Building Champions: Be the Leading Element

Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep." (John 21: 17)

It's interesting to see how Jesus metaphors His calling to us as believers - He called us to be fishers of men (Matt. 4:19), to be the light to the world (Matt. 5:14) and as aforementioned, a shepherd to His sheep and lambs (John 21: 15-17), just to name a few. If I could paraphrase the one underlying mandate into my own words it'd be... He's called us to Build Champions. 

Recently Gateway City Church had Sports Ministry Sunday and the theme was "Building Champions". God  gave me three essential points on building champions which I'd like to share because I believe all of us, no matter where we are placed, are called to build champions.

So, how do we actually build champions? I believe in order for us to build Christ-centred champs, we need to exercise three crucial Christ-like attributes. The first which point which I'd like to share is:

1. We need to be the Leading element

Jesus, God's perfect example of Leadership

If there's one thing Jesus is known for even if not as the son of God would be the fact that he was a great leader. When Jesus was just twelve, he built champions in the synagogues by expounding on the Word of God. He wasn't just knowledgeable, he led. When he did ministry in the last three years of his life, he did not just heal the sick, fed the 5,000 or raised the dead. He led. He led people through the word, through His lifestyle, through His actions. He put on the leadership mantle wherever he went.

"It's not the position but the condition"

Whenever we build something, e.g., a sports team, we need a Team Manager to lay out the direction for the team - what's their goal and objective, etc. He leads the team by giving specific direction. If we want to build champions, we must learn to put that sort of leadership mantle. Having said that, I must also clarify that at the end of the day, it's not about the position of a role (e.g. team manager, coach, CEO, Manager, etc) but the condition of the heart that matters to God.

Control vs. Leading

It's really sad to see how some people hold fast to the world-view belief that IF only they are given the opportunity to  be in a high-ranked position, only then can they fulfill their God-given purpose as a leader. Some may even go to the extent to say that if they are not given the role of the top-most leadership, they will not serve at all. They'd rather not serve at all than to be subordinates to another leader. Simply put, they want to be in control, not to lead. There's a huge difference. Control has to do with pride, and leadership has to do with servanthood. Both deal with the condition of the heart.

In God's eyes, leaders are not defined by their position but by the condition of their hearts. 1 Peter 5:2-3 clearly commands us to "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve". The key here is the willingness to serve! 

The Pest called Pride

The main problem with us is this thing we have called "pride". The only way we can be the leading element in this world is to put aside our pride and put inside us God's light. How do we do that?

Step 1: Be humble to understand the condition of God's heart

The only way to rid of pride is to first understand the condition of God's heart and in order to do that, you can be sure it requires a huge amount of humility. And that's exactly what God wants because humility is a key trait of a God-chosen leader.

Step 2: Be honest with the condition of our own heart 

When we begin to humble ourselves to understand God’s heart and bring ourselves in light of that, we will see how filthy and weak we are. We can then begin to see the intensity of God's heart for the people around us so much so that no position nor role nor earthly success can contain that divine intensity. 

Step 3: Be God’s Chosen Leader! 

And because nothing can contain the intensity of God’s heart for his people, no matter where we are or what role we are given, we have the authority to put on the leadership mantle to change the world around us! Note: WORLD. 

So understand that God wants us to be the leading element in this world, and it takes the right spirit and the willingness of the heart to be able to do that. It is God's desire to sharpened us so that we can spearhead in our community, to be the leading element that changes the landscape of the world that we are in. 

"You are the light of the world. 

A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, 

and it gives light to everyone in the house. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." 

Matthew 5: 14-16