Jesus is the greatest leader who has ever or will ever live. In my book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders, I write, “Jesus made every room he entered better. Jesus turned water into wine. He cleansed the temple from unethical business practices. He knew what people were thinking and then changed their perspectives. When Jesus asked a group of men to hollow him, they did. Jesus’ teachings allowed people to be born again. He championed women’s rights and gave people dignity. He canned the spiritual temperatures of entire cities. He healed the sick and raised the dead. He fed over 10,000 people with just five loaves and two fish. Jesus walked on water and also calmed raging seas by saying, ‘Peace be still.’ He cast out demons and made people whole. Jesus was a scholar who won every debate he was ever in.” In my book I go on for several more paragraphs about the incredible leadership of Jesus.
Recently, I began co-hosting The Pursuit Of Service Podcast with Jeff Wright. Jeff is a former Army Ranger who is currently an entrepreneur and elder at our church. He recently taught a men’s group about the leadership of Jesus. Because of his military background, I found his thoughts quite refreshing and want to share them with you.
Also, if you do not subscribe to our podcast, do so today by clicking HERE. The September 21st edition will focus on the differences between delegation and empowerment Jeff practied during his combat experience in Iraq.
The following are 23 Life-Changing Statements About The Leadership Of Jesus. All quotes are from Jeff unless otherwise noted.
- “Jesus is the greatest leader that we’ve ever seen.”
- “Leadership is the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation to accomplish the mission and improving the organization.” – Army Doctrine of Publication 6-22, Army Leadership and The Profession
- “It does not say ordering someone of lower rank.. it’s providing that influence, that direction.”
- “All of human history is divided into two by His birth.”
- “He changed societal impact by the way people treat each other for all of human history.”
- “His greatest success is the salvation of all of humanity.”
- “He is the one I submit to and ultimately I follow.”
- “He gives us a mission – ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.'” – Matthew 28:19
- “Making disciples is teaching. It’s fostering relationships and it’s fostering followers of Jesus.”
- “The purpose of Him as a leader is to set the oppressed free. The purpose of me as a follower is to proclaim that good news… This is the good news that only Jesus can provide.”
- “Jesus provided direction by leading by example. Matthew 4:23 is an example.”
- “He taught. He proclaimed the Good News. He served them, at the core was serving.”
- “He led by example and showed what servant leadership looks like.”
- “This is how you lead, by serving.”
- “As leaders, we are always either washing hands or washing feet.”
- “Jesus gave direction by calling and teaching.”
- “Jesus was proactive. He was a doer. He was out there taking action. It is not the position of leadership that allows us to do something. It’s the doing something that makes you a leader.”
- “Eternal life is the reason we follow His purpose.”
- “Purpose is institutional or broad but a reason is very personal… Being a follower requires a personal touch. The purpose of our mission is to save as many souls through spreading the Good News of what Jesus did for us. But the reason is I’ve been given eternal life.”
- “He took in 12 disciples and mentored them and discipled them and directed them and let them fail and sent them off.”
- “One of the biggest marks we can have in our organization is improving relationships through mentorship and the personal development of ourselves… At the core of this, you have to be incredibly selfless to do so.”
- “Essentially what you’re doing in a corporate setting is you’re trying to mentor them to do your job and work yourself out of a job. Our egos tend to get in the way of that but that is how you improve the organization.”
- “Jesus laid out through His mission statement what I should be pursuing.”
What is one thing you learned from Jeff’s lesson which will make you a better leader and follower of Jesus? Once again, if you are not a regular listener to our Pursuit Of Service Podcast, click HERE to further your growth as a leader.
My book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase. If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you! By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you. This book is not to be read alone. Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence. Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.