Model - "Live What You Know"

“There will come a time when you believe that everything is finished. That will be the beginning.” Western novelist and short story writer, Louis L’Amore.

Over the last 12 weeks, we faced down our hurts, habits, and hang-ups in a series called “He Gets Us.” We learned that Jesus knows us at every level of our lives, loves us all the way deep, and desires to lead us from the pain of our sin and brokenness into the hope and healing of salvation life.

The Gospel message of Jesus declares that whatever hurt, habit, or hang-up that you’ve faced in this does not define you.

Rather, anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Co 5:17. NLT

Your old life died with Christ on the cross, and baptism symbolically represents this truth in you…

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Ro 6:4. NLT

On the cross, Jesus forgave every sin.

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5

Whoever places their trust in Jesus stands right before the Father, who now sees you as his son or daughter, counting you worthy to inherit the Kingdom and share in his glory.

How amazing!

Whatever happened in your past died on the cross with Jesus, and now his righteousness is what marks you.

Like a good doctor, when we place our lives into Jesus’ capable hands, his healing work restores us from sin to new life. He gets you, he knows you, he loves you, and this past series showed how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus can heal every part of you.

Jesus said, You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 NLT

For the past 12 weeks, some of you have been doing the hard work to walk with Christ in freedom by taking Moral Inventory, sharing Admission, offering Contrition and Surrender, giving Confession, and making Restitution and Amends.

That’s the freedom journey, and “There will come a time when you believe that everything is finished. That will be the beginning.” Western novelist and short story writer, Louis L’Amore.

… So today, as we embark upon the Christ Journey of freedom together, this new series is your new start line.

You haven’t finished the race; you have more opportunity in you.

Now is your new beginning, the next chapter in your unfolding Christ story. Now is the time to cultivate kingdom leadership to help others find and follow the one who saved you.

Cultivating kingdom leadership means modeling, mentoring, and multiplying the Good News of Jesus Christ with others.

Each one of the 3 messages in this series will focus on a unique characteristic of kingdom leadership. Today, I want to begin with the most foundational characteristic of the three - modeling - and open with the question: what are you modeling?

What story are you telling?

What truth are you declaring?

What are you modeling?

If you want to know what someone truly believes, then pay close attention to their behavior because: Behaviors model beliefs.

One proverb says, As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. Proverbs 27:19

Whether conscious or sub-conscious, what you believe in your heart will determine how you behave. But here’s the flip-side: The story doesn’t have to be true for you to believe it - just true to you. Thus, we can’t always trust the stories that we believe in our hearts.

This led the the prophet Jeremiah to write, The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9, NIV

Our hearts are complex and complicated.

I might believe that my colleague or family member wants to do me harm by offering me critical feedback, but in reality, they want to see me flourish.

Hence why we need each other to help us see our blindspots in what we believe about ourselves, others, and God. We need help to lift our eyes above the fray. On our own, we tend to keep our eyes down here [[[look to ground]]] or [[[point to self]]] on here, but we cultivate kingdom leadership by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:2, NIV

What you believe in your heart is as close as your reflection in the mirror, so what are you modeling - what stories are you telling - what truths are you declaring - because your behaviors model what you believe.

Jesus cultivated kingdom leadership throughout his life and ministry, but we see him modeling, mentoring, and multiplying the tenets of the kingdom most acutely and urgently in the final hours before his death on the cross and in the first hours after his resurrection.

In today’s message, I want to briefly examine John chapters 12 and 13 on how Jesus modeled kingdom leadership. Next week, we will look at how Jesus mentored kingdom leadership with his disciples in John chapters 14-17, and then in the last week of this series, we will learn how Jesus multiplied kingdom leadership by unpacking John chapters 20-21 together.

Let’s begin in John chapter 12.

In verse 23, Jesus shared with his closest disciples: Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.

Prior to this moment, John records Jesus saying on several occasions, ‘my time has not yet come’ or ‘it is not yet time,’ but in verse 23, there will be no more holding back: Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.

