9.the cor…
Leadership is one of the fundamental preoccupations of modern business and for good reason. It matters. Few subjects have been more written about in recent years than leadership. Good leadership is at the heart of every successful organisation. As kingdom entrepreneurs, we must look to the greatest of leaders as our role model. We must learn to lead like Jesus.
Activity.
Write down some of the words that come to mind when you think of business leadership.
Teaching.
If we are to lead a fruitful business ministry, we must cultivate a Christ-like approach to leadership. We suggest that the core characteristics of Jesus’ leadership are authority and service. Were these on your list? The people around Jesus recognised that He ‘taught as one who had authority and they ‘praised God, who had given such authority to man.’ The people recognised that Jesus acted with authority long before they understood his positional authority as the Son of God.
Do you have authority? If so, what is it based on?
Reflection.
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralysed, suffering terribly.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Shall I come and heal him?’ The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, “Go,” and he goes; and that one, “Come,” and he comes. I say to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’
Matthew8:5-10
Teaching.
If Jesus’ authority was so important, we need to understand better. It helps to think about where authority comes from. Authority always flows from a higher authority. Even Jesus looked up. He had authority yet was Himself under the authority of His Father. The Centurion was commended by Jesus for recognising this. The passage illustrates how authority flows within a hierarchy. Authority always starts at the top where the buck stops. From there, it flows down the hierarchy. Being under authority means you operate with the authority of the one whose authority you are under. As Kingdom Entrepreneurs, we are leaders who are under the authority of Christ. We act with His authority.
What are the benefits of knowing that we are ourselves under the authority of Christ?
Teaching.
Too often in business, authority is based on positional leadership alone. It becomes ‘the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience over subordinates.’ Not so for the Kingdom Entrepreneur. This is because Christ-like leadership is characterised by both authority and the equally essential and complementary characteristic of service.
Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
Matthew20:25-28
Jesus turns the world’s pattern of leadership on its head. He modelled servant leadership and made this a clear priority for His disciples. If we are to become Christ-like leaders we too must model an attitude of service towards those who are under our authority. Great leaders are not better than others. They are just the ones willing to lay down their lives for others. This turns the normal understanding of authority upside down.
What might it look like when a business leader gives their life for their subordinates?
Hierarchy 、 Obedience 、 Trust 、 Faith。
God.
Delegation 、 Empowerment 、Authority。
The diagram above illustrates the flows in a hierarchy. Discuss where the word ‘service’ should go on the diagram.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him.
Ephesians6:5-9
Discussion.
Reflect on the passage. Note that masters are called to treat their employees in the same way as the Lord does. List what is expected from masters.
The Bible makes it clear that both employees and their employers have a Master in heaven who will treat everyone without favouritism. What would change in business if earthly masters behaved in this way and showed ‘no favouritism’?
When we recognise that we are under the authority of Christ we will be able to model Christ-like servant leadership.
The goal of every ministry is to bear fruit. Not just any old fruit, but spiritual fruit that will last. This can only be achieved in God’s way, through spiritual means. We must seek to ensure the activities of our business bear spiritual fruit.
‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’
‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’
John15:5,John15:16
Jesus makes it clear that he has appointed us to bear much fruit. It is empowering to know that this is God’s desire for us. As the leader of a business ministry, we can confidently expect to bear spiritual fruit, in and through the activities of our business. It is
essential, however, that we remember how this is achieved. We must learn to operate ‘in Christ’.
Discussion.
Jesus tells us that we can ‘do nothing’ apart from Him. Why can’t a Kingdom Entrepreneur bear fruit apart from Jesus?
What does this tell us about the kind of fruit we are to bear?
Teaching.
Jesus goes on to set out why we are to bear fruit.
We are called to bear fruit for the Father’s glory. We do this by showing ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples. Business as a ministry is all about the spiritual fruit that occurs when Kingdom Entrepreneurs confidently and publicly live as visible disciples of Jesus.
The BizMin Course seeks to set out what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in the business context. When we learn how to do this we will have become the leaders of a fruitful Christian ministry. We can rejoice in knowing that it will bring glory to God.
