The Influence Of Jesus

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Leadership is influence. 

Influence doesn’t try to get a following, but people naturally follow a leader who quietly, consistently, and effectively shows up for them. 

Jesus saw the needs of people and was moved by compassion to relieve their distress. Peter said He simply went around doing good (Acts 10:38). He gave value to the overlooked, He touched the so-called untouchable, He embraced the rejected. 

Jesus said, “I didn’t come to be served but to serve and to give My life away” (Mark 10:45).

This commentary from the folks at He Gets Us is spot-on:

   So often our idea of leadership is about asserting dominance and wielding authority; Jesus on the other hand revealed a radically different approach to greatness. 

   Jesus chose a path that seemed almost counterintuitive, especially to many of those around Him. He showed that true influence doesn’t come from throwing your weight around or flexing your authority—it comes from genuine empathy, authentic care, and intentionally seeing people and going toward them. 

   Instead of building a platform or demanding attention, Jesus moved quietly through communities, transforming lives through genuine relationships. 

   He didn’t network with the powerful or chase prestigious connections. 

   He sat with the overlooked. 

   He listened to the ignored. 

   He gave dignity to those society had dismissed. 

   Jesus’ approach to influence and greatness wasn’t about commanding rooms or dominating conversations—it was about creating spaces where others felt seen, heard, and valued, demonstrating great love in those moments. 

   When He had opportunities to grasp power, He chose instead to empower others. 

   His visible leadership wasn’t built on titles or positions, but on authentic relationships He cultivated and the lives He transformed through His genuine care and concern. (‘What is Greatness?’)

True influence loves and serves others like Jesus does. Don’t try to grab the top spot, but grab a towel and serve others. 

I would also humbly recommend that you check out my book Shepherd Leadership, where I explore the leadership of Jesus in greater depth.

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

Links & Quotes

Greg and I unpack a quote from Andy Murray which says, “Culture happens through crisis. Unfortunately, many team environments have structured the crisis out.” We make the case that your team needs some tough times to bring them together and bring out their best.

I have a lot of new video content on my YouTube channel every week. Please check it out and subscribe so you don’t miss anything.

Earlier this week I shared some thoughts about childlikeness, and then I read this insight from the ‘What is Greatness?’ reading plan on YouVersion: “Children approach life with genuine curiosity and authenticity. They haven’t learned to filter their joy or calculate their responses for maximum social or career advantage. They’re fully present in each moment, eager to learn, and unafraid to show their need for help. Jesus’ teaching wasn’t about being childish or wild; it was about recapturing the genuine, open, vulnerable approach to life, embodied by kids, that so many of us often lose in our rush toward our own ideas of success and greatness.”

Noah Webster wrote America’s first dictionary (which is interesting enough on its own), but did you know that he also wrote a couple of other influential books?

“We live in difficult times. Pray for this nation. We have all the marks of a declining civilization. Pray that the God who hears and answers the prayers of His people might intervene on behalf of our country and bring a spiritual renewal that might save the nation. People of unbelief might think you are kidding yourself to think that prayer can make a difference. They might think you are like some superstitious pagan who depends on God because you are weak. They might compare you to those who really are a bit out of touch. The fact is that God cares for the nations in which His servants live and serve Him. He favors and blesses the land of the righteous (see Proverbs 3:33). I find it necessary to affirm that the problems we face nationally and internationally are a direct result of the decline of faith and morality in our nation. My only hope of a prosperous future for this country rests not on the size and firepower of our military, nor on the wisdom of its leaders, nor on the sprit of her people, but only on the love and obedience of the people who name themselves after Christ, that their prayers might be heard and for the sake of these, God might look upon us with favor.” —William Wilberforce

A new discovery of 18,000 individual dinosaur tracks in the Bolivian El Molino Formation contains the highest number of theropod dinosaur tracks in the world.” These tracks also show dinosaurs heading for what may have been the last high ground during the global Flood recorded in the Bible. 

Adolofo Kaminsky may have kept upwards of 10,000 Jews alive during Wold War II by his masterful forgeries.

Links & Quotes

Leaders may have to talk about people on their team, but how do we do this without crossing the line into gossip? Greg and I discussed this on a recent episode of our leadership podcast.

I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel.

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” —G.K. Chesterton

“Christianity does not consist in telling the truth, or walking in a conscientious way, or adhering to principles; Christianity is something other than all that, it is adhering in absolute surrender to a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.” —Oswald Chambers, in Baffled To Fight Better 

I really like the He Gets Us campaign! Here is a recent one.

“Critics may nitpick the Scriptures upon which we base our beliefs, but each year, the Lord will increasingly demonstrate that His Word contains no errors, exaggerations, or omissions. … We won’t feel ashamed of our hope. It will unfold just as the Lord has promised. We will be nourished, guided, blessed, and comforted. Our Lord will return, and then our days of sorrow will be over. How we will exult in the Lord, who first gave us a vibrant hope and then fulfilled that which we hoped for!” —Charles Spurgeon 

Links & Quotes

Unforgiveness keeps our eyes on our offenders and off our God. Free yourself by forgiving those who have hurt you. You can check out this full sermon hereI have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel.

“At the moment of truth, there are either reasons or results.” —Chuck Yeager

As I have shared before, I am so impressed with the He Gets Us social media campaign! Some people are still trying to figure out exactly what this campaign is. Sean McDowell and his podcast partner Scott Ray had a great conversation with Ed Stetzer about this. Check out the video!

Some people have been critical of the He Gets Us commercials that aired during the Super Bowl, but I thought they were outstanding! This is a social media outreach designed and funded by some of the most biblically-grounded, evangelistically-minded people I know. It is a social media campaign. It is not designed as a sermon (which is why there are no Bible verses shown in the commercial). The idea is to get past the barriers and misconceptions skeptics have come to believe about Jesus, and then be enticed to go to the hegetsus.com website. It is at this site that the Gospel message is introduced and visitors are given Bible verses and other materials to go deeper.

John Stonestreet wrote, “Before it was the corporate creation of greeting card companies, it was a day to remember third-century Christian martyr Valentinus of Rome.” This post is a good reminder of what Christians really should be remembering on Valentine’s Day, as well as the higher definition of love.

“The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose.” —John McEnroe