Experience Christmas: The Shepherds

Who were the shepherds? How might they have experienced the birth of Christ? Leonard tells their story.

Experience Christmas: The Angels

Leonard Lee peels back the curtain of Heaven to tell the story of the angels and their part in the Christmas Story.

“ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””

— Luke 2:13-14

Experience Christmas: Mary & Joseph

The account of Joseph and Mary reveals the amazing power of God. He took an entire government and caused the Caesar to call for a census. Just so the promise of the Messiah being born in Bethlehem would be true. God moved governments celestial orbits, angelic beings, and two common ordinary people from Nazareth to Bethlehem in order to have his own son enter the world.

“18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

”

— Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)

Treasure in Jars of Clay

This summer, I got a smoker and have been experimenting with different foods. While the brisket has been amazing, the ribs - both pork and beef - are delicious. The smoked mac-n-cheese is fantastic. The pulled pork, the meatloaf, and the tri-tip are not hurting my feelings, either. What never seems to match the food, though, is the presentation. I just do not possess the same skills in plating food that I have in making it. I have served these meals on paper plates, plastic plates, glass plates, Tupperware, and napkins. We have eaten with our fingers, plastic utensils, and silverware. To date, I have not received any complaints. Nope, not one. Why? Because the serving dish doesn't really matter if the food is great.

There is a sentence from the Bible that makes me think of this principle.

"We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not ourselves." 2 Corinthians 4:7

The treasure? Nothing less than the power of God through the Gospel. That treasure is in all who know Jesus - we have THIS treasure in a jar of clay. May I make a confession? I think too much about the jar and not enough about the treasure. Whenever I do, I go wrong and miss my opportunity. I miss my chance to lean into friendship with God, who both trusted and entrusted me with THIS treasure. I miss my chance to join God in something he has been working on since before the foundation of the world - his rescue plan called redemption.

To take my confession one step further, I can trace every sin, every stumble, and every bad choice to an over-emphasis on the jar and an under-emphasis on the treasure. Can you relate to this?

May I make a couple of observations?

First, this is about being close to Jesus. In the context of these words from the Bible, we have been given the gift of ministry, of been connected to the vine in such a way to produce the fruit of that vine. The more focus I put on the jar, the more buried the treasure. The more focus I place on the treasure, the more the jar gains its value by being the carrier of something great, something eternal, and something eternity changing. When we are close, God gets the credit. The treasure in this jar shows that this all-surpassing power is about God and not ourselves.

Second, this is about being a steward of grace. God did not place the treasure inside you or me for the sole reason that we would house a treasure, but rather that we would share the treasure. One of the most powerful sentences in the Bible? "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).

Third, this is about becoming resilient. Resilience is such a necessary commodity in the life of those who are friends of God. The next several sentences that follow the "Treasure in the Jar" tell us that when we get this right, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Can you see it? When life is about the jar, pressing on each side crushes; when life is about the treasure, pressing on each side cannot crush. When life is about the jar, perplexing causes despair; when life is about the treasure, perplexing causes no despair. When life is about the jar, persecution leaves us alone and abandoned; when life is about the treasure, persecution unites us with God and others. When life is about the jar, we are struck down and destroyed, but when life is about the treasure, we are not destroyed - we are resilient.

Why? Because Jesus is indestructible! Let me encourage you - focus more on the treasure than the jar.

Reflections on Leadership

I’ve been reflecting on the leadership styles that Leonard shares in Leading from the Middle and how they have influenced my life. In the book and at our conference last week, he explained that there are three types of leadership: from the Front, from the Back, and from the Middle. Jesus did them all.

I have definitely benefited from strong leadership from the Front. I am drawn to leaders with a clear, articulated vision. I devour excellent Bible teaching. I decided to follow Christ, in part, because I heard a youth camp speaker powerfully speak on the crucifixion of Jesus. Leadership from the Front matters, and it impacts lives.

Looking back over the years, I have fond memories of people who compassionately led from the Back. I struggled with anxiety attacks for a season, and leaders powerfully prayed over me on three separate occasions. Their prayers made a difference. I have been fortunate to have received wise counsel from pastors multiple times. I have been ministered to by gifted therapists, too. Leading from the Back matters, and it impacts lives.

