Every Christian leader must pursue greatness. But every Christian leader must pursue greatness as Jesus<\/em> defines it.<\/p>\n The pursuit of greatness is something our world takes very seriously. In February 1964, before a world title fight with Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali gave a famous speech where he declared to the world, \u201cI am the greatest!\u201d He was claiming greatness because he had knocked out every opponent who stood before him. How did Ali define greatness? As being the first, being the best, being at the top of the pecking order.<\/p>\n Likewise, politicians sometimes speak of aspiring to make their countries \u201cgreat.\u201d This appeal to greatness often taps into the deep desires of the population. But how do they define \u201cgreatness\u201d? As having more economic power, prosperity, and prestige.<\/p>\n Greatness according to our secular world is self-focused. It means having success, prosperity, power, and influence. It means being the best.<\/p>\n But what is greatness according to Jesus Christ<\/em>?<\/p>\n The answer to this question is found in the ninth chapter of Mark\u2019s Gospel (and its synoptic parallels), where we find the disciples having a debate over which of them will be the greatest. Jesus challenged their thinking, breaking into their discussion and saying, \u201cIf anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all\u201d (Mark 9:35). Jesus was saying that if you want to be truly great, you must become the servant of all.<\/p>\n Jesus gave this important lesson to those men who would become the first leaders of the early church. Jesus wanted his leaders to be servant-<\/em>leaders. He called them to pursue greatness as he<\/em> defined it: the greatness of being a servant to all.<\/p>\n This is a lesson we need to relearn today\u2014and in every generation. If we want to make our churches great<\/em>, we must strive to make them places of service.<\/em><\/p>\n If we want to make our churches great<\/em> we must strive to make them places of service.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Jesus taught his disciples the principles of servant-leadership on several occasions. But for our purposes, we will focus on just two. Afterwards, we\u2019ll also consider a passage from the book of Isaiah that frames Jesus whole ministry as that of a servant. Finally, we\u2019ll reflect on the wider teaching of the New Testament to see how each passage shapes our understanding of Jesus\u2019s ministry as one of servant-leadership.<\/p>\n In Mark 10:42 Jesus said, \u201cYou know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.\u201d Jesus was saying that in the secular world, leadership is about having power over others. Leadership affords position and privilege and prestige. It brings you into a position where others serve you<\/em> and do what you<\/em> tell them.<\/p>\n But in just eight words, Jesus shows that leadership in his church should be radically different: \u201cBut it shall not be so among you\u201d (10:43). He continues, \u201cBut whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.\u201d Jesus is saying that Christian leadership is unlike the leadership patterns of this world. Christian leadership is about humbling yourself<\/a> to serve and lift up others. It\u2019s viewing every act of leadership as a way to serve others and build them up. It is not self-focused; it is self-forgetting.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most significant thing to observe about this lesson on leadership is the context in which Jesus gave it. Jesus taught this vision of true greatness while on his way to the cross<\/a>. He was saying that his example should shape the disciples\u2019 understanding of greatness towards servant-hearted leadership: \u201cFor even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many\u201d (Mark 10:45). Jesus is saying that you are to take up your cross and follow his lead: Practice self-sacrificial leadership, where you die to self for the good of others.<\/p>\n The self-sacrificing death of Jesus Christ on the cross stands as the greatest expression of servant-leadership. Jesus not only taught the principle of servant-leadership; he embodied it in every way. We see this servant-hearted leadership on display throughout Jesus\u2019s life, as presented in the Gospels.<\/p>\n Perhaps one of the clearest lessons on servant-leadership in the Bible<\/a> appears in John 13, when Jesus washed the disciples\u2019 feet. After performing an act that fell to the lowliest servants, Jesus turned to his disciples and said,<\/p>\n You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another\u2019s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. (John 13:13\u201315)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n As Jesus points out, one usually understands the titles \u201cLord\u201d and \u201cTeacher\u201d to imply positions of privilege and prestige. Lords and teachers don\u2019t wash feet. They would never stoop so low. It\u2019s beneath their station. But Jesus says we must never set ourselves above others so that we view them as beneath us. We are to love others by lowering ourselves and serving them.<\/p>\n Once again, Jesus carried out this act and lesson in the shadow of his cross. His foot washing stands as a parable of what he would soon do by his death. He would take the place of a servant and bring himself low to cleanse not dirt from our feet, but sin from our hearts.<\/p>\n Lest we think this understanding of Jesus\u2019s servant-leadership is only something introduced in the New Testament, it\u2019s worth stepping back to consider the language of Isaiah 52\u201353, since this passage framed the entire ministry of the coming Messiah.<\/p>\n In Isaiah 52:13, God refers to his Messiah as \u201cmy servant\u201d and proceeds to describe what this servant will do to atone for the sins of his people<\/a>. The servant will be lowered before being exalted; he will suffer, bear sin, and make \u201cthe many to be accounted righteous\u201d (Isa 53:11).<\/p>\n We could say much about this passage and the other Servant Songs in Isaiah\u2019s great prophecy, but the key point to observe is this: The entire ministry of Jesus\u2014his incarnation, life, death, and resurrection\u2014is to be viewed as the work of a servant, God\u2019s Servant. The whole ministry of Jesus from start to finish was service for the eternal good of others.<\/p>\n Perhaps the clearest passage in the Bible showing how Jesus\u2019s servant-hearted leadership should shape our own is Philippians 2:1\u201311. In this text, the Apostle Paul explains how the gospel should be the primary factor shaping how we serve one another in the church. We are to look at Jesus, who didn\u2019t just consider his own interests, but considered the interests of others. He did not just stay in the comfort of heaven, but let it go to accomplish our salvation. He took the humble place of a servant\u2014he went low to lift us up.