What does leadership sound like? We usually think of leaders as strong, forceful personalities, loudly proclaiming their God-given vision and their amazing plan to change the world. They speak loudly and influence by declaration and proclamation. They grow in influence by taking courses in public speaking.

Speaking well is certainly an important part of leadership but the Bible has a lot to say about the power of silence!

In this series we’ll discover that silent leadership speaks loudly in many different areas. Servant leaders learn to leverage the sound of silence to increase their influence! Paul provides the general principle for all of life: And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12).

Paul encourages his readers to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.” Ambition and quiet are not often found in the same sentence! Most leaders are ambitious for many things. They want success. They plan for action. They dream of making money, developing a large church or impacting the world. They love goals! But Paul adds this unusual goal, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.” This verse gives three benefits that happen when servant leaders learn to lead with silence.

Silent leadership encourages focus. Paul says that the first benefit of a silent or quiet life is that we will learn to “mind your own business.” Leaders often step out of their own areas of authority to give their opinion on things about which they are not responsible. One of the dangers of speaking many words is that when leaders run out of good things to say, they say bad things or gossip! When they finish speaking truth, they begin sharing “half-truths” and then falsehoods.

Living a quiet life allows the servant leader to focus only on the areas to which God has called him or her. By their example servant leaders influence others to also mind their own business.

Silent leadership gets the job done. Paul challenges us to be quiet and “work with your own hands.”Some leaders spend so much time asking others to help they have no time to work! A quiet life focuses on being an example to others, showing rather than telling. The result is “you will not be dependent on anybody.” Servant leaders quietly get the job done. They lead by doing the work before calling others to join their efforts.

Silent leadership builds respect. Paul calls us to live quietly so that “your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.” Many leaders prepare well for public appearances, but Paul reminds us that servant leaders live a “daily life” of quiet faithfulness. This silent leadership will “win the respect of outsiders.” Leaders who make a lot of noise may be able to impress those on the ‘inside’, but they struggle to increase their influence beyond that circle. Servant leaders learn that silent leadership impacts even those on the ‘outside.’ They build influence by consistently doing what is right.

Paul’s instruction reminds servant leaders that living a quiet life does not reduce influence, it increases it. Servant leaders influence as they live quiet lives. They move up by shutting up!

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• In what areas am I tempted to speak which are not my areas of responsibility? What is the result in my leadership?
• Are there areas in which I am calling others to do things I am unwilling to do? What needs to change for me to lead by example?
• Is there any difference between my “daily life” and my public appearances? If so, what needs to change and when will I do it?
• Are there dangers of living a life that is too quiet? How do I guard against these dangers?
• How do I balance the call to live a “quiet life” with the call to be an ambassador for Christ? What are the dangers of going too far in either being quiet or making noise?

In the next issue, we’ll examine the sound of silent leadership…in reflection.

Copyright, Global Disciples 2020.

 As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, we will focus on a couple of servant leaders, Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. John would be called by Jesus as the greatest man ever born (Matthew 11:11). In what way did John’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, influence him as servant leaders?

They served faithfully. Not many words are written about this couple, but enough to give us insight into their lives of faithful service. “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly” (Luke 1:6).Both were blameless in their walk with God. They served without the visible blessing of children so we can assume that their service was not dependent on positive outcomes. Yet, they continued serving faithfully. Their lives influenced John to be able to serve faithfully as he called many to repentance by the Jordan River. He boldly proclaimed truth even when it cost him his life. Servant leaders aren’t perfect, but their hearts’ desire is to serve the Lord as Zechariah and Elizabeth did, faithfully living out the call of Christ in their everyday life.

They served humbly. This ordinary couple served with deep humility. Their humility is evident in Elizabeth’s response to Mary’s visit in Luke 1:39-56. For three months they hosted this visitor in their home, humbly serving her many meals and giving Mary their time and resources. They both knew that Mary’s child would be greater than their own, but they were able to humbly accept God’s role for their son. Their humility foreshadowed John’s humble declaration that Jesus should become greater and he should become less (John 3:30). Servant leaders serve with humility as this couple did, not drawing attention to themselves, but allowing others to rise.

They served patiently. When we first hear of this couple, they were “both very old” (Luke 1:7) and were childless. They had prayed for years without seeing the results. But they continued serving patiently in a situation in which many would have been tempted to give up. As they waited, they continued serving. They demonstrated to John how to serve patiently as he waited on God’s timing in the wilderness and in prison where he finally lost his life. Servant leaders learn from Zechariah and Elizabeth to keep serving in whatever role they have no matter the results. They serve faithfully and trust God for the results.

