Servant Leadership

Matthew 20:25–28 (ESV)

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you.

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Kingdom

You will never understand servant leadership if your do not understand that there is a kingdom and a King.

Our kingdom dies through exile (think of the OT) and how God used exile to shape, transform and even humble Israel.

The Servant King

John 13:1–3 ESV

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,

These are some of Jesus’ last moments with the disciples. What will he do what will he say?

Notice “jesus knowing that the father had given him all things and that he had come from God and was going back to God.”

— “he had come from God and was going back to God” —what will he do?

John 13:4–6 (ESV)

rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus when thinking about where He came from and where He is going. Does this act.

John 3:25–30 (ESV)

Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

What does a servant leader look like?

They serve

Which informs the other? Servant — Leadership

They don’t serve in one area and demand to be served in an other area.

They allow(not demand) themselves to be served

They lead by example

They love people more than the position

They understand that people matter the most. They lead for the benefit of others.

If you don’t think people matter, you’re going to have a hard time in the Kingdom, especially trying to be a leader in the Kingdom.

Ministry doesn’t exist for your to demonstrate your gift, talent, annointing, preaching, it exists to serve the people.

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

The Gap

Let’s Discuss: Servant Leader vs People Pleaser