Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. They were saying, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’” Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff. But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.
My Thoughts
Jesus was not a people pleaser. How tempting it would have been to end His message at the point everyone was praising Him. “Oh, Jesus, your words are like music to our ears.” “You are so knowledgeable and articulate!” “Good sermon Pastor!”
Yeah, He could have just scarfed down all the “ego biscuits” and left as a preaching phenom. But He didn’t. He went on to speak about the hard truths. The truths that when received by the humble are transformative. But these truths were not received in humility, they were received in pride and anger. And that’s the risk Jesus took as a good disciple maker. Set the table with the food that will nourish the people, not just please them.
In John 1:14 it says “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” As disciple makers, we are both trying to emulate Jesus and help others do the same. Part of becoming like Jesus is to be “full of grace AND truth.” In other words, we are loving people by bringing words of both mercy, grace, forgiveness and exhortation, rebuke, and correction. True love brings both!
My Story
I sat in a coffee shop every morning for two years with a little sign that read, “How can I pray for you?” My goal was to pray for people and share the gospel. Many of the baristas in the shop were gay and some of them took me up on my offer to pray for them. They knew that even though I was a Christian, I loved and respected them. Fast forward five years. I hadn’t been in that shop for years but some friends of Deb and I stopped in to have coffee. Gay pride flags and paraphernalia were hanging everywhere and I was feeling awkward and even angry. Then one of my gay friends saw me and we hugged one another with genuine friendship. At that moment I was feeling a serious battle raging within my soul. How do I hate the sin and love the sinner? I showed respect and kindness but did I tell them the truth? Was I like Jesus, full of grace and truth?” I had to answer myself truthfully, no. I had not shared the truth with them as I should have. I should have been more loving by discussing the dangers of unrepentant sin. I’m working on this. I’m very pastoral but not very prophetic. In recent weeks as I’ve studied Jesus, my applications have been, “Don’t just be kind, love. Warn them.”
Now I’m going to go from “Good sermon Pastor” to “Who do you think you are, meddling in our lives?” I’d venture to say there’s not many gay people reading this post. But I bet ten bucks and a doughnut a lot of followers of Jesus will! What do we think of gay people? How do we treat them? As non-believers, are they allowed in our churches? What do we do with repentant believers that struggle with homosexual tendencies? Is being gay worse than any other sexual sin (or just sin in general)? Are we warning them by telling them the truth in love? You see, when Jesus was preaching in the synagogue that day, He was talking to religious people. He was confronting their thoughts and actions toward the Gentiles. Who, by the way, were committing many of the same sexual sins we see in our culture today. Jesus is trying to help us see our own shortcomings and join Him on His mission to provide the antidote for our sins and theirs.
So let’s be like Jesus and be full of grace and truth. Let’s share the gospel that includes the King and His authority, the need to repent and believe, and the fact that Jesus died in our stead and rose from the dead on the third day providing forgiveness and His righteousness. This Great Exchange is the only hope any of us have and it comes through hearing and receiving both grace and truth. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
Our Action Plan
Now as doers of the Word and not merely hears, how are we going to practice being “full of grace and truth.”
Hanging out with sinners with the people we are discipling like Jesus did.
Challenge those we are discipling to confront sin in a loving way.
Do a Bible study with those we are discipling on the topic of leveraging “grace and truth” together.
I’ve zeroed in on one particular area of sexual immorality and how to practice “grace and truth.” But these are not the only sins we need to approach with courage and compassion. As we make disciples, let’s consider and work on our own shortcomings as we help others do the same in love.
Más Allá de los Aplausos, Hacia la Verdad – 32
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, veremos el Evangelio de Lucas y observaremos cómo Jesús predicó la verdad incluso a su propio riesgo.
Así que vamos a comenzar.
Lucas 4:16–30
Vino a Nazaret, donde se había criado; y en el día de reposo[a] entró en la sinagoga, conforme a su costumbre, y se levantó a leer. Y se le dio el libro del profeta Isaías; y habiendo abierto el libro, halló el lugar donde estaba escrito:
El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí, Por cuanto me ha ungido para dar buenas nuevas a los pobres; Me ha enviado a sanar a los quebrantados de corazón; A pregonar libertad a los cautivos, Y vista a los ciegos; A poner en libertad a los oprimidos;A predicar el año agradable del Señor.
Y enrollando el libro, lo dio al ministro, y se sentó; y los ojos de todos en la sinagoga estaban fijos en él. Y comenzó a decirles: Hoy se ha cumplido esta Escritura delante de vosotros. 22 Y todos daban buen testimonio de él, y estaban maravillados de las palabras de gracia que salían de su boca, y decían: ¿No es este el hijo de José?
Él les dijo: Sin duda me diréis este refrán: Médico, cúrate a ti mismo; de tantas cosas que hemos oído que se han hecho en Capernaum, haz también aquí en tu tierra. Y añadió: De cierto os digo, que ningún profeta es acepto en su propia tierra. Y en verdad os digo que muchas viudas había en Israel en los días de Elías, cuando el cielo fue cerrado por tres años y seis meses, y hubo una gran hambre en toda la tierra; pero a ninguna de ellas fue enviado Elías, sino a una mujer viuda en Sarepta de Sidón.Y muchos leprosos había en Israel en tiempo del profeta Eliseo; pero ninguno de ellos fue limpiado, sino Naamán el sirio.
Al oír estas cosas, todos en la sinagoga se llenaron de ira; y levantándose, le echaron fuera de la ciudad, y le llevaron hasta la cumbre del monte sobre el cual estaba edificada la ciudad de ellos, para despeñarle. Mas él pasó por en medio de ellos, y se fue.
Mis Pensamientos
Jesús no estaba para complacer a la gente. ¡Qué tentador habría sido terminar Su mensaje en el punto en que todos lo estaban alabando! “Oh, Jesús, tus palabras son como música para nuestros oídos”. “¡Eres tan conocedor y elocuente!” —¡Buen sermón, pastor!
Sí, Él podría haberse tragado todas las “galletas del ego” y marcharse como un fenómeno de predicación. Pero no lo hizo. A continuación, habló de las duras verdades. Las verdades que cuando son recibidas por los humildes son transformadoras. Pero estas verdades no fueron recibidas con humildad, fueron recibidas con orgullo y enojo. Y ese es el riesgo que tomó Jesús como un buen hacedor de discípulos. Pon la mesa con la comida que nutrirá a la gente, no solo para complacerlos.
En Juan 1:14 dice: “Y el Verbo se hizo carne, y habitó entre nosotros, y vimos su gloria, gloria como del unigénito del Padre, lleno de gracia y de verdad”. Como hacedores de discípulos, ambos estamos tratando de emular a Jesús y ayudar a otros a hacer lo mismo. Parte de llegar a ser como Jesús es estar “lleno de gracia Y de verdad”. En otras palabras, estamos amando a las personas al traer palabras de misericordia, gracia, perdón y exhortación, reprensión y corrección. ¡El amor verdadero trae ambas cosas!
Mi Historia
Me senté en una cafetería todas las mañanas durante dos años con un pequeño letrero que decía: “¿Cómo puedo orar por ti?” Mi objetivo era orar por las personas y compartir el evangelio. Muchos de los baristas de la tienda eran homosexuales y algunos de ellos aceptaron mi oferta de rezar por ellos. Sabían que, aunque yo era cristiano, los amaba y los respetaba. Cinco años después. Hacía años que no iba a esa tienda, pero unos amigos de Deb y yo nos paramos a tomar un café. Las banderas del orgullo gay y la parafernalia colgaban por todas partes y me sentía incómodo e incluso enojado. Entonces uno de mis amigos gays me vio y nos abrazamos con genuina amistad. En ese momento estaba sintiendo una seria batalla que se libraba dentro de mi alma. ¿Cómo odio el pecado y amo al pecador? Mostré respeto y amabilidad, pero ¿les dije la verdad? ¿Era yo como Jesús, lleno de gracia y de verdad?” Tuve que responderme a mí mismo con sinceridad, no. No había compartido la verdad con ellos como debería haberlo hecho. Debería haber sido más amoroso al hablar de los peligros del pecado sin arrepentirse. Estoy trabajando en esto. Soy muy pastoral, pero no muy profético. En las últimas semanas, a medida que he estudiado a Jesús, mis aplicaciones han sido: “No seas solo amable, amor. Adviérteles”.
Ahora voy a pasar de “Buen sermón de pastor” a “¿Quién te crees que eres entrometiéndote en nuestras vidas?” Me atrevería a decir que no hay muchas personas homosexuales leyendo este post. ¡Pero apuesto diez dólares y un pastelillo a que muchos seguidores de Jesús lo harán! ¿Qué pensamos de las personas homosexuales? ¿Cómo los tratamos? Como no creyentes, ¿se les permite entrar en nuestras iglesias? ¿Qué hacemos con los creyentes arrepentidos que luchan con las tendencias homosexuales? ¿Ser gay es peor que cualquier otro pecado sexual (o simplemente pecado en general)? ¿Les estamos advirtiendo diciéndoles la verdad en amor? Cuando Jesús estaba predicando en la sinagoga ese día, estaba hablando a personas religiosas. Él estaba confrontando sus pensamientos y acciones hacia los gentiles. Quienes, por cierto, estaban cometiendo muchos de los mismos pecados sexuales que vemos en nuestra cultura hoy en día. Jesús está tratando de ayudarnos a ver nuestros propios defectos y unirnos a Él en Su misión de proporcionar el antídoto para nuestros pecados y los de ellos.
Así que seamos como Jesús y estemos llenos de gracia y verdad. Compartamos el evangelio que incluye al Rey y Su autoridad, la necesidad de arrepentirse y creer, y el hecho de que Jesús murió en nuestro lugar y resucitó de entre los muertos al tercer día proporcionando perdón y Su justicia. Este Gran Intercambio es la única esperanza que cualquiera de nosotros tiene y viene a través de escuchar y recibir tanto la gracia como la verdad. (2 Corintios 5:17-21.)
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora, como hacedores de la Palabra y no meramente oye, ¿cómo vamos a practicar el estar “llenos de gracia y de verdad”?
*Pasar el rato con los “pecadores”, con las personas a las que estamos discipulando, como lo hizo Jesús.
*Desafíe a aquellos a quienes estamos discipulando de una manera amorosa, a enfrentar el pecado.
*Hacer un estudio bíblico con aquellos a quienes estamos discipulando sobre el tema de aprovechar “la gracia y la verdad” juntas.
Hoy me he centrado en un área particular de la inmoralidad sexual y en cómo practicar la “gracia y la verdad”. Pero estos no son los únicos pecados que debemos abordar con valentía y compasión. Al hacer discípulos, consideremos y trabajemos en nuestros propios defectos mientras ayudamos a otros, con amor, a hacer lo mismo.
Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14b-15, Luke 4:14-15, John 4:43–45
After the two days Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, preaching the gospel of God, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast. From that time Jesus began teaching and to preach in their synagogues and say, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” and He was praised by all.
My Thoughts
Jesus preached a central message from which, like an artesian well, all His other messages bubbled up. He proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” I see three key components to His main message.
