Living the Pattern: The Power of Embodied Leadership

By David Broodryk

Photo by Erika Giraud on Unsplash ‍

"Be imitators of me as I am of Christ." When Paul wrote these words in 1 Corinthians 11:1, he made a statement that most Christians today find shocking. Most Christians say, "Don't follow me. Follow Jesus." But Paul says, "Follow me as I follow Jesus." In me, you'll see a living example of someone living the pattern, living the way that you're called to live.

Wow, I find that so intimidating.

Paul's Radical Invitation: "Imitate Me"

Paul consistently invites people to copy his life, not just his teaching.

Philippians 3:17: "Join in imitating me...keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us."

Philippians 4:9: "What you've learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things."

2 Timothy 1:13: "Follow the pattern you've heard from me."

It's not abstract teaching - it's a visible, copyable way of living.

This is kind of scary to think about - that's what we're called to do as disciple makers.

“What you see me do, you do. I'm a living example of this way of life, and you can copy me and learn this way.”

Can We Say That With Confidence?

On our good days, perhaps.

There's vulnerability and fear in offering our lives as examples. Most Christians retreat from this, saying "Don't follow me. Follow Jesus" - which sounds humble but sidesteps the call to embodied discipleship.

The invitation isn't to perfection but to transparency.

Come into my house. Come into my home. Watch how I interact with my wife and my children. Come and see because in watching me, you'll learn the way. This level of visibility is intimidating, but it's the essence of making disciples.

Why Embodiment Beats Instruction: The Movement Principle

Here's the thing about disciple making: People will do what you do. They will not do what you say. If you say it and don't do it, there's no authority in it whatsoever.

This principle challenges European Christianity, born in the Renaissance and Enlightenment - in knowledge, intellectualism, abstract ideas that are not lived, in arguments and debates that are in our heads but not lived out. But movements don't spread through ideas alone. They spread through imitation.

If the gospel is not something we live at every level, it's never going to be lived at any level. If our message is "do this," but I do something different, we will never create movement.

Moving From Theory To Practice: The Personal Challenge

If we want to see movements of people following Jesus, we must first ask ourselves: are we following Jesus? You say, "Of course - I prayed a prayer. I'm saved."

That's not what I'm talking about.

Are we living the way so confidently that we can look at others and say, "Imitate me"? "Copy me. You can't see Jesus. Can't see God. But if you want to know how to live, watch me."

Movements aren't something we do to others. Movements aren't, "I'm going to get them to do a DBS." Movements are: "This is the way that I follow Jesus, imitate me."

That's what creates movements. The shift is from instruction to incarnation, from programs to patterns, from hierarchy to embodiment.

We're all tracing the pattern of Jesus. But are we doing it in a way that others can see and copy? The question isn't "Am I perfect enough to be copied?" The question is "Am I willing to live visibly and transparently as I follow Jesus?"

If everyone is living the same pattern at every level, what does that look like structurally? How is that different from the hierarchies we're used to? That's the question we turn to next.

Getting Practical

As you think about God's vision for your city and/or affinity group:

1) Who in your world is imitating you? When you consider your actions and lifestyle as a follower of Jesus, what are the best things they are likely to be picking up from your example?

2) Stretch question - what are the worst things they are likely to be picking up? Ask God if there’s anything He wants to speak into this.

3) As you disciple others, is there anything you can do differently to make it easier for them to imitate you with those they are discipling?

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David Broodryk has been on a long journey into discipleship movements and seeking to see cities impacted by and for Jesus. He and his team now serve teams and leaders in cities all over the world. You can read more from David at davidbroodryk.org/blog/.

© 2026 D. Broodryk. All rights reserved.