SERVANT LEADERSHIP

SERVANT LEADERSHIP ACT LIKE MEN 5.12.25 Brothers, Today We Talk About Servant Leadership

The world screams at us: "Power is about dominance! It's about climbing the ladder, crushing the competition, and accumulating wealth!" But today, I want to challenge that notion. Today, we talk about true power – the power of servant leadership.

Now, some of you might scoff. "Servant leadership? Isn't that weakness? Isn't that letting others walk all over you?"

Absolutely not.

Servant leadership is not about self-abnegation. It's not about being a doormat. It's about recognizing that true strength lies not in domination, but in empowering others. It's about leading from the front, yes, but leading by serving.

Look at the greatest leaders in history – men who truly made a difference. Were they driven by ego? By the lust for power? Or were they driven by a desire to serve a greater purpose, to lift others up, to create a better world?

Think of Martin Luther King Jr. He wasn't interested in personal gain. He was driven by a vision of equality, a vision of a society where all men are created equal. He led from the front, but he led by serving the oppressed, by sacrificing for the cause.

Think of Nelson Mandela. Decades of imprisonment couldn't break his spirit. He emerged from prison not to seek vengeance, but to reconcile a nation. He led by forgiveness, by reconciliation, by serving the cause of unity.

These men, brothers, understood the true meaning of power. They understood that true power lies not in domination, but in service.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking: "That's all well and good for those great men, but what about me? What about my career? What about my family?"

The truth is, servant leadership benefits us all.

Stronger Teams: When you empower those around you, you build stronger, more effective teams. People are more engaged, more creative, and more productive when they feel valued and respected. Greater Respect: People are drawn to leaders who serve. They respect those who put the needs of others before their own. A More Fulfilling Life: There is no greater joy than knowing you have made a positive impact on the lives of others.

Brothers, let us reject the false idols of power and embrace the true path – the path of servant leadership. Let us lead by serving, by empowering, by lifting others up. Let us build a world where true strength is measured not by wealth or status, but by the positive impact we have on the lives of those around us.

So in talking about Servant Leadership. If you try to calmly explain a workable model of the roles to someone, the noise of our culture is so loud and confusing that it may easily drown you out.

Many people avoid a discussion of roles altogether, and certainly never speak of it in "enlightened"circles.

In church circles, many people avoid a frank biblical discussion of roles as well.

There are no role-less marriages. The fact of the matter is, every marriage settles into some type of social and organizational arrangement with both husband and wife playing specific roles.

The question is, what kind of roles are being played? Are they God-designed to last?

In the midst of this confusion, clamor, and sometimes silence, we need to check out God's Word.

He has spoken clearly about how a marriage should work. We just need to approach it with a blank slate, that is, with no preconceived, culture, experience-warped notions and assumptions.

T h e Past

In the past our culture viewed the man's role as the "head of the household." His word was law.

The woman's traditional role was to be a wall flower and cater to her husband. She acquiesced to his will and did not question his decisions.

T h e Present

In our culture today, the idea that the man should be the leader in a marriage is seen as unjust, confining, cruel and antiquated.

The woman who stays at home with her children is portrayed as unintelligent, boring and wasting her time doing housework.

Many women are becoming more assertive, while many men are becoming increasingly passive in their homes.

In order to get your wheels turning, take a look at your worksheet in order to answer the question, "What effect has confusion about roles had on marriages today?"

*A Core Role is an essential function that God has given husbands or wives to fulfill in a marriage relationship.

*A Core Response is the primary response that God requires from men or women in order to enable and encourage their spouses to fulfill their core roles.

You must keep in mind that within the core roles there is great latitude, creativity, and flexibility.

However within the core responses, there is no flexibility. I want you to see and understand one another's roles, because much of the chaffing against our response comes from a misunderstanding of our spouse's role.

And, we don't realize that fulfilling our own role does not depend on our spouse fulfilling theirs.

God's Core Role for a Husband: Servant-leader

That begs the question, "Who is the model for husbands?"

