Servant Leadership!

 For Sunday, June 25, 2023:

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

Jesus is explaining to the 12: “Among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.” This same principle applies to all Christians and is still valid nowadays.

It’s called Servant Leadership, leaders who genuinely care for their constituents. Benevolent leadership is rare; we hear about it mostly around churches, Bible studies and the name of Jesus. I pray we could hear it more in politics and in our government. I pray for other countries who don’t enjoy freedom.

Jesus put servant leadership into action as he gave his life to redeem mankind, paying the price for the sins of the world, the ultimate sacrifice.

The best reason to practice servant leadership is because that’s what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Psalms 72 more - Benevolent Leadership

December 05, 2016 Monday Message:

The job of a king, or any leader of a country, is to serve its citizens. A country runs more efficiently and is a safer place with good leadership – but it needs to be benevolent leadership.

Jesus was the prime example of benevolent leadership. With his connection to heaven, he could have forced everyone to bow down, but he did not.

Instead, with Jesus, the blind had their eyes opened, those who were in darkness came into the light, those who were far from God came closer to God. Those who needed food were fed, disease was washed away, dead were restored to life, and those who needed hope were shown the way to eternal life. In fact, Jesus himself became the sacrifice for the sins of the entire world, guaranteeing that anyone who would repent and follow him would get to see heaven from the inside!

Solomon writes of benevolent leadership in Psalms 72:12-14 “The king will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their lives in his eyes.” Of course Solomon is writing about himself, how he intends to lead Israel.

Our prayer is that every nation on earth would be led by God-ordained benevolent leaders. King, President, Prime Minister – someday they’ll ALL have to answer a much higher authority, one who values compassion.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, Pastor Pilla celebrates Advent 3 – the story of Jesus’ arrival continues to unfold.

At MY Church

September 10, 2012 Monday Message:

At MY Church

Years ago, another couple introduced my wife and me to their church. We liked it, continued attending and our children enjoyed their youth programs. We became more and more involved, and made many new friends; but we hadn’t officially joined yet.

Then one day I heard the words come out of my mouth: “I need to stop by my church.” That’s right, I said, “MY church!” Over time, I had developed an ownership point-of-view. I had been transformed from a church consumer into a church facilitator.

I have gradually been shown that I’m not very good at sitting in the pew. If I’m at an event, including a church service, I’m more comfortable teaching, playing piano, singing, adjusting the sound or recording the event. That’s the way God wired me, and those are the gifts God gave me. Someone else should sit in the pew, someone who’s good at it – it’s better that way.

Notice that I used the word, “facilitator.” It’s not the church leader’s job to do church FOR you. Leaders, including pastors, should facilitate — help to enable everyone in their flock to fulfill God’s ministry-call on their lives. In some way, we’re all called to serve. I’ve never seen the term “non-serving believer” in the Bible.

At Jesus in the City Fellowship, we believe church isn’t a spectator sport. We want everybody off the bench and in the game.

Norton Lawellin

Mark your calendar – October 7, 2012

Jesus in the City Fellowship and Familia de Fe (Spanish language) will be worshiping together, in the main sanctuary of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am. Pastor Michael Pilla teaching, Pastor Walter Chuquimia translating. Pot luck follows in the gym – bring something to share!

I’ll be on the road for a couple of weeks, so John will lead worship on Sunday, Sept. 16, as JICF worships 10:30am. Pastor Michael continues our journey through Luke.

Be a Shepherd!

 

April 30, 2012 Monday Message:

Jesus: “I am the good shepherd.” John 10:11a

2000 years ago, everyone understood the duties of a shepherd. There were hired hands that worked with sheep, but they were not the shepherd. If there was a bad problem with the sheep – animal attack, severe weather, disease - the hired men were out of there! These sheep, after all, didn’t really belong to them.

The true shepherd, on the other hand, knew his sheep, and they knew the sound of his voice. The real shepherd would lay down his life for his sheep. He would protect them and keep them safe. He would also take in strays that needed a home, adding to their number daily. But most of all, he would love every one of them.

“As a shepherd” was how Jesus led “The Way.” Nowadays, that’s a good model for how pastors should lead their congregations - caring for them through challenging times, protecting them from outside attacks - but most of all, loving every one of them.

In Latin, “pastor” means “shepherd.” Pastors don’t own their congregation or their church. In fact, they’re servants! The congregation hires a pastor to lead them, and if he leads them correctly, it’s a symbiotic, mutually beneficial relationship. In other words, the congregation is eager and willing to follow “servant leadership.”

On one hand, Jesus is “the man,” absolutely in charge, of unquestioned authority. On the other, he healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, fed the hungry, cared for widows and orphans, rescued sinners and tax collectors, and washed feet at the Last Supper.

What would Jesus do? Servant Leadership!

What should you do? Become more like Jesus.

That’s what the Bible says.

Norton Lawellin