This is Part 4 in the series.  The reader is encouraged to read Part I before continuing.  

3.  The leaders of the people of God are not leading from the front, but from the back.

I Samuel 17.24, 28

David and Goliath: Israel at war. Israel’s armies are cowed. Israel’s armies hide in camp. Israel’s leaders keep doing what they have always done. Israel hides and hopes for a miracle.

Church: Church in spiritual warfare. Church in decline. Church in denial. Church leaders keep doing what they have have always done. The church hides and hopes for a miracle.

Leaders direct the people in maintaining the status quo.

And what’s worse: it’s what the people want, they want a plan of action that promises loss:

            don’t make us uncomfortable;

            don’t ask us to change;

            stop asking us to move out of the security of our own self-sized tents;

            stop talking about giants and the need to do anything about them;

            just keep telling us what we want to hear;

            just keep reinforcing the status quo.

Seeking to maintain their position, leaders give the people of God want they want.

But most certainly not what the people need.

For all intents and purposes, they are not leading God’s people from the front, but from the back.

And yes, all of this was true for the people of God in David’s day, as well.

Far too many leaders of the people of God do not lead from the front, but from the back. For that reason it is time to trust leadership to Millennials.

How will Millennials get out front and lead differently, you ask? By being who they are.

In his book, Jesus on Leadership, Gene Wilkes writes, “Servant leaders follow Jesus rather than seek a position.

Millennials are servant leaders. They are David leaders. It’s time to put David in the game.

Robert Jarvik writes, “Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them. They make the impossible happen.”

Millennials are visionary leaders who don’t understand the meaning of the word “impossible.” They are David leaders. It’s time to put David in the game.

Someone has said that leadership is action, not position. Very true. And action means creativity, ideas, vision, vigor, energy.

Millennials are all about not simply believing truth, but doing truth. They are David leaders. It’s time to put David in the game.

Ferdinand Foch wrote, “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”

Millennials are passionate, “all in” leaders. They are David leaders. It’s time to put David in the game.

It’s time for out front, servant-hearted, visionary, “just do it,” passionate leaders who step out from among the people of God and lead.

It’s time to put David in the game.