Leading at Glow - Episode 3: Servant Leadership & Character

Focuses on internal integrity and leading from identity, not insecurity. Servant leadership is our foundation, and character matters more than charisma in sustaining healthy leadership.

Transcript

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Episode three, servant leadership and character. Welcome back to Leading at Glow. We've already talked about leadership as a spiritual calling and the role we play in carrying culture and vision. But in this session, we're going deeper into something that shapes everything else, your character. This is session three, servant leadership and character. And it's at the heart of what kind of leaders we want to be. Part one, leadership starts with who you are. Let's be honest, when people think about leadership, they often focus on gifting, how well someone communicates, how confident they are, how quickly they respond. But at Glow, we're not impressed by gifting alone. We're looking for character, because if your gift gets you into a room, but your character can't sustain it, eventually you'll burn out or blow up. Leadership always starts with who you are when no one's watching. That's not just a cliche. It's how trust is built. What does your private world look like? Do you still love Jesus when the lights are off and no one needs you to perform? Are you consistent in how you speak to people, from your senior leader to the newest team member? Luke 16.10 says, Whoever can be trusted with little trust can also be trusted with much. God is always watching how we steward what's in our hands, and character is the currency of long-term leadership. Part two, servant leadership isn't optional. Now let's talk about servant leadership, not just as a posture, but as a requirement. At GLOW, you don't lead because you have a role. You lead because you serve. Jesus made this abundantly clear. Listen to these scriptures. The greatest among you will be your servant. Matthew 23, 11. I did not come to be served, but to serve. Mark 10, 45. He washed feet. He carried weight. He lifted others before lifting himself. That's the standard. Leadership isn't about climbing a ladder. It's about lowering yourself to carry someone else. Here's what servant leadership looks like at GLOW. Turning up early with joy. Saying yes, even when it's not convenient. Asking, what do they need instead of what do I prefer? Doing the unseen things with the same heart as the platform ones. Letting others shine and celebrating them when they do. It's not glamorous, but it's powerful. And it's what Jesus built his church on. Part 3. Character isn't perfection, it's consistency. Now hear me on this. We're not after perfect people. That doesn't exist. But we are after people who are consistent, teachable and humble. The kind of people who own their mistakes, who invite feedback, who grow under pressure rather than blaming others. Proverbs 11.3 says... The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Integrity simply means you're the same person wherever you are, at home, at church, on the team, off the platform. So let me ask you, are you living with spiritual integrity right now? Are your private patterns fuelling your public leadership? Who really knows what's going on in your world? And do they have permission to challenge you? That's where real growth begins. Part four. Four. When you lead from character, you last. Here's what I've learned. Gifting may open the door, but character is what keeps you in the room. And it's also what gives you peace at night. You don't have to fake it. You don't have to hustle or perform. You can lead from a place of rest because who you are is enough in Christ. At GLOW, we want leaders who are secure, not striving, humble, not entitled, clear, not controlling, faithful, not flaky. That's the kind of team people love to follow. That's the kind of person God can trust with more. Reflection and next steps. So here's this week's reflection. Where is your leadership rooted? In identity or in insecurity? And what part of your character is God highlighting to grow in this season? Write it down. Pray into it. Don't rush this. It's the heart of who you are as a leader. Thanks for showing up for this session. I'll see you in episode four, where we'll look at what it means to lead well in your context.