Following Jesus: Active Faith and Transformative Leadership

Devotional

Day 1: Faith in Action

Spiritual practices are not mere obligations but invitations to actively engage with our faith. Jesus exemplified this by demonstrating practices such as prayer, fasting, and healing, inviting us to follow His example rather than simply obey commands. James reminds us that it is not enough to merely listen to God's word; we must act on it, embodying our faith through tangible actions. This transformation from hearing to doing is the essence of spiritual practice, allowing us to live out our beliefs in everyday life. [00:00]

James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."

Reflection: Identify one spiritual practice you can engage in today that reflects your faith. How can you transform your hearing of God's word into action?

Day 2: Influence Through Servant Leadership

Leadership is not about personal success but about positively influencing others. Jesus demonstrated servant leadership by focusing on the best interests of others and empowering them to lead. True leadership creates pathways for others to contribute to extraordinary outcomes, differing from manipulation, which serves self-interest. As followers of Christ, we are called to lead by example, prioritizing the needs of others and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. [09:59]

Mark 10:43-45 (ESV): "But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you can practice servant leadership today. How can you prioritize the needs of others in this context?

Day 3: Recognizing Hidden Potential

Jesus saw potential in those whom society overlooked, like Zacchaeus. As leaders, we are called to see and nurture the potential in others, recognizing that everyone has a role in God's plan. This involves looking beyond societal judgments and seeing individuals as God sees them, with unique gifts and contributions to offer. By doing so, we can help others realize their potential and fulfill their God-given purpose. [23:39]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

Reflection: Consider someone in your life who may be overlooked or underestimated. How can you encourage and support them in realizing their potential?

Day 4: Steadfastness Amid Criticism

Following Jesus may invite criticism, but we must remain steadfast in our mission. Jesus was not swayed by public opinion; He pressed on despite criticism, teaching us to prioritize God's approval over human acceptance. This resilience is crucial in our spiritual journey, as we navigate challenges and remain committed to our calling, even when faced with opposition. [25:50]

Galatians 1:10 (ESV): "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent criticism you faced. How can you remain steadfast in your mission, prioritizing God's approval over human acceptance?

Day 5: Transformative Leadership

Jesus changed what others accepted, transforming lives and leading people into a relationship with God. As leaders, we are called to influence others through servant leadership, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. This transformative leadership involves challenging the status quo and guiding others toward a deeper understanding of God's love and purpose for their lives. [28:55]

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."

Reflection: Identify an area in your community or circle of influence where you can lead transformative change. How can you guide others toward a deeper relationship with God in this context?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through spiritual practices, we focus on what Jesus did rather than what He commanded. Jesus invited us to follow Him, demonstrating practices like prayer, fasting, and healing. These are not obligations but opportunities to engage with our faith actively. James reminds us not to merely listen to God's word but to act on it, embodying our faith through action. This is why we explore spiritual practices, to transform our hearing into doing.

Reflecting on my childhood experience in Little League Baseball, I learned the importance of leadership. Initially, I focused on personal achievements, but my coach challenged me to uplift the team. This shift in perspective taught me that leadership is about influencing others positively, not just excelling individually. Jesus exemplified this by building and preparing His team, the disciples, to lead and serve others. Leadership is not confined to formal roles; it is a call for everyone, as we all lead in various aspects of our lives, including self-leadership.

Leadership is about creating pathways for others to contribute to extraordinary outcomes. It differs from manipulation, which serves self-interest. True leadership, as Jesus demonstrated, is servant leadership, focusing on others' best interests. While leadership is a component of discipleship, it is not synonymous with it. Discipleship is holistic, encompassing character and spiritual growth. We must not confuse leadership ability with spiritual maturity.

Jesus saw potential where others saw none, as illustrated by His interaction with Zacchaeus. He included those whom society excluded, demonstrating that leadership involves seeing and nurturing potential in others. Jesus was not swayed by public opinion; He pressed on despite criticism. This teaches us that following Jesus may invite criticism, but we must remain steadfast in our mission.

Ultimately, Jesus changed what others accepted, transforming lives and leading people into a relationship with God. As leaders, we are called to do the same, sharing the good news and influencing others through servant leadership. We are the salt and light of the world, created to influence and lead others toward Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Invitation to Action: Spiritual practices are not commands but invitations to follow Jesus' example. Our faith is meant to be active, transforming our hearing of God's word into tangible actions that reflect our beliefs. [00:00]
2. Leadership as Influence: Leadership is about positively influencing others, not just achieving personal success. Jesus demonstrated servant leadership, focusing on others' best interests and empowering them to lead. [09:59]
3. Seeing Potential: Jesus saw potential in those whom society overlooked, like Zacchaeus. As leaders, we must see and nurture the potential in others, recognizing that everyone has a role in God's plan. [23:39]
4. Resilience in Criticism: Following Jesus may invite criticism, but we must remain steadfast in our mission. Jesus pressed on despite public opinion, teaching us to prioritize God's approval over human acceptance. [25:50]
5. Transformative Leadership: Jesus changed what others accepted, transforming lives and leading people into a relationship with God. As leaders, we are called to influence others through servant leadership, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. [28:55]
** [28:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Invitation to Spiritual Practices
[02:00] - Little League Leadership Lesson
[06:36] - Everyone is a Leader
[09:59] - Leadership vs. Manipulation
[14:00] - Discipleship and Leadership
[17:30] - Jesus Sees Potential
[23:39] - The Power of Inclusion
[25:50] - Resilience in Criticism
[28:55] - Transformative Leadership
[31:53] - Reflection and Application
[34:00] - Closing Prayer and Challenge