The clearest memories and deepest emotions come when I remember those who have led in my life - from the Middle. The memories with these leaders fill chunks of time in my life – mostly years. They are voluntary mentors who took it upon themselves to be present, invite me in, challenge me, and share their power. These are people who have expressed belief in my God-given abilities and then backed up that belief by giving me real responsibility – sometimes at their own cost. Leading from the Middle matters most of all – I would not be where I am without these people.

The Middle leaders showed that high school girl (me) what following Jesus looked like – even before I said, “Yes!” to following Him at the youth camp. Before their presence in my life, I thought God was distant and uninterested in me. By being near and interested in who I am, they showed me Jesus.

It was the Middle leaders who, by their ongoing commitment to me, spurred on the healing and growth that the prayer warriors, pastors, and therapists initiated. Their grace and patience in me helped till the soil for the change to continue.

Now, there are some key people in my life who have led from the Front, the Back, and the Middle. We all lead from all three places, and all three places are needed. I am seeing, though, that it is Middle leadership that ties all three styles together. It’s Middle leadership that drives the impact of the Front and Back.

Now, it’s your turn. Reflect on your life. Who has led you well from the Front with their vision, teaching, preaching, & decision making? Who are the leaders that led you from the Back, offering counsel, healing prayer, or consoled you in grief? And who are the Middle leaders – the mentors – the ones who got their hands dirty in helping you develop your gifts, the ones who showed you Jesus?

Join Us for Leading from the Middle!

Leading from the Middle

How the Leadership of Jesus Launched a Movement

www.4-gen.net/leadconference

“It is too much!” The two followers of Jesus had just experienced the extreme highs and lows of a week like none other. It was a week that began with a donkey ride and shouts of hosannah. Within five days, the people who shouted hosannah were shouting, “Crucify Him, give us Barabbas!” Now the conversation was a simple, “we are done, it is too much” as they made the seven-mile trek away from Jerusalem. Their hopes, their dreams, the investment of time, and sacrifice of family and career had died with Jesus - they were done.

Pastors, ministry leaders, and friends, while these conversations were 2000 years ago, they are also happening in a 21st-century version in churches across the world. Many times each year, we hear from a pastor or group of ministry leaders words that sound a bit familiar. “It is becoming too much, all the sacrifice, work, and investment, too much. We are done!”

The conversation the two disciples had with Jesus on the road to Emmaus took place in the Middle. It was on this road, he opened their eyes, and they returned to Jerusalem. He explained, he ate, he sat, and invested time in them, again. As he did, he changed both the condition of their hearts and the direction of their lives.

In about 50 days from this conversation, these two would become eye-witnesses to the birth of the greatest movement the world has ever known - the Church. It was a continued conversation from the Middle, not a sermon, that prevented these two disciples from wasting the investment Jesus had made in them and missing the birth of the Church.

Our Leading from the Middle Online Conference is this week (November 6-7). The two days we will spend together are focused on leading from the Middle - the place of leadership that Jesus used to launch a movement we call the Church. The hope and prayer of the 4GENetwork team and the many prayer warriors with whom we partner are that, wherever you find yourself, you would not miss what is coming.

In Leading from the Middle, we will challenge some of what we have been doing. Together we will strengthen our current ministries. We will share useful and practical tools to lead from the primary spot Jesus did most of his leadership - the Middle.

It is not too late for you to join us this week! Please visit www.4-gen.net/leadconference for more information. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions!

How Would You Lead a Movement?

Leading from the Middle

How the Leadership of Jesus Launched a Movement

In my new book, I ask, “How much does what we do to lead a movement called the church look like what Jesus did to launch a movement called the church?” Check out a few paragraphs.

Let’s go back to the question with a small twist. “Tasked with leading a movement that would take the mission of Jesus to every tongue, tribe, and nation globally, how would you lead?”

Jesus was leading a movement, and His strategy was to make friends and train them to further the movement. When we recognize that Jesus was leading a movement and understand His strategy, we can see the value He placed upon training His disciples. If we are honest, we will also have to admit that we do not lead like Jesus even though we are tasked with the leadership in the same movement.

We are in possession of the Gospel, the very power of God. We are in-dwelt by God the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God within us. We have been adopted by the Father, who has made us His very own and declared that He loves us, we are His, and He is pleased that this is true.

We are friends and partners with Jesus Christ, the Creator and Redeemer, Who was dead and now lives, Whose sacrifice satisfied God’s holiness and justice. We are God’s ambassadors. We are in possession of the very words He spoke to His friends and partners in ancient times, and we even put Jesus’ words in red. If we are going to understand how Jesus leads, we must first recognize what Jesus led.

