How to Empower
One of the continual challenges as a leader, especially one who leads in the volunteer sector, is the need to empower people. Without empowering others, we not only limit our potential to make a difference, but we also deprive others of the opportunity to fulfill theirs. A leader’s ability to empower those around them is one of the primary indicators of the impact that an organization will have.
It is no surprise that Jesus was an expert in empowering others! By investing closely in just twelve individuals, he was able to create, maintain, and perpetuate a global transformation that has lasted for over 2,000 years.
In John 20:19-30 (click on the link to see the scripture), we see several actions through which Jesus empowered people to fulfill their God-given potential.
1) Empowering Leaders bring Clarity to Confusion. The Disciples were confused, elated, doubtful, and fearful after Jesus’ death. Amid these emotions, Jesus joins them and says, “Peace be with you”. This emphatic statement calmed their emotions and defined what they could be feeling: Peace! The peace that Jesus brought focused their attention and removed their confusion.
2) Empowering Leaders give Purpose. As Jesus entered the room of the disciples, he found men who were perplexed and lost by the events surrounding his death and resurrection. In the following interaction, he imparts numerous things to them that provide them with a new purpose. These individuals had laid down every area of their lives to follow Christ, and as He died, their sense of purpose would have as well. As Jesus comes in, he gives them a mission (vs. 21), the resources (vs. 22), and the message (vs. 23) that they need to rediscover their purpose. Are you giving purpose to those you lead?
3) Empowering Leaders Meet Practical Needs. This may sound counterintuitive, but often there is an issue that needs to be addressed before a person can do what you have empowered them to do. In verse 20, Jesus doesn’t just offer peace; he lets them touch his hands, removing any doubt that this experience is not a mere illusion, but a tangible reality in real life.
4) Empowering Leaders Commission People with Integrity and Authority. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me (that’s integrity), so I am sending you (that’s authority). Do you know that our integrity often carries more weight than our authority? While authority is essential, having integrity is an absolute non-negotiable in an empowering leader.
5) Empowering Leaders Are Held Accountable. While it may seem at first glance that we are empowered to decide how forgiveness is offered (23), it is essential to recognize that there is accountability for this responsibility. Jesus said earlier in the gospel (Luke 6) that the measure to which we forgive others is the same measure that God will use to forgive us. That’s accountability!
6) Empowering Leaders Fully Resource People. Never empower someone to fulfill a task without providing them with the necessary resources to complete it. Jesus says to those he is empowering in this upper room, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. There was nothing more they needed.
7) Empowering Leaders Remove Excuses with Precision. Thomas had been absent the first time Jesus showed up, and to his credit, he didn’t want to believe based on secondhand experience (25). He was very clear that he needed to see, touch, and feel Jesus before he would believe in Him. When Jesus arrived, he proactively invited Thomas to see, touch, and feel so that he would believe. To each of Thomas’ requests, which were perhaps excuses as to why he didn’t want to believe, Jesus responds to them, leaving Thomas with nothing to do but believe. There are often many excuses that people raise as to why they can’t do something, and excuses always disempower people. However, good, empowering leaders remove people’s excuses with precision.
8) Empowering Leaders: Invite Transformation. In verse 28, Thomas exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” This guy, who previously said he wouldn’t believe, now emphatically believes. What happened? He met Jesus. Let’s never forget that our primary role as empowering leaders is to introduce people to the transforming power of Jesus.
We all stand on the shoulders of people who have empowered us. Jesus has empowered us to change the world, but we can only do it as we empower others to share this work with us. In your sphere, be an Empowering Leader!
It is no surprise that Jesus was an expert in empowering others! By investing closely in just twelve individuals, he was able to create, maintain, and perpetuate a global transformation that has lasted for over 2,000 years.
In John 20:19-30 (click on the link to see the scripture), we see several actions through which Jesus empowered people to fulfill their God-given potential.
1) Empowering Leaders bring Clarity to Confusion. The Disciples were confused, elated, doubtful, and fearful after Jesus’ death. Amid these emotions, Jesus joins them and says, “Peace be with you”. This emphatic statement calmed their emotions and defined what they could be feeling: Peace! The peace that Jesus brought focused their attention and removed their confusion.
2) Empowering Leaders give Purpose. As Jesus entered the room of the disciples, he found men who were perplexed and lost by the events surrounding his death and resurrection. In the following interaction, he imparts numerous things to them that provide them with a new purpose. These individuals had laid down every area of their lives to follow Christ, and as He died, their sense of purpose would have as well. As Jesus comes in, he gives them a mission (vs. 21), the resources (vs. 22), and the message (vs. 23) that they need to rediscover their purpose. Are you giving purpose to those you lead?
3) Empowering Leaders Meet Practical Needs. This may sound counterintuitive, but often there is an issue that needs to be addressed before a person can do what you have empowered them to do. In verse 20, Jesus doesn’t just offer peace; he lets them touch his hands, removing any doubt that this experience is not a mere illusion, but a tangible reality in real life.
4) Empowering Leaders Commission People with Integrity and Authority. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me (that’s integrity), so I am sending you (that’s authority). Do you know that our integrity often carries more weight than our authority? While authority is essential, having integrity is an absolute non-negotiable in an empowering leader.
5) Empowering Leaders Are Held Accountable. While it may seem at first glance that we are empowered to decide how forgiveness is offered (23), it is essential to recognize that there is accountability for this responsibility. Jesus said earlier in the gospel (Luke 6) that the measure to which we forgive others is the same measure that God will use to forgive us. That’s accountability!
6) Empowering Leaders Fully Resource People. Never empower someone to fulfill a task without providing them with the necessary resources to complete it. Jesus says to those he is empowering in this upper room, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. There was nothing more they needed.
7) Empowering Leaders Remove Excuses with Precision. Thomas had been absent the first time Jesus showed up, and to his credit, he didn’t want to believe based on secondhand experience (25). He was very clear that he needed to see, touch, and feel Jesus before he would believe in Him. When Jesus arrived, he proactively invited Thomas to see, touch, and feel so that he would believe. To each of Thomas’ requests, which were perhaps excuses as to why he didn’t want to believe, Jesus responds to them, leaving Thomas with nothing to do but believe. There are often many excuses that people raise as to why they can’t do something, and excuses always disempower people. However, good, empowering leaders remove people’s excuses with precision.
8) Empowering Leaders: Invite Transformation. In verse 28, Thomas exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” This guy, who previously said he wouldn’t believe, now emphatically believes. What happened? He met Jesus. Let’s never forget that our primary role as empowering leaders is to introduce people to the transforming power of Jesus.
We all stand on the shoulders of people who have empowered us. Jesus has empowered us to change the world, but we can only do it as we empower others to share this work with us. In your sphere, be an Empowering Leader!
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