Redefining Leadership: The Power of Followership
Summary
In today's world, the emphasis on leadership is overwhelming, with billions spent annually on leadership development across various sectors, from education to healthcare. Institutions like Harvard and Yale have dedicated programs to cultivate leaders, and the market is flooded with resources on leadership. Despite this, there is a pervasive sense of a leadership crisis, with trust in leaders at an all-time low. This paradox raises the question: what does it truly mean to be a leader?
Interestingly, Jesus Christ, a carpenter from Nazareth, initiated a movement that has profoundly impacted personal and human development by inviting people to follow him. Unlike the modern obsession with leadership, Jesus emphasized followership. He sought followers, not leaders, challenging the conventional stereotypes that equate leadership with strength and followership with passivity. Jesus' call to "follow me" was an invitation to a transformative journey of learning, growth, and alignment with God's will.
George MacDonald, in his writings, highlights that Jesus himself was a follower of the Father, demonstrating that true followership involves a fierce commitment to learning and embodying the values and vision of the one being followed. To follow Jesus is to engage in a dynamic process of becoming more like him, adopting his thoughts, judgments, and feelings, and ultimately aligning with the Father's heart and mind.
In redefining followership, we recognize it as a grand adventure marked by persistence, risk-taking, and growth. It is not about passivity but about actively engaging in the journey of transformation. As followers of Jesus, we are called to move at his pace, listen to his words, and emulate his actions. This journey requires us to do one thing each day simply because Jesus said to do it, whether it's an act of kindness, forgiveness, or generosity.
As we embark on this journey of followership, we will explore the deeper purpose of our creation and deconstruct the toxic elements often associated with leadership. Jesus' teachings offer profound insights into authentic leadership and followership, challenging us to live out our faith in tangible ways.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Paradox of Leadership: Despite the vast resources dedicated to leadership development, there is a widespread leadership crisis, highlighting the need to redefine what it means to lead and follow. True leadership may not be about authority but about influence and service. [04:59]
2. Jesus' Call to Followership: Jesus' invitation to "follow me" emphasizes the importance of followership over leadership. This call is a transformative journey that challenges conventional stereotypes and invites us to align with God's will. [06:51]
3. Learning Through Following: Following Jesus involves a commitment to learning and growth. It is about adopting his thoughts, judgments, and feelings, and aligning with the Father's heart and mind. This process is dynamic and transformative. [08:34]
4. Redefining Followership: True followership is marked by persistence, risk-taking, and growth. It is not passive but an active engagement in the journey of transformation, requiring us to emulate Jesus' actions and move at his pace. [09:06]
5. Daily Acts of Faith: As followers of Jesus, we are called to do one thing each day simply because he said to do it. This practice helps us live out our faith in tangible ways, fostering a deeper connection with God and others. [10:45]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:32] - The Leadership Industry
- [01:46] - Institutions and Leadership
- [02:23] - Leadership Resources
- [03:12] - The Leadership Crisis
- [04:44] - Trust in Leaders
- [05:14] - Defining Leadership
- [06:05] - Jesus' Impact
- [06:51] - The Call to Follow
- [07:23] - Redefining Followership
- [08:04] - Following Jesus
- [09:06] - Characteristics of a Follower
- [10:03] - Following Jesus' Pace
- [10:33] - Daily Acts of Following
- [11:23] - Conclusion and Next Steps
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 4:19 - "And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'"
2. John 5:19 - "So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.'"
3. Philippians 2:5-8 - "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' invitation to "follow me" in Matthew 4:19 imply about the nature of followership? How does this contrast with the modern emphasis on leadership? [06:35]
2. According to John 5:19, how does Jesus model followership in his relationship with the Father? What does this suggest about the nature of true followership? [08:04]
3. In Philippians 2:5-8, how is Jesus' humility and obedience described? How does this passage redefine our understanding of leadership and followership? [08:34]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that redefining followership can address the current leadership crisis? What are the implications for how we view leadership and followership in our own lives? [04:59]
2. What does it mean to align with God's will as a follower of Jesus, according to the sermon? How does this alignment challenge conventional stereotypes of leadership and followership? [06:51]
3. How does the concept of daily acts of faith, as mentioned in the sermon, help us live out our faith in tangible ways? What might be some examples of these acts in everyday life? [10:45]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you prioritized leadership over followership. How might embracing followership, as Jesus modeled, change your approach to influence and service? [06:51]
2. Identify one area in your life where you can practice aligning with God's will more closely. What specific steps can you take to follow Jesus' example of obedience and humility? [08:34]
3. Consider a situation where you can perform a daily act of faith simply because Jesus said to do it. What is one specific action you can take this week to live out your faith in a tangible way? [10:45]
4. How can you redefine your understanding of followership to include persistence, risk-taking, and growth? What practical steps can you take to actively engage in this journey of transformation? [09:06]
5. Think of a leader you admire. How do they embody the principles of followership as described in the sermon? How can you emulate these qualities in your own life? [07:23]
6. Reflect on a relationship where you can practice forgiveness or generosity as a daily act of faith. What specific action will you take to foster a deeper connection with God and others? [10:45]
7. How can you ensure that your pursuit of leadership does not overshadow the importance of followership in your spiritual journey? What changes might you need to make in your mindset or actions? [06:51]
Devotional
Day 1: The Paradox of Leadership
In a world where leadership is highly valued and extensively taught, there remains a significant crisis of trust in leaders. This paradox suggests that true leadership may not be about authority or control but rather about influence and service. The modern emphasis on leadership often overlooks the importance of followership, which can be a more profound and transformative journey. By redefining leadership to focus on service and influence, individuals can address the leadership crisis and build trust within their communities. [04:59]
"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." (Mark 10:43-45, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you serve those around you today, demonstrating leadership through service rather than authority?
