Senior Leadership Track - Episode 1: The Weight and Wonder of Senior Leadership

Welcome to the Senior Leadership Track - designed for high-capacity leaders carrying broader influence and responsibility. It includes online modules, mentoring and strategic input, supported by external leadership coaches to foster growth, health, and accountability.

Key Scriptures:

• James 3:1 – “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
• 2 Corinthians 2:16b, 3:5 – “Who is equal to such a task? … Our competence comes from God.”
• Mark 10:45 – “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Transcript

Welcome to the Senior Leadership Track - designed for high-capacity leaders carrying broader influence and responsibility. It includes online modules, mentoring and strategic input, supported by external leadership coaches to foster growth, health, and accountability.

Let’s begin with WEEK 1: THE WEIGHT AND WONDER OF SENIOR LEADERSHIP.

Whether you’ve been in leadership here at Glow for years, or you’re just stepping into more senior responsibility, this space is designed to help you go deeper, lead better, and stay anchored.

 We’re here to shape convictions, refresh your sense of calling, and clarify what we carry.

Because senior leadership — done well — is both a burden and a blessing.

 There’s weight, and there’s wonder.

 And if we only feel one and forget the other, we either burn out…

 or coast.

Let’s start by putting both in full view.

SECTION 1 – SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

Senior leadership is not just functional.

 It’s spiritual.

You might lead a team, a department, a demographic, or a strategic project —

 But underneath the structure… you're leading people spiritually.

 You’re shaping hearts.

 You’re influencing tone.

 You’re discipling — often without knowing it — by your posture, your presence, and how you show up in pressure.

James 3:1 says,

 “Not many of you should become teachers, because those who teach will be judged more strictly.”

 That sounds intense — but it’s not about guilt. It’s about gravity.

 There is weight in what we do. And God sees it.

People watch how we respond.

 They draw conclusions about what matters based on what we repeat.

 They take emotional cues from our silence, our timing, our tone.

That’s spiritual leadership.

And Jesus is our model —

 Not a personality-driven influencer.

Jesus led with clarity and compassion.

 He never lost sight of the mission — but He never lost sight of people either.

 He led with truth — and He led with tears.

SECTION 2 – THE WEIGHT VS. THE WONDER

Now — let’s sit in the tension.

Leadership carries weight.

There are expectations you didn’t ask for.

 Moments when you feel exposed — like people think you have more answers than you actually do.

 You feel responsible for things that aren’t fully in your control.

But if you stop there — you miss something holy.

 Because leadership also carries wonder.

There’s the wonder of seeing someone step into their calling — and knowing you helped create space for it.

 The wonder of watching breakthrough happen in a team or ministry — because you led with faith when it didn’t make sense.

 And realising: “I was part of that. I helped shape that moment.”

The apostle Paul captures this beautifully in 2 Corinthians.

 He says:

 “Who is equal to such a task?”

 And then a few verses later, he says:

 “Our competence comes from God.”

That’s it.

 That’s our grounding.

We don’t carry this weight in our own strength.

 We carry it in His grace.

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek

SECTION 3 – WHAT WE’RE STEWARDING

So what are we really stewarding?

Because this is where it gets practical.

We’re not just stewarding services, teams, rotas, or moments.

 We’re stewarding:

The move of God through this house

A culture that forms people over time

And the souls God has entrusted to our care

1 Peter 5:2 says,

 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing… as God wants you to be.”

Leadership is not something we take.

 It’s something we carry — and we carry it willingly.

We’re shaping a culture every time we respond to tension.

 Every time we say yes or no.

 Every time we choose honour, truth, patience, or humility when we don’t feel like it.

The culture of Glow is not created by what we say.

 It’s created by what we live.

 By what we celebrate. What we correct. What we model. What we allow.

SECTION 4 – LEADING LIKE JESUS

So how do we carry all of this well?

We lead like Jesus.

Jesus didn’t just lead up.

 He led down.

 He didn’t hold onto power — He gave away authority.

 He didn’t control people — He called them forward.

 And He never let the weight of responsibility rob Him of the joy of relationship.

Mark 10:45 says,

 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

We don’t lead to be impressive.

 We lead to be impactful — to build something that lasts long after we’re gone.

And we lead as sons and daughters first — not just leaders on assignment.

CLOSING – REFLECTION + INVITATION

So here’s the question I want you to sit with:

Where do you feel the weight of leadership most right now?

 And where do you still sense the wonder?

I’m grateful you’re here.

 I’m grateful you’re carrying what you’re carrying.

 And I believe God has more for you — and in you — than you’ve even seen yet.

See you in Week 2.