In first century, many Jews believed a storyline about the Messiah’s glory that involved waging a holy war against the powers of the world to make Israel victorious over all its enemies, so is that what Jesus meant by entering into his glory? Because at that time, many people believed that story, but Jesus said

Jesus says, 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death [referring to his own death] will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world [those who make themselves lower than others] will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. John 12:23–26. NLT

Here, Jesus

On the night before Jesus went to the cross, The way to glory, according to Jesus, is down. His teaching reveals a key principle of the kingdom:

What Jesus modeled in his life and ministry confronts everyone. Every person at some level wants to hold onto their life.

To care nothing for your life directly challenges not only every story that says get ahead, grow your status, get more, do whatever it takes, it also challenges our own innate sense of self, our own identity as a human being.

The call to leadership that Jesus offers, on the one hand, seems impossible to answer and conflicts with all our western and economic ideals, but on the other hand, no other call fully satisfies like the one Jesus offers.

Every story in our culture leaves us wanting. Even the most honorable stories in our society never truly satisfy the longing in our hearts for fulfillment.

Yet, no matter what hardship we may experience in this life because of our belief in Jesus, peace is always available - contentment is always attainable - because Jesus said, “My servants must be where I am.”

And wherever we are with Jesus, we are with our God.

Jesus is ‘God with us.’

Jesus gave no small charge about the cost of discipleship.

Those who love their life in this world will lose it.

That’s a hard ask for people love their life, but...

Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

Why? Because Jesus offers himself as the source of all life for those who place their lives in his. Jesus’ modeled a harder path, but it leads to what all of us desire.

Therefore, the lower you make yourself, the higher you grow.

After Jesus shared this teaching with his disciples, he walked his talk by modeling for them what losing your life in the love and service of others truly looks like:

John records, “[Jesus] got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. John 13:4-5

I can’t overstate the gravity of this moment.

The incarnate God of the Universe, wearing only a towel around his waste, standing almost naked before his men mere hours before he would be stripped and beaten, and placed naked on a Roman cross, the Son of God bent down and with his bare hands washed the feet of 12 ordinary men, including the feet of his betrayer.

Jesus modeled glory through humility and service to others.

The lower you make yourself, the higher you grow.

The Apostle Paul captured this principle by writing:

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:5–8.

Jesus washed their feet to model to the heart and character of our God. He didn’t just teach about this and then walk away. He lived and breathed the ethos of God’s kingdom all the way to the cross, so when Jesus said, Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity, he behaved about what he believed about the kingdom and cultivated this leadership in his disciples, and by his Spirit alive in us, continues to cultivate this way of kingdom leadership in us.

John writes, After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?” 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. John 13:12–15.

I want to invite you to pause on Jesus’ question: “Do you understand what I was doing?”

If you understand what Jesus did, then you will know why he did it.

Jesus’ behaviors model his beliefs, which, ultimately, Jesus models a kingdom ethic that aims to serve others, not the self.

Jesus said in Matthew 20:28, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

By refusing your own glory in this life, the Father promises to honor you forever with him.

You decide. The choice is yours on where you place your trust: in you or with Jesus

I’m banking that by now everyone has seen Top Gun: Maverick, right? Well, if not, then I’m going to spoil it for you because you deserve it. :)

I’m kidding. I’m only going to partly spoil it.

In the film, Maverick needs to equip a new class of Naval aviators to fly and fight like never before. After trying to teach them how to achieve the mission, he reaches a breaking point. Time is running out, and the team’s not ready.

In one last ditch effort to lead his team, Maverick models the possibility of the impossible. He risked his own career and life because he believed in a different story than everyone else, including his own superiors.

Jesus modeled the same for us and made the impossible, possible, by setting aside his own rights and privileges as the son of God and taking the role of a servant to show his true and infinite love for us.

After this, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34–35.

