A leadership style meant to encourage not discourage

Have you considered the method, Jesus used to instruct? Mark 9:33-34 sets the scene. “  33  And they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”  34  But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest.” 1 Jesus didn’t try to find out who thought was the “greatest?” He chose to confront the problem not the people involved but why? By confronting the problem, not the people, it gave Him the opportunity to teach while preventing those involved from being defensiveness and shamed. 1 The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), Mk. 9:33-34, with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

Have you considered the method, Jesus used to instruct?

Mark 9:33-34 sets the scene. “  33  And they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 

34  But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest.” 1

Jesus didn’t try to find out who thought was the “greatest?”

He chose to confront the problem not the people involved but why?

By confronting the problem, not the people, it gave Him the opportunity to teach while preventing those involved from being defensiveness and shamed.

When the disciples were asked what they were discussing “they were silent.” People often times use silence as a way of hiding from the truth. That tactic might work with Mom and Dad but certainly not with the Son of God. The Son of God already knew the answer before asking the question. In Mark 9:35 we read, “  35  And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 2 The disciples were discussing who among themselves was the most important. Isn’t such a discussion a discussion of pride and the arrogance to believe oneself is better than another? 2 The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), Mk. 9:35, with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

When the disciples were asked what they were discussing “they were silent.”

People often times use silence as a way of hiding from the truth. That tactic might work with Mom and Dad but certainly not with the Son of God.

The Son of God already knew the answer before asking the question.

In Mark 9:35 we read, “  35  And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 2

The disciples were discussing who among themselves was the most important.

Isn’t such a discussion a discussion of pride and the arrogance to believe oneself is better than another?

Jesus takes the opportunity to correct their thinking about self importance and servantship. Typically we elevate our importance by gaining a more powerful position, material items, possessions, money acquired by hard work or, if we are lucky, knowing the right people. Jesus is correcting them by explaining they need to leave behind the world’s value system and seek God’s value system.

Jesus takes the opportunity to correct their thinking about self importance and servantship.

Typically we elevate our importance by gaining a more powerful position, material items, possessions, money acquired by hard work or, if we are lucky, knowing the right people.

Jesus is correcting them by explaining they need to leave behind the world’s value system and seek God’s value system.

If you want to be first you have to be last. But this concept is opposite of what the world says and expects. The first has pride of place while the last is humble. He continues by saying, if you want to be the first you have to be the servant of all. Again a concept opposite of what the world expects. Those who are important or first are served by the humble. It takes humility to be of service others. Another leadership quality is that Jesus teaching is decisive and very clear. His teaching could cause division by forcing the disciples into one of two groups. Those who accept the teaching or those who don’t, unity could be the cost of his teaching. We discover more leadership qualities when we recognize that Jesus has, is, and will always be a man of truth and the truth can’t be compromised regardless of who may or may not like it.

If you want to be first you have to be last.

But this concept is opposite of what the world says and expects.

The first has pride of place while the last is humble.

He continues by saying, if you want to be the first you have to be the servant of all.

Again a concept opposite of what the world expects.

Those who are important or first are served by the humble.

It takes humility to be of service others.

Another leadership quality is that Jesus teaching is decisive and very clear.

His teaching could cause division by forcing the disciples into one of two groups. Those who accept the teaching or those who don’t, unity could be the cost of his teaching.

We discover more leadership qualities when we recognize that Jesus has, is, and will always be a man of truth and the truth can’t be compromised regardless of who may or may not like it.

We now come to the final and most difficult point, how to communicate your point in a way that your students will not only understand what you are saying but will also see how your point relates to their present and hopefully future lives. Jesus is a master of this technique. In Mark 9:36 He uses the “show and tell method.”  36  And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them;” 3 Interesting Jesus chose a child as the instrument to make his point. The word “child” is often translated as servant. 3 The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), Mk. 9:36, with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

We now come to the final and most difficult point, how to communicate your point in a way that your students will not only understand what you are saying but will also see how your point relates to their present and hopefully future lives.

Jesus is a master of this technique.

In Mark 9:36 He uses the “show and tell method.”

 36  And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them;” 3

Interesting Jesus chose a child as the instrument to make his point.

The word “child” is often translated as servant.

Children are humble and always trust their parent. Jesus now connects the dots for His students, He makes clear what has always been valuable to God, and in so doing makes humility and service valuable in the present and future when he says, “  37  “ Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” 4 Clearly the attitude of humility and service are against the cultural values then and now but are of extreme value to the Christian in the future (cf. Lk. 14:12-14). Remember the disciples were complying with worldly thinking when they discussed who among them was the greatest (v. 34). Summing up, leadership goes hand and hand with: Confronting problems, not people. Correcting people’s thinking about the problem at hand in a compassionate way. 4 The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), Mk. 9:36, with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

Children are humble and always trust their parent.

Jesus now connects the dots for His students, He makes clear what has always been valuable to God, and in so doing makes humility and service valuable in the present and future when he says, “  37  “ Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” 4

Clearly the attitude of humility and service are

against the cultural values then and now but are of extreme value to the Christian in the future (cf. Lk. 14:12-14).

Remember the disciples were complying with worldly thinking when they discussed who among them was the greatest (v. 34).

Summing up, leadership goes hand and hand with:

Confronting problems, not people.

Correcting people’s thinking about the problem at hand in a compassionate way.

Be direct by defining the problem. Propose new and challenging concepts of how to solve the problem. Always tell the truth even if others might not be ready to accept it immediately. Communicate your points clearly and effectively. And if at all possible demonstrate how the solution of the problem will have long lasting implications. Jesus had more leadership skills than we ever will have but if we use the eight principles listed in a consistent way over time we too will become effective leaders.

Be direct by defining the problem.

Propose new and challenging concepts of how to solve the problem.

Always tell the truth even if others might not be ready to accept it immediately.

Communicate your points clearly and effectively.

And if at all possible demonstrate how the solution of the problem will have long lasting implications.

Jesus had more leadership skills than we ever will have but if we use the eight principles listed in a consistent way over time we too will become effective leaders.

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