LEADERSHIP THAT SERVES

Acts 6:3-4

Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men… whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

God has assigned to all of us leadership roles. IT may be as parents given the leadership to their children. Or ordinary citizens being given the opportunity to lead in their communities. But what is more important is leading for God. There should be something about our lives that says, "Follow me and I will lead you to Jesus the Savior of your soul. Jesus is a perfect leader for He chose to be a servant first. The Lord knew that quality of discipleship and not quantity of disciples was more important. Jesus concentrated on His disciples for good reasons. Developing disciples and leaders - not converts - was His main goal. He did it by:

1. Selection: He chose a few faithful, available, teachable apostles. They weren't scholars or men with special talents, but just ordinary men who he could shape and mould into leaders.

2. Association: He devoted His time to them, even in the midst of ministry to the masses. He is with them in everything they do - called to simply "be with Him" and "follow Him".

3. Consecration: He called them to obedience- to turn away from sin and sacrifice their own personal interests. He called them to commit themselves not to a doctrine or program, but to His person.

4. Impartation -He gave Himself to them and for them. The foundation of their relationship was His love and self-denial and there was no limit to His love for them.

5. Demonstration: He taught them by example. What the disciples needed was a teacher who practiced with them what He expected them to learn. Discipleship is easier caught than taught.

6. Delegation: He put them to work. They assisted Him as He ministered, gradually He sent them out two by two.

7. Supervision: He kept check on them and used their experiences to instruct them further. This was “on the job training” at its best. They were given adequate room to work and learn, yet never without His concern and guidance as it was needed.

8. Reproduction: it is clear that He intended them to become leaders like Him. The church is like the mustard seed, it starts out small- yet we expect it to grown bigger than the crops around it. (“The Master Plan of Evangelism”, by Robert Coleman).

Almighty Father, give us leaders whose hearts are large enough to match the breadth of our own souls and give us souls strong enough to follow leaders of vision and wisdom. Teach us to be a leader like Your Son, who became a servant first, serving others so they may believe. Let us follow You, O Lord, as You prepare us to minister to others so Your name may be fully known.

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” - John Maxwell