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Never Lead, Always Follow
"Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work." John 14:10
I grew up in a church environment that emphasized the development of leaders. Leadership development was paramount. Books on the topic of leadership were abundant on every pastor's and lay person's shelves. Currently, leader development continues to be elevated in churches around the globe. However, I wonder, in the rush to see the church advance, is it possible that we have elevated leadership to a level beyond God's intended purpose?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that leadership is not important. In fact, leadership is one of the many gifts the Holy Spirit bestows on His church (Romans 12:8). However, what happens if leaders lead the church of God in directions not ordered by the Spirit of Christ?
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In John 14, Jesus tells His disciples that He will soon be leaving them but that they know how to get to where He is going. Thomas speaks up first, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5). Jesus' answer to Thomas is not directions but a title, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." These words have become an integral part of our Nazarene Discipleship framework, "A Journey of Grace."
Still confused, Philip spoke up: "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us" (John 14:8). What follows is among the greatest teaching we have on Christology.
Jesus and the Father are one. If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father.
Please pause and think about Jesus' words in verse 10 for a moment. Jesus did not speak on His own authority! Instead, Jesus is doing the work of Father. So Jesus, the Son of God, lived the most dependent life on the Father as anyone who has ever lived. In truth, Jesus, the King of Kings, always followed and never led. This is a crucial and profound lesson that He gave to His followers!
Is it possible for us to live as Jesus lived? Is it possible to be always dependent, always listening, always following the Father?
Christian Leadership is being a Lead Follower
Maybe the leader in the church is better defined as the one who is "the lead follower." Humility is certainly easier in this light (Philippians 2). "Keeping in step with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:25) makes better sense when we understand leadership in this way. I must admit that I have not always led this way. Sometimes, I have led and later wished I had waited.
Lord, help us learn what it means to be Christlike disciples. Help us to follow your example: to never lead but always follow You, for this is Your church!
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Scott Rainey,
SDMI Global Director
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Get excited for The Great Investigation, coming soon to a church near you! Kids will become detectives for the week as they discover how to follow God’s plan for their lives using various stories from the Old Testament including Joshua, Rehab, Gideon, and Ruth and Naomi. With the help of Chief Investigator Emery King, Detective Snoop Tracy, and Sherlock the bloodhound, we will all learn about how God seeks us, saves us, leads us, and how we can trust God. More information coming January 2022. Available soon on nazarene.org/vbs!
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