We must never forget that Jesus is the source of our fruitfulness and that it is for the Father’s glory, not our own.
Reflect on the following account of a kings downfall.
‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.’
John 15:8, Daniel4:28-33a
All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, ‘Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?’ Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, ‘This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass
by for you until you acknowledge that the Highest is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.’ Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.
Who did the king think was behind his achievements and who’s benefit and glory were they for?
Discussion.
How might a Kingdom Entrepreneur ensure that they and their company avoid the king’s mistake and remain ‘in Christ’?
If we are to bear spiritual fruit we must remain in Christ.
he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Ephesians1:9-10
This passage sets out that God’s purpose is ‘to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.’ This is the primary objective of any Christian ministry and must involve bringing all aspects of our business under Christ. The book of Ephesians sets out how this goal is achieved in chapters 4, 5 and 6.
The diagram opposite illustrates the process. At the centre is the church and those called to ‘equip the saints for works of service.’ With the support of our church, we are required to progressively bring all areas of our lives under Christ. First and foremost, our own lives are to be brought under Christ through personal discipleship. Secondly, we are to bring our family and homes under Christ. Next, we are to be disciplined as workers, serving the Lord wholeheartedly. The master, the employer or Kingdom Entrepreneur is the final step in the process. It is here,
in the hands of leaders, that all things on earth might be brought under Christ.
When your business is brought under Christ you will have done your bit to bring unity to all things on earth. This is BizMin’s
Teaching.
goal. We want to equip Kingdom Entrepreneurs to play their part in bringing all things under Christ. That includes your business. We believe this is one of the key reasons why God is calling and equipping a new generation of Kingdom Entrepreneurs. It is a key part of what He purposed in Christ.
At the centre of this process is the local church. Has your church equipped you for ‘works of service’ in the world of work? Discuss what your church could do to better support believers in the workplace.
Discussion.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians6:10-13
It is at this point that the book of Ephesians turns to the spiritual battle. A Kingdom Business is a front-line in the battle for the Kingdom of God. It is essential that we recognise this.
Bringing every aspect of our business under Christ will be a spiritual battle. This battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. It will not be won through anything other than the authority of Christ. It is by remaining
Teaching.
in Him and standing in His authority that this battle will be won. First in our own lives, then in our homes and finally in our workplace. As this occurs in our business, we will see it transformed into a fruitful ministry.
Without evidence of a spiritual battle, we may need to consider whether we are really striving to achieve spiritual fruit. Is your experience of business a spiritual battle?
Think of an example of where you have taken a stand over a situation in your business. Write down the testimony of how you were successful.
Reflection.
What was the role of prayer in this process?
How often do you pray for your business?
Never All the time Business is at the front-line of the spiritual battle for the Kingdom of God. Our goal is to equip Kingdom Entrepreneurs to take a stand and, when everything is done, to still be
Discussion.
standing. The good news is that we do not need to fight in our own strength. Remember, we are in Christ and can do nothing apart from Him. Any spiritual fruit we bear is a product of grace and most often the result of prayer.
The Kingdom of God will advance as our business is brought under Christ. This is a spiritual battle, won by grace.
In section 9.2 we identified that all of this is ‘for the Father’s glory. In a Kingdom Business, it is God who should receive both the praise and the glory. When you succeed, who receives the praise? Is it you, your colleagues or God?
If it is you, that is not surprising. You are the boss, and the boss is often the For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians2:8-9.
the figurehead for the team’s success. If it is your colleagues, that is impressive. It is not easy to let others have the limelight. Hopefully, you are one of the first to sing your team’s praises when they do well. It is much harder, however, for our success to result in God getting the glory.
Discussion.
How are we to ensure that God gets the glory through our business success? Reflect on the power of testimony.
If we don’t regularly praise and thank God for what He is doing in and through our business, who else will! Has your business success been for ‘the praise of His glory?
If we are to transform our business into a fruitful ministry, it must be for the praise of His Glory.
Close the session with a short time of prayer. Ask God to equip you to take a stand and bring every aspect of your business under the authority of Christ.
