How’s Your Leadership?

Leadership has many shapes, many sizes. Some lead with a loud voice and a louder opinion. Others lead with a rah-rah sort of coach-like inspiration. Still others lead with quiet strength. Fact is; there’s no cookie-cutter approach to leadership.

I’m thinking about the topic of leadership because our church is hosting the annual Willow Creek Leadership Summit. The faculty of the Summit is a roster of prominent pastors, consultants, and international business leaders. Impressive folks who’ve been used by God to do impressive things—all of them!

As I sat through Day 1 of the Summit, I couldn’t help but ask the question; what are the similarities of leading an international ministry, a mega-church, or a successful business compared to leading a small group? All require someone to lead. All have huge God-given responsibilities. All have people who are looking to them for guidance.

Do you think it’s silly for me to even consider the comparison? I mean really, a church of 13,000 people is a whole lot different than a group of 13 adults. Why would I even go there? Why would I even attempt to think of similarities? Because I believe God requires the same thing of all leaders—service. It’s the one quality needed to lead a mega-church or a small group.

In the Gospel of Mark (10:42-46), Jesus speaks clearly of the requirements of a leader.

“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

How’s your leadership? The more accurate question is; how well are you serving?