The Upside Down Kingdom - Wrap Up

Aug 19

Episode Summary

In this episode, Brian and Cory wrap up this series around the Upside Down Kingdom and share insights from the past several episodes. We discuss the concept of greatness in the kingdom of God, emphasizing that true leadership is rooted in servanthood and familial relationships. The conversation explores the challenges of multiplication and the importance of identity in leadership, as well as practical examples of how to develop leaders in a way that reflects the values of the kingdom.

Key Themes & Takeaways

1. “Not So With You” – A Different Kind of Greatness

Jesus redefined greatness: “Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.”
Leadership in the Kingdom is not about hierarchy or titles, but about lowering ourselves to lift others up.
The New Testament paints a flat, reconciled model of God’s people—where access to God is open to all, not mediated by a special class.

2. Leadership as Family, Not Hierarchy

The early church functioned like a family—spiritual mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters—not an organization with positional authority.
Western culture struggles to grasp this because of broken family models and deep individualism.
“Good families defer, trust, and lean in with one another. That’s the picture Paul paints when he calls Timothy his son and later his coworker.”

3. Authority Rooted in Identity, Not Position

Movements multiply when disciples grow into spiritual parents, not when authority is centralized.
If leadership is bottlenecked under one person or office, multiplication stops.
Leaders must continually speak identity: “You are seen. You are loved. You have authority in Christ.”

4. Raising Leaders the Jesus Way

Western models elevate charisma, knowledge, and platform. The Kingdom elevates humility and obedience.
Stories remind us of true greatness: Chris, the summer staffer, quietly folding chairs while others debated theology, embodied Jesus’ way.
“Let’s elevate the ones Jesus would point out—the servant, the humble, the obedient—not just the gifted or well-spoken.”

5. The Messy, Beautiful Reality of Movements

Movements thrive in the margins, among the hungry, overlooked, and willing.
Leadership is modeled by serving first, raising up leaders from the harvest, and walking with them as their mindset shifts from worldly power to Kingdom humility.
Multiplication requires letting go of control, trusting God with fruit, and continually repenting of ways we slip back into hierarchy.

Final Thoughts

Greatness in the Kingdom is not about leading from the top but serving from below. Leadership in movements looks like family, where we disciple, raise up, and release others into their God-given calling. As Brian and Cory remind us, if we cap leadership under positional authority, we cap multiplication. But when we model servant-heartedness, elevate the overlooked, and build family, the Kingdom spreads with unstoppable power.