Leadership Lessons from Peter, Part 1. Follow the Leader

I want to make a difference in the church. I want to see it grown and develop locally and globally. Do you have this same goal? I think a good place to start learning is from Peter.

Jesus changed Peter's name to 'Rock.' Rocks come in many different shapes and sizes and can be used for a lot of different things. A rock can be picked up and thrown at someone else, can hold open a door, used for landscapes, and some rocks are even valuable. Peter once was a fisherman and became a rock. Jesus wanted to use this rock for a very specific purpose, to be the foundation for the church. Peter came with a lot of edges that needed to be worn down and smoothed over if he was going to be any use to Jesus. Peter was a bully who often put his foot in his mouth and lacked self-control.

However Jesus saw in Peter, potential leadership ability and because of this, Jesus gave Peter a purpose. Peter could influence other people and get them moving. Peter just needed to be headed in the right direction so the rock did not roll over people and crush them. Peter's leadership is fueled by divine purpose.

The first leadership lesson Peter learns is that leading starts with following.

Peter started out as a fisher and led men in his business. After Peter met Jesus he was renamed and given the orders, 'follow me.' Many of the disciples had no idea who Jesus was, but Peter had been watching, listening and understood…when Jesus asked them to make a decision about who he was. Peter was the first one to respond, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Leadership is about noticing and responding. Because of his response Peter was given his very own 'B attitude' and received his divine purpose, his assignment from heaven, something he could wake up each day and pursue with all his might.

[17] And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:17-19 ESV)

Our purpose is discovered by receiving and listening. There are three immediate observations about divine purpose that come through loud and clear.

1. Our purpose is discovered by observing and listening


2. Our purpose is always larger than our capacity


3. Our purpose is designed for others to benefit

The world needs leaders who listen and respond, especially the church world. The pain that haunts every pastor is laying our head down and wondering if we made any difference, realizing we have responded to every voice in the world except God's. It seems that the first thing we need to get straight is becoming a rock solid follower of our leader, Jesus. This starts with simple baby steps.

• Establishing a non-negotiable meeting with Jesus every day. (Prayer, Bible study and recorded reflection).


• Accepting the role as a follower before that of a leader.


• Taking our ideas and plans to God, and our church board prayerfully asking is this the right thing to do. (Instead of pushing through ideas like the bully rock might have done.)

Do you ever get caught up in the current of leading without following?