You're in limited preview mode.

Login or signup for free to unlock more content.

Leadership Is Like A Foundation

Leadership Organization Servanthood

Contributed By: Myke Merrill | Date Posted: 2011-02-04

Scripture: Mark 9:33

Author: Myke Merrill
6

ILLUSTRATION

Some leaders are like the front door of a house. They are the most visible part of an organization, and may be the main way that people become involved, but once they get inside, they find the reality to be different than the initial appearance.

Other leaders function like the roof, protecting the organization but may be "above" the real workings of the building.

Still others leaders are like an inner room, reclusive and secretive, protecting the most valuable possessions of the organization.

Each of these styles of leadership is exercised by the exertion of power and influence.

APPLICATION

But the Bible speaks of a different kind of leader--a leadership style that offers something unique where power has been abused and systems have faltered. This style of leadership functions like the foundation of the building. Often unseen and sometimes ignored, the foundation creates the environment, sustains the workings, and ensures the success of the entire organization. "Foundation leadership" is collaborative, supportive, and strong in ways that transfer strength to everyone involved.

In Mark 9:33-35, we find Jesus confronting some of his leaders-in-training about their concern over who should be considered the "greatest" among them.  Jesus tells them that to be the greatest leader, one must become a servant, not the master - the foundation, not the front door or the roof.

Stand Down

Desperation God's Deliverance Submission

Source: "2 officers, 1 first responder killed responding to domestic violence call in Minnesota; shooter also dead" By Doha Madani and Rebecca Cohen, published NBC News 2/18/24

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Kikeh Anthony | Date Posted: 2024-02-28

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:19 ; James 4:7

Author: Kikeh Anthony
1

ILLUSTRATION

Two police officers and a first responder were killed in Burnsville, Minnesota, responding to “a call of a family in danger” Sunday morning, according Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. 

The two officers and a pardemic firefighter were killed during a domestic disturbance call. The shooter had barricaded himself inside his home with 7 children and his wife therein. During the standoff and attempted negotiations, the man opened fire, killing the 3 first responders before being hit by other officers who had arrived on the scence. The children and wife were safely escorted out after the man was found deceased at 8:00am. 

The officers and firefifghters were there to respond to a man clearly in crisis, perhaps assailed by his own pain, his own frustration, his own despair, his own internal turmoil, and perhaps the turmoil within his own home and life. Whatever was happening in his life, whatever was occruing or contributing to such a deadly response, the fatal blow to both himself and the responders was actually dealt the moment he refused to respond to the efforts of those who were ulitimately there to spare him, to save him, the woman, and the children.

Sure, he would have faced consequences. But maybe the family would have forgiven him, refusing to press charges. Maybe the state would have been understanding and lenient.

If only he had stood down, his life, and the lives of the others, could have been spared.

APPLICATION

In our own times of trouble, of crisis, of despair, the Lord comes to us as a type of first responder. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit  ... the Godhead comes to us ready to minister in any way necessary. Ready to talk us off our ledges. Ready to minister peace. Ready to save.

Stand down, believer!  

The situation may be dire. You may be as desperate as you have ever been. It may be difficult to simply receive the help. But stand down!

Stand down and receive the witness of the Heavenly Responders: Faither, Son, and Holy Spirit. They work in coordination and complete harmony with one another. Theirs is the only response that will spare your life, and eternally set you on the course toward repair.

Stand down, believer! They are not there to put you down but to pull you through. 

"Do not quench the Spirit" I Thessalonians 5:19, ESV).

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble" (Psalm 46:1, BSB).
 

The Church -- God's Superorganism

Cooperation Church/Body of Christ Fellowship

Source: "Secrets of a Superorganism" by Tate Holbrook, Rebecca Clark, and Brian Haney, published Arizona State University Biology

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Marcelle Smith | Date Posted: 2024-02-06

Scripture: Romans 12:4 ; Ephesians 4:6

Author: Marcelle Smith
6

ILLUSTRATION

Ants are everywhere. They thrive in forests, fields, deserts, and cities all over the planet. Their secret to success is that they all live and work together in highly organized communities, some of which have many millions of members.

Ants have the largest brains of any insects, but that doesn’t mean a single ant on its own is all that smart. As individual ants leave their nest in search for food, they walk in what appear to be random paths, hoping to come across something to eat. When an individual ant finds a food source, the ant will take a bit of the food back to the nest, leaving a trail of pheromones behind them to mark the path. Over time, ants organize their search, optimizing the best and shortest path between the food source and the nest. As more ants follow the optimal path back and forth, they leave more and more pheromones, which in turn attract more and more ants, creating a reinforcing efficiency effect. Over time, older ants gather more experience about the environment surrounding their nests, which makes it easier for them to forage effectively.

Even though individual ants can get smarter over time as they learn more about their surrounding environment, the real ant intelligence [and strength] is in the collective. They are so united toward the common purpose of growth and reproduction that they behave like a “superorganism.”

APPLICATION

The Church -- the Body of Christ -- is not simply an institution, but rather a living organism. When the Body Christ functions as God intends, we become, like the ants, a superorgansim. Yes, we can be frutiful and grow stronger and more "spiritually" intellegent on our own. but, also like the ants, our real strength, our real intellegence is in the collective. 

So many reasons, as Scripture encourages us, to, "Look to the ant ... consider her ways!" (Proverbs 6:6)"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another" (Romans 12:4-5, ESV).

"From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love" (Ephesians 4:6, ESV).

Counterfeit Giftedness

Spiritual Gifts Potential Talents

Contributed By: Herry Herry | Date Posted: 2024-01-27

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10 ; Romans 12:6

Author:
7

This is Premium Content.

To see the full illustration, please Sign Up or

Backseat Driver

Guidance Submission Trust (In God)

Contributed By: Roy Hyde | Date Posted: 2024-01-16

Scripture: Psalms 32:8

Author: Roy Hyde
0

This is Premium Content.

To see the full illustration, please Sign Up or

Eudardo, Come and Find Juan Cruz!

Evangelism Community Church/Body of Christ

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-09-29

Scripture: Luke 19:10 ; Matthew 9:37

Author: Illustration Exchange
6

This is Premium Content.

To see the full illustration, please Sign Up or

When Love Takes a Bite Out of Your Sandwich

Jesus' Humanity God's Care Fellowship

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-09-07

Scripture: Hebrews 4:15 ; Matthew 11:29

Author: Illustration Exchange
8

This is Premium Content.

To see the full illustration, please Sign Up or

"Bee" Devoted to One Another in Brotherly Love

Church/Body of Christ Community Servanthood

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-08-13

Scripture: Romans 12:10 ; 1 Corinthians 12:26

Author: Unknown
4

This is Premium Content.

To see the full illustration, please Sign Up or

Who Doesn't Love A Belly Rub?

Submission Humility Comfort

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-05-20

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:19 ; 1 Peter 5:5

Author: Illustration Exchange
9

This is Premium Content.

To see the full illustration, please Sign Up or

Created to be Free

Love (Divine) Freedom Submission

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-05-20

Scripture: John 8:36 ; John 15:5

Author: Todd Pierce
4

This is Premium Content.

To see the full illustration, please Sign Up or