Podcast Summary

ONE | A Potter’s House Church
Episode: ACT 1: Follow The Leader (Humility) - Ebenezer Quaye (Wednesday Bible Study)
Date: November 14, 2025
Speaker: Ebenezer Quaye

Main Theme/Overview

This episode, led by Ebenezer Quaye, explores the biblical principle of humility as foundational to true discipleship and leadership in the Christian life. Through interactive group exercises and deep teaching, Ebenezer emphasizes that, for followers of Jesus, the focus must always be on the goal (fulfilling God’s vision and serving others) rather than fixating on individual roles or positions. Drawing from Scripture—especially Philippians 2 and the life of Jesus—participants are challenged to embrace flexibility, vulnerability, and a willingness to serve, whether as helper or helped.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Interactive Icebreakers & Practical Exercises

[00:54–27:00]

• Community Formation: Participants are encouraged to sit in groups, introducing and declaring, “My name is __, and I am a disciple.”
• Team Exercise 1: Groups of four are asked to recreate the iconic “Charlie’s Angels” pose, switching roles multiple times (photographer and models).
  • Lesson Drawn: No explicit instructions on who takes which role—teams naturally negotiate and collaborate. Joy arises from teamwork, not status.
  • Ebenezer’s Reflection: “The goal is always bigger than the role.” (20:33)
  • Key Quote:

    “Everybody found their own different ways to get into the position they needed to get into to make the vision happen. I didn’t have to tell anybody, ‘Hey, you do this, you do this.’ I gave you the vision, I gave you a picture…” (17:47)

• Favorite Roles Discussion: When asked who enjoyed being photographer, several said, “I didn’t have to perform” or enjoyed “capturing the moment.” (19:40–20:59)

2. Humility & Discipleship: Spotlight on the Goal

[27:00–47:00]

• Humility as Collaboration: When participants readily assume whatever role is needed for the group’s vision, that demonstrates humility in action.

  • Key Quote:

    “The goal will always be bigger than the role.” (21:58)

• Jesus as Model: Jesus’s life is the ultimate embodiment—He did not cling to status, but “emptied Himself” and obeyed, even to death.

  • Quote:

    “Humility is not about playing small... Humility is about keeping the goal in sight at all times.” (22:28)

• Humility ≠ Diminishing Oneself: It’s not lowering self-worth but maintaining focus on God’s purpose above self-promotion.

• Identity Security: Like Jesus, a disciple is secure in their identity, so does not need to broadcast status or dominate roles.

• Role Transitions: Our roles change over our lives; humility is accepting new, unfamiliar roles in obedience to God.

3. Vulnerability, Discomfort, and Working Through Discontent

[47:00–55:00]

• Q&A: Remaining Humble When Upset:
  • Humility is not forced cheerfulness but working through heart issues with God. Community is vital for support.
  • Quote:

    “Humility is acknowledging your imperfection and still presenting yourself to be used by God anyway, because God will fill in the gap.” (51:01)

• Obedience Includes Absence: Sometimes humility means knowing when not to be present, to rest or step back at God’s direction.

4. Scripture Study: Philippians 2 and The Person of Jesus

[55:00–65:00]

• Text Used: Philippians 2:3–11 (Complete Jewish Bible version)
• Key Points from Passage:
  • “Do nothing from rivalry or vanity, but in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3)
  • Jesus, though equal with God, “emptied himself…became like human beings…humbled himself still more…to death on a stake as a criminal.”
  • Quote:

    “Humility is when you are so comfortable with your identity in God as Jesus was comfortable in his identity in God, that he then takes his positioning… and allows himself to be lowered so that he’s on level with us.” (59:40)

  • Obedience means attentive listening and willingness to go where God sends, even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Reflection: Jesus’s “goal” was not self-promotion, but to save humanity.

5. Further Interactive Exercise: Hero, Helper, and the Helped

[65:00–79:00]

• Team Exercise 2: Groups create a pose showing ‘someone in need,’ a ‘hero,’ and ‘helpers.’

