Leaders naturally gravitate towards the front of the room. They often enjoy being in the spotlight, recognized and acknowledged as important people. They bring glory to themselves and use their positions to build their own name.  But when a leader walks in deep intimacy with Jesus, everything in their life will bring genuine glory to God, not themselves. Jesus told His disciples: 

  ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples (John 15:7-8, NIV).

Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that when they are in an intimate relationship with Him, they will bear fruit. That fruit brings glory to the Father and identifies them as His disciples. He identifies three ways that they bring Him glory.

Intimate leaders bring glory to Jesus by immersing themselves in the Word.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you,….” The primary thing a serving leader can do to grow in intimacy is to saturate themselves in the words of Scripture. They allow it to sink deep into their hearts. As they need daily food for their body, they also need daily food for their soul.  Immersing themselves in the Word allows God’s nature and character to be formed in their own lives.

Some leaders immerse themselves in social media, podcasts and read books to be more successful. But serving leaders immerse themselves in Scripture in ways that deepen their intimacy with Jesus. Whether leading a church or a business team, leaders who spend time with Jesus make decisions that honor Him and bless others. Then their success brings glory to Jesus.

Intimate leaders bring glory to Jesus by consistent prayer.  

Jesus continues, “…ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” He invites His followers to let the Word transform them and then to bring their requests to Him in prayer.  Serving leaders recognize that time spent in reading Scripture and prayer is an essential part of their leadership journey. Prayer grows intimacy and intimacy leads to more prayer. 

Some leaders seek results in well-developed strategy and work hard to produce results. But serving leaders stop and ask Jesus to lead and guide their decisions, attitudes and progress. They learn to depend on His guidance more than their own intuition and ability. As they deepen their intimacy with Jesus, they bring glory to Him as He provides guidance.

Intimate leaders bring glory to Jesus by identifying themselves as disciples.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Jesus teaches the disciples that when they immerse themselves in His Word and spend consistent time in prayer, He will respond, and produce fruit. The fruit will mark them as His disciples. This fruit is much more than just profit or attendance numbers. When serving leaders walk in intimacy with Jesus, all around them people flourish and come to life. There is healthy growth that brings glory, not to the leader, but to Jesus, the author of abundant life.

Some leaders focus on producing results that they consider the fruit of their efforts. But serving leaders focus on developing intimacy with Jesus which produces beautiful and lasting fruit. A manager who spends time in Scripture and prayer can guide their team with wisdom, not simply chasing results. Serving leaders bring glory to Jesus as they produce fruit that identifies them as disciples of Jesus.

Many leaders live to bring themselves glory, but serving leaders bring glory to Jesus as they deepen their intimacy with Him.

For further reflection and discussion:

-As I reflect on my own leadership regarding how much my life brings glory to Jesus, how would I rate myself on a scale of 1 to 10?      In what ways do I take glory for myself?  What blocks me from bringing Jesus greater glory?

-In what ways do my daily habits of Scripture reading and prayer shape my leadership? Are there ways that I have relied more on other sources for guidance and how has that impacted my leadership?   

-Are there ways in my current leadership role that I am focused more on results than intimacy with Jesus?  How does this impact my leadership and what, if anything, do I need to change?

-After reflecting on these questions, read the entire chapter, John 15. What additional insights do I find in this chapter about how my intimacy with Jesus shapes my leadership?  

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll look at how intimate leaders love like Jesus. 

One of the many things Timothy needed to learn as a church leader was how to understand, apply and teach the scriptures. As a follower of Jesus, this was his essential textbook for life and leadership.

Consider these exhortations from Paul:

¹⁵and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:15–16, NIV).

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

We might hear Paul’s words as instructions to us and rightly so. But underneath his admonitions Paul reveals what Timothy had done over a lifetime of exposure to the ancient Jewish scriptures.

Timothy learned to know the Word.  

