What’s this all about?

The Sidney First Leadership Community is a group that meets monthly comprised of many of Sidney First’s current leaders as well as emerging leaders. But, let’s stop right there — what is a “leader”? Fact is, as Christians, we’re all called to be Spiritual Leaders. We’re all called to glorify God in all that we do, as well as to go out and make new disciples. Living into those things involves Leadership — even if the “L” word may seem a little scary to you!

If you’re not currently involved with the Sidney First Leadership Community but you feel that God is calling you to grow in this area, let us know! Leave a comment here, contact the church office, talk to any of our pastors, or contact a member of the Leadership Development Committee. We’d all love to hear from you!

So, what is the Leadership Community? Well, let’s start by looking at the Mission of this group:

To build a community of faithful leaders that lives out God’s mandate of the Great Commission through  

            -Aligned hearts and purpose; and

            -Spiritual multiplication – discipling others as a part of our own discipleship.

 

That seems to be saying a lot, doesn’t it? But yet the core focus is fulfilling the Great Commission. The two points below it are how we do that and, as we go through the Leadership Community meetings in coming months, you will find a lot of focus on that idea of Spiritual Multiplication – how to build into others and set them on pathways of discipleship that will eventually lead them to also build into others, creating a true Spiritual Movement.

 

As we’re saying here in the Mission Statement, the Great Commission really was a mandate. Delivered to, at that point, the eleven Disciples after the resurrection, it really was Jesus’ last personal instruction to them of what they were to be all about. If we are to be true disciples, then, we have a responsibility to live it out as well. Let’s take a look at the Great Commission from the very end of Matthew.

 

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

 

Do you see what Jesus does here? He affirms His authority – authority given to Him by His Father – and then, see that word “therefore” in there? Because Jesus has the authority over all heaven and earth, he bestows on the disciples that mantle of leadership to carry forward – to go out and make more disciples.

 

This mandate and mantle of authority to create disciples is something that is passed on to us today. It wasn’t just for the remaining eleven disciples. It’s real and it is ours today.

 

Let’s think about it for a second – what does disciple-making really mean? Does everyone remember from the Journey Bible Study what a Disciple is?  “One who has decided to be with Him to learn from Him how to be like Him.” Well, if our mandate is to set others on the pathway of discipleship, then we have to be prepared to really come alongside them and invest in them. Setting someone on this pathway of discipleship includes showing them kindness and love and compassion but it’s also much more than that. If we’re going to create a spiritual movement that really impacts Sidney, Shelby County, and the world — we all need to feel equipped and empowered to really invest ourselves in others for the goal of Spiritual Multiplication.

 

Jesus, in the Great Commission, wasn’t calling us to be happy with the present – quite the opposite. He called us to transform the present. Wow. That is big stuff and it is a responsibility that we carry today.

 

As we go forward with the Leadership Community, here are a couple of things to think about:

 

First, what fears does all this bring up in you? Do you wonder whether you can really live this out? But then, go beyond that and ponder this: What is the price – what’s the cost – of giving into our fears and not living out the mandate God has given us?

 

So, keep joining us here on the Sidney First Leadership Community blog. Feel free to post comments of what God is teaching you, where He’s leading you, what questions you have, or anything else you want to share! We’re all here for the purpose of glorifying God and growing His Kingdom — living authentically into the mantle of Spiritual Leadership that He has placed upon us!

 

It’s exciting, fun stuff and we’re glad you’re here! You are loved!