They served joyfully. Praise and rejoicing are very much a part of this couple’s story. Elizabeth gave thanks as soon as she was pregnant. When Zechariah’s tongue was set free, “he began to speak, praising God” (Luke 1:64). Elizabeth was not jealous of Mary’s miraculous pregnancy; instead, she rejoiced! Servant leaders learn from this couple that service is not a burden but a joy. They rejoiced as they served! And John was able to follow their example as he joyfully testified that the “bridegroom” had come (John 3:29).

Elizabeth and Zachariah served well individually. But together, their impact multiplied as they brought John into the world and raised him to be the forerunner of the Messiah. Their hearts for service left a legacy that we would do well to imitate.

This Christmas, the world needs more servant leader couples. Will you be one of them? Will you join together with your spouse, if married, and ask God to double your impact in the coming year as you serve faithfully, humbly, patiently, and joyfully?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• Read the account of John’s ministry in Luke 3:1-20. In what ways do I see the influence of His parents in this story?
• Could my leadership be described as “blameless”? If not, in what ways is God inviting me to change?
• How has my leadership in the past week demonstrated humility? Am I able to rejoice in the success of others? If not, why not?
• In what areas am I tempted to give up when things don’t change quickly? What can I learn from Zachariah and Elizabeth?
• Can my leadership be described as “joyful”? If not, what can I do to imitate Zachariah and Elizabeth?      
• For couples. In what ways can our marriage multiply our influence? Are we aware of this and using it strategically to have a greater impact?
• If unmarried, what more can I learn from this couple to strengthen my own leadership impact and legacy?

Next year, we’ll begin a series on the sound of silence in our leadership! Shh…!

Until then, I wish you and your family a wonderful time of celebrating the joy of Jesus’ birth. He still inspires all of us over 2000 years later!

*We looked at the first couple in this series, Joseph and Mary, during the 2015 Christmas season. If you missed those, or want to see them again, click below.

Copyright, Global Disciples 2019.

After 40 years tending sheep in the desert God calls Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. God uses a burning bush to get Moses’ attention. The dramatic experience recorded in Exodus 3:1-4:31 provides a framework for God’s call to all servant leaders.

God calls those He has prepared.

God’s call to Moses came after 40 years of shaping in the wilderness. Moses’ first attempts at leadership revealed that he had much to learn. After 40 years of desert training, Moses was prepared for action. He had been humbled and learned the discipline of hard work. His excellent academic training was now balanced with on-the-job experience. Moses was prepared for the call.

God calls those who are active.

God called Moses while he was on the job. He was busy with his daily duties, faithfully working as a shepherd, and meeting the needs of his family. In this position God calls him. Some leaders sit around waiting for their big opportunity to appear but God delights in using people who are already being faithful at what they are doing.

God calls leaders first to Himself.

Servant leadership begins with a personal relationship with God. God was seeking Moses’ attention through the burning bush and responded quickly when Moses turned toward Him. This initial encounter marked the beginning of a face to face relationship with God which would mark Moses’ leadership. While we may not experience a burning bush, any leadership that does not flow out of the foundation of an encounter with God is not servant leadership. Jesus called His disciples to be with Him before He sent them out to preach. (Mark 3:14) God desires relationship more than service and invites all of us into His presence. In His presence we understand His love and the work to which He has called us. This is truly a close call.

God’s call meets a human need.

God’s call to Moses clearly was in response to the plight of His people who were suffering in Egypt. God always calls servant leaders to fulfill a part of His plan for the world, meeting the needs of His people. Whether you serve in church leadership, in your profession or in a business, God’s call upon your life is not just to supply your needs, it is to meet a specific need in His world. Reflect for a moment on how your leadership meets the needs of those around you.

God’s call provokes a sense of inadequacy.

As Moses began to understand the extent of God’s call he responds with a deep sense of inadequacy. “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11) Moses is so broken after 40 years in the desert that he almost sees himself as incapable of leading. Yet, in this condition of self doubt, Moses was more ready than earlier when he was confident in his own strength. Servant leaders learn to rely on God’s strength to carry out the mission. Their confidence comes not from their own abilities but from the relationship they have with the One who calls them close. From this call flows the courageous leadership we’ll examine in the next issue.

The background reading for this issue is: Exodus 3:1-4:31.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Are you confident of God’s call on your leadership role? If so, reflect on how this impacts your leadership. If not, what do you need to do to confirm His direction for your leadership?
• Do you see your leadership primarily as a call to a relationship with Jesus, or as a call to act? What difference does it make in the way you lead?
• Do you feel humanly adequate for what God has called you to do? How does Moses’ encounter with God help you?
• Do you find it easy to lead from your own strengths instead of relying on God’s provision and direction? What does Moses’ life teach you?