Pacesetting: Leadership

By definition, a pacesetter is a leader because they are out in front. Leadership is “taking in some direction by guiding.” Racing pacesetters determine the speed and direction. They do it by being out in front. They are expected to guide the speed and direction of the other racers.

As a spiritual pacesetter, others follow my lead. If I sit on my butt and do little, they sit on their butts and do little. It doesn't matter what I say, it's what I do.

The author of Hebrews says to “imitate their faith.” If I walk with God and trust Him for big things, the people I influence will do the same thing. If I talk a good game and show up for activities and believe God for nothing, the people I influence will do the same thing.

Pacesetting leaders are expected to be “examples to the flock,” (1 Peter 5:3) If I read my Bible everyday, the people I influence are more likely to. There's no guarantee, but they are more likely to. If I don't read my Bible at all. I can almost guarantee the people I influence won't.

I love to memorize verses from the Bible. I memorize and review Bible verses almost everyday. I have helped dozens and dozens of people start scripture memory. I have recruited countless scripture memory review partners. And while they will usually do the work, I still have to be the leader.

As the pacesetting leader in scripture memory, I take the initiative to suggest we review recently memorized verses when we get together.

I ask the accountability questions:

“Were you able to memorize that verse you wanted to get down?”
“Are you reviewing everyday?”
“Have you been able to apply any of those verses to your life this week>”
“Were you able to share any verses from memory with someone else this week?”

As the scripture memory pacesetting leader, I have to model the correct way to memorize and review a verse. Occasionally, someone will rise up and surpass me as a scripture memorizer. They will be self-motivated. They will memorize a verse a day or the entire book of Romans. When that happens, I rejoice! But, in general, I expect to be the one who leads. The people I influence expect me to lead. They lead those they influence, but they still expect me to set the pace.

I think they derive some reassurance that all is right in the universe if I am continuing to set the pace in practical discipleship.

I know I did. For many years, I expected the man who helped me to lead the way in following Jesus. Now I no longer expect it, but I am glad he still walks with God and makes disciples.

Serving

The foundational principle of leadership is serving. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, . . . “ (Mark 10:45) And again in Matthew 20:26, “ . . . Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,”

As a pace setter, I lead in a way that serves those I influence. If I go too slow, they may become bored and distracted and eventually quit trying. If I go too fast, they may become discouraged and disillusioned and eventually quit trying.

As the pacesetting servant leader, it's my job to:

1. Figure out what those I influence are capable of right now.
2. Determine an appropriate step for them to take to grow in maturity.
3. Challenge them to take the step.
4. Show them how to do it.
5. Do it with them.
6. Check to see if they are doing it on their own.
7. Repeat, as needed.

The Challenge

Rarely, have I been over challenged. Rarely, does someone challenge me to do so much that I become discouraged. Consider this:

Jesus challenged me to: “go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
Jesus challenged me to deny myself and take up my cross daily and follow him. (Luke 9:23)
Jesus challenged me to hate my own life. (Luke 14:26)
Jesus challenged me to give up everything I have. (Luke 14:33)

Often I have been under challenged. I think this is a greater problem than being over challenged. Being under challenged is really no challenge at all. It doesn't stir my emotions.

I can tell when I under challenge someone because they don't get excited. They show little interest in accepting the challenge.

I've tried to adopt challenges from the Bible when leading people. Like this:

“Will you accept the challenge to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus? Let's talk about what that means.”

“Will you accept the challenge to be a go disciple with a lifestyle of disciple making? Let's talk about what that might look like.”

“Will you give up everything Jesus asks you to give up in order to follow Him? Let's talk about what that means for you.”

Gideon

Gideon had a brilliant moment as a pacesetting leader. In Judges 7:17, he instructed the 300 men following him.
“Watch me.” he told them.
“Follow my lead.”
“When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.”

I find this passage very challenging. I need to be willing to tell those I influence to:
“Watch me.”
“Follow my lead.”
“Do exactly as I do.”

In some areas of my life, I could make these challenges. In other areas, I find myself wanting to explain why I am not quite where I want to be. Why I am not praying for my lost friends, or even praying for my friends who know Jesus as much as I want. I find myself wanting to explain how I used to be more aggressive in sharing my faith, but now I am older and tired. It's harder now. I want to say “follow my example as I used to do it.”

Unfortunately, that doesn't work. They follow what they see now. So I have to work at setting a good example now.

Being a pacesetting leader is one of the most amazing things I can do with my life. I am always looking for some younger folks who can learn from my example in practical discipleship. Leading them challenges me to walk more closely with God. I want to be able to say to them,

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