Leaders Leaders are are ServantsServants

To lead To lead is to be the first to is to be the first to serveserveand the first to and the first to sacrificesacrificeon behalf of others.on behalf of others.

Matthew 20:17-28Matthew 20:17-28

A. Learning from the Example of A. Learning from the Example of RulersRulersDominating vs ServingDominating vs ServingDistance vs ClosenessDistance vs ClosenessCoercion vs MotivationCoercion vs Motivation

Not So With You!!!

The notion of rank in the The notion of rank in the world is like a pyramid; world is like a pyramid; the higher you go up, the the higher you go up, the fewer there are above you fewer there are above you whom you must serve, and whom you must serve, and the more you are served by the more you are served by those beneath you. All who those beneath you. All who are under serve those who are under serve those who are above, until you come to are above, until you come to the apex, and there stands the apex, and there stands someone who has to do no someone who has to do no service, but whom all the service, but whom all the others have to serve.others have to serve.Discovering the Character of GodDiscovering the Character of God

George MacDonald George MacDonald

In the kingdom of heaven In the kingdom of heaven the figure is exactly the figure is exactly reversed. The pyramid is reversed. The pyramid is upside-down. The Son of upside-down. The Son of Man lies at the inverted Man lies at the inverted apex of the pyramid. He apex of the pyramid. He upholds, and serves, and upholds, and serves, and ministers unto all, and they ministers unto all, and they who would be high in his who would be high in his kingdom must go near him, kingdom must go near him, at the bottom, to uphold at the bottom, to uphold and minister to all they can and minister to all they can uphold and minister to. uphold and minister to.

The Son of Man came to The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45Mark 10:45

Jesus instructed his Jesus instructed his followers to lead in followers to lead in ways unlike anything ways unlike anything they had ever seen.they had ever seen.Matthew 23:8-12Matthew 23:8-12

He wanted them to He wanted them to avoid the common avoid the common titles of respect that titles of respect that cause leaders to cause leaders to “think “think of themselves more of themselves more highly than they highly than they should.”should.” Romans 12:3Romans 12:3

John 13:1-15John 13:1-15B. Learning from the Example of JesusB. Learning from the Example of Jesus

(1) The Power of Servanthood (John 13:3)(1) The Power of Servanthood (John 13:3)Jesus knew that the Father had put all things Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power,under his power, and that he had come from God and that he had come from God and was returning to God. and was returning to God.

* Authority* Authority* Identity* Identity* Destiny* Destiny

As servant-leaders we must be secure in our As servant-leaders we must be secure in our authority, identity and destiny to serve people!authority, identity and destiny to serve people!

(2) The Practise of Servanthood (John 13:4-5)(2) The Practise of Servanthood (John 13:4-5)He got up from the meal, took off his outer He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He poured water into a basin and began to wash He poured water into a basin and began to wash their ' feet, drying them with a towel.their ' feet, drying them with a towel.

* Jesus identified a need in his followers. * Jesus identified a need in his followers. * Jesus got vulnerable by taking off his garment. * Jesus got vulnerable by taking off his garment. * Jesus became a servant to serve their needs. * Jesus became a servant to serve their needs.

As servant-leaders we must serve people with As servant-leaders we must serve people with practical actions!practical actions!

(3) The Pattern of Servanthood (John 13:14-15)(3) The Pattern of Servanthood (John 13:14-15)Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.have done for you.

* Jesus interpreted what he had done. * Jesus interpreted what he had done. * He had modelled servanthood for his disciples.* He had modelled servanthood for his disciples.* He told them to wash the feet of their followers. * He told them to wash the feet of their followers.

As servant-leaders we must serve people as Jesus As servant-leaders we must serve people as Jesus served his disciples.served his disciples.

