Servant-Leadership

Servant-Leadership is a major theme of the New Testament

It has been a cornerstone of the church since its beginning

The day our church forgets this truth we have already ceased being the true church of Christ

When the pastor is to be served rather than serving we have already ceased the work God has given us to do

Pastors and church leaders must have the heart of a servant, shepherding the flock of God

Jesus- The Example of Servant- Leadership (30-32)

This is a teaching moment for the disciples who will be the future leaders of the church that Jesus establishes

He is always dodging and running from the crowds

John 6:15 make him a king by force- fled to the mountain alone

When the crowd finds him he preaches such a hard message that the crowd abandons him (vs. 66)

The crucifixion is already done in the mind of Jesus

The Son of Man is delivered, everything else is future tense and in the hands of the father, but his anguish has already been taken on

But he knew the victory that would come through death in obedience to his father (John 12:24-26)

Child- The Goal of Servant-Leadership (33-37)

Be like a child in how you remain in the Kingdom of God

The desire to be first will not bring position

Just as a child follows after his father, a believer must follow after Christ in his example of servant of all

Philippians 2:6-11 let this mind be in you

The desire of the heart is what Christ seeks to correct

Serve even the lowliest child as the greasest among us

In ministry, we are to serve the lowest and least not just the great and rich

To do so in the name of Jesus means to do as he would do, to do so for his sake, to do so as a Christian. To accept the outcasts and oppressed is a way of accepting both God and Jesus. Greatness in the kingdom consists not of position but of ministry.

Ministry- The Work of Servant-Leadership

Do not attack the work of others but minister (serve) all in the name of Jesus

“He followed not us” did not want to serve these men but wanted these men to serve them

Those not against us are for us

Do not belittle those who give a glass of water because God will not forget their service

This is the task of a child- simple, easy servitude

But it is done in the name of Jesus (As Jesus would do, for his name’s sake, as a follower of Christ)

God warns that not only do we not belittle it but we must never discourage this type of ministry

offend these little ones- those doing menial tasks for the cause of Christ

God will try us by fire whether we minister in the name of Christ or in the name of self