A Leader Worth Following

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing, by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8

Philippians is one of Paul’s letters in the New Testament. He wrote this letter from prison to encourage the church to live out the Gospel. At the beginning of the letter, Paul expressed his gratitude (1:3) and his prayers (1:4) for this church because of their partnership in the Gospel (1:5). To complete his joy (2:2), he encouraged them to have the same mindset as Jesus Christ (2:5).

What does it mean to have the same mindset as Christ?

Paul answers that question in Philippians 2:5-11, unveiling one of the most beautiful passages ever written—a song, a poem, a deep truth that still applies today. Through it, we can discover what Christ-centered leadership means. This passage of Scripture also reveals the gap between many modern ideas of leadership and the leadership of the most influential leader of all time, Jesus Christ.

The first and most important lesson in Christ-centered leadership is to stay focused on the mission. Jesus Christ’s mission was the glory of God the Father (2:11). And because of that, it is a mission we can follow with confidence. The second lesson is that a Christ-centered leader must be a servant (2:7), and the third lesson calls a Christ-centered leader to embody humility (2:6). Paul uses this poem to teach the people of Philippi to look to Jesus as the model of unity (2:5). Leadership is all about relationships, which makes this precious lesson relevant to every leader.

To be a Christ-centered leader, you must have enough humility to serve others while keeping your eyes on the mission. It’s not about position or about getting your own way. Unfortunately, many leaders today let their own desires get in the way, and organizations are losing their mission because of it. What would happen if leaders embraced the mindset of Jesus Christ? The impact would be profound.

Are you willing to adopt the mindset of the greatest leader of all time?