How To Become A Great Christian Leader Series

How To Become A Great Christian Leader

Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, became a familiar sight to millions with his company’s television commercials. Dave also appeared in a lot of training films for Wendy’s employees. In those training films he would dress as his workers dressed – wearing a Wendy’s hat and apron.

One year he appeared on the cover of one of the company’s annual reports dressed in a knee-length work apron holding a mop and a plastic bucket. Dave never finished high school but later in life he got his G.E.D. Dave was a self-made millionaire. Long before he went off on his own and started Wendy’s – he worked his way up through the ranks of Colonel Sanders’ Kentucky Fried Chicken chain. He was not unaccustomed to hard work.

Dave said, “I got my M.B.A. long before I got my G.E.D. At Wendy’s M.B.A. does not mean Master of Business Administration – it means Mop Bucket Attitude.” Dave Thomas taught all his employees that service comes before success. The Wendy’s owner could have learned that lesson from Jesus. Follow along with me as I read our focal verse for today:

"If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Mark 9:35 (NKJV)

FACT:

As followers of Jesus – leadership is a matter of being a SERVANT.

Today we are going to look at what makes a Great Christian Leader.

1. A Great Christian Leader Serves JESUS.

To be a Christian means that you are a follower of Christ. You have put Jesus in charge of your life. You have asked Him to forgive you of your sins. You have asked Him to guide and direct you as you live out your faith in Him. You have asked Him to be your Savior and your Lord. In other words you are allowing Him control of your life. You allow Him to be in charge. You serve Him.

To be a great Christian leader means nothing less than putting Jesus in charge of your life – it means putting Jesus in control – it means following Him – it means serving Him. All of us are serving something or someone. The question is who are you serving? The Bible says:

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other." Luke 16:13 (NKJV)

Bob Dylan the world famous folk singer came to understand this concept in his song – “Gotta Serve Somebody” He wrote:

You may be an ambassador to England or France,

You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,

You may be a socialite with a long sting of pearls

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You’re gonna have to serve somebody,

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk,

Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk,

You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread,

You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You’re gonna have to serve somebody,

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody. (1)

The question is – who are you serving? Who is in charge of your life? Who is your Lord? Who is your boss? Who is your master? God is the one who should be in charge. He is the one we need to serve. One of the best Biblical images of being a servant of God is found in Psalm chapter one hundred twenty three:

“Like servants, alert to their master’s commands, like a maiden attending her lady, We’re watching and waiting, holding our breath, awaiting God’s word of mercy.” Psalms 123:2 (MSG)

As followers of Christ we are to wait to hear to from our Lord. We are to listen carefully wanting to know what our Master wants us to do – waiting to hear His voice – willing to follow His commands. As servants we wait for our Lord to speak to us. Look at the way Jesus said it:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27 (NKJV)

To be a great Christian leader means that you listen to what Jesus tells you to do – and you respond willingly - you follow His direction and you serve Jesus.

To be a Great Christian Leader you need to serve Christ – but also:

2. A Great Christian Leader Serves FELLOW SERVANTS.