Here is a great talk on how leaders inspire action. Sinek's big theme is that if we lead people well we need to give them a 'why' then a 'how' then a 'what' and his argument makes a lot of sense. Much of what he says is very relevant for us as the church. Most organizations and leaders work from 'what' back towards the 'why' and that does not get us very far. Martin Luther King jr. did not say "I have a plan..." King said "I have a dream!"
The great news is that the church has the greatest 'why' in the world. Perhaps the challenge for us as Jesus church is to sharpen up our 'why' - our 'why' is that Jesus died in our place taking upon himself the punishment that was due to us. Undeserved grace is the great 'why' that empowers the church and it is the single big truth that we need to get people to understand.
Church leaders often lament that many of those who claim to follow Jesus don't live as he calls them to live, they live immoral lives or they don't serve or they don't live generously. Perhaps, in line with what Sinek is saying, we need to keep reminding people of the 'why' in powerful ways. Many outside the church, and too many inside the church believe that right action is what following Jesus means (I spent some time debating with a person like this just last week). But they are wrong, it is right belief that causes right action , it is when we're sold out for Jesus that we can actually do what he calls us to do.
Church leaders often lament that many of those who claim to follow Jesus don't live as he calls them to live, they live immoral lives or they don't serve or they don't live generously. Perhaps, in line with what Sinek is saying, we need to keep reminding people of the 'why' in powerful ways. Many outside the church, and too many inside the church believe that right action is what following Jesus means (I spent some time debating with a person like this just last week). But they are wrong, it is right belief that causes right action , it is when we're sold out for Jesus that we can actually do what he calls us to do.
If we want to inspire people to greater action give them a cause to live for, and there is no more worthy cause than Jesus and his gospel. The 'how' and the 'what' of following Jesus changes in every location and generation. It will look different in every household and in each individual, but the driving truth is the same: Ephesians 4:5–6 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
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