What If Disciplemaking IS Leadership?
One of my friends who is a leader in his denomination asked me, “Do you do any leadership training?”
I said, “Yes. We call it disciplemaking training,” and then I winked at him. (We’re still good friends.)
There is so much talk about "leadership" in ministry these days—and yet, so little disciplemaking.
Hence, Jesus is the ultimate "leader." But he lived as a humble servant who made disciplemakers. Pardon me, but I’m a little suspicious of any talk of “leadership” that is not centered on Jesus, humility, servanthood, and disciplemaking.
The more I study Jesus the more I question current conventional wisdom on leadership.
We really need to pause and rethink what it means to be a ministry leader or church leader in light of the biblical Jesus. I contend that making disciples like Jesus is the fullest and truest expression of what it means to be a spiritual leader. And if that’s true, then whoever initiates, lives, and shares The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus as a way of life with others is a leader.
There is so much talk about "leadership" in ministry these days—and yet, so little disciplemaking.
Here’s a crazy thought on leadership:
What if disciplemaking is leadership? If that's true, then whoever initiates disciplemaking friendships is a leader—even if he or she doesn’t hold a “leadership” title or position. Real leaders don’t need a title or position. They just live it. It’s a way of life for them, not a job.
While I’m jumping off a cliff, let me say this:
All disciplemakers are leaders, but not all “leaders” are disciplemakers.
There. I said it. But before you reject it, run what I just said through your understanding of Jesus' life and ministry. Think with me: Jesus doesn't just make disciples, he makes disciplemakers. Jesus doesn't simply collect a large group of followers and call that success. No, Jesus seeks to transform every follower into a fisher.
There. I said it. But before you reject it, run what I just said through your understanding of Jesus' life and ministry. Think with me: Jesus doesn't just make disciples, he makes disciplemakers. Jesus doesn't simply collect a large group of followers and call that success. No, Jesus seeks to transform every follower into a fisher.
Hence, Jesus is the ultimate "leader." But he lived as a humble servant who made disciplemakers. Pardon me, but I’m a little suspicious of any talk of “leadership” that is not centered on Jesus, humility, servanthood, and disciplemaking.
The more I study Jesus the more I question current conventional wisdom on leadership.
We really need to pause and rethink what it means to be a ministry leader or church leader in light of the biblical Jesus. I contend that making disciples like Jesus is the fullest and truest expression of what it means to be a spiritual leader. And if that’s true, then whoever initiates, lives, and shares The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus as a way of life with others is a leader.
What if instead of defining leadership as “influence,” we defined it as initiating disciplemaking friendships that multiply? What might happen if every paid and volunteer leader in a church or ministry actually led—not just with their lips—but with their lives like this?
I dare you to try to find out.
p.s. Maybe Jesus wasn't a "leader" after all and perhaps we should reconsider who is the real leader.
[Note: This post has been excerpted from The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus, (c) 2018 CadreMissionaries.com. Used by permission.]
[Note: This post has been excerpted from The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus, (c) 2018 CadreMissionaries.com. Used by permission.]
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