Empowering People
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 cap our potential to make a difference but also rob others of the opportunity to fulfill theirs. A leader’s ability to empower those around him is one of the primary indicators of an organization's impact.
It is no surprise that Jesus was an expert empowerer! By investing closely in just twelve guys, he created, maintained, and perpetuated a global transformation for over 2000 years.
In John 20:19-30 (click on the link to see scripture), we see several actions through which Jesus empowered people to fulfill their God-given potential.
1) Empowering Leaders Brings Clarity to Confusion. After Jesus' death, the disciples were confused, elated, doubtful, and fearful. Amid these emotions, Jesus joined them and said, “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 gives Purpose. As Jesus entered the room of disciples, he found men perplexed and lost by the events surrounding his death and resurrection. In the following interaction, he imparts numerous things to them that give them a new purpose. These guys had laid down every area of their lives to follow Christ, and as he died, their sense of purpose would have also. 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 Meets Practical Needs. This may sound counterintuitive, but often, an issue 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 didn’t happen in the tangibility of 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 important, having integrity is an absolute non-negotiable in an empowering leader.
5) Empowering Leaders are Held Accountable. While it looks at first glance that we are empowered to decide how forgiveness is offered (23), it is essential to realize 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 God will use to forgive us. That’s accountability!
6) Empowering Leaders Fully Resource People. Don’t empower someone to fulfill a task without giving them the resources to complete it. Jesus says to those he empowers 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 a secondhand experience (25). He was very clear that he needed to see, touch, and feel Jesus before he would think. When Jesus arrived, he proactively invited Thomas to see, touch, and feel so that he would believe. To each of Thomas’ requests –perhaps excuses as to why he didn’t want to believe – Jesus responds to them, leaving Thomas with nothing to do but believe. People often raise many excuses as to why they can’t do something, and excuses always disempower people, but 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 had said he wouldn’t believe, not 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 in the person 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 by empowering others to share this work. In your sphere, be an Empowering Leader!
It is no surprise that Jesus was an expert empowerer! By investing closely in just twelve guys, he created, maintained, and perpetuated a global transformation for over 2000 years.
In John 20:19-30 (click on the link to see scripture), we see several actions through which Jesus empowered people to fulfill their God-given potential.
1) Empowering Leaders Brings Clarity to Confusion. After Jesus' death, the disciples were confused, elated, doubtful, and fearful. Amid these emotions, Jesus joined them and said, “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 gives Purpose. As Jesus entered the room of disciples, he found men perplexed and lost by the events surrounding his death and resurrection. In the following interaction, he imparts numerous things to them that give them a new purpose. These guys had laid down every area of their lives to follow Christ, and as he died, their sense of purpose would have also. 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 Meets Practical Needs. This may sound counterintuitive, but often, an issue 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 didn’t happen in the tangibility of 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 important, having integrity is an absolute non-negotiable in an empowering leader.
5) Empowering Leaders are Held Accountable. While it looks at first glance that we are empowered to decide how forgiveness is offered (23), it is essential to realize 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 God will use to forgive us. That’s accountability!
6) Empowering Leaders Fully Resource People. Don’t empower someone to fulfill a task without giving them the resources to complete it. Jesus says to those he empowers 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 a secondhand experience (25). He was very clear that he needed to see, touch, and feel Jesus before he would think. When Jesus arrived, he proactively invited Thomas to see, touch, and feel so that he would believe. To each of Thomas’ requests –perhaps excuses as to why he didn’t want to believe – Jesus responds to them, leaving Thomas with nothing to do but believe. People often raise many excuses as to why they can’t do something, and excuses always disempower people, but 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 had said he wouldn’t believe, not 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 in the person 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 by empowering others to share this work. In your sphere, be an Empowering Leader!
Recent
Archive
2025
2024
2023
Categories
no categories
No Comments