Philippians 2:6-9Philippians 2:6-9 3. Learning from the Experience of 3. Learning from the Experience of JesusJesus

Who, being in very nature Who, being in very nature God, did not consider God, did not consider equality with God something equality with God something to be grasped, but made to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, very nature of a servant, being made in human being made in human likeness. And being found in likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he appearance as a man, he humbled himself and humbled himself and became obedient to death - became obedient to death - even death on a cross! even death on a cross! Philippians 2:6-8Philippians 2:6-8

He had every right to fight He had every right to fight for his rights, to force for his rights, to force conformity and take conformity and take authority over the world.authority over the world.He chose to empty himself, He chose to empty himself, lay down his rights, take on lay down his rights, take on the nature of a servant, and the nature of a servant, and was even obedient to death was even obedient to death on a cross at the hands of on a cross at the hands of those that he had created.those that he had created.

Therefore God exalted him Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and to the highest place and gave him the name that is gave him the name that is above every nameabove every namePhilippians 2:9Philippians 2:9

A Brief History of A Brief History of Servant LeadershipServant Leadership

The greatest leader The greatest leader forgets himself and forgets himself and attends to the attends to the development of others. development of others. Good leaders support Good leaders support excellent workers. Great excellent workers. Great leaders support the leaders support the bottom ten percent. Great bottom ten percent. Great leaders know that the leaders know that the diamond in the rough is diamond in the rough is always found “in the always found “in the rough.”rough.”Lao TzuLao Tzu

600BC600BC

A Brief History of Servant LeadershipA Brief History of Servant Leadership

The Roman army was The Roman army was surrounded. The country surrounded. The country needed a leader to seize needed a leader to seize the moment and turn the moment and turn defeat into victory. They defeat into victory. They called a farmer who was called a farmer who was plowing his field. He plowing his field. He conquered and went back conquered and went back to farming. He gave his all to farming. He gave his all in a time of crisis and then in a time of crisis and then gave up the reins of power gave up the reins of power when the task was done when the task was done and went back to his plow.and went back to his plow.CincinnatusCincinnatus

439BC439BC

A Brief History of Servant LeadershipA Brief History of Servant Leadership

The King (leader) shall The King (leader) shall consider as good, not consider as good, not what pleases himself but what pleases himself but what pleases his subjects what pleases his subjects (followers). The king (followers). The king [leader] is a paid servant [leader] is a paid servant and enjoys the resources and enjoys the resources of the state together with of the state together with the people.”the people.”

A Brief History of Servant LeadershipA Brief History of Servant Leadership

ChanakyaChanakya320BC320BC

Whoever wants to become Whoever wants to become great among you must be great among you must be your servant, and whoever your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a and to give his life as a ransom for many.ransom for many.Mark 10:42-45Mark 10:42-45

JesusJesus32AD32AD

A Brief History of Servant LeadershipA Brief History of Servant Leadership

The servant-leader is The servant-leader is servant first… one wants servant first… one wants to serve first…then aspire to serve first…then aspire to lead….the care taken by to lead….the care taken by the servant is first to make the servant is first to make sure that other people's sure that other people's highest priority needs are highest priority needs are being served. The best being served. The best test is: do those served test is: do those served grow as persons…become grow as persons…become healthier, wiser, freer, healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more more autonomous, more likely to become servants? likely to become servants? Robert GreenleafRobert Greenleaf

19701970

A Brief History of Servant LeadershipA Brief History of Servant Leadership

Ten Ten Characteristics Characteristics of a Servant-of a Servant-

LeaderLeader

1. Listening1. ListeningTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

2. Empathy2. EmpathyTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

3. Healing3. HealingTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

4. Awareness4. AwarenessTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

5. Persuasion5. PersuasionTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

6. Vision6. VisionTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

7. Foresight7. ForesightTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

8. Stewardship8. StewardshipTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

9. Growth9. GrowthTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

10. Community10. CommunityTen Characteristics of a Servant-LeaderTen Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

Symbols of LeadershipSymbols of Leadership

The Towel and the The Towel and the BasinBasin

Then he poured water into a basin and began Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel that he had tied around his waist.the towel that he had tied around his waist.

John 13:5John 13:5