  • New challenges arise: teams must negotiate who takes what position from scratch, not from a preset image.

  • Memorable Moment: Most people naturally want to help—not to be the one needing help, which is “humbling.” A few find it difficult to accept a “non-hero” role.

  • Quote:

    “If I’m the one who needs to be helped, I need to be able to identify my need. So part of being humble, part of walking in humility, is not only saying, ‘I need help,’ but doing enough work and spending enough time with God to be honest and say, ‘I need help in this.’ And knowing that it does not make you any less a leader.” (77:52)

  • Some discuss how hard it is to accept being “the one who is helped,” relating to humility in leadership.

6. Role-Rotation, Jesus as the Only Ultimate Hero, and Receiving Help

[79:00–89:00]

• Flexibility Required: God might call you to various roles (hero, helper, or helped). Humility is the willingness to embody any role God needs, at any moment.
• Leadership Danger: Always assuming the hero position limits growth—receiving help is also godly and necessary.
  • Key Insight:

    “One of the crippling things of leadership is not being humble enough to know when you need help. Every scene that you’re in, you’re the helper. Every scene you’re in, you’re the hero. And watch this. It’s because you take the initiative to be the hero every time…” (81:10)

7. Scripture Focus: Mark 10:42–45 – Servant Leadership

[89:00–95:00]

• Context: James and John ask Jesus for privileged places in heaven; the other disciples are upset.
• Jesus’s Response:
  • “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant…For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (91:30)
• Application: The greatest leaders are those who serve. In the kingdom, greatness is defined by service, not by exercising authority or status.

8. Summary Lessons and Final Charges

[95:00–98:34]

• Every Role Matters: In God’s picture, every position is necessary; no role is more “important” than another.
• Humility is Malleability: God may move you from scene to scene—your availability and flexibility are what matter most.
• Jesus as Student and Son: Referencing Luke 2:46–52—Jesus, though divine, assumed roles of student and son. Humility is the willingness to keep learning and obeying.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The goal is always bigger than the role.” (Repeated, theme statement, e.g., 21:58, 23:19, 26:50)
• “Humility is not about playing small... Humility is about keeping the goal in sight at all times.” (22:28)
• “The joy of collaboration lends to humility.” (17:17)
• “It was fun being able to capture other people having fun.” (20:59)
• “Humility is acknowledging your imperfection and still presenting yourself to be used by God anyway, because God will fill in the gap.” (51:01)
• “Jesus...in his identity he is equal to the Father. Then he takes a step down to become a human being. And then among the stratosphere of human beings, he takes a step down even further.” (58:45)
• “Whoever of you desires to be first, shall be slave of all...For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.” (91:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:54–07:00 | Opening community formation & icebreaker | | 07:00–27:00 | Exercise 1: Charlie’s Angels pose—group dynamics | | 27:00–47:00 | Reflection on humility & collaboration | | 47:00–55:00 | Handling humility when discontented/struggling | | 55:00–65:00 | Philippians 2 breakdown on Jesus & humility | | 65:00–79:00 | Exercise 2: Hero, helper, helped—reflection | | 79:00–89:00 | Embracing varied roles—help, helper, hero | | 89:00–95:00 | Mark 10:42–45—greatness through service | | 95:00–98:34 | Conclusion: Application and closing instructions |

Final Takeaways

• True discipleship requires humility—a joyful willingness to serve in any role, in pursuit of God’s goal.
• Jesus provides the ultimate model: though highest in status, He chose the lowliest roles for the sake of others.
• Humility is not passive—it is intentional, active alignment with God’s greater vision, willing to be taught, led, or helped.
• Greatness in God’s kingdom is not about authority, but about serving others.

Reflective Challenge

Study Luke 2:46–52—observe how Jesus occupies multiple roles (student, son, teacher) with humility, and consider how you might emulate this flexibility and teachability in your own journey.