Servant Leadership Week 3

INTRODUCTION : 

We are in the third week of Servant Leadership. Last week we talked a lot about forgiveness and how it looks and works within Servant Leadership.  And you might be thinking, cool, I can just tune out for the next 20 minutes because I am not a leader…but check back in, we are all leading someone. Someone is paying attention and learning from you or influenced by you. 

This week we will dig into how the role of the servant leader is much more than knowing about Christ and how He demonstrated servanthood… Experiential knowledge is a minimum requirement of any believer who wants to lead others. We must be applying the principles of servanthood in our lives. 

Additionally, spiritual leadership concerns itself with helping others to develop the  servant spirit of Christ in their lives so they in turn impact the lives of those around them. (Domino Effect)

We serve others by helping them learn to imitate Christ. 

Through encouragement, accountability, and the modeling of spiritual leaders, children of God can develop a spirit of serving which initially fights with their own human nature. Truly “living for others” is both challenging and  beautiful. Today, we will continue to focus on developing a servant’s heart in our own lives, as well as reproducing this same spirit in the lives of those we influence.

HEBREWS 10:23-25 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

What do we see here?  

• First up, “Let us” is mentioned 2 times to emphasize togetherness- we are in this together!

• We are being called to hold fast the truth of our hope (the anchor of the soul) For the Believer our hope is in who Christ is and the promise of what is to come in Heaven.  There is a process we are walking through right now in this life that reflects why we have hope after all.  It is part of our witness as Christians.

• While we walk this out in our lives we are to consider inspiring one another to love and do good.  Actively encouraging one another daily!

• Let us NOT neglect meeting together…This one seems like an easy win right?  Let us start right here on Sundays and use it as an example of continually meeting together specifically to talk about who God is….and along the way I have a feeling we will find a few opportunities to meet as well through the tough and fun stuff.

• We read that God is faithful and we can claim his promises.  There are approximately 7000 statements that refer to the promises God has made in scripture to provide, heal, restore, and bless His creation.  That is a LOT of promises!  Here we read that he is faithful to follow through on all of them.

• Finally it is stated that The Day is drawing near.  There seems to be an urgency in the need for encouragement. Why? Because Jesus is coming back, that is the truth!  The Day (capitalized) we believe is the Day of His return. Another promise that we can claim!

What truths can we take away and apply to our lives with this?

• Hang on tight to the hope in eternal life and endure with confidence.

• Remember our hope is in His return and in eternal life. This is not our forever home.

• God actually promises this, and he is faithful.  This is another reminder of who He is.

• How can we encourage one another to do good?

• Serve alongside each other. Look for opportunities to serve/help/meet needs in our communities - where we live, work, socialize, family, etc…and do it willingly and with gratitude for the opportunity.

• Pray for one another, as often as someone pops into your mind.

• Do life with each other and along the way get to know each other more.

• Participate in church- don’t just show up to “be fed” (literally in our case!) but come and be ready to give - share your thoughts, build relationships. 

• Simply put, Keep meeting, it’s important. We need each other.

So how does this tie into servant leadership and ministry?

Good servant-leadership requires not only knowing and dispensing information, but also caring about each person that God brings into our sphere of influence. Doing life together.

Let me share a Philosophy of Ministry, what if we had 3 questions on our hearts and minds for every personal interaction we had:

1. Who are you?

2. Where are spiritually?

3. How can I help you take your next step?

Let me use "Frank" over here as an example.  Frank and I have known each other for a few years now and as we have developed our relationship these three questions have been asked and answered, at least internally.

Who are you, really means getting to know someone and who they are.  Makes sense right?

• I know Frank's wife Betty, their kiddos Jeff and Nicole.

• I have celebrated and praised as well as prayed through some tough stuff with Frank.

• I know Frank is a Counselor and his wife Betty is a Registered Nurse

• Frank and I talk about the kids, and I know what is going on with them and how to pray for them

• It goes on and on…. but it doesn't stop there…

Where are you spiritually means learning what Frank believes to be true and I can tell you for a fact that he knows the Lord Jesus and trusts Him.  

• Frank prays with his wife Betty daily and has Jesus as a priority in his life.

• Most of all Frank knows he is a broken guy like me that needs the redeeming work of Jesus in his life, daily

How can I help Frank take his next step spiritually….

• I can tell you that Frank is actively engaged in the community here at Church

• Frank is walking through a Christ centered leadership development opportunity within our church community.  That was an ask as a next step and he took it.

While these questions seem pretty natural, we can find ourselves often derailed or distracted when we get into life with folks and miss those last two questions.  If we look at the example of Jesus he was incredibly intentional about asking questions, listening and getting to know who a person was.  

It's not only doing life with Frank right now, but also what is to come. And bonus… Frank can also answer these same questions of me because he has been intentional and spurs and encourages me on to love and good works and to take my next steps spiritually.

CONCLUSION:

So, let’s wrap this up. How does what we have been learning about servant-leadership the last couple weeks relate to these verses in Hebrews?

What we have here in Hebrews stresses the importance of Christian community and perseverance. We can stand firm in our faith because God is faithful, but we also need one another as Christians. God does not intend for us to go it alone. 

You can have faith or hope alone but you cannot love and serve without others. 

So let’s continue to focus on developing a servant’s heart in our own lives, as well as reproducing this same spirit in the lives of those we influence. Remembering actions speak louder than words and remembering we are not setting an example so that others can be like us- we are setting an example so that others look like HIM. 

Today’s Scriptures:

• Hebrews 10:23-25 

Thoughts/Questions to Consider:

• Thinking about the people in your life that you influence, what are ways you could spur them on to love and good deeds or serve them?

• What are your thoughts about the “3 Step Philosophy of Ministry” shared?