The Kingdom of God – The rule and reign of God. It was time for it’s coming. Not in its fullness mind you (Matthew 25:34, Ephesians 1:10, Hebrews 4:3) but in enough glory that it would and should have been recognized. The biggest clue that the kingdom of God was at hand was that the King had just showed up! (Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 17:20-21, John 18:36, Revelation 19:13, 16) Jesus in essence was saying “Wake up! Your ultimate authority is right before your eyes! And things are going to change around here.”
Repent – Change. Repentance is a change in mind, heart, and action. It starts with acknowledging the authority of the King and a healthy fear of His justice. (Matthew 10:28, Hebrews 10:26-31) It’s personal as we recognize how short we have fallen from the Creator’s design and righteousness. (Romans 3:23, 2 Corinthians 7:10) And then repentance is secured in the hope of mercy and forgiveness. (Examples of Jesus’ response to repentance – Luke 5:10b, 7:50, 15:24, 18:14, 19:11, 23:43, John 4:36)
Believe the Good News – Placing our faith in the Gospel. The God Who loves us has made a way to pay for our sins through the substitutionary death of His Son, Jesus. (Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 4:10) He took on God’s wrath on a cross we deserved for our rebellion. (Isaiah 53:4-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:10) And now instead of trying to merit salvation through our own righteousness we can never attain, He gives us His. The Great Exchange has taken place. He took on our sins and gave us His righteousness. When we repent and believe in His way to solve our debt problem, He makes us “new creatures.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) It is His good news, His gospel, that saves us from His wrath, not our “good works.” (Romans 1:16, 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5)
My Story
We were doing an intensive topical Bible study on the gospel and we noticed that Jesus was preaching the “Gospel of the Kingdom.” We also recognized that Jesus talked a lot about the kingdom of God and I mean a lot! So we asked the question; “How can we be more like Jesus and infuse more of the kingdom in our gospel presentation?” So we came up with the Two Kingdoms Illustration. Here’s an example;
What I’ve come to realize is that there are two kingdoms, the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Light. They are at war with one another and unfortunately we’re born into the Kingdom of Darkness. Satan is the king of the Kingdom of Darkness and he’s a liar. He says you don’t have to serve me, you can serve yourself. But in the end, he gives death, darkness, and destruction. On the other hand, we have the Kingdom of Light. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of Light. He came to Earth, He lived the perfect life, and He died on a cross for all the things that we’ve done wrong. He rose from the dead three days later and proved that He’s the King of everything. He says to us, “If you turn from your selfish ways and serve Me as your King and receive my forgiveness, I’ll give you life, light, and love for all eternity. Now we live in this little bubble called life for 70 to 80 years and when it pops, whichever king we served is where we’re going to spend all eternity. My question for you is which king are you serving?
Part of our goal as disciple-makers trying to help disciples become more like Jesus is to try and emphasize the things He did. Jesus talked a great deal about the kingdom of God. How can we infuse more “kingdom talk” into our discipleship? Here’s some ideas;
Do an in depth Bible study on the kingdom of God with those we are discipling
Integrate the kingdom of God into our gospel presentations
Reference the kingdom of God more in our teaching and discussions
Jesus had a main message that was the springboard for His ministry. It is still relevant today. We would do well to keep preaching the same message.
El Mensaje Principal – 31
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, combinaremos los cuatro Evangelios para echar un vistazo al mensaje principal de Jesús
Así que comencemos.
Mateo 4:17, Marcos 1:14b-15, Lucas 4:14-15, Juan 4:43–45
Después de los dos días, Jesús regresó a Galilea con el poder del Espíritu, predicando el evangelio de Dios, y las noticias acerca de Él se extendieron por todo el distrito circundante. Porque Jesús mismo testificó que un profeta no tiene honor en su propia tierra. Cuando llegó a Galilea, los galileos le recibieron, habiendo visto todas las cosas que había hecho en Jerusalén durante la fiesta; porque ellos también iban a la fiesta. Desde entonces Jesús comenzó a enseñar y a predicar en las sinagogas de ellos y a decir: “El tiempo se ha cumplido, y el reino de Dios se ha acercado; arrepentíos y creed en el evangelio” y fue alabado por todos.
Mis pensamientos
Jesús predicó un mensaje central del cual, como un pozo artesiano, brotaron todos sus otros mensajes. Proclamó: “El tiempo se ha cumplido, y el reino de Dios se ha acercado; Arrepentíos y creed en el Evangelio”. Veo tres componentes clave en Su mensaje principal.
El Reino de Dios – El gobierno y reino de Dios. Era el momento de que llegara. No en su plenitud (Mateo 25:34, Efesios 1:10, Hebreos 4:3) sino en suficiente gloria como para que hubiera sido y debiera haber sido reconocida. ¡La pista más grande de que el reino de Dios estaba cerca era que el Rey acababa de aparecer! (Isaías 9:6-7, Lucas 17:20-21, Juan 18:36, Revelación 19:13, 16.) Jesús, en esencia, estaba diciendo: “¡Despierta! ¡Tu máxima autoridad está justo delante de tus ojos! Y las cosas van a cambiar por aquí”.
Arrepentirse – Cambiar. El arrepentimiento es un cambio en la mente, el corazón y la acción. Comienza con el reconocimiento de la autoridad del Rey y un sano temor de Su justicia. (Mateo 10:28, Hebreos 10:26-31.) Es personal cuando reconocemos lo cortos que hemos caído del designio y la justicia del Creador. (Romanos 3:23, 2 Corintios 7:10.) Y entonces el arrepentimiento está asegurado en la esperanza de la misericordia y el perdón. (Ejemplos de la respuesta de Jesús al arrepentimiento: Lucas 5:10b, 7:50, 15:24, 18:14, 19:11, 23:43, Juan 4:36)
Creer en las Buenas Nuevas – Poner nuestra fe en el Evangelio. El Dios que nos ama ha hecho un camino para pagar por nuestros pecados a través de la muerte sustitutiva de Su Hijo, Jesús. (Romanos 5:8, 1 Pedro 3:18, 1 Juan 4:10.) Él cargó con la ira de Dios en una cruz que merecíamos por nuestra rebelión. (Isaías 53:4-6, 1 Tesalonicenses 1:10.) Y ahora, en lugar de tratar de merecer la salvación a través de nuestra propia justicia que nunca podremos alcanzar, Él nos da la Suya. El Gran Intercambio ha tenido lugar. Él tomó nuestros pecados y nos dio Su justicia. Cuando nos arrepentimos y creemos en Su manera de resolver nuestro problema de deudas, Él nos hace “nuevas criaturas”. (2 Corintios 5:17-21.) Son sus buenas nuevas, su evangelio, las que nos salvan de su ira, no nuestras “buenas obras”. (Romanos 1:16, 6:23, Efesios 2:8-9, Tito 3:5.)
Mi Historia
Estábamos haciendo un estudio bíblico intensivo sobre el evangelio y nos dimos cuenta de que Jesús estaba predicando el “Evangelio del Reino”. También reconocimos que Jesús habló mucho sobre el reino de Dios y quiero decir mucho. Así que hicimos la pregunta; “¿Cómo podemos ser más como Jesús e infundir más del reino en nuestra presentación del evangelio?” Así que se nos ocurrió la ilustración de los Dos Reinos. He aquí un ejemplo;
De lo que me he dado cuenta es de que hay dos reinos, el Reino de las Tinieblas y el Reino de la Luz. Están en guerra entre sí y, por desgracia, nacemos en el Reino de las Tinieblas. Satanás es el rey del Reino de las Tinieblas y es un mentiroso. Él dice que no tienes que servirme, puedes servirte a ti mismo. Pero al final, él da muerte, oscuridad y destrucción. Por otro lado, tenemos el Reino de la Luz. Jesús es el Rey del Reino de la Luz. Él vino a la Tierra, vivió la vida perfecta, y murió en una cruz por todas las cosas que hemos hecho mal. Él resucitó de entre los muertos tres días después y demostró que Él es el Rey de todo. Él nos dice: “Si os apartáis de vuestros caminos egoístas y me servís como vuestro Rey y recibís mi perdón, os daré vida, luz y amor por toda la eternidad. Ahora vivimos en esta pequeña burbuja llamada vida durante 70 a 80 años y cuando estalle, el rey al que servimos es donde vamos a pasar toda la eternidad. Mi pregunta para ti es ¿a qué rey estás sirviendo?
Parte de nuestro objetivo como hacedores de discípulos tratando de ayudar a los discípulos a ser más como Jesús es tratar de enfatizar las cosas que Él hizo. Jesús habló mucho sobre el Reino de Dios. ¿Cómo podemos infundir más “charla del reino” en nuestro discipulado? Aquí hay algunas ideas;
– Hacer un estudio bíblico profundo sobre el reino de Dios con aquellos a quienes estamos discipulando
– Integrar el reino de Dios en nuestras presentaciones del Evangelio
– Hacer más referencia al Reino de Dios en nuestras enseñanzas y análisis
Jesús tenía un mensaje principal que era el trampolín para su ministerio. El cual sigue siendo relevante hoy en día. Haríamos bien en seguir predicando el mismo mensaje.
Now He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph and Jacob’s well was there. And Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman replied, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” The woman replied, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband. In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”
The woman said, “Sir, I see that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where men ought worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe Me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking these kinds of people to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” Jesus answered, “I who speak to you am He.”
Just then His disciples returned and were surprised that He was speaking with a woman. But no one asked Him, “What do You want from her?” or “Why are You talking with her?” Then the woman left her water jar, went back into the town, and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” So they left the town and made their way toward Jesus.
Meanwhile the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” So the disciples asked one another, “Could someone have brought Him food?” Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest. Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the hard work, and now you have taken up their labor.”
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. And many more believed because of His message. They said to the woman, “We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world.”
My Thoughts
Wow! So many thoughts come flooding in and I can only choose one. So let’s go with the heavenly food. When the disciples return from town they see Jesus talking to a woman. Now we can only imagine what they were thinking because they were surprised and too sheepish to ask any questions. So in that awkward little moment they turned to what most men turn to change the subject, food or sports. (If the gals were with them there would be no such distractions. Details, Man, details!) The disciples offer Jesus lunch and He responds with, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” And the disciples in typical fashion don’t get it, “Did Doordash deliver?” And once again, Jesus has to explain, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”
Here Jesus is saying that doing the will of the Father, putting His relationship with Him into action, is like eating food. There’s a heavenly nourishment that comes from DOING what you KNOW. It is true that Jesus compares the Word of God to bread (more heavenly food in Matthew 4:4) but He also couples the metaphor with putting the Word into action. We must be nourished by both the Word and the will of God. So it’s not good enough for us to make “smarter” disciples of Jesus. We have to press in and help them DO what they have learned. We must swim against the adverse currents that focus on knowledge only and reach the other shore of application.
I love the satire of Francis Chan when exhorting us to actually practice the Great Commission. He asks the question; “If I instructed my kids to clean their room and they came back with a list of activities like; ‘Daddy, I memorized what you said and me and a group of my friends actually got together and discussed your instructions. We then parsed what you said in Greek and all agreed that it was super important for me to clean my room.’” To which Francis would reply, “But did you clean your room?” Francis clearly articulates what Jesus is getting at here. We and the disciples we make, need to put our knowledge into action.
