Leonard Sweet turns the world of discipleship and ministry upside-down in his book, I Am a Follower. His premise is that grasping for leadership is contrary to the heart of God. Jesus didn't call any of us to be leaders. He called each and every one of us to be followers - His followers. Using the example of apostle Paul, Sweet demonstrates this idea. Paul didn't claim to be a leader; Paul asked others to join him as he follows Christ. Those in leadership positions should not really think of themselves as leaders, rather, they should see themselves as first-followers: people who follow Christ first, and then point the way so that others can do the same. This counter-culture book is great for anyone wishing to delve deeper into the realm of discipleship and following Christ.
I've always had a respect for Leonard Sweet, for his creativity, for his writing style, for his ability to get to the heart of the matter and simply tell the truth. I was a little surprised by the nature of this book. I didn't expect Sweet to dash our leadership hopes on the shores of discipleship. But he certainly has opened my eyes to a different way of doing discipleship and a different way of seeing the church. As I work my way through seminary, I am seeing my future in a new way. I don't have to strive for leadership, respect, or anything else. My focus needs to be, first and foremost, on following Jesus Christ and inviting others to follow Him along side of me.
This is a great book for anyone heading into ministry, already in ministry, or anyone looking to delve deeper into discipleship and knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. Sweet does a great job embracing this topic honestly and creatively.
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