Paul reminded Timothy that “from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures…” Paul observed a discipline that Timothy had developed for years. Without the luxury of pulling a book off the shelf at his home, Timothy invested time to learn the Word. He had to take time to go somewhere, listen, study, memorize and ponder the meaning of this book. He likely discussed with his teachers the meaning and application of the ancient texts. In the Word he observed the lives of successful and unsuccessful leaders. He learned that some leaders focus on themselves while others focus on those they lead. As he learned to know the Word his character, thinking, and leadership actions were slowly but deliberately shaped. His leadership was grounded in ultimate realities far beyond himself.  

Some leaders don’t give careful thought to what model of leadership they will follow. Instead, they seek to do whatever seems right and most likely to produce the outcomes they desire. But serving leaders recognize that what they read, study, and ponder shapes their thinking and their actions. They seek the truth of the Word as the foundation for their leadership journey.   

Timothy learned to live the Word.  

Paul also noted that the scriptures “make you wise for salvation..” and are useful for “training in righteousness.” Timothy not only learned to know the word; he learned to put into practice what he was learning. He transferred knowledge from his head to his hands, living out what he learned. He realized that before he could tell others how to lead, he had to model what he wanted them to do.

Some leaders pursue knowledge for the sake of knowing and impressing others. But serving leaders seek knowledge that shapes their actions. They show the way before they teach the way.

Timothy learned to teach the Word.  

Paul was not satisfied for Timothy to know the Word and to live it out, he wanted so see multiplication! So, he told Timothy that the Word is “useful for teaching…” Timothy was to use his own life and leadership to raise up other leaders, sharing with them the truths he had learned and practiced. While some leaders focus only on their own growth and development, serving leaders always look for others to develop. They invest their lives in passing on to the younger leaders what they have learned as Paul did with Timothy. Serving leaders shape the lives of others as they teach a different way to live. Where this is done effectively, leadership gets better with each generation!

For further reflection and discussion:

• How can I more deliberately see the Word as my primary source of leadership training? Am I taking the time to know it well? Do I ponder what the instructions, stories and examples teach me about leadership?
• Reflect on those you lead. What can I do to encourage them to use the Word as a source of their growth and development? If I am leading persons who do not share my faith, how can I point them to this source without being offensive?
• Can I say with confidence that my life is a model for others to follow? If not, what do I need to change to practice the Word?
• In what ways am I deliberately teaching younger leaders how to live and lead? How can I do this more effectively?
• In addition to the verses we used in this issue, consider the following: 1 Timothy 4:12; 15–16;  2 Timothy 2:25–26; 4:2 What additional insights do you find from these verses about how Timothy learned the Word?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll examine how Timothy learned to think and reflect.  

Serving leaders don’t keep authority, they release it! They follow the example of Jesus whose final words were about authority.   

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ 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, ²⁰ 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, NIV).

 Jesus was able to say truthfully, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”  But as soon as He said these words, He released His authority to the disciples. As He released authority, He provided a powerful example for all serving leaders.

Releasing authority implies trust.     

For Jesus to release His authority to this small group of people implied a deep trust in them and in His own investment in their lives. We are certainly aware of the weaknesses and failures of this team. Jesus did not overlook their faults. Yet, He trusted them to carry out His mission in the world. Some leaders see their authority as something to be leveraged but not released. They insist on doing all the work themselves. They don’t invest in the growth and maturity of their team. They expect perfection in their followers before releasing authority. But serving leaders begin with the desire to release authority as quickly and fully as appropriate. They look for opportunities to help their team grow up and assume more and more responsibility. They expect some mistakes along the way and address failures. But they serve by trusting those they lead. They see potential and desire to see that potential developed and released.  Serving leaders serve by trusting those they lead.

Releasing authority involves includes accountability.  

Although Jesus spoke these words as He was leaving the earth, He also reminded the disciples “I am with you always…” This was both a comforting presence as well as a reminder that while His authority was released, there was also accountability built into that release. They were expected to go and “make disciples…baptizing…teaching.”  Jesus did not release authority for them to do whatever they wished. He provided clear instructions and would hold them accountable. Some leaders release authority with no accountability and see this as the highest level of trust. But serving leaders include accountability as they release authority. They make clear the expectations of what authority is being given and what accountability is expected. They serve by releasing authority but including accountability.    

Releasing authority insures multiplication.  

