Servant Leadership

  “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”              Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

     Jesus had been sharing with His disciples His coming passion, resurrection, and  heavenly kingdom.  Was it wrong then, for James and John to ask Jesus for His favor?  On one hand, He called them to serve; Matt.4:18-22, and on the other hand He promised to never forsake them.  In the eyes of the Lord, we are all equal servants in His vineyard.  Would you have been so bold to ask?

Read:  Mark 10:32 -45     (Matthew 20:20 ,21)

I. v.35-41  The Wrong Attitude For Leadership

*  James and John asked Jesus if they could be His right and left hand men
*  only God the Father could grant their request
*  in verses 38,39 they believed they could endure and suffer a little hardship

            Psalms 106:13-15  God is reluctant to answer selfish  requests

*  they wouldn’t be suffering out of love, but out of the hope for a reward
*  what resulted was dissension and jealously among the other disciples

However, look at a more mature James  & John  later in their servant lives :

               James 4:2,3  and 1 John 5:14,15

II.  v42  Servants For God Do Not Admire (seek) Glory

*  servant leadership is not prideful
*  ruling over (lording over) is not leadership
*  this was defiantly a teaching opportunity for Jesus

III.  v 43-45  Servant Leadership Is Molded After Jesus

  v.45   "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."  (NASB)

*  God’s models:  Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Paul, Timothy
*  Jesus uses Himself and His acts of service as an example to follow

            Philippians 2:1-11  He humbled Himself to become a servant to us !

*  Jesus knew that He had all the power  of the universe in His hands
*  He did not use the power given Him  to exercise control over his disciples
*  servants lead out of relationships & love, not by coercion or domination

  Will you strive to serve others or/  look for a “higher place of favor”