“Only dead men can follow the God of the cross”
Erwin McManus
We all remember playing the game, “Follow the Leader.” The game could be really fun or totally boring depending on the leader. But if you really wanted to win the game, you had to pay attention and do what the leader said.
Leadership in the Church is not a game though and our ability to lead others depends totally on our ability to follow Jesus. Jesus made clear what it takes to become a leader in His Kingdom and for His church.
Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (NET)
I have led lots of teams over my 16 plus years of ministry. I have started and successfully run different businesses. I was trained as a leader by a full-bird Kernel during my time in the Army ROTC Rangers. I have read dozens of books on leadership during both my Masters and Doctoral studies. And while all of that makes for a great resume, none of it makes me a good leader or even a leader worth following.
There are pastors who think they are good leaders because they have a great vision. There are pastors who at first glance appear to be good leaders because they have a nice white smile, a good firm handshake and a winning personality. There are pastors who preside over big churches and deliver wonderful sermons that give pleasure to many. There are pastors who have written lots of books and have made some good money selling their ideas. None of these things makes them a good leader worth following.
Becoming a leader in God’s church means a daily demonstration that you know how to die. Only dead men and women can follow the God of the cross and only those who daily lose their life for the sake of Jesus will be faithful Kingdom leaders. 
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I agree wholeheartedly. I’m preaching something very similar this weekend. Here is a sketch of what I’ll be preaching.