The advance of the gospel needs leaders. Leaders who don’t play it safe. Who risk and are ready for adventure. Leaders who will unbuckle their seat belts and get out of their safe comfort zone. Jesus’ 12 disciples quickly saw their comfort zones disappearing in the rear view mirror. For example:
- “Okay men, put those nets down, leave that nice job behind and follow me.”
- “Let’s go across to the other side. Never mind the storm.”
- “I have a little trip for you, but leave behind all your money, food, and other equipment.”
- “Stop talking about sending them home. Feed them. There are only 5,000.”
- “Why are you scared out of your wits – it’s no ghost. It’s me.”
- “Remember the 5,000? Let’s do it again here in the desert.”
The disciples were learning a FOUNDATIONAL LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: comfort and safety are not in the circumstances, but in the One who controls the circumstances.
And so it is for today’s gospel leaders and disciples. Pursuing circumstantial safety leaves you on the sidelines…it leaves you behind. Out of the game. Jesus said, “Where I am there will my servant be also (John 12:26). And that will be a place of adventure!
![Lucy and Aslan_thumb[22]](http://billtell.com/wp-content/uploads/Lucy-and-Aslan_thumb22.jpg)
Remember Mr. Beaver in The Chronicles of Narnia describing Aslan the lion? Aslan “isn’t safe. But he’s good.” Edwin Freidman in his best-selling book, A Failure of Nerve, writes, “there is real danger [when] we come to believe that safety is the most important value in life…Safety can never be allowed to become more important than adventure”(emphasis mine).
QUESTIONS:
- If you need to take a first step out of your comfort zone what would that be? When are you going to do it? Share that with us. You are in a safe place.
- Are you already on an adventure with Jesus that is taking you out of your comfort zone? Describe it to us.
ACTION:
- Share this post with a friend. We need to build an army of adventurous followers of Jesus.
Thanks Bill – a great exhortation that I need !
Hi Sam! When you write a blog you write to three people — and one of those is yourself. In this post that is who I was writing to! ME! Glad you listened in and it was helpful.
Just when I think I’ve gotten over my fear of failure and worry about what others think I’m all grown up and life has stuff it seems to demand I do. Ever feel like your tangled in a net called being responsible? Or, feel like to much time is spent preparing and not enough time doing? Craving a little more adventure with Jesus and a little less responsibility. Maybe they go together? Thanks for getting me thinking deeper Bill. You always do.
Kent – I identify brother. One thing that has really helped me this year is reading the book Essentialism. It’s a good kindle read. Now I ask myself every morning, What is the most important thing (singular) I can do today to take the next step of progress on my goals. BTW – did you know that the word priority did not become plural until a few hundred years ago? Hmmm.
-bill
I am waiting to see how the adventure will unfold…I am a licensed therapist working at my church, I have a burning on my heart to see true discipleship happen at my church (the emphasis there is on converting the city to Christ but not discipling them), and I keep asking God, “What is my role in this???”
Hi Dana!
Sounds like you are in the middle of an adventure…and from just the little bit you shared, I have a hunch you have a pretty good idea of what your role is…”I have a burning on my heart to see true discipleship happen at my church.” That will happen one-to-one, life on life, and so you won’t need permission to start a program or a class. I would ask God for one person who wants to grow…and then give your life to that person. I love this line from Eugene Petersen’s book, The Pastor. He says this, “The most effective strategy for change…comes from a minority working from the margins.” That is what I work on everyday.
-bill
Wow Bill, I think I see now that my savings have been, and I confess still currently are, my safety. I feel like the rich, young, ruler. It is hard to give that up. Still processing. Thanks for teaching!
Thanks for sharing what may be a safe harbor for you. At the same time remember Prov 30:25, “Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer.” We want to be wisely adventuresome!
-bill