My Story
Occasionally I’m asked the question in reference to the way we meet as church, “Where’s the meat?” or “How do your people get fed?” Our meetings are usually pretty simple. We check in to see how each person is doing and pray for one another, cast a little vision on how to multiply disciples, and then discuss a portion of Scripture. It’s not very complicated or hard to do. Almost everyone in our church has led the meeting at one time or another. So the casual onlooker may wonder, “Is that it? Are these guys really doing church?” Oh, I forgot to add two essential elements we do almost every time we get together. At the end of the meeting we pray silently for a few minutes asking Jesus what He wants us to do as a result of our time together as church. We ask, “How do You want me to follow You and fish this week?” (Matthew 4:19) And then at the beginning of our next meeting we ask, “So how did your following and fishing from last time go?” (Remember, it’s what Jesus told us to do, not someone else) And that my friends is where the meat is. The big juicy steak is the application. We are both in the Word of God and the Will of God. We are feasting on both knowledge and application like Jesus did.
Our Action Plan
Now let’s talk about potential applications from this post, shall we. 🙂
Ask this question of your fellowship; “Does our church have a plan for regular engagement on how we are applying the Word of God?”
Practice “confessing your sins to one another.” (James 5:16)
Stop right now and ask Jesus, “What should I do as a result of reading this blog post?”
It is clear from Jesus’ life and ministry that He put a high value on application. Will we as disciple makers resist the temptation to be “vending machines of knowledge only” and walk with others in action?
Comida Celestial – 30
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, veremos el Evangelio de Juan y aprenderemos sobre la comida celestial de Jesús.
Así que comencemos
Juan 4:4-42
Y le era necesario pasar por Samaria. Vino, pues, a una ciudad de Samaria llamada Sicar, junto a la heredad que Jacob dio a su hijo José. Y estaba allí el pozo de Jacob. Entonces Jesús, cansado del camino, se sentó así junto al pozo. Era como la hora sexta.
Vino una mujer de Samaria a sacar agua; y Jesús le dijo: Dame de beber. Pues sus discípulos habían ido a la ciudad a comprar de comer. La mujer samaritana le dijo: ¿Cómo tú, siendo judío, me pides a mí de beber, que soy mujer samaritana? Porque judíos y samaritanos no se tratan entre sí.Respondió Jesús y le dijo: Si conocieras el don de Dios, y quién es el que te dice: Dame de beber; tú le pedirías, y él te daría agua viva. La mujer le dijo: Señor, no tienes con qué sacarla, y el pozo es hondo. ¿De dónde, pues, tienes el agua viva? ¿Acaso eres tú mayor que nuestro padre Jacob, que nos dio este pozo, del cual bebieron él, sus hijos y sus ganados? Respondió Jesús y le dijo: Cualquiera que bebiere de esta agua, volverá a tener sed; mas el que bebiere del agua que yo le daré, no tendrá sed jamás; sino que el agua que yo le daré será en él una fuente de agua que salte para vida eterna. La mujer le dijo: Señor, dame esa agua, para que no tenga yo sed, ni venga aquí a sacarla.
Jesús le dijo: Ve, llama a tu marido, y ven acá. Respondió la mujer y dijo: No tengo marido. Jesús le dijo: Bien has dicho: No tengo marido; porque cinco maridos has tenido, y el que ahora tienes no es tu marido; esto has dicho con verdad. Le dijo la mujer: Señor, me parece que tú eres profeta. Nuestros padres adoraron en este monte, y vosotros decís que en Jerusalén es el lugar donde se debe adorar. Jesús le dijo: Mujer, créeme, que la hora viene cuando ni en este monte ni en Jerusalén adoraréis al Padre. Vosotros adoráis lo que no sabéis; nosotros adoramos lo que sabemos; porque la salvación viene de los judíos. Mas la hora viene, y ahora es, cuando los verdaderos adoradores adorarán al Padre en espíritu y en verdad; porque también el Padre tales adoradores busca que le adoren. Dios es Espíritu; y los que le adoran, en espíritu y en verdad es necesario que adoren. Le dijo la mujer: Sé que ha de venir el Mesías, llamado el Cristo; cuando él venga nos declarará todas las cosas. Jesús le dijo: Yo soy, el que habla contigo.
En esto vinieron sus discípulos, y se maravillaron de que hablaba con una mujer; sin embargo, ninguno dijo: ¿Qué preguntas? o, ¿Qué hablas con ella? Entonces la mujer dejó su cántaro, y fue a la ciudad, y dijo a los hombres: Venid, ved a un hombre que me ha dicho todo cuanto he hecho. ¿No será este el Cristo? Entonces salieron de la ciudad, y vinieron a él.
Entre tanto, los discípulos le rogaban, diciendo: Rabí, come.Él les dijo: Yo tengo una comida que comer, que vosotros no sabéis. Entonces los discípulos decían unos a otros: ¿Le habrá traído alguien de comer? Jesús les dijo: Mi comida es que haga la voluntad del que me envió, y que acabe su obra.¿No decís vosotros: Aún faltan cuatro meses para que llegue la siega? He aquí os digo: Alzad vuestros ojos y mirad los campos, porque ya están blancos para la siega. Y el que siega recibe salario, y recoge fruto para vida eterna, para que el que siembra goce juntamente con el que siega.Porque en esto es verdadero el dicho: Uno es el que siembra, y otro es el que siega. Yo os he enviado a segar lo que vosotros no labrasteis; otros labraron, y vosotros habéis entrado en sus labores.
Y muchos de los samaritanos de aquella ciudad creyeron en él por la palabra de la mujer, que daba testimonio diciendo: Me dijo todo lo que he hecho. Entonces vinieron los samaritanos a él y le rogaron que se quedase con ellos; y se quedó allí dos días. Y creyeron muchos más por la palabra de él, y decían a la mujer: Ya no creemos solamente por tu dicho, porque nosotros mismos hemos oído, y sabemos que verdaderamente este es el Salvador del mundo, el Cristo.
Mis pensamientos
¡Uau! Son tantos los pensamientos que me inundan y solo puedo elegir uno. Así que hablemos de la comida celestial. Cuando los discípulos regresan de la ciudad, ven a Jesús hablando con una mujer. Ahora solo podemos imaginar lo que estaban pensando porque estaban sorprendidos y demasiado avergonzados para hacer preguntas. Así que en ese pequeño momento incómodo recurrieron a lo que la mayoría de los hombres recurren para cambiar de tema, la comida o los deportes. (Si las chicas estuvieran con ellos, no habría tales distracciones. ¡Detalles, hombre, detalles!) Los discípulos le ofrecen a Jesús el almuerzo y él responde: “Tengo comida para comer de la que no sabes nada”. Y los discípulos, de manera típica, no entienden: “¿Le trajeron comida?” Y una vez más, Jesús tiene que explicar: “Mi alimento es hacer la voluntad del que me envió y terminar su obra”.
Aquí Jesús está diciendo que hacer la voluntad del Padre, poner en acción Su relación con Él, es como comer comida. Hay un alimento celestial que proviene de HACER lo que SABES. Es cierto que Jesús compara la Palabra de Dios con el pan (más alimento celestial en Mateo 4:4), pero también combina la metáfora poniendo la Palabra en acción. Debemos ser alimentados tanto por la Palabra como por la voluntad de Dios. Así que no es suficiente para nosotros hacer discípulos de Jesús “más inteligentes”. Tenemos que esforzarnos y ayudarles a HACER lo que han aprendido. Debemos nadar contra las corrientes adversas que se centran solo en el conocimiento y llegar a la otra orilla de la aplicación.
Me encanta la sátira de Francis Chan cuando nos exhorta a practicar realmente la Gran Comisión. Él hace la pregunta; “Si les dijera a mis hijos que limpiaran su habitación y regresaran con una lista de actividades como; “Papá, memoricé lo que dijiste y un grupo de amigos y yo nos reunimos y discutimos tus instrucciones. Luego analizamos lo que dijiste en griego y todos estuvimos de acuerdo en que era muy importante para mí limpiar mi habitación”. A lo que Francis respondió: “¿Pero actualmente limpiaste tu habitación?” Francis articula claramente lo que Jesús quiere decir aquí. Nosotros y los discípulos que hacemos, necesitamos poner nuestro conocimiento en acción.
Mi Historia
De vez en cuando me hacen la pregunta en referencia a la forma en que nos reunimos como iglesia: “¿Dónde está la carne?” o “¿Cómo se alimenta tu gente?” Nuestras reuniones suelen ser bastante sencillas. Nos comunicamos para ver cómo le va a cada persona y oramos unos por otros, proyectamos una pequeña visión sobre cómo multiplicar los discípulos y luego discutimos una porción de las Escrituras. No es muy complicado ni difícil de hacer. Casi todos en nuestra iglesia han dirigido la reunión en un momento u otro. Así que el espectador casual puede preguntarse: “¿Es así? ¿Estos tipos realmente son una iglesia?” Oh, olvidé agregar dos elementos esenciales que hacemos casi cada vez que nos reunimos. Al final de la reunión, oramos en silencio durante unos minutos preguntándole a Jesús qué quiere que hagamos como resultado de nuestro tiempo juntos como iglesia. Preguntamos: “¿Cómo quieres que te siga y pesque esta semana?” (Mateo 4:19.) Y luego, al comienzo de nuestra próxima reunión, preguntamos: “¿Y cómo te fue siguiendo y pescando la última vez?” (Recuerde, es lo que Jesús nos dijo que hiciéramos, no a otra persona) Y eso, amigos míos, es donde está la carne. El bistec grande y jugoso es la aplicación. Ambos estamos en la Palabra de Dios y en la Voluntad de Dios. Nos estamos deleitando tanto en el conocimiento como en la aplicación como lo hizo Jesús.
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora hablemos de las posibles aplicaciones de esta publicación, ¿de acuerdo? 🙂
– Haz esta pregunta a tu comunidad; “¿Tiene nuestra iglesia un plan para participar regularmente en relación a cómo estamos aplicando la Palabra de Dios?”
– Practiquen “confesarse sus pecados los unos a los otros”. (Santiago 5:16.)
– Deténte ahora mismo y pregúntale a Jesús: “¿Qué debo hacer como resultado de leer esta enseñanza?”
De la vida y el ministerio de Jesús se desprende claramente que Él le dio un gran valor a la aplicación. ¿Resistiremos nosotros, como hacedores de discípulos, la tentación de ser “máquinas expendedoras de conocimiento solamente” y caminaremos con otros en acción?
Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14a, Luke 3:19–20, John 4:1-3
When John had rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison. When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned and realized that the Pharisees were aware He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John (although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples), He withdrew and left Judea and returned to Galilee.
My Thoughts
As Jesus started His ministry in Judea, He would Himself baptize others (John 3:22) and His ministry was growing. But He soon delegated the ordinance of baptism to His disciples;
Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were) (John 4:1-2)
One of the best tools we have in our kitbag for disciple making is delegation. It is the glue between knowing what to do and actually doing it. I like what Jeff Sundell says; “Responsibility is like fertilizer, it helps leaders grow.” But for some reason this is a lost art among many leaders. Their mantra is; “If you want it done right, do it yourself.” They’ve become a ministry hog. That’s all well and good until we realize a few significant things.
Our ministry grows beyond our capacity. We can only “humanly” accomplish so much. There’s a point when our personal time, energy, and space runs out. If we don’t delegate, we become the “Bottleneck” and the work stops. Interestingly, God chose to take on the same limitations in His Son Jesus and modeled how to share the load.
