Introduction:

The world of sport is full of leaders. Some are very good and some are exposed as less than great. Some leaders shout, push, and manipulate everyone toward their highest performance, while others speak softly, nurture, and encourage their teams to success. Which of these better describes your team leaders?

Application:

1. Who are some of the best leaders you have encountered in your sporting life? Tell us about them.
2. What are some of the foundational principles of leadership in your sport?
3. From whom did you learn them? 
4. How many of those principles apply to life beyond your sport? 
5. How would you describe Jesus’ style of leadership?

Bridge:

Mark 9:35 says, “Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

1. Jesus called the Twelve--the most highly committed to Himself.  Jesus communicated with these people strongly and directly.
2. Why would He share these thoughts with just this twelve and not with the masses who were following?
3. Why would Jesus say that those who want to be first must take the last place and serve everyone else?

Connection:

1. Whose names are on your list of highly committed teammates? Write their names in the margin.
2. How strong are your ambitions to be the first among them? Rate your ambition on a 1-10 scale. (1 = modestly ambitious and 10 = super-ambitious)
3. How can we who competitively pursue being first, make the choice to take the lower place and serve our teammates?

Discovery:

1. Gather your twelve--your most highly committed teammates and communicate with them strongly and directly.
2. If you desire to be first, take the lowest position with your teammates. Don’t push your way to the front or demand privilege.
3. Leadership demands that we serve each other and elevate the others on our team.

Close:

Memory Verse: “Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35