T e a m L e a d e r s h i p
What are some of the foundational principles of your sport? From whom did you learn them? How many of those principles apply to life beyond your sport? Today, we’ll hear from Jesus one great life principle as He talks with his team.
This is recorded in Mark chapter 9 and verse 35, “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” This is totally backward from the way things tend to work in our day. People today who want to be first, rush to the front and manipulate their way into the most prominent position.
Jesus turns the whole world upside down by outlining these principles of team leadership:
· He called the Twelve – the most highly committed to Himself. Jesus communicates with these people strongly and directly.
· If you desire to be first – take the lowest position with your teammates. Don’t push your way to the front or demand privilege.
· Leadership demands that we serve each other and elevate the others on our team.
It’s very simple, I look best in God’s eyes when I make others look good in the eyes of everyone else. When I promote and elevate my teammates, we all achieve more highly and we enjoy tremendous team unity. When I elevate myself and promote my own agenda, I diminish my teammates and divide our team.
As you prepare to compete today, search for ways to lead your teammates to victory by serving them and by lifting them up to higher levels of achievement. Speak to them strongly and directly. Rather than demanding a privilege or a position, take the lower place and elevate your teammates all the way to first place.
Bible Reading Plan:
Ephesians 3:1-13
Psalms 119:33-40
I Kings 8