What is Servant Leadership?
As Christians, we strive to follow Christ and demonstrate his love and care for others. We also model Christ in how we serve in our church, in our community, and in our everyday life. It’s important to understand how and why we serve others, but we can also go a step further in modeling godly serving to other believers. That’s where servant leadership comes in, but what is servant leadership and what does it look like?
Let’s look at the biblical importance of serving and evaluate our own spiritual leadership styles.
What is Servant Leadership? A Biblical Perspective
First, let’s dig into some biblical examples of what effective servant leadership is and how we can incorporate it into our ministries.
The Requirement to Act
In his letter to believers, James spoke about displaying our faith not just through our belief and our words, but also through the physical efforts of serving others:
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ”
Leading by Serving
More than just our call to serve, the Bible also challenges us to lead others, and scripture continually presents the idea of servant leadership.
Most notably, when the disciples argued amongst themselves about which of them will be the greatest in the Lord’s kingdom, Jesus explained that they were to lead by serving others:
“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. ”
As servant leaders, we are not called to arrogantly exercise authority over others. Instead, we are to be servants ourselves, serving from the bottom and elevating others. We should serve first, focus on people, share power, put the needs of others first and, above all, we should be Christ-minded helping develop others to serve at their highest potential.
A Humble Example
Perhaps the greatest example of servant leadership was when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, demonstrating humility, love, and servitude. In this account, Jesus acknowledged the principles of servant leadership and challenged his disciples:
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. ”
How to Be a Servant Leader: 10 Principles
In one of Parkway’s recent Growth Tracks sessions, Ricky Garcia outlined ten principles or characteristics that Jesus used in applying Servant Leadership to our lives and ministries:
A servant leader:
Values diverse opinions and seeks other points of view: Jesus surrounded himself with a diverse group of followers: fishermen, a tax collector, etc.
Creates a culture of trust: Jesus was willing to invest in people others would have dismissed.
Develops and cultivates other leaders: Jesus took a group of rag-tag fishermen, farmers, and tax collectors and turned them into skilled evangelists.
Helps people with life issues: Jesus did not only heal physically but also spiritually and mentally.
Encourages followers: Jesus was into leadership development and replacement. He very purposefully prepared the disciples to take over the ministry. He pushed
Thinks "you," not "me" and shows empathy: Jesus handled distractions with grace. He knowingly gave His life for others.
Thinks long-term and has foresight: Jesus had a leadership succession plan. He consistently reminded the disciples He wouldn't always be with them.
Acts with humility: Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as a demonstration of how to serve others and went against the norms at that time.
Never loses sight of the mission: Regardless of the persecutions or distractions, Jesus kept on the mission God had called Him to complete.
Takes time for self-improvement: Jesus dug into his own self-development; He grew in stature, knew the Scriptures, and constantly slipped away to spend time with God.
The Heart of Servant Leadership
Ultimately, servant leadership starts with our own heart for serving. The Bible is clear on our call to serve others as well as our commission to lead others to serve. It is not always easy, but we must devote ourselves to the many examples that scripture has provided. If we are willing to submit ourselves to Jesus and trust in him, he will guide us and provide us with the opportunity to lead others with the heart of a servant.