A Serving Leadership Insight from the Life of Jesus Christ (Mark 9:33-37)

“‘Teacher,’ said John, ‘we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.’ ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said. ‘For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.’” (Mark 9:38-41)

In Mark 9:38–41 Jesus responded to his disciple John’s concern about someone unconnected to them who was driving out demons in Jesus’ name. “We told him to stop, because he was not one of us,” John informed Jesus. “Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.” Serving leadership is defined by generosity and empowerment. Serving leaders focus on influence, not control. Their first task is to cast a compelling vision for positive change in a broken world. Success is determined by how well that vision catalyzes movement in others. Attempting to manage and regulate movement can limit or shut it down. Breathe life through large and small acts of generosity. 

KEY QUESTIONS: Who has limited and controlled me in the past? How did it make me feel? Would those who know me well define my leadership by an abundance or scarcity mindset? What drives my desire for control? What are some small acts of generosity I could begin doing today that would breathe life into others?