<\/p>\n In this passage, Paul tells us very clearly what servant-leadership is\u2014and what it\u2019s not<\/em>. Servant-leadership is not marked by \u201cselfish ambition or conceit\u201d (v. 3). It is not self-focused, self-serving, or self-glorifying. Instead, it is marked by humility<\/a>, viewing others as \u201cmore significant than yourselves\u201d (v. 3), and desiring to look \u201cnot only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others\u201d (v. 4). Paul shows us that this is exactly what Jesus did in his incarnation<\/a>, throughout his life, and especially in his sin-defeating death and resurrection.<\/p>\n We see a beautiful example of this in Mark 6:30\u201344. After an intense period of ministry, Jesus and the disciples sought rest in a quiet place. But when they arrived at their resting place, they found a needy crowd awaiting them. Rather than expressing frustration\u2014as many of us might have done\u2014Jesus responded with compassion: \u201cWhen he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things\u201d (Mark 6:34). What an example of what it means to prioritize the interest of others over one\u2019s own! What a beautiful embodiment of servant-leadership!<\/p>\n Find <\/strong>passages on servant-leadership<\/strong><\/a> with Logos\u2019s Smart Search in Bible.<\/strong><\/p>\n At this point, it may be helpful to summarize servant-leadership in light of what we\u2019ve seen: Servant-leadership is not self-focused, self-serving, or self-glorifying; rather, it is a selfless and humble willingness to serve and act for the eternal spiritual good of others.<\/strong> Jesus modeled this perfectly and taught that we are to follow his example in our own leadership.<\/p>\n What would this kind of leadership look like <\/a>in our local churches or the ministries where we serve?<\/p>\n The Christian leader must continually remind themselves, preach <\/em>to themselves, that this leadership is not about power, prestige, or privilege: It is about embodying a humble willingness to serve and act for the eternal, spiritual good of others.<\/p>\n If preparing to teach or preach, the servant-leader will not make their aim to impress others with their skill. Instead, they will labor in view of serving the eternal spiritual good of their listeners. When setting vision or leading a church<\/a> or organization, the leader\u2019s goal is not to build a little personal empire. It is to serve others, including staff and volunteers.<\/p>\n Servant-leadership identifies a need and seeks to do something about it. We don\u2019t merely theorize about the correct way to approach washing feet. We actually get down and do what is needed!<\/p>\n How will this form of leadership be experienced by those under it?<\/p>\n Volunteers or staff under such leaders should sense, \u201cThis leadership genuinely wants what is best for my eternal spiritual good.\u201d There should be an atmosphere of love and care\u2014a culture marked by authenticity and approachability. In such churches and ministries, the gospel is not only preached but also embodied.<\/p>\n Just as Christ washed his disciples\u2019 feet, so too servant-leaders metaphorically wash the feet of their people for their eternal, spiritual good.<\/p>\n When servant-leadership is both taught and embodied in a local church or ministry, people will notice. This countercultural view of leadership will shine with gospel grace\u2014and it will be attractive to a world longing for leaders who genuinely have their interests at heart.<\/p>\n Servant-leaders metaphorically wash the feet of their people for their eternal, spiritual good.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n As long as our understanding of greatness is shaped by the world, we will continue to see unhealthy leadership patterns in our churches and ministries. We\u2019ve all heard stories of high-profile Christian leaders whose shoddy character was in some way excused because of their high level of gifting. This has to stop.<\/em><\/p>\n When we recognize that the Bible\u2019s approach to leadership<\/a> emphasizes both competence and <\/em>character, we gain a more rounded view of what we are to look for in our leaders.<\/p>\n So what practical steps can we take to recover this vision of servant-leadership?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s work hard to ensure that our churches and ministries are clear on and committed to this model of leadership. We want the gospel to shape everything we do. That means looking to the example of Jesus\u2014and striving to lead as he led.<\/p>\n We must seek to model servant-leadership and build a culture of it in our churches and ministries.<\/p>\n Our leadership is something we offer for the eternal good of others. While there are different roles and responsibilities in every church or ministry, all of us are called to embody servant-leadership in everything we do.<\/p>\n We must put appropriate structures in place to protect our churches and ministries from leaders who adopt unhealthy views or practices of leadership.<\/a> This may include establishing a plurality of elders in a local church, appointing a board in a ministry organization, and maintaining clear policies that prevent too much power and authority from resting in one person.<\/p>\nGreatness according to Jesus<\/h2>\n
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Servant-leadership according to Jesus<\/h2>\n
1. Not like the rulers of the Gentiles (Mark 10:42\u201345)<\/h3>\n
2. I have given you an example (John 13:1\u201320)<\/h3>\n
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3. The ministry of a suffering servant (Isa 52:12\u201353:12)<\/h3>\n
4. Our service in light of his (Phil 2:1\u201311)<\/h3>\n
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<\/figure>\nSo what is servant-leadership? What does it involve?<\/h2>\n
1. It begins with an inner conviction in the Christian leader<\/h3>\n
2. This inner conviction should become the leader\u2019s underlying motivation in all he or she does<\/h3>\n
3. This kind of leadership will be inherently practical<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nWhat is it like to experience servant-leadership?<\/h2>\n
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How can we pursue servant-leadership in our churches ?<\/h2>\n
1. Teach servant-leadership from Scripture<\/h3>\n
2. Actively cultivate a culture of servanthood<\/h3>\n
3. Guard against unhealthy forms of leadership<\/h3>\n
4. Emphasize the importance of character for our leaders<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"