Day 2: Jesus' Call to Followership
Jesus' invitation to "follow me" emphasizes the importance of followership over traditional leadership. This call is not about passivity but about embarking on a transformative journey that challenges conventional stereotypes. By following Jesus, individuals are invited to align with God's will and engage in a dynamic process of personal growth and spiritual development. This journey of followership is about learning to embody the values and vision of Jesus, ultimately leading to a deeper connection with God. [06:51]
"And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him." (Matthew 4:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can more fully embrace Jesus' call to follow him today?
Day 3: Learning Through Following
Following Jesus involves a commitment to learning and growth. It is about adopting his thoughts, judgments, and feelings, and aligning with the Father's heart and mind. This process is dynamic and transformative, requiring individuals to actively engage in the journey of becoming more like Jesus. By following Jesus, individuals can experience personal and spiritual growth, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of God's will and purpose for their lives. [08:34]
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively learn from Jesus today, adopting his thoughts and actions in your daily life?
Day 4: Redefining Followership
True followership is marked by persistence, risk-taking, and growth. It is not passive but an active engagement in the journey of transformation, requiring individuals to emulate Jesus' actions and move at his pace. By redefining followership, individuals can experience a grand adventure of personal and spiritual growth, ultimately leading to a deeper connection with God and others. This journey requires individuals to take risks and persist in their faith, trusting in God's guidance and direction. [09:06]
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one risk you can take today to actively engage in your journey of followership with Jesus?
Day 5: Daily Acts of Faith
As followers of Jesus, individuals are called to do one thing each day simply because he said to do it. This practice helps individuals live out their faith in tangible ways, fostering a deeper connection with God and others. By engaging in daily acts of kindness, forgiveness, or generosity, individuals can experience personal and spiritual growth, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of God's will and purpose for their lives. [10:45]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific act of faith you can commit to today, simply because Jesus calls you to do it?
Quotes
Forbes magazine in 2018 said that 86.7 billion dollars was spent on leadership development on leadership training programs. Our most revered institutions are devoted to this. Harvard Law School says that in his mission statement it is devoted to training leaders in the legal profession, not lawyers but leaders that are there. [00:32:33]
Turns out that back in the 1950s and 60s when people were asked do you can you trust the federal government to do the right thing about 70 percent of us said yes. By 2011, it was 15. About that same time 77 percent of all Americans said that we are in a leadership crisis. [00:46:19]
If you were to ask what program, what movement has had the biggest impact on personal development on human being development on the change of life on catalyzing or stimulating human beings to grow to change, to become better in their relationships, to recover from addictions, to sacrifice, to be generous, hands down whatever you think about this movement it would be one day when a carpenter in Nazareth closed up his shop and became a rabbi. [00:06:05]
Very interesting he was deliberately looking for followers. It's very strange we live in a world where everybody wants to be a leader and nobody wants to be a follower. Jesus asked everybody to become a follower and didn't ask anybody to become a leader. [00:06:51]
George McDonald writes, at the same moment Jesus says follow me, he is following the Father. His face is set homeward. He will have us follow him because he is bent on the will of his Father and by the way Jesus as a follower of his Father is a person of fierce will. [00:08:04]
To follow him is to be learning of him to think his thoughts to use his judgments to see things as he sees them to feel things as he feels them to be of the same heart soul and mind as he is so that we also may be of the same mind with the Father. [00:08:34]
If you take a look at it based on the New Testament it is a fiercely committed question asking, mistake-making, risk-taking, growth-loving student particularly student of Jesus who is marked by peculiar persistence. That's a follower, and we are going to reclaim and redefine and redeem and recapture the grand adventure of being a follower. [00:09:06]
We all will follow someone we all we follow causes we follow values we follow our hearts devotions. To think that followership and leadership as we often talk about it are contrasted or opposites or two different groups is a badly misguided notion. [00:10:03]
If you're going to follow Jesus you got to be behind him, you got to move at his pace, you have to listen to what he says, and you have to do what he does. So today today as we're beginning this journey to follow and and we'll kind of deconstruct leadership along the way. [00:10:33]
Today, if you want to follow Jesus just do one thing because Jesus said to do it. You don't have to spend time asking yourself do I believe how much do I believe just ask did I do a single thing because he said to do it or did I abstain from anything because he said to abstain from it. [00:10:45]
Have I made a commitment today I will not judge and then I see or I will forgive someone I will do something kind to a person where I have been feeling hostile towards them have you given a moment of time or any of your money or possessions or skill in the service of somebody that asked you. [00:11:23]
Today, do one thing because Jesus said to do it, try following, and next time we're going to talk about why you were created. [00:11:23]
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