4MAT Book Review BLANCHARD

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Feb 20, 2024

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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY 4MAT Book Review: Blanchard Assignment Submitted to Dr. James Wood In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the completion of LEAD510 – D08 by Elizabeth Roh November 20, 2023

1 Abstract The text, Lead Like Jesus Revisited: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time helps Christian leaders to understand the different aspects of leadership and what is required to effectively serve like Jesus. There are two separate parts that go into discussing what being a great leader entails, along with habits that every leader should apply. Chapter 21 first claims that an effective Jesus-like leader acts as a performance coach. 1 In order to be a great performance coach, one must show consistent commitment to the lives of others. We see that Jesus shows us this commitment specifically after He called His disciples to follow Him. A performance coach involves performance planning, day-to-day coaching, and performance evaluation. However, it is emphasized that leading like Jesus is more than “performing”; it is about being more like Christ, which involves having a loving heart yielded to Him. Chapter 22 talks about the similarities between a good carpenter and a good leader. Some similarities include establishing goals and communicating clearly so that people know what to focus on. They also consider the cost before starting anything. The authors state that no one is born to be an expert carpenter or leader, rather, they need guidance to help them grow. Chapter 23 goes more in-depth about the ways in which a carpenter develops their skills much like how a great leader is developed. The leader at some point must facilitate the followers to move from call to commission. Jesus did this with His disciples by simply applying a model that He may have taken from learning carpentry to help guide the learning experience of the disciples. Both the leader and follower need to be in a partnership where they agree to be committed to this partnership, and they need to agree on goals, understand what the follower needs, how the leader will provide, etc. 1 Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, Lead like Jesus Revisited: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 167.

2 Chapter 24 talks about the cost of being a great leader, including how to serve with humility. The authors use the word “ego” as an acronym, which stands for “edging God out.” The text ultimately claims that an effective coach must meet people where they are and one of the worst things to do as a leader is to react out of pride, make decisions based on fear, or resort to using position-driven power to exert your will. 2 The leader must make sure to be in check with their spiritual health because that can make or break a follower’s trust and commitment. However, there are consequences when both the leader and follower build relations that stem from pride or fear. When they build relations out of pride results in conflicts. Likewise, when building relations out of fear, there can be suspicion and paralysis. The most favorable leader- follower relationship is when they both have servant-like hearts, which leads to mutual trust and service. The next part of this guide is separated into five chapters, discussing the different positive habits that leaders should practice. Chapter 25 starts with the habit of obeying God and expressing His unconditional love. Love is overlooked even though it is a core value of leadership. However, it is easier said than done when a leader should respond in a loving manner to someone who may not have responded positively to their suggestions. Chapter 26 talks about the habit of pouring grace towards others, which can be difficult because it requires humility. Grace is defined as getting something we do not deserve, which is also supported by the bible verse in Ephesians 2, which says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” 3 We must pour grace unto others because even though we do not deserve grace from God, He is gracious enough to reach out to reconcile our relationship with Him. 2 Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, Lead like Jesus Revisited: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 199. 3 Ephesians 2:8, English Standard Version

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3 Chapter 27 points out the habit of forgiveness, which is a similar concept to showing grace. Forgiveness is difficult to do because it is a supernatural act; it is contrary to our flesh. Even though forgiveness does not dismiss someone’s wrongdoings, it is still impossible to do on our own. Leaders who seek to help others grow must be able to forgive, redirect, and move on. If not, they can be quick to judge, which is the same thing as condemning others, which is the opposite of how we as Christians are called to live. Chapter 28 discusses the habit of encouragement, which is often overlooked. The author views encouragement as the final step to complete the coaching cycle because a key part of encouraging their followers is catching them doing right. Encouragement can change someone’s life as it is a powerful tool to help others experience the love of God. As Proverbs 18:21 states, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” 4 Chapter 29 connects the habits of grace, forgiveness, and encouragement to take place within a community, which is biblical. Maintaining a habit of building community entails doing life together, which includes being vulnerable, carrying each other’s burdens, holding each other accountable, etc. As Jesus demonstrated, community is built on a foundation of trust. The final chapter of this part, Chapter 30 talks about how leading like Jesus begins with the individual. The longer one leads like Jesus, the more people will change. The author encourages leaders to allow people to see the leader in their life because it is lived minute by minute in both big and small choices. 5 Concrete Response Reading this book allowed me to reflect upon this past year as I have been growing and adjusting to the current church that I attend. It has been a little over a year since I committed to 4 Proverbs 18:21, English Standard Version 5 Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, Lead like Jesus Revisited: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 240.