Ephesians 5:23 himself its Savior.

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. But what does it mean that Christ is the "head" of the church?

He's our leader, provider, and protector

1 Corinthians 11:3

I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband,and the head of Christ is God.

But what does it mean that God is the "head" of Christ?

That there is a difference in roles (not in power or right, but function), and a difference in authority (again, not because Jesus has no right to authority, but because of a yielded-ness on his part, and a granting on God the Father's part)

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her . . .

• What does Christ's headship look like? Servant-leadership

It's important for a man to understand that his "headship" or leadership is to be like that of Christ's. Otherwise, he will tend to abuse it.

So in the marriage relationship, God calls the husband to be a servant-leader. This is his core role. Being a servant-leader means:

1. Responsible Authority, Not Privilege

Your authority is God-given and limited. You are an under-shepherd, given a measure of authority to carry out God's purpose for marriage. (Rom. 13:1). 13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Therefore, you must:

Take the initiative!

• Take the initiative to be the spiritual leader in your home—to pray, worship at church, and study God's Word

• Take the initiative to see that the finances are in order, needs are met and your wife feels secure.

• Take the initiative to ask forgiveness, resolve conflict and ensure your home is a place of encouragement and safety.

God will hold you accountable!

1 Tim. 3:2-5, 12 says being above reproach means managing (leading and caring for) your o w n h o u s e h o l d well

2. Serving, Not Being Served

Service is Christ's style of leadership, so you must also:

a. Lead gently (Ps. 23:1, 6; Ez. 34:1-4 - "Woe; with force and severity you have dominated them.")

b. Lead by example (John 13:3-15)

c. Empower your wife (1 Peter 5:2-3 - "oversight not under compulsion. nor lording it over")

d. Be involved in her life (John 10:14)

e. Be diligent in your responsibility (1 Peter 5:2 - "Shepherd the flock . . . with eagerness")

f. Protect your family (John 10:11-13).

g. Provide for your family (1 Timothy 5:8; Ps. 23:1)

3. Support, Not Superiority

a. Prefer your wife over yourself (Phil. 2:2-5) – Agape. You before me Love!

b. Encourage her often with words of appreciation (Prov. 31:28-29) or unexpected notes.

c. Spend time with her having fun, doing what she enjoys and showing interest in her interests.

d. Listen to her without giving a solution!

e. Help her before she asks.

f. Encourage her spiritually.

g. Help her find and use her spiritual gifts.

*Every wife wants companionship, security, and significance

She should get it first and foremost from the Lord.

Then, as God's instrument, under his authority, and with Christ's example you should provide some of these things for her.

Being a servant-leader does not mean... Becoming a lording leader, making all the decisions yourself or selfishly seeking to control your spouse so you can meet your own needs;

Doormat Theology

We're not talking about "doormat theology" here - which says a wife must be submissive even when her husband is sinning against her by threatening her verbally or actually harming her physically.

The Bible teaches that God has provided several ways to protect a wife whose husband is sinning, and that it is the wife's responsibility to take advantage of that protection.

1. The church - Matt. 18:15-17

2. The state - the government protects its citizens (Rom. 13:1)

Suffering unnecessarily is not spirituality but foolishness - it's self-made religion (See Col. 2:18-23)

1 Peter 3:17 - "It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

God's Core Response of the Husband to the Wife's Core Role: Praise and Honor

Proverbs 31:28-29

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."

1 Peter 3:7

Likewise [do everything YOU can just like your wife should do everything she can], husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way [showing latitude and care, and extending much grace and mercy], showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel [her physical body as awife], since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Husbands, you want to see your wife flower? Then start praising her. That's right, get over your pride and start offering compliments.

They will feel awkward at first, but keep doing it. Eventually you won't be able to NOT praise her.

Why is your core response of praise and honor so crucial?

Because they are sisters in Christ - "heirs with you of the grace of life" (1 Peter 3:7)

Heirs with you of life to the full in Jesus Christ, and heirs of everlasting life with God.

