The heart of why we serve at Gateway

We lead to facilitate amazing life transformation.

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Peter Drucker 

Mark 2 (NIV)

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”


5 Decisions that set our desired leadership culture.

  1. Love First.

John 13:34,35 (NIV)34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

  1. Love First.

  2. Go Last. 

Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV) 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In order to leadup in the Kingdom of God you have to make your way down the ladder, not up. 

5 Decisions that set our desired leadership culture.

  1. Love First.

  2. Go Last. 

  3. Be Accountable. 

A leader’s A-count-ability is directly linked to… 

1. Their personal connection to the team. 

2. Their personal connection to the goal. 

3. Their assessment of their personal value to the team.


5 Decisions that set our desired leadership culture.

  1. Love First.

  2. Go Last. 

  3. Be Accountable. 

  4. Serve as 1.

Psalm 133 (NIV) 

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. 

If we will decide to not be offended and if we will do the hard work of working together, we will tip the scales from hurting to healing and from healing to healthy and from healthy to amazing transformation at a scale you and I can’t even imagine.


5 Decisions that set our desired leadership culture.

  1. Love First.

  2. Go Last. 

  3. Be Accountable. 

  4. Serve as 1.

  5. Give Your Best.

Mark 2:10-12 (NIV)

10 I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

We are responsible for setting an amazing culture. God is responsible for the amazing life transformation. 

5 Amazing Leadership Decisions in one sentence ...

“Count on Us to Love, Go last and Give our Best.”

1 Peter 4:8-11 (Amplified)

Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor]. 11 Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles (utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.