How does Christmas impact your leadership? The coming of Jesus as a baby changes everything and reshapes the way we lead. Theologians describe the coming of Jesus as the incarnation which means that God stepped into human life. He entered our world, our struggles and our experiences. Matthew describes what would happen like this:

²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Matthew 1:21-23, NIV).

The names given to Mary’s child were significant: Jesus and Immanuel. Jesus means savior and Immanual means “God with us.” At Christmas, God entered our world through Jesus. As He did, He demonstrated what incarnational leadership looks like.

Incarnational leadership enters the world of others.

“God with us.” The astounding reality of the Christmas story is that God left the majestic beauty and glory of heaven to enter our broken world through Jesus. What does this mean for our leadership? Leaders have the choice to live in their own world or to enter into the world of those they serve. Many leaders remain aloof and distant, far above those around them. But serving leaders make a conscious choice to practice incarnational leadership—listening, asking questions, and letting go of status barriers. They seek to understand the world that their followers are living in.  They enter the world of others.

Incarnational leadership walks with others.  

Jesus came to be “God with us.”  He would spend much of His life walking dusty roads with His disciples and many others. He provided the gift of His presence and companionship on the journey of life. It was not always easy or convenient, but He walked with others. Many leaders are too busy being great to have time for others. They are focused on their own journey. But serving leaders take time to walk with others. They leave the office and walk down the hall for a conversation. They come off the stage to mingle with the audience. They take a new employee or new member out for lunch to get to know them.  They walk with others.

Incarnational leadership meets the needs of others. 

The child born at Christmas was named Jesus “because he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus came to meet the greatest need humans have—salvation. Only Jesus saves, but we can reflect His heart by seeing the needs of others, caring about them and responding appropriately.

Many leaders are in positions of authority to have their own needs met. They focus on the goals of the organization and see others as means to accomplish that end. But serving leaders see others as people with genuine needs and concerns. They seek to address those needs. Where there is a need for an encouraging word, they provide it. Where there is a need for correction, they offer it. Where there is a financial need they seek to meet it. They meet the needs of others.

This Christmas your presence may be the best present you can give your followers— incarnational leadership that is “with them.”

For further reflection and discussion:

• Where am I tempted to remain in my own leadership bubble?  What have I done this week to leave that world and enter the world in which those I lead live daily?
• Would my team say I am walking with them, or distant? What steps could I take this week to walk with one person on my team?
• Does your leadership focus primarily on meeting your own needs or of those you serve? What is one need you can meet today for someone on your team?
• What one incarnational act can I offer to someone this week?       

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

December 11, 2024

One of the profound mysteries of the Christian faith is that God came to be with us in the person of Jesus! One of the many names of Jesus is Emmanuel which means “God with us.” (See Mt. 1:23). Theologians call this the incarnation which means that in Jesus the divine spirit of God and human flesh were united. John calls Jesus the Word and summarizes it in this way:

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14, NIV).   

The incarnation, when God came to be with us, changes everything! And in the incarnation, Jesus models the way for serving leader to be with those they serve.

Incarnational leaders identify with those they serve.  

“The Word become flesh…” Jesus became one of us so that He could fully understand us. He was born as a helpless child and went through the normal process of growing up. He experienced pain, exhaustion, temptation, hunger, betrayal, etc. so that He would understand what those He served experienced in life. The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because He was tempted as we are. (Hebrews 4:15)

Some leaders rise in power and authority and forget what it was like to be on the other side of leadership. They forget the growing process they went through and the many mistakes they made along the way. They fail to identify with those they serve. But serving leaders see themselves as human and recognize that those they serve are also humans. They call for growth, but they also sympathize with failures. Serving leaders identify with those they serve.  

Incarnational leaders relate with those they serve.   

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Jesus came to live with us! A paraphrase (The Message) says that Jesus “moved into the neighborhood.” Jesus spent most of His time with the people He came to serve. He ate with them, walked with them, worked with them, laughed with them and cried with them. He built strong relationships with them.  Jesus laid aside His rights and privileges as the King of Kings and related with others in a natural winsome way. He came to be with them, not over them.

Some leaders seek to distance themselves from those they serve. They insist on special privileges and titles that distinguish themselves from followers. But serving leaders follow the example of Jesus. They lay down their rights and bridge the gap between leaders and followers. They do not seek to dominate or dictate but build genuine relationships with the ones they serve. Serving leaders relate with those they serve. 

Incarnational leaders share with those they serve.  

“We have seen his glory….full of grace and truth.” Jesus was incarnational and human but He was also a leader. He had a mission to accomplish and part of that was to reveal His plan to His disciples. He shared with them a different way to live and a different way to lead. He shared truth with them that was perfectly balanced with grace.  

Some leaders share plenty of truth but with very little grace! Others show so much grace they never get around to the truth. Serving leaders share both grace and truth.  

Some leaders start by sharing truth and see their only function as getting people to do what is expected and produce the desired results. But serving leaders follow the example of Jesus. They don’t share truth until they identify with and build relationships with those they serve. From that foundation, they share both truth and grace. Serving leaders share with those they serve. 

For further reflection and discussion:

• Take a moment to identify with one person that you lead. Imagine what life is like for them. What challenges are they facing at home, physically, financially, emotionally, spiritually? What difference will this make in the way you lead them?
• Reflect on the level of your relationship with those you lead, especially those at the lowest level in your organization. Do I enjoy being with them? When is the last time we have eaten together? Do we ever do things together that are not related to my role or because of being in the same organization?  
• Leadership is about being with those you serve. In what ways this season can you be with those you serve? Find ways to give more of your presence which is more precious than presents.     
• Have I shared truth with those I serve before I identified with them and build a relationship with them? What was the result in my leadership?
• Do I most often share more truth or more grace? How does that impact my leadership?
• Consider the following verses and reflect more on what it means to be an incarnational leader from the example of Jesus and instructions of scripture: John 4:6; 8:1-11; 11:35; Hebrews 4:15-16; 5:2; Ephesians 4:15; Philippians 2:1-11, Galatians 6:1-3.  In what way can I more closely reflect Jesus’ incarnational leadership?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

Greetings to each of you at the end of this year,

In this issue I simply want to convey to you my hope that you and those you serve will experience in a fresh way the impact of Christ’s birth during this Christmas season. The world’s greatest leader was God’s amazing gift to each one of us. His birth was seemingly insignificant; He was born in a manger, in poverty, and with no sign of royalty. Yet, his life has changed the course of history. He has changed my life and yours.

I’m impressed this year with the reality that “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7). His birth was the beginning, but His life continues to influence with increasing power. He has given each of us the privilege of playing a small role in this increase. He calls you and I to faithfully follow in His footsteps, growing in our own leadership capacity so that His name will be known throughout the earth. May it continue….until the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).

May God bless you as you serve in your family, your church, your business, and in your vocation. It’s a privilege to write to you on a regular basis and I am grateful for the feedback many of you offer. Your thoughts and suggestions for improvement are always welcome! We’ll continue looking at the life of David in the next issue.

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Yours on the journey,

Jon Byler