We are not that good. For us to believe that we have all the answers, the only one who does it right, and the end all be all of ministry is pure arrogance. Every leader needs to look at themselves in the mirror every morning and say; “I need a lot of help!” When we start doing this we will increase our prayer life and our value to raise up more competent leaders.
Eventually, we all “get hit by the Chicken Truck.” I coined this phrase when I was riding a bike downhill and barely stopped at an intersection where a chicken truck came barrelling through. Had I not stopped in time, I would have become a hood ornament and been “processed” before all my feathered friends. In other words, we all eventually die. Our personal work stops cold. If I had died on that day, by God’s grace, I had obeyed the Great Commission and at least a couple of people would have kept making disciples and glorifying Jesus. My work would have continued through them.
It’s poor stewardship of the kingdom. In Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) the master entrusts his money to three dudes who are expected to invest and multiply his coin. Two are good stewards and make a return on the master’s money and one does not. Now listen to Jesus’ words of rebuke to those who do not wisely multiply what they have been given;
“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:26-30)
We would be disobeying Jesus. We are all commanded to make disciples. And if you look close enough at the Great Commission the command is not simply make disciples but make disciple makers. Jesus said; “Teaching them to obey ALL I have commanded you,” including the last command to make disciples. We are teaching the disciples to obey the commands and therefore they would also be making disciples. By definition and Biblical description disciple makers are leaders of leaders. A failure to delegate the ministry would be a failure to obey the Great Commission.
My Story
As a disciple maker I’m always trying to work myself out of a job. I delegate bits and pieces as fast as I can to others in the church. Usually, prayer is the easiest to give away first. And then it’s planning our fellowship and accountability times. I model these in very simple ways and practice them over and over again so by the time I’m handing it off to someone they usually respond with, “Pssh, sure, this is too easy!” Eventually, I even hand off the teaching time (which is really facilitating a discussion). I’ve found this practice to be the fastest way to develop new leaders. I model, assist, watch, and launch (MAWL) them in the different disciple making skills as we go. I learned this from, you guessed it, Jesus. Because I have a high value to get the gospel out and make disciples, I refuse to be a “one man show” and become “the toad in the road.” We have got to think multiplication at every turn and the fastest way to multiply is to delegate. Is it messy, you bet! But the product is well worth the mess. (Proverbs 14:4)
Our Action Plan
We’ve covered the Head and the Heart and now we move on to the Hands;
What are you afraid of? Make a list of all the things that are scary about delegating.
Pray through these areas of fear and begin to trust God as you delegate to others.
Answer the question; How do the elements of control and finances affect delegation?
We can’t afford to be ministry hogs. There is too much work to do and why would we rob people of their God given rights and responsibility. Be a ferocious delegator!
No Seas un Acaparador de Ministerio – 29
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, combinaremos el texto de los cuatro evangelios para aprender sobre el arte de delegar de Jesús.
Así que comencemos
Mateo 4:12, Marcos 1:14a, Lucas 3:19–20, Juan 4:1-3
Cuando Juan reprendió a Herodes el tetrarca por Herodías, la mujer de su hermano, y por todos los males que había hecho, Herodes añadió a todos estos mal: Encerró a Juan en la cárcel. Cuando Jesús escuchó que Juan había sido encarcelado y se dio cuenta de que los fariseos sabían que estaba ganando y bautizando a más discípulos que Juan (aunque no fue Jesús quien bautizó, sino Sus discípulos), se retiró y dejó Judea y regresó a Galilea.
Mis Pensamientos
Cuando Jesús comenzó su ministerio en Judea, Él mismo bautizaría a otros (Juan 3:22) y su ministerio estaba creciendo. Pero pronto delegó la ordenanza del bautismo a sus discípulos;
Entonces cuando Jesús se enteró de que los fariseos habían oído que Jesús estaba haciendo y bautizando más discípulos que Juan (aunque Jesús mismo no estaba bautizando, pero Sus discípulos sí) (Juan 4:1-2)
Una de las mejores herramientas que tenemos a nuestro alcance para hacer discípulos es la delegación. Es el pegamento entre saber qué hacer y hacerlo realmente. Me gusta lo que dice Jeff Sundell; “La responsabilidad es como un fertilizante, ayuda a los líderes a crecer”. Pero por alguna razón este es un arte perdido entre muchos líderes. Su lema es; “Si quieres que se haga bien, hazlo tú mismo”. Se han convertido en ministerios acaparadores. Todo eso está muy bien hasta que nos damos cuenta de algunas cosas importantes.
1. Nuestro ministerio crece más allá de nuestra capacidad. Solo podemos lograr “humanamente” hasta cierto punto. Hay un punto en el que nuestro tiempo, energía y espacio personales se agotan. Si no delegamos, nos convertimos en el “Cuello de la Botella” y el trabajo se detiene. Curiosamente, Dios eligió asumir las mismas limitaciones físicas en Su Hijo Jesús y modeló cómo compartir la carga.
2. No somos tan buenos. Para nosotros creer que tenemos todas las respuestas, el único que lo hace bien, y que al final todo eso en el ministerio es pura arrogancia. Todo líder necesita mirarse en el espejo todas las mañanas y decir; “¡Necesito mucha ayuda!” Cuando comencemos a hacer esto, aumentaremos nuestra vida de oración y nuestro valor para levantar líderes más competentes.
3. Eventualmente, todos “somos atropellados por el camión que carga pollos”. Acuñé esta frase cuando iba en bicicleta cuesta abajo y apenas me detuve en una intersección donde pasó un camión de pollos que venía a todo dar. Si no me hubiera detenido a tiempo, me habría convertido en un adorno en el capó del camión y ser “procesado” ante todos esos amigos emplumados. En otras palabras, todos eventualmente morimos. Nuestro trabajo personal se detiene en seco. Si hubiera muerto ese día, por la gracia de Dios, habría obedecido la Gran Comisión y al menos un par de personas habrían seguido haciendo discípulos y glorificando a Jesús. Mi trabajo habría continuado a través de ellos.
4. Es una mala mayordomía del reino. En la parábola de los talentos de Jesús (Mateo 25:14-30), el amo confía su dinero a tres hombres de los que se espera que inviertan y multipliquen su moneda. Dos son buenos mayordomos y obtienen un retorno del dinero del amo y uno no. Ahora escuchen las palabras de reprensión de Jesús a aquellos que no multiplican sabiamente lo que se les ha dado;
“Respondiendo su señor, le dijo: Siervo malo y negligente, sabías que siego donde no sembré, y que recojo donde no esparcí. Por tanto, debías haber dado mi dinero a los banqueros, y al venir yo, hubiera recibido lo que es mío con los intereses.Quitadle, pues, el talento, y dadlo al que tiene diez talentos.Porque al que tiene, le será dado, y tendrá más; y al que no tiene, aun lo que tiene le será quitado. Y al siervo inútil echadle en las tinieblas de afuera; allí será el lloro y el crujir de dientes. (Mateo 25:26-30)
5. Estaríamos desobedeciendo a Jesús. A todos se nos manda hacer discípulos. Y si miras lo suficientemente de cerca a la Gran Comisión, el mandamiento no es simplemente hacer discípulos, sino hacer hacedores de discípulos. Jesús dijo; “Enseñándoles a obedecer TODO lo que os he mandado”, incluyendo el último mandamiento de hacer discípulos. Estamos enseñando a los discípulos a obedecer los mandamientos y, por lo tanto, ellos también estarían haciendo discípulos. Por definición y descripción bíblica, los hacedores de discípulos son líderes de líderes. El no delegar el ministerio sería un fracaso en obedecer a la Gran Comisión.
Mi Historia
Como hacedor de discípulos, siempre estoy tratando de quedarme sin trabajo. Dedico partes y piezas tan rápido como puedo a otros en la iglesia. Por lo general, la oración es la más fácil de dar primero. Y luego es planificar nuestros tiempos de compañerismo y rendición de cuentas. Sirvo de modelo de maneras muy simples y los practico una y otra vez, de modo que cuando se lo entrego a alguien, generalmente responden con: “¡Sii, seguro, esto es demasiado fácil!” Eventualmente, incluso entrego el tiempo de enseñanza (lo que realmente facilita una discusión). He descubierto que esta práctica es la forma más rápida de desarrollar nuevos líderes. Sirvo como modelo, ayudo, observo y lanzo (MAOL) en las diferentes habilidades de hacer discípulos a medida que avanzamos. Aprendí esto de, lo adivinaste, Jesús. Debido a que tengo un alto valor para difundir el evangelio y hacer discípulos, me niego a ser un “espectáculo de un solo hombre” y convertirme en “el sapo en el camino”. Tenemos que pensar en la multiplicación a cada paso y la forma más rápida de multiplicar es delegar. ¡Es desordenado, por supuesto! Pero el producto vale la pena. (Proverbios 14:4.)
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Hemos cubierto la Cabeza y el Corazón y ahora pasamos a las Manos;
-¿A qué le tienes miedo? Haz una lista de todas las cosas que dan miedo de delegar.
-Ora sobre estas áreas de miedo y comienza a confiar en Dios mientras delegas en los demás.
-Responde a la pregunta; ¿De qué manera los elementos de control y finanzas afectan la forma de delegación?
No podemos darnos el lujo de ser acaparadores de ministerios. Hay demasiado trabajo por hacer y ¿por qué íbamos a robarle a la gente los derechos y responsabilidades que Dios les ha dado? ¡Sé un delegador feroz!
Heads Up – This is long! I usually keep things short and simple but occasionally, I get a “Bee in my bonnet.” This is one of those occasions. I’m pretty excited about all you young leaders being raised up (old ones too) and thought I would get my licks in on you. So this is my little contribution to your “Leadership Development.” Like I said, this is long. It’s really like a booklet. So here’s a link to a PDF: Muddy Boots. Also, I’m under no delusion that I have covered this topic adequately. Your comments and feedback are welcome. Lastly, If you find this helpful, please pass it on.
Introduction – Why Muddy Boots?
As a former soldier, I had the privilege of serving alongside some truly remarkable leaders. The ones who stood out to me were the ones who didn’t hesitate to join us in the field. They were the ones who left the safety and comfort of their offices in the rear to come be with us in the trenches. They were the ones who crawled into foxholes with us, ate C-Rations alongside us, and asked us questions that showed they cared about our well-being.
The leaders I admired the most were the ones with muddy boots. They were the ones who didn’t mind getting dirty, who were willing to share our hardships and dangers. They were the ones who demonstrated true leadership by example, by showing us that they were willing to be with us in the toughest times.
Unfortunately, not all leaders were able to live up to this ideal. Some came with an entourage of aides, who would spread out a folding chair for them to sit on, (heaven forbid their hind end would ever touch the dirt) open their cans of rations, and even spread their synthetic cheese on crackers for them. These leaders always wore spit-shined boots and a starched uniform, a sign that they were more concerned with appearances than with truly connecting with their troops.
