**As I progress through my doctoral program I will be placing some of my work on here. Please feel free to engage with me in the learning process to seek greater depth in understanding of leadership, scripture, and life.
The very core reason for existence by Christians, as well as the universal call to leadership for all disciples of Christ, is found in Jesus’ last words on earth. As Jesus is departing from his disciples, he leaves them with the mandate to “go…and make disciples” (Matthew 28.19, ESV), in other words, go and influence others to follow Jesus. (Dilmore, 2013, p. 30) This command is given to the disciples to pass down and begin a chain of empowerment of these final earthly words by Jesus. Leadership is defined as power, and power is defined as influence (Northouse, 2013), and so influence is the essence of leadership. When Jesus calls the disciples to make more disciples, he is calling them to influence people to follow him, therefore lead them into a relationship with Jesus. Each and every follower of the disciples, and each successive follower after that, is called to influence…called to be a leader.
This call by Jesus of leadership was not only meant to be about finding new followers, but it also carried with it commands of living out what Jesus had taught. Jesus wanted his followers to lead other followers through the observance of his teachings in “attitudes, values, skills, and behaviors which are appropriate for all those who are followers of God.” (Huizing, 2011, p. 334) This behavioral observance of the mentor’s teachings is how a legacy is built. It is through the observance of behavioral principles and the developing of other followers a legacy of a leader is built, such as the legacy built in the name of Jesus by his disciples. It is this legacy building all Christians are called to fulfill as leaders to the world.
References
Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: study Bible: English Standard Version (ESV text ed.). Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles.
Dilmore, P. (2014). Being and making disciples of Jesus Christ. Living Pulpit, 23(1).
Huizing, R. L. (2011). Leaders from Disciples: The Church’s Contribution to Leadership Development. Evangelical Review of Theology, 35(4), 333–344.
Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks: SAGE.
