Leadership 104

Learn to Skillfully Lead Others

“I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins].  But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Matthew 3:11

                John the Baptist was talking about Jesus.  Jesus was the greatest leader of all times.  We need to follow Christ’s example and effectively lead.  There are certain principles that Christ taught us through His Word.  These principles are choosing the right followers, teaching the followers, be influential, and commissioning our followers.  As a perfect leader, Jesus shares His secrets in the gospels, so that we can also become great leaders.

Choosing the Right Followers

“Now these are the names of the twelve apostles (special messengers): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Philip and Bartholomew [Nathaniel]; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus [Judas, not Iscariot];

Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”

Matthew 10:2-4

                When Christ picked His disciples, he picked men with different talents and with from different backgrounds.  Each disciple brought different skills to Christ’s ministry.  As Christian leaders, we need to appreciate each of our follower’s talents and what they bring to our ministries.  If we try to change others, we will not benefit from their uniqueness.  The point of leadership is to help followers to develop their own gifts while they grow and mature, so they can become leaders themselves.  After awhile, they will find someone to lead, which is exactly what happened to Christ and His disciples.  When Christ ascended into Heaven, His disciples continued His ministry and lead many other men and women to Christ.

Teaching the Followers

“And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (Gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every weakness and infirmity among the people.”

Matthew 4:23

                Christ led others by teaching them.  He not only taught His disciples, but He also taught the crowds that followed Him.  This gave His followers all the information they needed to lead Christian lives.  He went from town to town teaching everyone about the kingdom of Heaven.  We also need to teach our followers, so they can learn, grow, and mature emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. 

Be Influential

“The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming, He Who is called the Christ (the Anointed One); and when He arrives, He will tell us everything we need to know and make it clear to us.

Jesus said to her, I Who now speak with you am He.

Then the woman left her water jar and went away to the town.  And she began telling the people,”

John 4:25-26, 28

                When people would meet Christ, they were compelled to listen to His message.  Even if they were out to entrap Him, they always stopped and listened to Christ’s words.  This was due to His ability to influence others.  The woman at the well was not only compelled to sit and listen to Him talk, but she also ran to town telling everyone about the man she had met at the well.  Everyone came to hear Christ and what He had to say.  We need to influence others through our words, too.  It doesn’t mean we try to manipulate people to do what we want them to do.  Instead, we need to use God Word and influence people through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will give us the words to use, and we also need to speak the Word over people’s lives.