I’m writing this booklet to help you remain relevant, compassionate, and flexible enough to lead the flock God has entrusted to you. A lot of spiritual leaders are so eager to get to the next rung of leadership, they skip essential skills and experiences. They completely lose touch with their people or the context they are ministering in. Or they may have fallen into the trap of “Sermon Only” discipleship. There is a huge difference between teaching and shepherding. We may call a spiritual leader we listen to once a week a “Pastor.” But I’ve found the gap between position and practice is usually pretty big. The teacher may tell people WHAT to do while leaving them with no practical model for HOW to do it. If their people lose confidence in their leadership, apathy, alienation, or downright disobedience to God sets in and now we have a grave situation. Jesus observed this as,
“They are like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
Just as it is in the military, the same is true for spiritual leadership. And while the stakes may be high in physical war, the spiritual battle we face has even greater consequences – eternity is at stake. Spiritual leaders who are in tune with their people, sharing in their hardships, and capable of making tough decisions collaboratively, will be much more effective in leading people towards a Christ-like transformation. On the other hand, if we hide behind the pulpit (or a whiteboard) and never truly engage with the challenges of real life alongside our people, we risk receiving the same condemnation that the Pharisees received from Jesus:
“They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.” (Matthew 23:4)
In this booklet, we will explore what it means to be a “muddy boots” leader in the spiritual realm. I’ll be referring to examples of spiritual leaders, military leaders, and my own personal experiences. We will examine the qualities that make a leader effective in the trenches and provide practical advice for those who aspire to be true servant-leaders. We’ll also look at the “dark side” of leadership and some of the mistakes leaders make. Whether you are a disciple-maker leading a handful of people or thousands, and you want to make a positive impact on those around you, this booklet is for you. Let’s dive in and explore an uncommon but effective form of leadership. We start with the most effective muddy boots leader to ever live.
Who was the Best Example of Muddy Boots Leadership? Answer: Jesus
Jesus Christ – Jesus has led the movement that has changed the world for over 2000 years. He exemplified love for God and people. He demonstrated qualities such as justice, principled living, compassion, humility, and mercy, and He made sacrifices for His followers, even giving His life to save us from our sins. He reigns as the King of an eternal kingdom, yet He never required His followers to do anything He wouldn’t do Himself. By examining His Great Commission, we can glean the key ways in which Jesus embodies Muddy Boots Leadership.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NASB95)
All Authority in Heaven and on Earth
They say that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Jesus is truly unique in that he possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, yet he remains incorruptible. Unlike other powerful figures throughout history, Jesus never abused or exploited his power for personal gain. Instead, he humbled himself by leaving his heavenly throne and becoming human and walked with us.
Despite facing the same challenges and hardships that we do, Jesus never wavered in his mission to serve and guide those around him. He used his authority to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and teach the truth about God’s justice, love and mercy. He humbled Himself in the midst of torture and murder by the very creation He came to save. Now if that is not mudding your boots I don’t know what is!
Go!
Jesus took “going” to the next level through His incredible mobility in ministry. His constant movement is staggering, but it’s not just His physical movement that’s noteworthy. As He went, He proclaimed a radical message of the kingdom that challenged the traditional religious and political structures that held people in bondage. This message was so counter-cultural that it posed a threat to the authorities of the day.
It’s worth noting, Jesus didn’t target the usual suspects for reform – politicians, religious leaders, or the wealthy. Instead, He went directly to ordinary people, like fishermen, the sick, and soldiers, as well as those on the fringes of society, like tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners, and even the demon-possessed. He engaged with humanity where we all have access on a daily basis, rather than relying on conventional methods of information distribution, like the media of the day.
Make Disciples
Consider all the possibilities of what Jesus could have done with all authority in Heaven and Earth. He could have eradicated crime, hunger, disease, and war. However, such actions would have stifled free will, failed to address the problem of sin, and most importantly, denied us the opportunity to love God and our fellow man by following the perfect example of Jesus. Instead, Jesus used His power and authority to model what it means to be created in the image of God and then commanded us to become just like Him. To be His disciple.
Imagine a world where everyone loved like Jesus – with supreme devotion to the Creator and humanity. This would be the coming of God’s kingdom and His will being done on earth as it is in Heaven. Surprisingly, Jesus chose twelve men with all their strengths and weaknesses, who followed Him as His disciples for three years, to make more disciples and to turn the world upside down… or should we say, right-side-up. Now, it is our responsibility to emulate what Jesus did as a leader who made disciples, even if it means getting our boots muddy too.
Baptizing
The sinless Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Why? Not for repentance. He had no sin. But as He said to John, “for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:11). In other words, Jesus and John weren’t doing something to cover what was wrong, they were doing what would illuminate what was right. Jesus always did what was right and right always looked like what the Father was doing (John 5:19). He was also giving us an example of humble leadership and obedience for every disciple after Him.
As Jesus started His ministry in Judea, He would Himself baptize others (John 3:22). Later, He delegated the ordinance of baptism to His disciples;
Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were) (John 4:1-2)
Jesus participated in, modeled, and delegated baptism. It wasn’t below Him to be baptized or baptize others. He also saw the importance of developing future leaders by delegating to His disciples this simple but profound act of obedience and symbolic initiation into the faith.
Teaching to Obey
Apparently, Jesus was a big fan of obedience. But He wasn’t the type of leader who would tell His disciples “Do as I say, not as I do.” Jesus obeyed the Father to a tee and never acted or spoke even one word outside of God’s will (John 5:19, 30; 6:38; 12:49-50). He expected His disciples to obey His commands just as He obeyed the Father’s.
Contrary to what some may believe, Jesus wasn’t on some power trip, flexing His authority to show He was the boss. Obedience to His commands is in our best interest. As the “Designer,” Jesus knows exactly what we need and what we don’t. Jesus even equated obedience with love. Obedience and love are like the two wings of an airplane. If you were flying at 30,000 feet, you’d want both wings to remain intact, right? Exactly! Similarly, obedience and love go hand in hand. Together, they form the foundation of worship. In fact, 1 John 5:3 states,
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
Jesus led by example and modeled what obedience in love looked like. He expected His disciples to not only obey with like-heartedness but to teach others to do the same.
I am with You
Jesus told the disciples that He would be with them until the end of the age. None of them lived that long, so by extension, this promise also belongs to us. Let’s take a moment to think about this. When your boss says they will be with you in spirit, it’s a lovely sentiment, but they’re not “really” with you. (And I’m not sure I’d want that, anyway.) But when Jesus says it, He is truly with us in Spirit, quite literally. That’s why He sent the Holy Spirit. Even if an earthly leader wanted to be with all their people, it’s just not possible. (And could you imagine trying to be with a hundred people all at once, all the time? No thank you!) Only Jesus could achieve this feat by being omnipresent.
However, before we let ourselves off the hook too quickly of being with people, let’s think about what Jesus did during His earthly ministry. He demonstrated what it looks like to be limited by time, space, and energy. But He still invested the lion share of His time in a few future leaders.
“He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him, and that He could send them out to preach.” (Mark 3:14)
Jesus was always with people, but He spent focused time training the twelve. As disciple-makers, we need to be with people like Jesus was, especially with a few individuals whom we consider the future leaders. We should show them what it means to be a “muddy boots leader.” Besides, being with your people is, by definition, what it means to get your boots muddy.
Five Guiding Principles for Being a Muddy Boots Leader
Stays Focused
Stays Engaged
Stays Relevant
Stays Competent
Stays Emotionally Connected
Stays Inspiring
As I reflect on Jesus’ leadership and others, I’ve found six guiding principles for muddy boots leadership. I put the verb “stays” in front of every principle because it is so easy to be completely oblivious to the fact that you’ve “lost the bubble.” Being a muddy boots leader is like trying to balance yourself on a log, there is constant movement in order to keep from falling off. Leadership is dynamic, not static. Things are constantly changing and in order to “stay” in these principles we must reorient, recalibrate, and refocus. The older you get the harder this gets. There’s a tendency to rest on your laurels, hangout in the VFW, drink beer, and tell old war stories. But the battlefield is constantly changing. To be effective leaders, we need to stay in the fight.
Stays Focused – [Jesus] set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)
The Muddy Boots Leader knows where he or she is going. They may not have all the answers but they know what the “end-state” looks like. They can give clear guidance because they have a clear direction. It’s very difficult to follow someone who is lost or changing their destination every other day. Jesus called these kinds of leaders “the blind leading the blind” (Matthew 15:14). The leader with a clear vision or purpose is not only much more likely to attract followers but to actually help them arrive at the stated destination. They have a level of confidence that breeds confidence. They stay on mission and are able to motivate their people and avoid the many distractions along the way.
Stays Engaged – [Jesus said] I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20)
If a leader knows where he or she is going, they must stay engaged with their followers to lead them there. They are well aware of the significant challenges and opportunities facing their folks along the way. They are careful to watch and listen. They don’t just tell people what to do. They show them how to do it. They ask a lot of questions and solicit suggestions from all levels of participation. They are with their people. We’ve all experienced or at least heard about the “Ivory Tower.” A place where leadership pontificates about the tactics and strategies needed to be successful but is completely out of touch with their people on the ground. Muddy boots leaders have no such separation between them and their people (let alone reality).
Stays Relevant – [Jesus] did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man (John 2:25)
As muddy boots leaders stay engaged with their people, they are making decisions and giving guidance based on timely and accurate information. A lot of this good intel comes from being “with” the people they lead and having both past and current experience with similar circumstances. Leaders that don’t stay engaged are usually in the dark. Their information is outdated or even worse, wrong. They operate on assumptions and hunches. They aren’t making decisions based on what is actually happening. In the Army we used to call this “Echelons Above Reality.” The leader has no foggy idea what’s really going on. This creates a leadership paradigm that is irrelevant to the need of the hour.
Stays Competent – They were utterly astonished, saying, “[Jesus] has done all things well…” (Mark 7:37)
Staying engaged also means staying competent. Not all leadership skills and skills in general are “like riding a bike.” A lot of skills are perishable and the only way to stay current is by recent practice. There’s nothing more demoralizing than to see your leader struggling to perform the most basic skills. Muddy boots leaders can maintain a basic level of skills in order to identify with their people and continue to be a role model. They may not be the best in the church but they can hold their own. Skills like witnessing, compassion, prayer, explaining the Scriptures, accountability, etc… are essential for leaders to demonstrate proficiency not only because they are the basics of the Christian life but because they are hard to do. Do you want to motivate your people? Do the hard stuff with them.
Stays Emotionally Connected – Jesus wept (John 11:35)
Leaders that stay engaged have the potential to demonstrate a high degree of empathy because they are aware of the circumstances of the people they’re leading. They sense fear, anger, joy, excitement, etc… in the people they are discipling and can adjust their leadership approach to meet the current needs. Attending to people’s emotional needs creates a level of trust and understanding that makes leadership influence much easier. Leaders who are emotionally distant give the impression that they don’t care for the people and just want the task done. The relationship between leader and follower becomes completely utilitarian. Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, wisely states, “CEOs are hired for their intellect and business expertise and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence.”
Stays Inspiring – [Jesus’] disciples were filled with awe (Mark 10:32 NLT)
When we practice the first five elements, we usually see inspiration quickly follow. We’ve all seen leaders that we look up to and say, “When I grow up I want to be just like him/her!” They cause us to stretch ourselves and push toward greater levels of excellence. They are the kind of people who lead more through respect than fear. When you watch or listen to them they cause the adrenaline to pulsate in your veins. I once had a commander who could turn the most mundane task into the most meaningful thing you would ever do in life. And it wasn’t just his words. You always knew he had your best interest at heart and he believed in you. His soldiers would follow him to the gates of Hell. Interesting enough, I think if you do the first five guiding principles, you will accomplish the last. You will stay inspiring.