4 this church, but I can see the exponential growth that I have experienced spiritually through the community that I have been building and maintaining. Thinking more in-depth about the community that God has graciously provided me with, I am not just reminded of the wonderful sisters that I can run this race with, but I am beyond grateful for the leaders and pastors within my church. Their prayers, support, encouragement, and commitment to the church and to God, as well as their consistency, reminded me a lot of how Jesus served in His ministry. Although I have had a bad past with being hurt by leaders that I have trusted and relied on, it is refreshing to my soul when I have stepped into a church with leaders who have healed me in ways that I did not even realize until much later. Although I cannot assess every leader and pastor’s motives and spiritual health, seeing the joy they have in serving and having a deep passion to preach the truth to others inspire me in ways they will never know. I hope that this can be a lesson for me to not take this biblical community for granted and that with the gifts and calling that God has given to me, I would use that to help equip and build up the church. Reflection I appreciated the way the authors organized each part and chapter of the book, and for the most part, every chapter was very concise yet detailed which helps an overthinker like me to read without questioning everything and to process the information well. One part of the book that I am confused with and may not completely agree with is when the authors almost exhort every leader to make a personal leadership statement at the end of Chapter 30. I understand the idea that this is to help hold the leaders accountable and to be bold, however, I don’t feel that it is necessary to do this. The way the authors lay out a template for the leaders to use as a guide for their statement seem as if every leader must implement this. I would want to hear the response of the authors if I asked how they would feel if some leaders did not feel the need to make this

5 personal statement. Can there be a different approach to this, or is this supposed to be a one-size- fits-all approach? A suggestion I would make to the authors is to talk more about the distinctive qualities of grace and forgiveness. Because these terms go hand in hand, it may be confusing for readers to differentiate showing forgiveness versus showing grace towards another person. It would also be helpful in doing so because this text has the intent of equipping and informing leaders. There may be situations where any person may bring up theological or general questions, including the difference between grace and forgiveness. If the text was a little more specific on these terms would supplement the leaders’ knowledge and understanding of biblical terms and would give greater confidence to someone like me who may struggle to find the right words to define something, even if I understand the concept and principle of grace and forgiveness. Action As I had mentioned earlier about how grateful I am to be involved in a wonderful church community, there has been difficulty in creating accountability groups, even though my life group is considered one. Because my life group is fairly large and since I am not extremely close with every person, it can be hard for me to ask for accountability. However, I want to challenge myself to find a few accountability partners within my community whom I trust and have been building a personal relationship with. I have seen many people online sharing testimonies on the beauty of being held accountable, and through these accountability relations, many have been able to overcome many hurdles, even habitual sins that they have been struggling with for years. To find and maintain accountability partnerships, I am going to be proactive in reaching out and finding a time and place to gather to discuss highs and lows, as well as pray and encourage one another. Because I understand that the sisters, I would ask to be my accountability partners have

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6 varying schedules, it would be hard to meet up weekly, except on Sundays when we see each other at church. If we cannot have weekly gatherings, I would still be proactive in reaching out and calling if I need prayer. Another positive discipline I want to implement in my life is to exercise my faith by encouraging others. Although I am a pretty outgoing, sociable person, the introverted, shy side of me can get the best of me. However, that is an excuse I allow myself to make many times, even though there is a prideful part in me that wants to protect my image and I don’t want to make a fool out of myself. There are times when I feel convicted and compelled to encourage someone, yet I don’t. However, I want to remind myself of the verse in Romans that says, “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” 6 I genuinely desire for God to humble me because it is not about how much of an eloquent speaker I am if I can simply speak truth and light over someone’s life, why wouldn’t I? As the text mentions, encouragement can be overlooked many times even though our words carry weight and have the power to bring life to someone. Even if I have to go out of my comfort zone, I am going to challenge myself to try to encourage two people every week, even if it is the same people, because there are a few I can think of on the top of my head who I feel need constant assurance of who they are in Christ. However, I want to make sure that I am not encouraging the same person just because I am comfortable with encouraging that person; rather I am operating in faith, and I hope and pray that God will lead me and give me more courage to love others through encouragement. 6 Romans 14:23, English Standard Version

7 Bibliography Blanchard, Ken and Hodges, Phil, Lead Like Jesus Revisited: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016.

4MAT Book Review BLANCHARD

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