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What spiritual practices did Jesus demonstrate, and how did He invite others to follow Him in these practices? [00:00]
How did the pastor's experience in Little League Baseball illustrate the concept of leadership? [03:15]
What was the reaction of the crowd when Jesus decided to dine with Zacchaeus, and how did Jesus respond to their criticism? [25:50]
How did Jesus demonstrate seeing potential in Zacchaeus that others overlooked? [23:39]

Interpretation Questions

How does the invitation to follow Jesus' example in spiritual practices differ from a command to follow rules? [00:00]
In what ways does the pastor suggest that leadership is about influence rather than manipulation? [09:59]
How does the story of Zacchaeus illustrate the idea of transformative leadership as demonstrated by Jesus? [28:55]
What does the pastor mean by saying that leadership is a component of discipleship but not synonymous with it? [09:59]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own spiritual practices. How can you transform your hearing of God's word into tangible actions this week? [00:00]
Think of a situation where you can positively influence others. How can you apply servant leadership in that context? [09:59]
Identify someone in your life who might be overlooked by others. How can you nurture their potential as Jesus did with Zacchaeus? [23:39]
Have you ever faced criticism for following Jesus? How did you respond, and what can you learn from Jesus' resilience in criticism? [25:50]
Consider a leadership role you hold, whether formal or informal. How can you ensure that your leadership aligns with the principles of servant leadership? [09:59]
How can you create opportunities for others to contribute to extraordinary outcomes in your community or workplace? [09:59]
Reflect on a time when you felt excluded. How can you ensure that your actions and words include others, especially those who might feel left out? [23:39]

Sermon Clips

"So we've been on a journey through the spiritual practices, and the spiritual practices really dial in on what did Jesus actually do. Jesus did not, by and large, command the spiritual practices. He didn't say, you have to read your Bible or else. You have to go to church. You have to pray. You have to fast. Instead, what Jesus did is he said, hey, come and follow me. And then Jesus would pray and teach them how to pray. Jesus would fast and would teach them how to fast. Jesus would heal the sick, and he taught them how to heal the sick. And so when it comes to the spiritual practices, these are not have -tos. These are get -tos. You are not commanded. You are invited." [00:00:00] (43 seconds)

"Your faith in Jesus was meant to be practiced. It was meant to have an action associated with it. That we're not just hearing God's words, but we're doing something different as a result. And that's why we're going through the spiritual practices." [00:00:55] (15 seconds)

"Jesus Christ is the greatest leader of all time. And I'm not saying that. I am biased, but I'm not saying that as a pastor. I'm not even saying that as a Christian. Even if you were an atheist historian, and you look at all throughout history, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates had each about 40 years worth of teaching that their philosophy has lived on. Jesus Christ taught for how many years? Three. And he started the greatest global movement that our world has ever seen. He is the most influential person in history." [00:05:07] (35 seconds)

"If you want to be like Jesus, you want to do what Jesus did, you must grow in the practice of leadership. Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians. He says, follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. Christ, you and I are to lead others. To ourselves? No. In the way of Jesus. We are to point people to Jesus. To follow Jesus is to lead like Jesus." [00:06:06] (30 seconds)

"If you want to lead like Jesus, you have to realize that Jesus sees what no one else sees. There's a guy by the name of James Howells who was from the country of Wales in the United Kingdom where my wife also grew up and this guy was a very early Bitcoin miner he got 7,500 bitcoins in the very early days when it wasn't very expensive and he held on to these on a hard drive he accidentally threw it away in 2013 7,500 Bitcoin the value of that amount of money today is 800 million dollars." [00:18:25] (47 seconds)

"Jesus didn't let the mutterers, mutterers, determine what he did. He was not deterred by the muttering of the crowd. Jesus said, Jesus is vain. He says, Son of God, Zacchaeus. Thank you. Craig Rochelle says, if you're not ready to be criticized for your obedience to God, you're not ready to be used by him. If you follow Jesus, you are going to be criticized." [00:25:07] (24 seconds)

"If you want to lead like Jesus, you have to realize that Jesus changed what others accepted. Others accepted, this is just Zacchaeus. He's just a sinful tax collector. But not Jesus. He says, I'm going to do something about this. Jesus changed him into a child of God." [00:28:55] (20 seconds)

"Leadership matters. It matters. It matters. It matters. It matters. Thank you. your workplace. It matters in your family. It matters in your marriage. It matters with your kids. It matters in this church. It matters as you lead yourself." [00:30:47] (12 seconds)

"As a leader, we are called to lead people into a relationship with Jesus. It's called evangelism. It's called sharing the good news. It is an essential part of the gospel, is sharing the good news. To follow Jesus is to lead like Jesus." [00:31:53] (17 seconds)

"Jesus saved every single one of us for a purpose, for a reason. If there was no purpose or reason for us now, we would have been beamed up to the kingdom of God and to heaven the moment we gave our life to Jesus. But he leaves us here because we have a mission to influence the world." [00:32:49] (21 seconds)

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