Biblical Role Models for the Muddy Boots Leader
Some Biblical characters provide insight into the leadership qualities and traits of some of the most influential figures in the Bible. From Moses to Priscilla and Aquila, these role models exemplify the values that are essential for a leader who wants to serve and make disciples. Let’s take a brief look at some of these remarkable individuals and the leadership qualities that make them stand out in the Bible.
Old Testament Leaders:
Moses – Moses was a faithful servant of God who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. As they journeyed through the wilderness to the Promised Land, he was with them every step of the way. He endured the same hardships and discomforts they did. Having already spent 40 years on the backside of the wilderness as a shepherd, he had the perfect experience needed for the circumstances. This was even more apparent when God disciplined the Children of Israel with 40 more years wandering in the wilderness as a result of their lack of faith. He displayed immense patience and endurance when dealing with so many “stiff necked” people. And he remained obedient to God’s commands despite the many challenges he faced. He was with his people through thick and thin and earned the title of a Muddy Boots, or should we say, a Sandy Boots Leader.
Joshua – Joshua was the loyal attendant of Moses. He was with him during his most intimate times with God (Exodus 24:13, 33:11) and followed in his footsteps of faithfulness. His first real test came when he and eleven others were sent to spy out the Promised Land. He and Caleb were the only two who were ready and willing to trust God to enter the land even though the task looked daunting. Later, Joshua also received essential combat experience in defeating the Amalekites at Rephidim (Exodus 17:8–13). And when it became clear that Moses would not lead the people into the Promised Land, the LORD chose Joshua for the responsibility. His tutelage under Moses, unwavering faith, and reputation as a fierce warrior made him the obvious choice to lead the people. Joshua’s ascent from Moses’ Aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief of the victorious military campaigns into the Promised Land demonstrated his Muddy Boots Leadership.
Deborah – Deborah was a judge and prophetess during the time of the Judges in Israel. The Word of the Lord came to Deborah to instruct Barak, a military leader in the Army of Israel, to attack their oppressive enemy. For some reason, Barak didn’t feel confident unless Deborah accompanied them on the campaign. She marched with the Army and they defeated the Canaanites. She displayed boldness and courage in her leadership. Ultimately God used her to provide strategic guidance and inspiration, and she played a key role in their victory against their oppressors. Her kids could have said, “My Mama wears army boots and they are muddy.”
David – David was a young shepherd, chosen by God to become the King of Israel. He first became known for his courage and confidence in the LORD having defeated the giant Goliath. Later under a paranoid King Saul he was exiled for several years even though he and others knew he was the successor to the throne. Twice David could have killed Saul but stayed his hand under the conviction of being loyal to God’s anointed. David also shared the same hardships with his men, living in caves, the wilderness, and even alienation from his own countrymen. David navigated tough leadership challenges including a proposed mutiny. Through it all, David’s faithfulness and patience earned him the right to be called a Muddy Boots Leader as King over all Israel.
Reflection Question: How did these Old Testament leaders demonstrate the six principles of muddy boots leadership?
The Apostle John – John was known as the Apostle of Love and the disciple whom Jesus loved. In John’s writings of the Gospel of John and 1,2,3 John, love is one of the major themes. But John didn’t start off being motivated by love. He was ambitious (Mark 10:35–45), exclusionary (Luke 9:49-50), and downright revengeful (Luke 9:51-56). He watched Jesus as He loved and served them. He learned the way of loving leadership and was ultimately entrusted with caring for Jesus’ mother after His death. John was transformed over time and his writings to his fellow leaders of the church are a testimony to what he thought was most important. The key to servant leadership is love. If you want to be a muddy boots leader like John, you have to learn how to love.
The Apostle Peter – Peter was known for his courage and loyalty. But he was also often impulsive and stuck his foot in his mouth more times than not. Peter took big risks in what he said and did. And when you take big risks you’re bound to have big successes and make big blunders. Peter could be the Hero one second and a Zero the next (Matthew 16:15-23). You would think that people would be careful about writing such condemning statements about such a high profile leader of the church. Or that Peter as such a powerful leader would have his errors expunged from the Scriptures. But no, he actually illuminates them and passes on the lessons to his fellow elders (1 Peter 5:1-11). Peter walked in muddy boots, slipping and sliding and failing forward. As a follower and a leader he made a lot of mistakes but he learned from them and pressed forward.
The Apostle Paul – Paul went from Zero to Hero in the church. He started as the persecutor and ended up a martyr for the same Jesus he persecuted. He was the perfect example of suffering. He didn’t side step the tough stuff and in fact he went headlong into it. He was a leader of leaders. He was not satisfied with “building on someone else’s foundation.” But he went after the lost. Like Peter, he readily admitted to being a sinner but pressed forward nonetheless. We commonly think about all the disciples he made and the churches he started. But if we don’t look closely we’ll miss all the leaders he left in his wake. It’s fun to track all the people Paul raised up to be muddy boots leaders. He followed Jesus’ example to the tee and you see his people following his example too.
Priscilla and Aquila – Priscilla and Aquila were some of those leaders Paul mentored. They were a married couple who worked as tentmakers and played an influential role in the early church. Their hospitality and teaching skills played a key role in helping Apollos to understand the Gospel more fully. They are excellent role models for couples who desire to serve God together and use their skills and resources to advance His kingdom. Wherever they went, Priscilla and Aquila rolled up their sleeves, put their hands to the plow, and muddied their boots by starting a church and making disciples in their home.
Reflection Question: How did these New Testament leaders demonstrate the six principles of muddy boots leadership?
In Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose, there are many stories about leading by example. One such story is about Major Richard Winters, who was the commander of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during World War II.
As a captain during the Battle of Normandy, Winters and his men were tasked with taking out a German artillery battery that was causing significant damage to Allied troops. As they approached the battery, Winters led the charge and was the first to jump into the enemy’s foxhole. He quickly took out the enemy and disabled the artillery, allowing his men to advance and secure the area.
This act of bravery and leadership inspired his men and instilled confidence in them, as they knew they had a leader who was willing to put himself on the front line and lead by example. Winters’ leadership continued throughout the war, and his bravery and selflessness in battle inspired and motivated his men.
“I Got This!”
One of the things we do after our evangelism training in churches is actually take them out into the neighborhood, engage people, and share the gospel. It was crucial for the people to see that we were not just giving them another theoretical block of instruction on witnessing. We knew they were nervous (or downright terrified) to engage lost people by talking to strangers about Jesus. And sometimes, to make matters worse, it would be either blazing hot, ice-cold, or raining. So, in order to help them get beyond the fear and discomfort, we would take them with us to model what we had just taught them.
One day, Deb, my wife, was paired up with a huge six-foot-three bear of a man who was scared spitless. Deb is a petite five-three but bold as a lioness. She asked the guy, “You want me to go first, or you got this?” To which he nervously replied, “Uh, you go ahead.” Deb knocked on the door, was warmly greeted, and shared the gospel. Afterwards, she asked the guy with her if he needed to watch her again. He replied, “No, I got this. This is too easy!” The power of leading by example inspires and motivates.
Leading with compassion
Leaders who have experienced “blood, sweat, and tears” tend to be more empathetic with the people they’re leading. A good example is Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate general during the American Civil War. In his book “Rebel Yell”, S.C. Gwynne, describes Jackson’s compassion towards wounded soldiers:
“Jackson had a deep and abiding concern for his men, especially the wounded, and he made a point of visiting the hospitals and field stations where they were treated. He was known to have wept at the sight of their suffering, and he spent hours sitting with them, reading to them, and praying with them.”
Jackson’s kindness extended from his soldiers, to wounded enemy soldiers, children, and even his horse. The contrast between being a courageous warrior and a shepherding commander won him the respect and admiration of confederate and union soldiers alike.
Leadership is About the Head, Hands, AND the Heart
My friend had “DONE” written all over him. I had been warning about burnout for months and now her claws were deep in my friend’s body, soul, and mind. As we talked about the way back to a healthy pace and perspective, I shared my experiences with burnout having been there only two years prior. As I described my disappointment and disillusionment of having to go through the process of recovery alone (besides of course my loving wife’s support). I told my friend with no little emotion; “I’ll be darned if you have to go through this by yourself like I did!” Now that’s the strongest French word I use but I wanted to communicate my love and commitment to my friend and fellow co-laborer. I would not let him navigate the darkness alone. So we walked together for the next year and a half and he is now back in the saddle making disciples. One of the treasured statements he made during his recovery was, “I’ve slowed down so much but I’ve never been more effective in my ministry.”
Spiritual leaders who haven’t experienced the extreme ups and downs of ministry tend to underestimate the emotional toll it takes on disciple makers. It’s easy to pontificate about the theories of the amusement park, it’s another thing to ride the rollercoaster. As leaders who have been “bloodied” we know that God isn’t always interested in following our neatly scribed plans and holding to our “Big Vision” time schedules. Those of us with experience tend to speak in measured tones and are quick to empathize with those who are knee deep in the fight. We know Muddy Boots are intimately familiar with Bloody Boots. We can be more compassionate because we’ve been there and done that.
Flexible and adaptable
Having muddy boots experience, leads to flexibility and adaptability for the use of methods in different contexts and situations. Let’s look at how one general’s “on the ground experience” paid off by adapting tactics during WWII.
In his book, “The Thousand-Mile War,” Brian Garfield chronicles the Aleutian Islands campaign during World War II, the use of patrol boats in bad weather was a major concern for both General Buckner and the Navy. The Aleutian Islands are known for their harsh weather conditions, which often include high winds, heavy rain, and dense fog. These conditions made it difficult for ships and landing craft to navigate safely and land troops on the islands.
General Buckner believed that the patrol boats, which were smaller and more maneuverable than landing craft or the larger Navy ships, could be used to transport troops and supplies in bad weather when other ships and craft could not operate safely. However, the Navy was initially reluctant to use the patrol boats in these conditions because they were not designed for this kind of mission. Despite the Navy’s reservations, Buckner convinced them to use the patrol boats and they proved to be a valuable asset in the campaign.
The use of patrol boats in bad weather was a significant factor in the successful capture of the Japanese-held islands of Attu and Kiska. It demonstrated the importance of adaptability and flexibility in military operations, as well as the need to use all available resources effectively, even if they were not originally designed for a specific purpose. Buckner recognized the importance of using all available resources effectively in war and was willing to adapt his tactics to the changing conditions of the battlefield.
Similarly, in making disciples of Jesus, it is important to recognize the unique context of each situation and adapt our methods accordingly. This may involve using different approaches depending on the cultural, social, or religious background of the people we are trying to reach. We never violate Biblical principles but we do adapt the methods. Just as Buckner was willing to modify his plans and tactics to achieve his objectives, we too must be willing to adjust our methods to effectively share the gospel and disciple people.
Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome
I was recently discussing the challenges of ministry with a friend and colleague who relocated from Oklahoma City to New York City. He mentioned that while many of the barriers in the two cities were similar, there were significant differences that were causing a serious shift in their ministry tactics. The two significant differences were how busy people were and travel times. People in OKC were busy, but the pace in NYC was absolutely frenetic. To make matters worse, traveling in NYC takes an incredible amount of time and effort. Like most mega-metropolises, it takes an hour to travel 10 miles, and going to a meeting on a weeknight was out of the question.