The way Jesus released authority made it possible for His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” He built multiplication into his delegation. Some leaders work harder to grow their organization. But serving leaders ensure growth and multiplication by releasing authority to those they lead. They recognize that if they insist on doing all the work, all the work will never be done. Serving leaders insure multiplication by releasing authority.

For further reflection and discussion:

• What level of trust do I have in the key leaders on my team? What do I do to demonstrate my belief in them? Am I able to delegate authority as quickly as possible to those I lead?
• When I delegate authority do I clarify what level of accountability is also expected? Do I appropriately adjust the levels of accountability as my team members grow and mature?
• Does my leadership provide maximum multiplication potential for my organization? In what ways am I leading to encourage growth and multiplication of leadership roles?
• Reflect on this series on authority (issues 336-339). In what way can I share these principles with those I lead? Click here to download a PDF of the entire series.

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler In the next issue, we’ll reflect on the Christmas season.  

Serving leaders long for those who follow to not only learn what to do, but how to think for themselves. So, they ask powerful questions of those who follow and use this one to help develop their leadership capacity.  Serving leaders look at the question God asked Moses, “What is in your hand?” They first apply it to themselves by asking “What is in my hand?” Then, they reflect on what this question means for those who follow them and they also ask it of them.

 ² Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. ³ The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. ⁴ Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. ⁵ “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you” (Exodus 4:2–5, NIV).

Serving leaders ask this question of their followers with three objectives.

Serving leaders ask “What is in your hand?“ to reveal potential.

In this story God saw the potential Moses had, but Moses did not! God does not give Moses a list of things He saw, but instead asks the question. He wants Moses to see the staff differently than before. Serving leaders ask the same question so that their followers will discover gifts that they have within themselves. They might need to ask several times or to add “What else do you have?” after some answers have been provided. Serving leaders desire for their followers to see that they are not simply “ordinary” persons, but individuals that have been created in a unique way for a specific purpose.

Serving leaders ask “What is in your hand?“ to release creativity.  

God was calling Moses to use his staff in a new way and his thinking needed to change. Serving leaders decide that instead of providing solutions to problems, they can serve better by asking someone, “What could you do to solve this problem?” or “How could you improve this process?” They develop people by asking the question until the creativity within begins to be revealed.

Serving leaders ask “What is in your hand?“ to resist dependency.  

All leaders are tempted to be the one with the answers. God certainly had answers for Moses! But God asked Moses the question to make him think. He wanted Moses to stretch his own thinking and not always depend on someone to tell him what to do. God chose to use what was in Moses’ hand instead of giving him something new. Serving leaders learn from Moses to ask “What is in your hand?” in ways that help followers become less dependent on the leader. This is a process of discipleship which may take a significant amount of time but gradually the serving leader helps the follower to be able to think on their own, to make decisions and take action. They serve by asking the question that forces the follower to see themselves as someone with answers. Serving leaders have answers but they often serve by asking questions instead of dispensing information.    

For further reflection and discussion:

• When I see potential in others do I tend to ignore it? Point it out? Or do I ask a question that allows them to discover it in themselves? Who can I ask this week, “What is in your hand?”
• How do I encourage creativity among those who follow me? Am I able to hold my ideas and answers in order to encourage others to think first and plan?
• Do I find my identity in providing answers to people’s questions? In what way does that impact my leadership?
• Over time, are people becoming more dependent or less dependent on my presence? What does this say about my heart to serve others?                 

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll look at another question serving leaders ask themselves, “How am I growing?”.

John the Baptist’s life has challenged us in many ways. His commitment, sacrifice, humility boldness and suffering all serve as examples to servant leaders. We would expect a glorious ending to a leader like this but John’s life ends differently. “The king was greatly distressed, but …he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter….On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb” (Mark 6:26-29, portions). Is this the way for the greatest man born before Jesus to end his life? But it was not the end. John did not leave behind great sums of money or earthly possessions, but he lived in a way that his impact far outlasted his grave. John the Baptist left a powerful legacy.

His legacy prepared leaders for Jesus.

