Born to Lead!Sample

You Are a Leader

The word leadership is a millennial buzz word. Countless self-help books, seminars, podcasts, and even high school and college classes teach about leadership. 

You’ve probably heard the question, “Are you going to be a leader or a follower?” No one wants to be just a follower. Maybe your parents have said, “just because everyone's jumping off of a cliff, does that mean you should follow and jump off too?” Jesus wasn’t a follower. Jesus was, and is, the greatest Leader the world has ever known. 

What Made Jesus a Great Leader?

Jesus led out of his love for people. He had a way of uniquely letting every person He met know they were important and that He truly cared about them as individuals. He had a way of seeing into their hearts and recognizing their needs.  Jesus considered each person's talents and then equipped them to lead others effectively. He understood what motivated people to serve and work together.  While on earth, Jesus modeled every positive leadership trait required to effectively lead others. He recognized the differing leadership characteristics, personalities, and skills in people that enabled them to lead and serve those around them. Jesus was the ultimate servant leader.  He served people by meeting their needs.  It's easy to follow leaders who put the needs of their followers above their own personal interests.

Great leaders during Biblical times, as well as today, have many leadership traits. For example, you may be a great leader because of your problem-solving abilities and strong thinking skills. Someone else may be great at organizing a team of people to complete a project. Some leaders can analyze a situation quickly, and therefore, make effective decisions when immediate action is needed.  And, other leaders relate to and interact well with people, helping them to successfully work together toward a common goal. But no matter what leadership skills God has given you, He wants you to use your abilities to serve those around you. Some leaders use fear and intimidation to make sure their followers follow. But Jesus wants you to be a servant leader, like Him.

John 13:12-15 says, "When He had finished washing their [the Disciples’] feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Jesus leads by loving and caring for others! 

Think About It: 

1.  What are some of your personality traits,  skills, or talents that God might use to grow you into a strong leader?

2.  Jesus was and is the greatest leader the world has ever known.  What made Jesus such a great leader? 

3. Psalms 139 says, God wonderfully created you and He knows everything about your life. It says God always thinks about you and even knows where you are at all times. If you chose to believe that God uniquely and lovingly made you, how would that knowledge help you become an effective leader? 

Christians are called to be like Jesus. Therefore, if you are a Christ-follower, you’ve been chosen for leadership.