Servant Leadership

Intro.:

1. It happened in the Spring of 1981 .......... perhaps you remember it.

a. President Reagan had just been shot by John Hinckley.

1) Washington was shocked and stunned.

2) Vice-President George Bush was not immediately available.

3) Even at the White House no one was sure what was going on.

b. That's when Gen. Alexander Haig, who was at the White House, stepped in & confidently asserted to the press--"I'm in charge here!"

1) He's never been able to live those four words down.

2) What HE thought he was doing was providing crisis leadership.

3) What the country saw was a man hungry for power.

2. "I'm in charge here!" ....... Those words never fell from Jesus' lips!

a. They didn't have to.

1) Something about Jesus made people KNOW he was a leader.

2) People (like sheep w/o a shepherd) just naturally followed him.

b. That's the kind of leader I want to be!

1) Not the kind that has to say, "I'm in charge here!"

2) When we have to say that we are admitting we are NOT a leader!

c. What was it that drew people to Jesus? ................ Authority!

1) Matt. 7:28-29.

2) Leadership in Jesus style wrapped up in his nature as SERVANT.

3. Leadership in the Church is different from leadership in the world.

a. To follow Jesus means to become a servant.

b. To become a servant means to become a leader.

I. SERVANT-LEADER: THE ONE WHO SERVES IS THE ONE WHO LEADS .

A. One of the most consistent teachings of Jesus Christ is his insistence that to be his disciple you must live for OTHERS, not SELF!

1. Some passages that teach this:

a. Matt. 16:24-25.

b. Mark 10:35-45.

c. Luke 9:46-48.

d. John 12:20-26.

2. When I begin to live this way I unlock the power of God in my life.

a. It is no longer ME at work, but CHRIST in me (Gal. 2:20).

b. Carries with it a big price tag ("drink cup; be baptized?")

B. It's a crazy, mixed-up, inside-out, upside-down way to look at it--but in the kingdom of God, the GREATEST is the LEAST; FIRST is the LAST!

1. Leadership in the Jesus style solves a lot of problems.

a. Eliminates church fights.

1) People not trying to be first ........ but to be LAST!

2) People not seeking to control ........ but to SERVE!

b. Goes a long way toward settling women's issue.

1) When do women start asserting their rights over men?

2) When men stand over them & say, "I'M IN CHARGE HERE!"

2. There's a certain order that comes from leadership in Jesus style.

a. But it's certainly not easy!

b. And it doesn't look like what the world has to offer.

II. CHARACTERISTICS OF A SERVANT-LEADER .

A. SERVANT-LEADER: HAS THE COURAGE TO TAKE INITIATIVE & RISKS.

1. Leadership after world's model:

a. Takes a public opinion poll before acting.

b. Illust . Congressional pay raise issue. Alone & off record-- politicians for it. In vote--struck down. Civil War-- Lincoln's parade of generals. Too cautious--except Grant.

2. The Servant-Leader is the one who sees most clearly where it is best for his community to go.

a. Quality of Jesus (John 10:22-11:11).

1) If Jesus had taken a vote--wouldn't have gone!

2) No vote ... initiative & risk ... Jesus' greatest miracle.

b. Anytime we're afraid to do what's right for fear of others, we are no longer leaders ........ people we fear are.

B. SERVANT-LEADER: KNOWS WHO HE/SHE IS & RESOLVES TO BE JUST THAT.

1. The Servant-leader cannot allow others to define his/her role.

a. Cannot be what everyone wants you to be!

b. If you tried you'd go crazy!

2. A Servant-Leader knows his/her limits & is not afraid to say NO.

a. Not always going at "full speed ahead"--energy reserves.

b. Knows himself and the direction chosen .... sticks to it.

3. See this quality of Jesus repeatedly.

a. Didn't run helter-skelter healing every sick person in Judea.

b. Said "NO" when people tried to make him a king (John 6).

c. Constantly retreating from crowds for rest and prayer.

4. The Servant-Leader must find a pace and a role that allows the best performance over a lifetime.

C. SERVANT-LEADER: PRO-ACTIVE, NOT RE-ACTIVE.

1. Defines issue himself, takes initiative, accepts responsibility.

2. Two important distinctions:

a. PROGRESSIVE VS. REACTIONARY:

1) Progressive: Defines issues and takes initiative.

2) Reactionary: Lets others take initiative & then reacts.

b. REFORMER VS. REVOLUTIONARY:

1) Revolutionary: System is bad and must be wiped out.

2) Reformer: Argues that system can be made to work better.

3. Jesus illustrates this quality of a leader:

a. Sabbath controversies: People more important than tradition.

b. Jesus and the Law: Not abolish, but fulfill (Matt. 5:17).