We would naturally want to know what happened to John’s disciples. What organization did they found after his untimely death? There seems to be nothing. Yet, many of John’s disciples became disciples of Jesus. He invested in their lives and then passed them on to Jesus. The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus (John 1:35-37). One of these was Andrew and we might dismiss him as a person of little influence. But Andrew brought Peter to Jesus and Peter became a pillar of the early church. Peter would not have come to Jesus without John preparing Andrew for Jesus. John raised up leaders for another leader, the ultimate act of service. He realized he was not foolish to lay down his own ambitions for a greater cause. John’s legacy teaches us that it is more important to prepare leaders for God’s kingdom than to build our own kingdom.

His legacy persuaded followers for Jesus.

Not only did John prepare leaders for Jesus to use, but his life and teachings influenced many others to follow Jesus. Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true.” And in that place many believed in Jesus (John 10: 40-42). John’s success is not measured by the number miracles he performed or the number of followers who were with him at his funeral. His life made it easier for many people to follow Jesus. John’s legacy teaches us that it is more important to persuade people to follow Jesus than to follow us.

His legacy positioned the nations for Jesus.

The Apostle Paul was a great missionary and church planter. But interestingly when Paul first visits Ephesus, over 20 years after John’s death, he finds that one of John’s disciples was already there! Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John (Acts 18:24-25). John, as far as we know, never traveled outside Israel. But Apollos carried the message he received from John to modern day Turkey! The message was not complete, but shows the remarkable legacy John left behind. John the Baptist impacted the early church and long after his death he was instrumental in preparing other nations to receive the good news of Jesus. What will your followers be doing 20 years after you are gone? John’s legacy teaches us that it is more important to prepare leaders for the nations than to keep them in our organization.

Was John’s impact finished at his grave? Not at all! And beyond the early church, his legacy continues into the 21st century as he still impacts our lives and shows us how to lead as servant leaders. Let’s lead like John and leave a legacy that far outlasts our funeral!

For further reflection and discussion:

• Reflect on John’s life. What made his legacy so powerful and what does it mean for me? Am I looking primarily at what I can accomplish in my lifetime, or am I leading in a way that will leave a legacy to impact future generations? In what ways can I change to make a longer term impact?
• How is my leadership preparing others to follow Jesus? Am I willing to raise leaders for “export” to other organizations or places if that is where God leads them?
• Is my leadership primarily to persuade others to follow me or to follow Jesus? What can I do to focus more on preparing people to respond to the call of Jesus?
• In what way does my leadership impact the nations for Jesus? Are there ways God can use my business, my church or group to extend the message of the Kingdom to nations where it has not yet reached?

We usually think of John the Baptist as a prophet and preacher, raising his voice alone in the desert. But an integral part of his ministry was identifying and raising leaders around him. Although we don’t have much information about John’s disciples, a careful reading of his story shows that John called and equipped a team around him. Consider these glimpses into his leadership team: Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” (Mark 2:18). One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Mt 11:2-3). Like Jesus, John preached to crowds, but raised a few leaders called disciples. He poured his life into a few leaders and teaches all servant leaders to do the same.

John engaged leaders.

We don’t know how John called them or how many there were. But it is clear that he called a significant team of leaders. John’s vision was to turn the nation around and he knew he could not do that alone. He knew that he needed a team and recognized that a part of his calling was to identify, equip, and empower other leaders. His disciples were his leadership team. They responded to his call, embraced his vision, and devoted themselves to his cause. Servant leaders realize that they cannot do all the work. They are willing to work hard, but they don’t do all the work. They understand their role is to identify others around them who will help carry out the vision. They deliberately and strategically engage others on their teams. Servant leaders humbly acknowledge that their gifts alone will not achieve the vision and they need the strengths of others to complement their team.

John equipped leaders.

We do not have a lot of information about what John did to train his team of leaders. But it is clear that he invested in their personal development. He taught them to pray and they fasted “often” (see Luke 5:33). He taught them the spiritual disciplines he had learned in the desert and which they also needed. He invested time in their lives even when it might have been easier to do the work himself. John was intentional about developing his team and he reproduced himself in their lives. Servant leaders invest in others not only because they want a team around them but because they see the potential in the lives of others. For servant leaders, equipping others is about more than accomplishing their vision, it is about releasing the potential in others. So they invest in the development of their team. They teach, correct, evaluate, and encourage as a part of the equipping process. Servant leaders acknowledge that the measure of their success is not only in what they do but who they equip.

