I am a Bronco fan and the Broncos did something on March 12, 2014 that made me very excited.

They signed one of the best football players in the history of the NFL—DeMarcus Ware.  I was a great fan of his—-and it was not because of his talent.  It was because of his character.  He played through pain.  He was unselfish.  He was a first-class individual in all that I had observed about him.

Those beliefs of mine were verified when I had a chance to visit the Broncos facility, meet coaches and players, and watch a practice.  When we entered the weight room, he was in there rehabilitating an injury.  After finishing two sets of his exercise as we were walking through, he came over to say hi to us.  He introduced himself to all of us and then voluntarily took pictures and talked to both me and my players.

As we walked away, the guy who was giving us the tour told me:  “He is that nice ALL THE TIME.”

It did not stop there.  DeMarcus was a great teammate…..and I looked into stories of how he personally invested in the other guys to push them to be better—-not only as players—-but as people.  The team that won Super Bowl 50 was a great TEAM….and I know that one of the reasons that the Broncos were a great team was because they had great leadership.  The story is told that he gave the pre-game speech the night before that big game—-and that it was an incredible motivational talk….and that the Broncos—coaches, players, and staff—-all wanted to win the championship for him.

How did he have so many who wanted to do it for him?

I believe it was because of Jesus.  I had heard that DeMarcus was a follower and that He walked out his faith.  And when Jesus gets a hold of someone, they are never the same.

You see, Jesus gives us the best leadership manual we could ever use….and that’s the Bible.  And His life is testimony to how you lead….

Let’s start with His talk to the disciples in Mark:

Mark 10

42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 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.”

Jesus was a team player.  And when He lead, He was all in.  And He was all in on this very principle:  Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave of all…..  

Jesus put His money where His mouth was not too long after this…..taking responsibility for all man’s sins and calling His people home.

The rise of Christianity in Jerusalem could not come from one man with no political or military power–and Jesus knew this.  So He put it all on the line and did it for us.

After His great actions of love—–His disciples grew and moved in ways never seen in history.  A new faith started.  And it started because the men who knew Him became radical followers and summoned His Spirit to come on them and all who met with them.

Do you want to be a great leader?

Then be a servant.  Be a slave of all.  Be the person who goes first to do the things that no one wants to do.

Ask God to put something in you that can show the world how much you truly love them.

In The Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

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Coach J