One Army | 9. In Service | 1. Jesus - Servant Supreme
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Session Outcomes
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Recognising that Jesus is the supreme example of servanthood.
Recognising that Jesus is the supreme
Understanding that being a servant leader does not mean being a weak leader.
example of servanthood.
0 Understanding that being a servant
leader does not mean being a weak
Understanding that identifying with others leads to greater spiritual authority.
leader.
0 Understanding that identifying with
Recognising that servanthood is a way of life.
others leads to greater spiritual authority. 0 Recognising that servanthood is a way
oflife.
Introduction
Introduction
In Discussion
In Discussion
Why is there no better example of servanthood than Jesus?
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2 He left his Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite his grace,
Emptied himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158
Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army
Song Number 241
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour?s blood?
Died he for me who caused his pain,
For me who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2 He left his Father?s throne above,
So free, so infinite his grace,
Emptied himself of all but love
And bled for Adam?s helpless race.
?Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.
3 Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature?s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke; the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
4 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine.
Alive in him, my living head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne
And claim the crown, through Christ, my own.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158
Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army
Song Number 241
How does God make himself ‘nothing’? The truth that people keep trying to
How does God make himself ‘nothing’? The truth that people keep trying to express is that God in Jesus identified totally with us. He put aside the majesty that would have separated him from us and embraced our world, living among us, sharing our hopes, fears and daily life.
express is that God in Jesus identified totally with us. He put aside the majesty that would have separated him from us
and embraced our world, living among us, sharing our hopes, fears and daily life.
What does this say to us? It says that Jesus couldn’t have shared the necessary closeness with us without putting his own comforts aside to become a servant. He did it to identify with us — to be one of us and to show that he was for us. You can’t do that so well from a distance.
Jesus couldn’t have shared the necessary closeness with us without putting his own comforts aside to become a servant. He did it to identify with us — to be one of us
and to show that he was for us. You can’t do that so well from a distance.
Jesus made himself vulnerable and he put his own interests last. The ‘nothing’ which he became has made an indescribable ‘something’ of an impact on the people he came to serve.
‘something’ of an impact on the people he came to serve.
A servant leader cannot ‘stand on his dignity’ and rule from a distance. A servant leader identifies with his or her people — even the difficult ones — and seeks to love and forgive them as Jesus did (and still does with us). (Servant Leadership, pp.10-11, Robert Street).
dignity’ and rule from a distance. A servant leader identifies with his or her people —
even the difficult ones — and seeks to love and forgive them as Jesus did (and still
2. Consider what it meant for Jesus to be ‘obedient to death’.
does with us).
8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
JOhn 6:
38 for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
3. Discuss the concept of God being a servant. How does this translate in your culture?
Luke 22:24-27
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
9 For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
4. Although Jesus called himself a servant, why was his spiritual authority not damaged or lessened?
22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Matthew
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.
John 14:
23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
John 13:13-14
13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”
Activity
Activity
Imagine that the corps officer is unwell, and the corps sergeant-major has been asked to run the corps. He decides to call a meeting of all the local officers to plan the way ahead for the corps. What kind of things might he say as a good servant leader? What kind of things might he say which would not be good servant leadership? Remember that each of the local officers is also a leader. How could each be valued?
Imagine that the corps officer is unwell,
In Prayer
In Prayer
and the corps sergeant-major has been asked to run the corps. He decides to call a meeting of all the local officers to
plan the way ahead for the corps. What kind of things might he say as a good
From Heaven you came, helpless babe,
Entered our world, your glory veiled;
Not to be served but to serve,
And give your life that we might live.
This is our God, the Servant King,
He calls us now to follow him,
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King.
2 There in the garden of tears,
My heavy load he chose to bear;
His heart with sorrow was torn,
?Yet not my will but yours,? he said.
3 Come see his hands and his feet,
The scars that speak of sacrifice;
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered.
4 So let us learn how to serve,
And in our lives enthrone him;
Each other?s needs to prefer,
For it is Christ we?re serving.
Graham Kendrick
© 1983 Thankyou Music/Adm. by Capitol CMG Publishing worldwide excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integritymusic.com, a division of David C. Cook, songs@integritymusic.com Used by permission.
Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158
Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army
Song Number 165
From Heaven you came, helpless babe,
Entered our world, your glory veiled;
Not to be served but to serve,
And give your life that we might live.
This is our God, the Servant King,
He calls us now to follow him,
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King.
2 There in the garden of tears,
My heavy load he chose to bear;
His heart with sorrow was torn,
?Yet not my will but yours,? he said.
3 Come see his hands and his feet,
The scars that speak of sacrifice;
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered.
4 So let us learn how to serve,
And in our lives enthrone him;
Each other?s needs to prefer,
For it is Christ we?re serving.
Graham Kendrick
© 1983 Thankyou Music/Adm. by Capitol CMG Publishing worldwide excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integritymusic.com, a division of David C. Cook, songs@integritymusic.com Used by permission.
Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158
Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army
Song Number 165
servant leader? What kind of things
Pray that the servant heart of Jesus will be yours too.
might he say which would not be good servant leadership? You could develop this into role plays — remembering that each of the local officers is also a leader. How could each be valued?