Assessing the situation by actually trying to make disciples and plant churches in the city, they knew they had to adapt. They turned to technology and began to meet and train online using video conferencing. It wasn’t as good as face-to-face, but it was getting the job done. They had to adapt their methods to their new setting. The only way they could have discovered these differences was by being on the ground and participating in hands-on discipleship.
Constantly learning (even from the least)
One example of a general who included the lowest rank in decision making is General Stanley McChrystal, who served as the commander of US forces in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.
During his time in Afghanistan, McChrystal implemented a strategy called “counterinsurgency,” which emphasized the importance of building relationships with the local population and understanding their needs and concerns.
To implement this strategy, McChrystal recognized the importance of including soldiers at all levels in the decision-making process. He established a regular meeting called a “vulnerability assessment,” where soldiers from the lowest ranks were invited to share their observations and insights about the local population and the effectiveness of US military efforts.
McChrystal also implemented a system called “distributed operations,” which gave soldiers at the lowest levels more autonomy and decision-making power. This allowed soldiers on the ground to make decisions based on their firsthand knowledge of the local situation, rather than relying solely on directives from higher-ups. He called some of these soldiers who were given authority to act on the situation at hand “Strategic Corporals.”
By including soldiers at all levels in the decision-making process, McChrystal was able to gain a better understanding of the situation on the ground and make more effective decisions. His approach to leadership and decision making is often cited as an example of effective leadership that empowers and values the contributions of soldiers at all levels.
My son, my teacher
I invited my son to a meeting with a guy who wanted me to disciple him. I wanted to model for my son how I did initial assessments to determine whether I would take the guy on as a mentee. The meeting lasted an hour and a half and I was satisfied that the guy probably wanted something I wasn’t able to provide and we wouldn’t schedule anything on a routine basis. Then I asked my son, “So what do you think? What did you learn from that encounter?” I fully expected him to agree with my assessment and I would praise him (and myself) for being so astute. His reply absolutely shocked me. “Dad,” he said, “Did you know you guys talked for an hour and a half and never mentioned Jesus.” OUCH! You know it’s hard being corrected, but by your son? On one of your highest values? On something you should have down cold? Wow, that stung but it was so good to hear and I really was excited that my son was putting Jesus at the center of our discussions as well. As leaders we need to keep learning, even from those we least expect to teach us.
Developing a culture of competence
“How to Eat Soup with a Knife” written by John Nagl is a book that describes the challenges faced by the US military during the counterinsurgency campaigns in Vietnam and Somalia. The book provides examples of both good and poor leadership during these campaigns. One example of competent leadership from the book is the story of US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel John W. Ripley.
As a young leader Ripley was given the task of destroying a bridge over the Song Thu Bon River in Vietnam. The bridge was a vital link in the North Vietnamese supply line, and its destruction would have a significant impact on the enemy’s ability to resupply their troops. Despite the difficult mission, Ripley showed great courage, determination, and strategic thinking and was able to inspire his team to success.
Nagl describes Ripley’s role in destroying the bridge:
“Ripley’s heroism in single-handedly destroying the Dong Ha Bridge is one of the most compelling stories of the Vietnam War. Hanging by his arms and legs under the bridge, in full view of enemy troops, he used his bare hands to set explosives that would sever the bridge’s girders. The detonation succeeded, denying the North Vietnamese Army an important supply line across the river and earning Ripley the Navy Cross.”
Nagl later describes Ripley’s men’s response to his leadership.
“As word of his heroic act spread, his fellow Marines were in awe. They had seen firsthand the danger he faced, the courage he displayed, and the skill he used to defeat the enemy. They knew that the success of their mission was due in no small part to his leadership and bravery”
Just Another Ministry Conference?
Initially, I wasn’t very excited about attending a particular ministry conference, despite receiving an invitation. My schedule was already full and the topics being covered were familiar to me as I had studied them for the past two years. I felt like I needed practical experience instead of more theoretical training. As a result, I declined the invitation.
However, my perspective changed after I received an email outlining the prerequisites for attendance: a 40-day fast and reading the New Testament ten times in the next three months. This level of commitment and dedication impressed me, and I realized that these leaders might be serious about making a difference in their lives and the lives of others. Now I was pretty excited and decided to attend the conference.
When leaders raise the bar and demonstrate their competence not only to teach the topics but practice what they teach, it inspires those they lead to strive for excellence and follow their example.
The Dark Side
I want to take some time to describe the “Dark Side” of being a muddy boots leader or the things that might trip us up along the way. I’ve shared many positive examples but I’ve learned just as much from bad examples too. I’ve learned what “Not” to do.
Overdoing the Six Principles
Believe it or not, you can over do the six principles of Muddy Boots Leadership. As leaders we can actually miss the most important part of our role in the mission by trying too hard to do someone else’s job. Or we could get so wrapped up in getting our boots muddy we lose sight of the big picture and we never accomplish the mission. As an infantry platoon sergeant I used to tell brand new lieutenants, “If we have to fire our rifles in combat, something went terribly wrong.” It’s the privates, corporals, and squad leaders that need to do all the shooting. We need to be leading! We need to keep these principles in tension with our ultimate role of getting the job done.
Tunnel Vision – Leaders that get overly focused on one way or one goal can actually forget what the overarching objective is. This is why the US Army teaches leaders the “Commander’s Intent.” The Commander’s Intent is a concise statement that gives subordinate leaders a clear description of the end-state. I used to teach Ranger students to begin their Commander’s Intent with the statement, “If all else fails, do this…” We would use the example of a mission to secure a bridge to move troops across a river. When the company commander got to the bridge they found it heavily defended but also discovered a ford just one mile downstream from the bridge. If the Commander’s Intent is “If all else fails, find a way to cross the river.” there’s no need to waste resources and manpower attacking the bridge. If you as a spiritual leader find easier and simpler ways to make committed disciples of Jesus, by all means throw tradition (not principles) out the window. The Commander’s Intent is to make disciples!
Over Engaged – We can get in the way. Our presence can actually paralyze leaders that are afraid to mess up in front of us or annoy leaders that resent us always looking over their shoulder. There is the ministry of presence and there is the ministry of absence. Your people need to know that you’re with them but they also need to know you trust them. When I was a chaplain, I flew a flag from the antenna of my Humvee with a cross on it. The troops would tell me they liked that flag and you may be guessing wrong as to why. I drove a Command Hummer like the Battalion Commander’s. The only difference was my flag. So when they saw my vehicle they would say, “Oh, it’s just the chaplain.” In other words, the Old Man is not going to be in our hair.
Stifling Self Discovery – You probably can’t ever be too relevant but you sure can rescue leaders too soon with your knowledge and your actions. If you come off as a “Know it All” or the “Shell Answer Man” you will not only alienate those you are leading but you also rob them of the opportunity to think through things themselves. Self discovery is a huge part of developing young leaders. That’s why one of the most important tools in your leadership kitbag is the question. Jesus was the master of the question. He would even answer a question with a question. We may know the answer but we have to give the folks we are discipling the opportunity to find out for themselves (even if it means failure at times).
Experts at Demoralization – Like relevance, you probably can’t be too competent. But you can be a show off. Sometimes leaders feel the need to put their folks in a headlock with their expertise to let them know who’s the boss. You can do this physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. As a chaplain I would always go to the rifle range to hang out with the soldiers. I never felt the need to advise them on marksmanship (even though I was a sniper as an enlisted guy). It was just not the kind of thing that I needed to do for my guys especially since, as a chaplain, I didn’t even carry a rifle. You can just hear the poor trooper, “I shot so poorly even the chaplain was coaching me.” Now that would be demoralizing!
Over Emotionally Connected – Commanders in the army have to make tough calls and sometimes those decisions cost people their lives. It’s a part of war. As spiritual leaders we are asking people to do some tough things as well. We have a single gal that we love like a daughter. She lived with us for two years being discipled by Deb and I. Later, we would spend the first months of the Covid Pandemic together. As you can imagine, spending all that time together we got close to her. But then it was time to head back to Egypt as a missionary. Think about that for a second. A single gal, you love like a daughter, heading to a muslim country, to share the gospel. You think we might have been a little fearful for her safety? Yeah, just a bit! But we knew the calling God had on her life and we could not afford to be over protective. We pray for her daily but we know the mission comes before our anxiousness for her.
Inspire Not Hype – Sometimes leaders are trying too hard to motivate people. I call this “selling woof tickets.” It’s the art of over hyping something. Catalysts tend to do this with their exaggerated rhetoric. Young folks may fall for this once or twice but they eventually learn to be wary of all the hot air. People can see through this stuff. They know you’re trying to whip them into a hot lather and making things out to be more than they really are. Don’t exaggerate and make sure you reveal the challenges and potential dangers as well as the benefits.
When Leaders Avoid the Mud
As an Army chaplain, my mission was to “Provide and Perform Religious Support” for my soldiers. It was my duty not only to provide religious services and education to the Protestant soldiers of my unit but also to those of other religious beliefs. I performed the ministry dictated by my theological convictions and then found someone else to cover down on the other religions represented in the unit.
During our deployment to Kuwait, the challenge of “Providing” religious support was significant because we were isolated in the middle of the desert. I had many Catholic soldiers who wanted a priest to perform services and counseling. In the first month, I was fortunate enough to appropriate an Army Chaplain from another unit who was also a Catholic Priest. He was enthusiastic about serving our soldiers, and I felt like our troops were getting what they needed. However, he redeployed back to the States after a short time, which left me with a significant gap in the religious support I could provide.
I needed to find a solution quickly, and I knew there was an Air Force Base about an hour’s drive by Humvee. So, I radioed a message to the chaplain at Ali Al Salem Air Base and set up a meeting. As I drove onto the base, it was a stark difference from the life my soldiers and I were living. The first thing I noticed is that once I left my vehicle, I never touched the sand again. There were pallets with rubber mats for walkways between the prefab buildings with showers and latrines. When I walked into the chaplain’s office, I was greeted with air conditioning, carpeted floors, coffee, and cookies. My unit had no such luxuries, just tanks, tents, and sand. They greeted me warmly and asked how they could serve. I told them I needed a Catholic Priest once every two weeks and that I would coordinate air transport by Army helicopter.
The Air Force Chaplains heartily agreed to support our soldiers, but then asked where we were located. I told them we were three kilometers from the Iraqi border and living in tents. As soon as I explained the potential danger and the living conditions, it was a hard “NO.” I drove back to our FOB (Forward Operating Base) empty-handed.
Then I remembered that there was a MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) operating in the Persian Gulf. They were on a ship just off the Kuwaiti coast. I got on the radio and contacted the Navy chaplain serving the Marine Corps, and sure enough, he was a Franciscan Priest. When they flew him in, we were surprised he wasn’t wearing the Marine Corps Utility Uniform, but instead, the typical Franciscan hooded brown robe with white rope and all. Now that was a sight to see getting off a helicopter in the middle of the desert! Our admiration for the Navy chaplain was sky-high, not so much for the Air Force. (I’m sure this was an isolated case and most Air Force chaplains would have jumped at a chance to serve my troops.)
Not only was there a stark difference between our living conditions with our sister services but a stark difference in leadership. Where one was unwilling to share our dangers and discomfort but the other was not only willing but went the extra mile to serve us. That, my friends, is what muddy boots leadership looks like.
