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Sacrificial Leadership

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ

     When you step into a leadership position, it is not something you can decide to do half-heartedly. Becoming a leader means giving your all. Like Christ, who emptied Himself and undeservedly died on the cross for our sins, we must be self-sacrificial.

Philippians 2:5-11
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.  (NIV)

     Being a leader means more than standing in front of others and showing them the way. Being a leader means giving up your own benefits for the benefit of others. We are to serve them and think of them as more important than ourselves.
    As leaders we will have to sacrifice our time, our relationships, our money, and our talents and abilities. All will be on the table to be used at His disposal. He has created us and blessed us to be a blessing to others and to point to Him. He didn't give us gifts and abilities to keep them to ourselves! He gave them to us to be used to His benefit.
    Of course, we sacrifice all these things out of our love for Christ and His people. For God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)! Let us give to God the things that were His to begin with. Let us lead leaving everything on the table to be used. Let us put others before ourselves and lead like Jesus, sacrificing it all. And let us enjoy every second doing it!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
John 15:12-14 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (ESV)
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (ESV)






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