Leadership Model

Lk 9:18-27

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’

Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.’

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The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Though many have been practicing this for years, journaling is a new spiritual discipline for me. In my Christian Discipleship course through Regent University, that is the discipline the prof wants us to practice this week. Surprisingly to me, I have found it to be a tremendous asset to my time in God's Word and prayer. Here are some of my reflections on the above passage.

God's economy and the world's are in complete opposition to each other.

"For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it." That is certainly not what you will hear from co-workers, neighbors and the media!!! So often, it's all about us: how we feel, why we're embarrassed to share our faith. If we want to save our lives, we'll lose them. If we lose our lives for Christ's sake, we gain them.


The Call:

I among others, feel called to the ministry, to leadership in the church. For myself and others, this is the message I get from the above passage of scripture.

1. Who do you say that I am? If we are to proclaim the gospel, who is Jesus? That is key.
2. We need to deny ourselves, take up the cross and foll0w him.
3. If we strive to save our lives, we lose them. Losing our lives for Christ's sake, we save them.

The call is to the cross and to death of self. Of course, that leads to life in Christ! The servant leader, the Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate model of servant leadership. Those of us desiring to work in the kingdom, in his church must be servant leaders.

Peace!