When it’s All Theory
Don’t become a Theorist, always pontificating about what we should do but not doing it yourself. It’s easy to fall into this trap as a Christian leader because we hold the Teacher/Preacher in such high esteem. If you find yourself preparing to teach something you haven’t practiced in a long time, make doing it a part of your preparation. I have occasionally been asked the question about our simple Bible studies, “Where’s the meat?” To which I reply, “The meat is the application of the knowledge, not the knowledge by itself.” You want something to chew on? Apply the spiritual truths you are learning and teaching.
Another thing you can do to avoid becoming a Theorist is by not just telling but actually showing people how to do something. Model spiritual truths for the folks you’re discipling like Jesus did. How many times have disciples of Jesus been told they need to read their Bibles and pray daily and they are still not doing it? Set an appointment with them on a Saturday morning and spend time with Jesus together, showing them how you do it. But Chuck, I have a hundred people in my congregation! Pull some of your leaders aside and model how to model. Now you’re multiplying your efforts!
I got to be honest with you, I’m really tired of the same old sermons dressed in different clothes that are still not transforming people into the likeness of Christ. I think the main problem is our training model. The sermon isn’t cutting it and we know it because people aren’t engaged in living out the life Jesus has commanded. We need to change our tactics. We need to quit hiding behind the pulpit (or whiteboard) and get the people out of the pews and into the fight. Sure, preach away. But then get down in the mud and “just do it” with your people.
Are you teaching things you’ve never done?
Getting in the way…of Jesus
I found that the best leaders are good followers. They understand what authority looks like and are able to trust their leader’s guidance and directives. It reminds me of Jesus’ interaction with the Centurion.
When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. (Matthew 8:5-13)
Notice the Centurion saw himself as a leader but a leader that understood followership and was willing to submit himself under Jesus’ authority. Jesus equated this understanding and obedience as “faith.” The Centurion trusted Jesus to lead him.
Now here’s the kicker for us as Christian Leaders. We need to make sure that people see their ultimate authority in Jesus. You will have influence, sure, but ultimate authority? No Way! (Besides we make for a lousy Holy Spirit) We need to keep pointing people to Jesus. I call people getting in between Jesus and His disciples a “Souler Eclipse.” They’re casting a shadow and blocking the Son’s light. (Here’s a link to more about that: A Lunar Lesson in Spiritual Leadership (Part 1))
Leading alone
Generally speaking we think of an individual leader that sets an example for others to follow. But what if the hero of the story is not just one but many. What if churches actually became a muddy boots example for other believers and even whole churches to emulate. I believe it can be done and is actually being done in many places around the world. We keep hearing stories about the radical commitment to Jesus coming from China and India and other places that have inspired us. We see that the Biblical standards for sharing the gospel, being a disciple of Jesus and making disciples is actually achievable. The church in other places and maybe even in your own neighborhood has become a corporate muddy boots leader!
Quite frankly, I think that’s what it’s going to take to move the 21st century western church out of its mediocrity and into the fiery commitment of the first. We need to rise up, raise the bar, and be the Bride that is prepared to meet the Groom. We need to show others what Christlike love looks like, what devotion to the Word of God and prayer looks like, and what looking for and loving the lost looks like. This will ultimately bring glory to God and fulfill His words that “the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.”
But in order for that to happen we will need men and women who have the vision and wear with all to create these kinds of churches that impact the whole “Army of God.” We need whole churches who have earned their stripes (and stars) by being in the trenches. They are regularly sharing the gospel. They are knee deep in the Word of God and praying like everything depends on God’s hand to move. They need to love in the toughest circumstances and the toughest people. And they need a faith in Christ that is unshakable as they march arm in arm with those God has entrusted to their pastoral care. We need churches with muddy boots.
Muddy boots leaders also have come to grips with the fact that they are not the only people (besides Jesus) that are having an influence in a person’s life. They see leadership as a more distributed influence rather than a top down hierarchy. And they know how to leverage that fact. Take Jesus and John the Baptist’s relationship. Both affirmed one anothers leadership of the people they were serving.
John the Baptist
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:25-30)
Jesus
As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,
‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’
Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 11:7-15)
Instead of trying to “one up” each other, they affirmed each other’s contribution to the kingdom of God. This is essential for leaders to grasp. We are a body formed by many parts and having only One Head (1 Corinthians 11-12). Everyone has a unique contribution to make.
The muddy boots leader is busy equipping and promoting other leaders (Ephesians 4:11-13) to increase the workforce (Luke 10:2). In fact, these kinds of leaders are so mission minded they are setting their followers up to do even greater works than they did (John 14:12). In his book “Turn the Ship Around!” L. David Marquet, a submarine commander, describes success as watching those in his command get promoted beyond him well after he retired from the Navy. The first task is to get people to shoulder height with you. Then it’s walking with them as peers. But ultimately we want them to “out strip” us in their skills and abilities to lead the next generation. Our goal is not to be remembered but for our folks to remember the goal, reach the world for Christ.
Conclusion – Muddy boots leadership and vision – Abram’s Charter
In the latter stages of the Vietnam War and the late 1970s, the United States Army experienced significant turmoil. Various issues, such as a lack of discipline, disrespect for authority, low morale, and poor unit cohesion, reached an unprecedented high. Drug and alcohol abuse was rampant. Sexually transmitted diseases were prevalent among soldiers. And racially charged fights occurred frequently. Commanders struggled to maintain control and address the numerous disciplinary problems, leaving little time for essential training. In short the Army was a trainwreck and in need of a complete overhaul.
In 1974, General Creighton W. Abrams had a vision for change. He issued a directive to establish the Ranger Battalion as a model infantry unit. His vision was to create a force that would serve as an inspiration and role model for the rest of the Army, setting the standard for excellence in training, tactics, and combat readiness. These were to be the muddy boots leaders that would eventually impact the rest of the Army. The Ranger Battalion was to be an elite unit composed of highly motivated and skilled soldiers, trained in the art of warfare, and capable of operating in any environment and under any circumstances. General Abrams’ charter to form the Ranger Battalion was a bold initiative that changed the way the Army approached training and operations and by the late 1980s influenced every soldier in the U.S. Army.
To achieve his goal, General Abrams handpicked the best officers and enlisted personnel from across the Army to form the Ranger Battalion. The initial group of soldiers underwent a rigorous selection process that tested their physical and mental capabilities, as well as their commitment to the Army and its mission. The selected officers and soldiers underwent an intensive training program that covered a wide range of military skills, including marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, navigation, survival techniques and many others.
The training program was designed to push the soldiers to their limits, both physically and mentally. They were subjected to long hours of grueling physical training, often in extreme weather and terrain. They were also trained in the use of the latest weapons and equipment. The goal of the training program was to create soldiers who were not only physically fit and highly skilled but also mentally tough and able to perform under pressure.
The Rangers were deployed to various locations around the world to carry out missions that required the highest level of skill, discipline, and professionalism. They were often called upon to carry out high-risk missions, such as rescuing hostages, securing airfields, and conducting strategic reconnaissance. The Rangers quickly established a reputation as a force to be reckoned with, capable of operating in any environment and under any circumstances.
The success of the Rangers did not go unnoticed, and it soon became clear that the unit was having a positive influence on the rest of the Army. Soon every single soldier was singing, “I want to be an Airborne Ranger…” during their morning runs in Basic and Advanced training. And whether they really wanted to or not, they continued singing the reframe when they got to their units.
Through the Ranger’s example it became unacceptable across the Army to call a Sergeant “Sarge” which had been popular since before WWII. It became a symbol of disrespect and would no longer be tolerated. The Rangers enforced the Army standard of standing at the ridgid position of attention when addressing an officer or parade rest when addressing a Non-Commissioned Officer (a Sergeant). The Ranger Battalions were reinvigorating a high standard of military bearing that had long been lost.
Units begin to increase expectations in training by making it more challenging by instituting five mile runs, twelve mile road marches, all weather training, reverse cycle training at night, and whole battalion runs in formation together as a result of the Ranger’s influence. And although not every unit desired or was capable of doing the kind of training the Rangers routinely executed, the net effect on the Army significantly increased combat readiness.
Esprit-de-corps improved Army wide as well. The Rangers instituted the word “Hooah.” It was our enthusiastic response to any orders or instructions. By the late 80s every soldier was responding to their superiors with a resounding “HOOAH!” (Whether they meant it or not). As Rangers, every morning before physical training we were required to recite the Ranger Creed. Soon other special units like the parachute riggers had a creed. By 2003 every soldier was required to know and recite the Soldier’s Creed. The Ranger Battalions had a unit coin with Ranger insignia stamped on it. The coin was to be carried at all times, whether in uniform or civilian attire to authenticate a sense of belonging and pride in the unit. By the early 90s, almost every unit in the Army had their own unique coin.
The Ranger’s even influence the general appearance and grooming of most of the soldiers. All Rangers were required to cut their hair extremely short, bald sides and no more than two inches on the top. By the late 80’s it was very popular for male regular Army soldiers to be sporting the Rangers’ “High & Tight” haircut. (Note: SPEC OPS units now sport long hair and beards to “blend in” with the indigenous population.) At the time the Army wore standard OD (olive drab) permanent press fatigues. The only units that routinely wore camouflage fatigues were Special Forces and Rangers (Airborne units occasionally wore “Cammies” when on various missions). By the early 80s every soldier was wearing the camouflage BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform).
In 1990 Saddam Hussian decided to invade Kuwait. He picked the absolute worst time in American history to mess with the US Army. In just 42 days General Schwarzkopf absolutely rolled up the fifth largest army in the world with the brillant aid of all sister services, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Had the Army remained in its dismal condition from the mid 70s, this would have never been possible. General Abrams’ vision to create a model infantry unit that would influence the whole institution had become a reality. The Ranger Battalions had sent their muddy boots leaders all over the Army. The training, tactics, and high standards of the Ranger Battalion had infected other units, and eventually the Ranger ethos of excellence and professionalism was impacting every soldier. This may have been transparent to many in the Army at the time but for those of us who knew Abram’s Charter and lived it, it was abundantly evident and awesome to be a part of.
In 2001 General Abrams’ vision was fully realized when Army Chief of Staff, General Eric Shinseki, unwittingly decided to make the black beret the standard headgear for all soldiers, citing the importance of instilling a sense of pride and unity across the Army. The decision was controversial with most Rangers because at the time the black beret belonged to the Rangers and them alone. But the Rangers’ feeling aside, it was supremely evident to anyone who was familiar with “Abrams’ Charter” that this was the “icing on the cake.” To be sure, the Rangers were not the sole reason for the Army’s huge turn-around but they were a major muddy boots contributor. General Abrams was a great catalyst for getting the Army back into condition to fight the Nation’s wars.
Could you and your church be a catalyst to make these kinds of significant changes in Christendom?
The choice is ours
Now we are armed and dangerous! We have a chance to be on the attack rather than defense or even worse just lick our wounds in the MASH. We have the opportunity to lead the people of God from the front and say “follow me” like Jesus and Paul did. (Matthew 4:19. 1 Corinthians 11:1) We can show them what to do and not just tell them what to do. We can turn pure theory into dynamic flexible applications to advance the kingdom of God in our little realm without violating the Biblical principles of disciple making. We can penetrate deep into lostness rather than just trade sheep. Our churches can inspire others to raise the bar and be the kind of disciples that actually obey the commands of Jesus. Will you get your boots muddy?
ToBeLikeJesus 