SHADOW MISSION
JOHN ORTBERG
VIDEO OVERVIEW:
John Ortberg spoke at Willow Creek Association’s Global Leadership Summit on the topic of “A Leader’s
Greatest Fear.” Fear of failure or fear of criticism could be among these fears. However, John would advocate
that fear of failure or fear of criticism is NOT the leader’s greatest fear. Rather, a leader’s greatest fear is the
fear of realizing that you’ve devoted yourself to the wrong mission, for it is tempting for everyone, including
leaders, to center their lives around something that is unworthy, selfish, or dark—a shadow mission.
Looking at the book of Esther, John identifies the true missions and shadow missions of those in this
historical account. Xerxes, King of the Persians and Medes, was preoccupied with demonstrating his
greatness—an indicator of his shadow mission. One day, to impress people at a banquet, he summons his
queen to show her off as his ultimate possession. When she refuses, the king is furious because she is
threatening his shadow mission—she has made him look weak.
Xerxes asks his advisors what he should do. Xerxes has surrounded himself with “yes men” who will
reinforce his shadow mission of ego, appearance, and pleasure. A warning for leaders: The higher you rise in
an organization, the less truth you are likely to hear. Xerxes decides to get a different queen. Through a
selection process Esther, a Jew, becomes the new queen.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
John Ortberg is a senior pastor of
Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in
Menlo Park, California. He is the
bestselling author of many books,
including: When the Game Is Over ,
TRANSITION TO VIDEO CLIP:
Esther’s cousin Mordecai informs her of a plot to eradicate all the Jewish people in the kingdom. Mordecai
tells her she must approach the king to get him to protect the Jews. However, Esther is afraid. In the clip,
John shows how this story helps define a shadow mission and illustrates how to overcome it in order to
follow God’s true mission for your life.
POST CLIP SUMMARY:
When Esther acts in opposition to her shadow mission of safety and security and takes on her true mission
of saving the Jewish people, God acts dramatically and powerfully in the situation.
John then probes our shadow missions, and how we can be released from them.
TEAM DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Take a few minutes as individuals and write down what drives you to do what you do. As you look at that list, is there an underlying shadow mission that is competing with your true mission? If so, what is it?
2. As a team, would you identify any shadow missions in your church or organization? What are they?
3. What needs to be done to address the issues identified in Question #2?
©2011 Willow Creek Association. Permission granted to the purchaser of the Take Ten product to make copies of the accompanying process tool as needed.
It All Goes Back in the Box, The Life
You’ve Always Wanted, and If You
Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got
to Get Out of the Boat.