Jesus led a movement to tear down the very gates of Hell. He crushed the serpent’s head, defeated death, and proclaimed freedom for all enslaved by sin. Jesus led a movement to free generations of people who had been lost to sin, death, and the grave. Jesus led a movement to restore life to the world, to give hope to the hopeless, and turn darkness into light, death into life, and people into His very own.

Jesus led a movement that transformed prisoners into preachers, villains into heroes, masters into servant leaders, the lost into found, and orphans into children of God. Jesus led a movement that cannot be defeated and will stand in persecution, abandonment, and fiery trials without being abandoned, crushed, or burned.

Thanks for reading a few paragraphs from my new book. The question stands for all of us, pastor, church leader, and follower of Jesus. “What if we were tasked to take the good news of Jesus to every tongue tribe and nation?” We are, and the one who gave us the task is also the one who showed us how. Make disciples who make disciples.

(*Leading From the Middle - How the Leadership of Jesus Launched a Movement by Leonard Lee will be available for presale soon. Stay tuned for details on how to order!)

Along the Way

Leading from the Middle

How the Leadership of Jesus Launched a Movement

“Along the way” is a great way to describe how Jesus led from the Middle. It seems that Jesus was strategically opportunistic in making sure both his words and actions were inclusive to those around him and modeled for his friends what it looks like to lead from the Middle. Consider the following "along the way" moments in the leadership of Jesus.

Along the way, Jesus pointed at the golden grapevines on the temple and began to talk to His friends.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me." (John 15:1-4 )

Along the way, Jesus explained greatness to His friends.

"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:43-45)

Along the way, Jesus explained parables to His friends.

Then He left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." (Matthew 13:36 )

Along the way, Jesus explained to His friends that Lazarus was dead, and He was going to do something about it.

After He had said this, He went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but His disciples thought He meant natural sleep. So then He told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." (John 11:11-15)

What will you do "along the way" as you develop your disciple-making leadership from the Middle? Take a few minutes to see how or where you can create space in your coming and going; ask God to show you what he wants done along the way.

(Leading From the Middle - How the Leadership of Jesus Launched a Movement, a new book by Leonard Lee, will be available for presale soon. Stay tuned for details on how to order!)

What Strategy Would You Use?

Leading from the Middle

How the Leadership of Jesus Launched a Movement

In Chapter 2 of Leading From the Middle - How the Leadership of Jesus Launched a Movement*, Leonard asks an important question of everyone who is a friend and partner with Jesus. Read this excerpt:

"Tasked with taking this mission (The Good News of Jesus) to every tongue, tribe, and nation globally, what do you do? What strategy would you employ?"

When I was a young youth worker taking a class on leadership, I was asked this question: "If you had unlimited resources, what would you dare to do in ministry?" I looked around the room as these gifted men and women dreamed of how their ministries would be changed "if only" they had cash and people.

I heard them speak of buildings, equipment, events, camps, and more. Some said they would open homes and schools to keep kids safe. Others dreamt of adventure camps that would remove kids for a season from all the messes of their lives.

Still, others dreamt of teaching parents how to parent, providing life skills for opening checking accounts and living, giving loans for businesses, and encouraging entrepreneurial endeavors. College funds, scholarship opportunities, music lessons, tutoring for struggling kids all made the list, and with each beautiful idea shared, we all smiled and made approving noises.

It is a great question, by the way, and these were great answers that came from sincere hearts. However, these strategic dreams all lacked one thing – unlimited resources. No person in that room had the funds to do what they dreamt. Now back to Jesus.

Jesus entered this world as a baby, born into a family that went into exile before He was three years old. When Jesus was about eleven, He returned to His own country. Training and working as a carpenter until He was thirty, Jesus stepped fully into His mission and became a nomadic preacher.

He did not have the unlimited resources to build, provide camps, tutor, give music lessons, or do parenting classes. When He needed food, He tapped into His divine power, providing meals for thousands and successful fishing for some of His friends, but this was not His strategy.

His strategy was to build a generational disciple-making organic team that would also do the same. He made disciples. That was His strategy.

He trained His guys to do what He wanted. He trained the three boys to whom He was closest, the twelve men He had chosen, and the hundred and twenty to two hundred or so people who were in His circle to be disciple-makers. He trained them so well that He confidently told them that they would exceed His ministry.

