Leading by Following
Tuesday, June 02, 2015
“Lucy went first, (and) … she fixed her eyes on Aslan. He turned and walked at a slow pace about thirty yards ahead of them. The others had only Lucy’s directions to guide them, for AsIan was not only invisible to them but silent as well. ... He led them to the right of the dancing trees—whether they were still dancing nobody knew, for Lucy had her eyes on the Lion and the rest had their eyes on Lucy…”
I’ve recently been reading The Chronicles of Narnia to my middle child, and we came across this passage in Prince Caspian that is one of my favorite descriptions of leadership: “Lucy had her eyes on the Lion and the rest had their eyes on Lucy.” The most vital thing Lucy does as the leader of the group walking through the woods here is fix her eyes on Aslan, who is leading her.
I thought about writing for you a “Top 10” list of things to do this summer as a small group leader while many of your groups are on a break or a different schedule. There are a lot of fun ways to stay connected and develop relationships. But I decided instead to focus on the most vital thing: fixing YOUR eyes on Jesus.
It’s vital that you be a follower before you’re a leader, a sheep before you’re a shepherd, one who sees Jesus for himself before you’re one who offers Jesus to others. You may be tired of being a small group leader; you may be worn out from the burdens of life in general; you may feel you’re always caring for others but no one cares for you. The care for your soul as a leader is of utmost importance. To put it bluntly: how will you point people to Jesus if you don’t see him at all yourself?
Perhaps this summer is a chance – with a break (or at least a redistribution!) in the busyness of small group and of life in general – for you to invest in caring for your own soul, in being fed yourself, in having the love of Christ overwhelm you again so that it can overflow from you to others. How desperate are you to see Jesus today? How can you be intentional this summer to get your soul a fresh vision of Him? Do you really believe this is the most vital thing for you as a leader … to lead by being a follower – following Christ?
P.S. – Can you imagine how great it’s going to be when those you’re in relationship with, those who “follow” you, start seeing Jesus more clearly, too?!? Man, that’s exciting! C’mon with me … we would see Jesus this summer!
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Recommended Reading
You'll find most of my recommended books available in the Guest Center at Southwood.
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How do we mortify sin? How do we address the sin in our lives that reignite like a trick birthday candle we thought we had already blown out of our lives? This is a careful and thoroughly theological book that is hopeful without avoiding honesty. It is practical without being legalistic. It gets to the root of the sinful areas of our lives without offering a prescriptive regimen to hide behind avoiding the grace that has the only true power to teach “us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14
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Small groups would be easy if weren’t for the people in the group! This book will help equip you to see your own sin first and provide the courage and humility to address it in others.
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This is a collection of letters written by Jack Miller to people experiencing real-life concerns and struggles. Through these gracious and honest letters you will learn how to humbly offer to others (and yourself!) hope, repentance, and courage that flows from the truth of the gospel of grace. Though this isn’t a “how to” book full of nifty steps to Your Best Gospel Life Now. It’s a glimpse into the heart of a person who has found food at the Cross, and you watch (and learn) as he humbly points others to the feast.
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This 31 day devotional will bring you to the foot of the cross to remember and celebrate the truth of the gospel of grace, and develop skills that will help “inform, free, gladden, and enliven your soul every day.” Becoming proficient in applying the Gospel of grace to our own hearts is a key skill that is well worth our effort to develop.
Recommended Listening
- Christ PCA - Nashville
Scott Sauls and CPC StaffListen to sermons from Senior Pastor Scott Sauls and other CPC pastors at a sister church.
- Lookout Mountain PCA
Joe Novenson and LMPC StaffCheck out sermons by Senior Pastor Joe Novenson and other LMPC pastors at a sister church.
- Steve Brown Etc.
Steve BrownSteve Brown’s unique blend of orthodoxy and controversy, humor and profundity, and a refusal to play religious games will give you permission you have needed to stop being so uptight. And even if it’s for 30 minutes, you just might experience radical freedom, infectious joy and maybe even a bit of surprising faithfulness.
Recommended Links
- Tim Chester: reformed spirituality and missional church
Tim ChesterTim has an incredible way of applying the Gospel of grace that is both practical and honest with a consistent skillful affinity to point us to Jesus. He is director of The Porterbrook Institute; a church planter with The Crowded House in Sheffield, UK; and the author of over a dozen books including Total Church and You Can Change.
- Of First Importance
Living Each Day in the Good of The GospelHere you will find a growing collection of gospel-centered quotes to help reorient your thoughts toward the splendor and grandeur of the person and work of Jesus.
Comments
tripp | June 03 2015 at 7:40 am
It’s funny - when I am exhausted in life, I find it is because I don’t have my eyes on the Lamb. Typically, I’ve also put myself on the throne. Thanks for the reminder; I constantly have to question where I’m putting my hope and looking for joy, and who and what I’m trying to control.
Heb 12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Ps. 16
Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.