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03 June 2011
Object Lesson The Two-Way Flow Of Leadership
Scripture Reference: Matthew 8:8-10
Take Home Point: There is a two-way flow of leadership. If I stop following, I stop leading.
What You Need: 2 dead car batteries, 1 pair of jumper cables, small table
SPECIAL NOTES:Put both batteries on table at the front of the class. Hide the jumper cables from view.
Object Lesson Application:
Have you ever got in the car with your parents and the battery was dead? Dad turns the key, but the car doesn’t start. What is the problem?
You have a dead battery. Your battery has no power. What do you need to do if you have a dead battery?
(Allow for response.)
You have to get a “jump”. How do you “jump” your battery?
(Pull out the jumper cables.)
You need two things: a pair of jumper cables and a battery that has power.
I have to connect the red cables to the positive terminal on my battery. (Connect the positive cables.)
If I just connect the positive cables, will the power flow? No. I also have to connect the negative cables. (Connect the black cables to the negative terminals.)
Why? Because there is a two-way flow of power. Positive and negative. I have to connect both terminals for the power to flow
There is also a two-way flow leadership. Following and leading. If I try to lead, but stop following (unhook the negative cables) then no power will flow.
The Roman Centurion in Matthew Chapter 8 understood this. Jesus said he had “great faith.” Why? Because he was following and leading. He knew how to follow his captain and he knew how to lead his soldiers. If the Roman Centurion had stopped following his captain, could he still be a leader in the Roman army? No. If he had stopped following, he would have had to stop leading.
Say this with me:
There is a two-way flow of leadership.
Following and leading.
If I stop following, I stop leading.