Underwood Unplugged

Every August, the Willow Creek Association puts on a terrific event for leaders, called the Leadership Summit. This is my third year in a row attending the Summit, and I always find it to be a time of great challenge and encouragement as I desire to grow as a Christan leader.

With nine different speakers in three days, it makes for a pretty engaging and interesting time. I find myself looking forward to some speakers and "patiently enduring" other speakers. I think it's a pretty human thing for us to connect with certain people and not connect with others. However, we must be very careful not to play favorites too much - or pay too much attention to that - in the body of Christ.

The other night, I was thinking about how much I really like one speaker and kind of had him on a pedestal in my mind. For whatever reason, God brought to mind the divisions in the Corinthian churches over who would follow which teacher. Paul writes, "My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:11-12.

See - there it is, people picking favorites and actually DIVIDING over which pastor or teacher they liked the most. I see that happening in many churches, sometimes those with one pastor, and sometimes those with many. But Paul really challenges us to watch out for that... Listen to how he brings focus to the issue:

"Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?"

As a teacher, Paul may have personally "hoped" that people would like him, but at least he had the right perspective - the POINT is that we all follow Jesus Christ, and not get caught up in comparing speakers, playing favorites, or - in my case - actually trying to BE people's favorite!

So, I won't tell you what speakers I liked the best at the Summit. Each one has something unique to say and to contribute, and I might eventually share some specifics. But they are only worth listening to if they help point me to Christ.