John empowered leaders.

As John equipped his leadership team, he also gave them power to help in significant ways. Crowds of people came to hear John and he surely empowered his team to help as he taught and baptized. We know that Jesus’ disciples actually baptized, and it is likely that John’s disciples also helped him in this way. They engaged in conversation with others, which in one instance (see John 3:25) led to an argument over religious practices! When John was in prison he trusted his disciples to go and ask Jesus if He was the one they were waiting on. After Herod murdered John, his disciples came and buried him. In these ways, it is evident that John not only equipped his team, but empowered them to contribute in meaningful ways. As a servant leader, he recognized that as other leaders develop and grow they need to be empowered to make significant contributions to the team. Servant leaders seek not to gain power, but release power to others. John did it well and left an example for us to follow.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Who is on my leadership team at home, at my business, profession or church? Have I deliberately selected others to take the journey with me? Do they know I have chosen them? Have they embraced and share in my vision? Do I have people on my team that can complement my weaknesses? What steps can I take today to let my team know how much I value them?
• What is my plan for equipping my team? Have I made it clear that I am committed to their growth and development even beyond their tasks on my team? Have I invested time and money into their growth? Am I thinking of next steps for each of my key leaders and working with them to become more effective leaders?
• Do my leaders feel increasingly empowered in their roles? Am I giving them more and more difficult assignments and trusting them to complete the work? When they fail, how do I respond?

New Years is a time leaders reflect, recalibrate, and refocus for the year ahead. Servant leaders do the same but as they do so they also ask, “What are God’s goals for my life and what do I need to do this year to accomplish them?” We may need to remind ourselves of His overall goal for each of us that He gave 2000 years ago: 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 28:19-20). Jesus gave this commission to His disciples and to us today. His goal or mission for us is clear: to make disciples. We should ensure that we include two elements of His mission in our plan for this year.

Be disciples.

Before going and making disciples Jesus calls us to be disciples. A disciple is simply one who is following and learning. What does this imply for servant leaders? “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). His intent is clear; we are to follow Jesus in ways that result in bringing others to Him. Following should lead to fishing! Servant leaders desire to follow more each year so that they can influence more each year. They identify areas of disobedience and set goals that lead to obedience. They also continue to learn as disciples. They recognize that they never graduate from the school of discipleship. They have a passion to grow and set goals to move them in the direction of becoming more like Jesus. Where is God inviting you to learn this year? What will you do to be a growing disciple? What will you do to make it happen? Servant leaders set goals to be disciples.

Make disciples.

Christ’s mission for each of us is to make disciples. He expects us to make progress this year in making disciples! Every believer, and especially leaders, should be influencing those who are not yet disciples to come to Jesus. With so many good leadership activities and goals, it is easy to forget that this is our core calling. Many leaders focus on increasing their income or attendance as they make plans for the year. Jesus calls servant leaders to focus on making disciples. We need to do this in at least two arenas: locally and globally. Jesus made it clear that the disciple making process begins at home, our “Jerusalem.” (See Acts 1:8). Servant leaders look around at those near them to see who they can influence in discipleship. They see family at home, associates at work, relationships at school, and partners in business all as potential disciples. As they make goals for the year, they prayerfully focus on key relationships and find time to invest in influencing these persons to become disciples. Servant leaders make disciples at home but also acknowledge that Jesus’ goal is for disciples of “all nations” and they have a part to play globally. Leaders create change, and there is no greater cause for servant leaders than the current global realities 2,000 years after Jesus’ command. Our world has more than 7.3 Billion people. Of these, over 2 Billion have never even heard Jesus’ call to follow Him! Servant leaders do not accept this situation and take active steps to make a difference. They accept the challenge to pray daily for God to send workers to the harvest (Matthew 9:37). They give finances to see disciples made in the unreached areas of our world (Matthew 6:21). And they are willing to go in obedience to Jesus’ command, unless God calls them to stay and support those who go!