Also, so your prayers (and therefore your intimacy with God) are effective - "that your prayers are not hindered" (1 Peter 3:7)

What will happen if she doesn't receive praise and honor from you?

She will wilt - i.e. her countenance will tend to be subdued

She will deprived of all the joyful benefits of obeying Christ as a helper-suitable

She will struggle with discouragement and her core role more often.

She will be tempted to look elsewhere for praise and honor, and not be able to fully soak it up when she does receive it, because of the temptation to emotionally bond with the giver, if a m a n.

Bottom line: You may cause her to stumble or at the very least, struggle in her relationship with God.

• It is the core response of praise and honor that encourages and enables a wife to fulfill her calling as a helper-suitable.

S u m m a r y

The Bible sets forth specific and distinct roles and responsibilities for a husband and wife in marriage.

• Roles address one's responsibility or function, not one's value. Both husband and wife are of equal value and worth before God and one another, yet different in their roles, and unequal only in authority.

• The core role of a husband is to be a self-denying servant-leader of his wife and family, leading as Christ leads and loving as Christ loves. The wife's core response to this leadership is submission.

• The core role of a wife is to be a helper-suitable, filling the gaps in her husband's life and prioritizing her life around her home and fam ly. The husband's core response to his wife is praise and honor.

• When a husband and wife are fulfilling these roles in marriage as God intended, they honor and glorify God, and experience true oneness in marriage.

SINGLE MEN

Understanding Servant Leadership through Matthew 20:28

In Matthew 20:28, Jesus articulates a profound truth about leadership and service: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This statement is revolutionary, especially when we consider that it comes from the very Son of God. It challenges our conventional understanding of leadership and sets a standard that is both humbling and aspirational.

The Nature of Servant Leadership

1. Jesus as the Ultimate Servant Jesus exemplifies servant leadership in its purest form. He did not come to exert authority or demand respect; instead, He came to serve humanity. This is highlighted in His actions throughout the Gospels, where He washed the disciples' feet and healed the sick. His life was characterized by humility, compassion, and a willingness to meet the needs of others, demonstrating that true leadership is rooted in serving those we lead

.2. The Call to Serve Jesus’ declaration that He came to serve rather than be served invites us into a lifestyle of servanthood. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His example. This means prioritizing the needs of others over our own ambitions and recognizing that our leadership is most effective when it is grounded in service. In Romans 12:8, we are reminded to lead with diligence, emphasizing that leadership involves responsibility coupled with a servant's heart.

Implications of Servant Leadership

1. Humility At the core of servant leadership is humility. Philippians 2:3-5 instructs us to “consider others better than yourselves.” A servant leader does not seek personal glory but rather finds joy in lifting others up. This attitude fosters an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.

.2. Sacrificial Love Jesus’ ultimate act of service was His sacrificial death on the cross, which He refers to as giving His life as a ransom for many. This illustrates the depth of commitment required in servant leadership—willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of others. It is a call to love deeply and act selflessly, even when it requires personal cost.

.3. Empowerment Servant leaders empower those they lead by encouraging their growth and development. They create opportunities for others to shine and take initiative, fostering a culture where everyone feels they can contribute meaningfully.

Practical Applications

To embody servant leadership in our daily lives:

Listen Actively: Engage with those around you by listening to their needs and concerns. Serve Others: Look for opportunities to serve within your community or workplace without seeking recognition. Lead by Example: Demonstrate humility and integrity in your actions, inspiring others through your commitment to service. Encourage Growth: Mentor others, providing them with the tools and support they need to succeed.

Conclusion

As we reflect on Matthew 20:28, let us embrace the call to be servant leaders like Christ. By serving rather than seeking to be served, we not only follow His example but also fulfill our purpose as leaders in our families, communities, and workplaces. In doing so, we will find that true greatness lies not in power or position but in our willingness to serve others selflessly. Let us pray for the strength and wisdom to embody this transformative approach to leadership in all aspects of our lives.