Ever feel like life is throwing leadership responsibilities at you when you’re just trying to survive the day? Yeah, I get it. You know, I was sitting at my kitchen table the other day, sipping my Diet Coke, trying to avoid eye contact with the pile of dishes in the sink. And then it hit me – not the dishes, thankfully, but the thought: we all lead in some way. Maybe you’re like me, thinking, “I’m no leader!” But here’s the truth: if you’ve ever managed to convince a toddler to eat their veggies or gotten your teenager to clean their room, you’ve got some serious leadership skills.
Appreciate the Leadership We Often Overlook
We tend to picture leaders as CEOs, managers, or pastors, but let’s be real. Some of the most influential leaders in our lives were never in charge of anything official. Think about it: Timothy’s greatest influencers were his mother and grandmother, not some high-ranking church official. In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul writes, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice…” They didn’t have titles, but their faith shaped Timothy’s life.
Now, I want you to pause and think. Who has impacted your faith journey the most? Was it a teacher, a parent, a friend? Odds are, it wasn’t because of their job title but because they lived out their faith.
Live With Love And Integrity
Here’s the kicker: Christian leadership isn’t just for pastors, bishops, or deacons. It’s for every believer. In 1 Timothy 1:5, Paul says, “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” That’s a call to all of us. Our leadership is about showing love, living with integrity, and reflecting Jesus to those around us. It’s about being an ambassador for Christ in our own little corner of the world.
Now, you might be thinking, “But I don’t want to be a leader!” Hey, I get it. I don’t want to be the one who has to fix all the things that keep breaking on my house, but it’s got to be done! It’s not about whether we want to lead; it’s about recognizing that, like it or not, we’re representing Christ wherever we go.
Ask yourself: Where are you a leader? Is it in your family, at work, among friends, or maybe even at your local coffee shop where you’re a regular? Once you start looking, you’ll see there are plenty of places where your influence matters.
Embrace Your Leadership Role
I know some of you are still sitting there, crossing your arms, thinking, “But I don’t want to be a leader!” Well, here’s the deal: it doesn’t matter if you want to be. You are one. At some point, we all lead – whether it’s in our homes, our workplaces, or our communities. The question isn’t “Are you a leader?” but “Where are you a leader?”
Leadership isn’t a title; it’s a calling. And God has called you to it.
This weekend we’re starting a new sermon series called “Pursue Character; Not Your Resume.” It’s all about exploring how God qualifies us for leadership through our character and identity in Christ, not our past or our credentials.