Servant leaders make goals to ensure that this will be a year of being a disciple and making disciples. They lead on His Mission as partners in the Great Commission!

For further reflection and discussion:

• Reflect on last year. In what ways did you learn and grow as a disciple? In what ways did this increase your influence in the lives of others?
• In what specific area of your life does God desire for you to learn and grow this year? What specific actions can you take to develop as a disciple in this area? (Write down your goals and share them with someone who can hold you accountable.)
• How is God inviting me this year to make disciples at home? In my vocation? In my community? What specific goals should I make to obey?
• Who do I know personally who is not currently a follower of Jesus in whom God wants me to invest time and effort this year to bring to Him? What is my current level of relationship with this person? What steps can I take to increase my influence in their life? What needs to change in my schedule to allow this to happen?
• What is God’s goal for me this year in response to the 2 Billion who have never heard? In what specific ways will this impact my praying? My giving? My going?

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?

What is your ultimate goal as a servant leader? Is it to strengthen your church, expand your business, or to influence your family? These are great goals, but they fall short of the intent God has for your leadership. Jesus Himself clarified what He sees as our task in His final words to the disciples: Then Jesus came to them and said, "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).

We call this the Great Commission, and it is the primary task He has given to every believer. Whether God has given you influence in the marketplace or in the church, this commission is for you! It’s not just for the original 12 disciples; neither is it only for pastors or an ‘elite’ group of missionaries. Jesus only gave one commission. It is big enough for all of us and specifically a commission to leaders. In the next three issues, we’ll examine the role of servant leadership in the Great Commission. First, servant leaders see the needs connected to the Great Commission.

Servant leaders see the need for leadership.

Many leaders have never considered how their own leadership is connected to the Great Commission. But God has given leaders a unique and strategic role in this task. Jesus gave this task first to His leadership team. He instructs his followers to go and make disciples of all nations. This happens when leaders see the goal, act on it, and share it with followers in a way that moves them to involvement as well. Without effective leadership, the Great Commission will not be accomplished. Every leadership position, including yours, is given by God to accomplish some part of fulfilling the Great Commission. Servant leaders see the connection between the Great Commission and leadership and acknowledge that their leadership role is crucial in reaching this goal.

Servant leaders see the needs of the world.

The daily news makes it clear that we live in a broken and needy world. Servant leaders see these needs as opportunities to fulfill the Great Commission given by Jesus. Servant leaders also see clearly the reality that two of every 7 people in our world today have never heard the message of Jesus in a way that they can hear and respond. Their hearts are gripped with the reality that 2 billion people are still waiting to hear. Servant leaders cannot accept that we have not completed the task after 2000 years and are moved to action. They also see the physical and spiritual needs in their communities as places where discipling has not yet been accomplished. They see the heart of God to bring His kingdom to their working places, businesses, churches, families, communities, and beyond. They acknowledge that God has commissioned them to, in some way, meet these needs. Servant leaders look beyond themselves to the Great Commission.

Servant leaders see the need for workers.

As servant leaders see the needs of the world, they quickly realize that they cannot alone be able to meet them all. They see a need for workers and remember the call of Jesus, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field”(Matthew 9:38). Servant leaders prayerfully ask God to reveal to them how their influence can help supply the need for workers. We’ll look more at this in our next issue.

Servant leaders recognize that their leadership role is much larger than their own ambitions or dreams. They humbly accept that God has placed them in a position of influence to impact the world by being a significant part of fulfilling the Great Commission. They seek to understand that role and creatively find ways to maximize their impact for the sake of the Great Commission.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Reflect on your own leadership role. What does it have to do with the Great Commission? What difference would it make in your daily activities if this was the ultimate goal of your leadership?
• Think about the needs in your area of influence. What are the spiritual, social, physical needs? In what way does God want to use you to meet those needs?
• Reflect on the needs of our world and the reality that there are still 2 billion people without a chance to hear the good news of Jesus’ love. In what way can your own leadership be used of God to reach them?
• How faithful are you as a leader to pray for workers for the harvest? What is God inviting you to do in the area of prayer? Share your commitment with someone else and ask them to hold you accountable.