that victory comes from God and is for His glory. They acknowledge that leadership is not about them; it is about God. Their leadership serves His purposes, not simply to build their own kingdom.

Grace promotes good leadership.

As we recognize our past, see leadership as a gift, and refuse to boast, it might appear that we should lead with timidity or a sense of unworthiness. Instead Paul makes it clear that a proper understanding of grace leads to freedom to lead with confidence. We are “…created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” At home, in the corporate office, in the marketplace or church, servant leaders work hard to lead well. They learn and grow, recognizing that their leadership is one of the “good works” for which God has created them. They energetically cast vision, build teams, delegate tasks, and empower their followers for action. They recognize that their servant leadership has eternal consequences and are able to extend grace to others in the same way they have received it.

Take a moment to reflect on the role of God’s grace in your leadership using the questions below to guide your thinking. Thank God for the grace to lead; then go forth and lead with grace!

For further reflection and discussion:

• How has my past shaped who I am as a leader? Have I tended to see my past as making me worthy or unworthy to lead? How does grace change the focus from my past to what God has done to set me free?
• Do I see my leadership as a sacred gift from God? How will this be expressed in my leadership today?
• In what ways am I tempted to take credit for my leadership victories? What can I do to remind myself that my leadership is not about me, but about God’s glory?
• Have I been set free by grace to lead with confidence? How does it change my perspective to realize that God prepared me to lead even before I knew I was a leader?