Love was what compelled Jesus to lower himself for us… you… and the world. It’s what motivated him to wash his disciples’ feet.

Love is what led him to offer his life on the cross.

Cultivating kingdom leadership is a matter of heart, so:

What are you modeling?

What stories are you telling?

What truths are you declaring?

I recently saw a meme on LinkedIn that probably describes how a lot of people view leadership:

[[[show pic: what people think leadership is]]]

“Telling people what to do.”

For some, leadership means power and top down authority. ‘As your leader, I am the one in charge, who makes the decisions, and tells you what to do.’ This style of leadership benefits only one person: the leader.

Conversely, while kingdom leadership also holds power and authority, this type of leader seeks to leverage power and authority to help others to grow further, faster. Kingdom leadership benefits all involved.

Kingdom leadership flips the organizational pyramid. Rather than kingdom leadership trickling down from top to bottom, this style of leadership locates the leader at the bottom. This leader seeks to serve those in the organization and feels the weight of their need.

Easy for you to say, Pastor. You serve at a church.

Regardless of whether or not your organization or company practices this style of leadership as a whole, you have the power of Christ’s Spirit alive in you to lead according to God’s kingdom principles and model your beliefs through your leadership behavior.

The difference between kingdom leadership and authoritarian, self-centered leadership, is a fine line. The difference isn’t necessarily in what you say or in your behaviors. The difference is what you believe. Kingdom leadership is a matter of heart.

One of my first mentors in ministry was a man named Brian. He was a man who modeled Christ’s servant-hearted love in everything he did. I met him when I was 26, and I learned more about kingdom leadership from him in my first month after seminary than I did in all my years of seminary training combined.

But Brian was tough. In fact, I nicknamed him “The Jackhammer,” and we joked about that together because he knew he was tough. One afternoon, after making a rookie mistake on the job, he taught me a stern but significant leadership lesson. Afterward, he could sense that I felt defeated, so he took me aside and made sure to look me in the eyes and said, “I believe in you. I see more in you than you see in yourself, and I want to help you get there.”

Like Maverick, Brian knew that I could accomplish the mission, but I needed help, so he modeled kingdom leadership to me.

He set his rights and privileges aside as an established leader to a help a young nobody like me.

He generously served my wife, Stacy, and me with his time, talents, and resources.

He showed his love for me by telling the truth about me and then helped me grow to overcome my own snags.

Kingdom leadership isn’t always about being nice. Rather, kingdom leadership is about transformation. Cultivating kingdom leadership means cultivating transformation in the name of Jesus. That’s what Brian did for me, and it began right here. [[[tap my heart]]]

One Christ Journey family who has modeled transformation in the lives of literally hundreds of kids over the years is the Garcia family, and here’s their story.

[[[show Garcia video]]]

Everyone needs a place to grow in their kingdom leadership, so why not start right here among your Christ Journey familia? Kingdom leadership needs to happen everywhere, but it begins right here in the household of God.

Build your kingdom leadership muscle here. Take reps in serving opportunities. Grow your knowledge of God’s Word in a small group. Live on the EDGE of Evangelism, Discipleship, Generosity, and Empowerment with us, and together, let’s do our part to seek the transformation of our city through the body of this local church.

Find your place to serve and model Christ’s servant hearted call in love.

What story do you believe about yourself? Because beliefs model behavior.

This week, as you consider what your next step looks like to cultivate kingdom leadership at Christ Journey, in your home, and at your workplace, consider the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray in Matthew 6:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be YOUR name, YOUR kingdom come, YOUR will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Mt 6:9–13.

This prayers states what belongs to our Father and what we need from him. Let me encourage you to pray this prayer. Memorize it, and invite Jesus to give you his leadership wisdom and heart.

Choose today to believe in the transformational power of Jesus. He does not define you by your past sin. Instead, you’ve been forgiven and made right, so model your belief in this truth to others, and cultivate the kind of leadership that builds into eternity.

Will you pray with me?