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?