"You guys will do greater things than I am doing," He told them.

Did Jesus preach? Yes, and He was so good at preaching that when people heard Him, they were amazed. Did Jesus heal people? Yes, and He was so good at healing and caring for people that people brought the sick from everywhere just in hopes of getting close enough to Jesus' robe so they could touch it.

This was the ministry Jesus did, but I suggest that the preaching and healing portion of Jesus' ministry was not the core component to His strategy to launch a movement that would last until He returns.

The strategy of Jesus was to train His disciples to make disciples so that their disciples would make disciples and that their disciples would also make disciples.

Generations of disciples would be made, extending the mission of Jesus everywhere a disciple went, not everywhere a church was started. In the first few centuries, the order was disciples first and then churches. Today it is attendees first, then converts and systems to keep people coming.

I would offer this thought: Jesus' strategy was so dependent upon His ability to train and make disciples who also made disciples that He didn't have a backup plan. There was no "Plan B" for Jesus, and the brilliance was that He did not need unlimited resources, just well-trained disciples connected to the same mission, methods, and strategies.

Who are you investing in right now in order that their faith might bear fruit? Is there anything from the life of Jesus that you could model?

(*Leading From the Middle - How the Leadership of Jesus Launched a Movement by Leonard Lee will be available for presale soon. Stay tuned for details on how to order!)

One

One. It could be the loneliest number (I hope I got that stuck in your head), but for the next few minutes, will you let me call to your memory a time when ONE was not lonely? It could be the time when you stood before the church, justice, pastor, and friends and got married - two become one, and one is not lonely.

What if it was a time when your team accomplished what it could not unless the whole team pulled together as one? The big game, the project launch, the deadline that mattered, and the whole team did its part for the success - one, not lonely at all. Maybe it was the time you all came together as a family, to care for someone, to celebrate the life and legacy of someone - one family.

Rewind the history tape and join me in a prayer meeting that took place about 2000 years ago. You might have heard of the leader, his name is Jesus, and he is talking to his Father. His prayer covers his friends, it's loving and kind between his Father and him, and then it shifts. Not in tone but in the subject. He is now praying for you and for me.

"Father, make them one (not the loneliest number kind of one) as we are one."

In this prayer, Jesus identifies something about his relationship with his Father, the nature of people, and the expansion of his mission.

"Just like you and I, Father, are one - will you take that same oneness, that unity, and give it to them?"

How were Jesus and the Father one?

In love - it seems obvious. Jesus and the Father loved each other deeply.

In trust - Jesus trusted the Father with his own life. In the end, he committed his spirit into his Father's hands.

In mission - at his baptism, Jesus was commissioned by his Father. When someone is COM-missioned, they leave with A MISSION. From this point on, Jesus made comments like these:

“I only do what my Father wants done.

I only speak what my Father wants said.

I glorify my Father.

I show you my Father.

Me and my Father, we are one.

Not my will (Father), but yours be done.”

There are more, but you get the point. When Jesus said, "make them one like we are one," I believe he was saying, "Father, we love each other, we trust each other, and we have, TOGETHER AS ONE accomplished a mission."

The copy of a copy degrades. We know this. The original is always better to make copies from if you want crisp and clear copies. It is the nature of copies and the nature of people. Jesus, in his prayer, prays for you and me. The copies of the copies, the disciples of the disciples, spread over 2000 years of history. How do this copy (me) and that copy (you) not fade over time? Say it with me now - ONE! When we live in unity, together with the same love the Father and Jesus had, the same trust the Father and Jesus had, and the same MISSION the Father and Jesus had, we become ONE. (Not the lonely kind.)

The expansion of his mission depends on it, friends. Jesus finished his prayer with, "Father, make them one as we are one - so that the world will know I am sent from you." The immeasurable importance of ONE is the revealing of Jesus to the world.

Today, we can embrace the ONE in the love of Jesus and the Father. We can strive for the trust of Jesus and the Father. But unless we embrace the mission of Jesus and the Father, we will not be ONE like they were ONE.

The world around us only knows that WE are fond of Jesus because we are not one in LOVE, TRUST, and MISSION; when we are - the world will know that HE is the ONE sent from the Father.

One does not have to be the loneliest number - it can be the most powerful number.

If you want to find out more about how to be equipped for the mission of Jesus, the one he and the Father shared, contact us at www.4-gen.net.