Be Humble, Be Disciplined, Be Proficient

0:00 Intro/What does redemption mean to you?

1:31 Finding a new purpose after 21 years in the Marines

6:56 Leadership principles from the military that Jordan still carries with him

10:01 The most difficult season of Jordan’s civilian life

17:54 How Jordan’s book of devotionals came together

24:58 Three core principles Jordan wants his readers to remember

33:58 The worries and preoccupations that keep us from acting on God’s vision

44:40 Jordan’s unconventional path to marriage and seven kids

54:44 “The radical story of Number Seven”

Snippets/excerpts

3:46 to 4:36—The biggest difference between military and civilian life: a clearer sense of purpose

24:11 to 24:55—Just because God calls us to do something, that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy—but he is still with us

26:19 to 27:09—The importance, and true meaning, of humility for those in leadership positions

35:20 to 36:18—Don’t get so bogged down in details that you get discouraged and stop taking action 

4:38—Whether you’ve served in the military or not, you’ve probably experienced a life change where one significant purpose in your life had been ended or accomplished, and you had to find a new one. What was the previous purpose you had, what brought it to an end, and how did you go in search of a new purpose or identity? What are some mistakes you made along the way?

5:14—What’s the biggest life change you’ve ever made that was motivated primarily by the idea that “this is what everyone else is doing”? Pursuing a postgraduate degree, taking a certain type of job, even entering a relationship or getting married? What did it feel like to make that decision, and did you ever start to feel like you weren’t being true to yourself? Romans 12:2

23:03—Of your circle of friends and family members, who is the person who most consistently offers you worthwhile differing perspectives on the things you talk about? How does that person challenge you (constructively), and how has that deepened your relationship? Proverbs 27:17

24:37—Of all the things you feel like God may have called you to do in your life, which one was the most daunting? Which one did you find hardest to accept? Was there anything or anyone who ultimately helped you break down that fear or resistance? Joshua 1:9

27:11—Would you describe yourself as a humble person? Are you capable of “thinking of yourself less,” as C.S. Lewis put it, when leading or working with others? In what circumstances are you likely to be the most prideful, domineering, or self-centered? Philippians 2:3–4

28:30—How good are you at delaying the things you want to do in favor of the things you know you need to do? What’s the task or responsibility you find yourself avoiding most frequently, and what is most likely to distract you from it? Do you know anyone who could be an accountability partner helping you stay on task? Hebrews 12:1

30:24—Would you describe yourself as a humble person? Are you capable of “thinking of yourself less,” as C.S. Lewis put it, when leading or working with others? In what circumstances are you likely to be the most prideful, domineering, or self-centered?

36:20—Do you sometimes get so bogged down in details or future concerns that you stop taking action? What circumstances are most likely to leave you discouraged and vulnerable to inertia, and who are some people who could help you respond to those circumstances in a more constructive way? Galatians 6:9

Additional Resources

Jordan’s book, Red Letter Leadership: Leadership Lessons from the Life of Christ

Accompanying podcast, Red Letter Leadership