Follow The Leader By Ethan Wentzlaff

Paul stands up in 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 and answers the question, What makes a leader worth following? The text puts a hard stop on the world’s scoreboard and lifts three marks: make little of self and much of the Savior, sacrifice for the sake of souls, and mourn over people settled in their sin. Paul admits “I have been a fool,” because he stepped into “foolish boasting” only to expose how the “super apostles” bragged their way into Corinthian hearts. Then he drops the line that explains his whole posture: “I am nothing.” That is not an identity crisis. That is a man anchored in grace, who knows “by the grace of God I am what I am.” So the text won’t let charisma, polish, or even “signs and wonders” be the standard. False prophets can do signs. The Antichrist will mimic power. Gifts, big or small, only ring true when they point past the messenger to the crucified and risen Christ. For Paul, the real “letter of recommendation” is the church itself, hearts rewritten by the Spirit. New creation is the miracle he cares about.

Then the passage sets leadership down in a home. Paul takes up the parent image and says he is not after “what is yours, but you.” He will not burden them. He will “most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.” That is love in the shape of a cross. It keeps giving even when it is not returned. “If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” He rejects the money rumors, reminds them Titus took no advantage, and states his aim plainly: everything is said “before God in Christ” for their upbuilding, not for his name.

Finally, the text shows what breaks a true shepherd’s heart. Paul fears he will find quarreling, jealousy, slander, and unrepentant impurity still entrenched. He says he will “mourn.” Sin acts like a retractable leash. It lets a person wander, then jerks them back. So he calls for real repentance, the about face that godly grief produces, not a soft shrug that leaves a person unchanged. Repentance is not a one and done checkbox. It is the ongoing posture of people who refuse to make peace with what nailed Jesus to the cross. A leader worth following will not make peace with it either. He will keep pointing beyond himself to the Savior, keep spending himself for souls, and keep grieving over sin until grace has the last word.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Make little of self, magnify Christ True authority comes from grace, not image. Paul can say “I am nothing” because Christ is everything, and that frees him from self-promotion. Leadership that will last points glory away from the mirror and toward the cross, boasting only in weakness so that Christ’s power rests on the work. Identity secured by grace produces influence that serves, not consumes. [10:35]
• 2. Gifts are signposts, not spotlights Signs and wonders never authenticate a heart that hoards glory. Even striking abilities can mislead when they bend attention toward the gifted rather than the Giver. The reliable fruit is a life and ministry that keeps directing eyes to Jesus, whether the gift is public or quiet. Discernment asks not, “Is it impressive?” but, “Where does it point?” [08:04]
• 3. Gladly spend and be spent for souls Love counts people, not perks, as the reward. Like a good parent, true leadership absorbs cost so that others grow up into Christ. The cross sets the pattern: not to be served, but to serve, even when it drains time, energy, and comfort. Joy rises when eternity, not convenience, sets the budget. [17:17]
• 4. Love keeps giving when unloved “If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” names the ache of sacrificial care. Biblical love doesn’t negotiate reciprocity; it endures, hopes, and keeps working for another’s good even through pushback. Such love is not naïve; it is anchored in Christ’s unreturned love for sinners and refuses to quit before grace finishes its work. [19:53]
• 5. Mourn settled sin, pursue repentance Sin will always pull a person backward like a dog on a leash unless it is confessed and forsaken. Godly grief produces repentance that leads to life; worldly grief stalls in regret and protects idols. A sober heart refuses to domesticate sin, choosing the hard turn toward Christ again and again. Leaders worth following help people make that turn. [25:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:24] - Power of leadership examples
• [02:34] - False apostles sway Corinth
• [03:18] - What makes a leader worth following
• [04:39] - Point 1: Make little of self
• [06:07] - True apostolic signs and their limits
• [09:44] - Corinth as Paul’s letter of recommendation
• [10:35] - “I am nothing,” grace is everything
• [14:18] - Point 2: Sacrifice for souls
• [17:17] - Gladly spend and be spent
• [19:30] - Jesus’ pattern of service
• [24:40] - Aim: your upbuilding before God
• [25:37] - Point 3: Mourning settled sin
• [29:34] - Godly grief and real repentance
• [35:17] - Call to become leaders who love souls

1. What does Paul mean when he says, “I am nothing” (2 Corinthians 12:11), and how does this contrast with the “super apostles” he mentions? [10:35]
2. In 2 Corinthians 12:15, Paul says he will “most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.” What specific examples from the sermon illustrate this kind of sacrificial love? [17:17]
3. What sins does Paul list in 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 that he fears finding in the Corinthian church, and why might these sins harm the church’s witness?

1. Why does Paul use the analogy of parents sacrificing for their children (2 Corinthians 12:14-15) to describe his leadership? How does this reflect Jesus’ example of service? [14:18]
2. How does the distinction between “godly grief” and “worldly grief” (2 Corinthians 7:10) help us understand what true repentance looks like? [29:34]
3. Paul says, “If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” (2 Corinthians 12:15). What does this reveal about the relationship between sacrificial leadership and human expectations?

1. In your roles (parent, coworker, friend, etc.), how can you intentionally point others to Christ’s sufficiency rather than drawing attention to your own abilities or achievements? [10:35]
2. Think of a time when you felt “spent” for someone else’s spiritual growth. What motivated you to keep giving even when it wasn’t reciprocated? How can you cultivate that mindset daily? [19:53]
3. Are there areas in your life where you’ve become comfortable with recurring sin, treating it like a “pet on a leash”? What practical steps can you take to mourn that sin and turn toward Christ this week? [25:59]
4. How can you discern whether a leader (or influencer) you follow is pointing people to themselves or to Jesus? What specific “fruit” should you look for? [08:04]
5. When have you prioritized convenience or comfort over investing in someone’s spiritual growth? What would it look like to “gladly spend and be spent” for their soul in that situation? [17:17]