Disciples Are Servants

While salvation is personal, it is never to be private. Each disciple has the responsibility to the Christian community and to the unsaved world. At church, seek a place to serve before you seek a place to sit (and soak). This session will help you to…

1. Contrast the world’s standard of greatness with that of Jesus.
2. List three characteristics of servanthood.
3. Evaluate your participation in servant ministry.

WHAT IS GREATNESS?

1. The world defines greatness in terms of power and influence. If you can demand service from others you have achieved a measure of greatness.
2. What does Jesus say? (Mark 10:42) Greatness is defined in terms of serving others.
   • Does being someone’s servant appealing to you?
   • Is being a servant different than being a slave?
     • Doulos meaning bondservant or slave (Exodus 21:5-6, Matthew 10:24, 20:27, 25:14-30, Mark 10:44, Luke 12:37, 41-48, 19:17, John 13:16, 15:15, Acts 4:29, 16:17, Galatians 1:10, 4:7, Ephesians 6:6, Philippians 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:24, 1 Peter 2:16, Revelation 2:20, 15:3, 22:3).
       • Strong’s G1401: a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):—bond(-man), servant.
       • Because the word slave carries such a negative connotation to our modern sensitivities, we often choose the word servant instead. However, servant does not quite capture the real meaning of doulos. Paul said he was a “slave” to Christ.
     • Diakonos meaning servant, literally “through the dirt.” (Matthew 20:26, 23:11, Mark 9:35, 10:43, John 12:26, Romans 15:8, 16:1, Ephesians 3:7, Colossians 1:23, 25, 1 Timothy 3:8, 12).
       • Strong’s G1249: an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess).
       • Translated deacon, minister, servant.
3. The title “lord” refers to the relationship between a master and slave.
   • Did Jesus accept this title? (John 13:13)
   • Where did Jesus define true greatness? (Matthew 10:39, Mark 9:35, Luke 13:30, 14:11)
   • True discipleship expresses itself in a caring, loving, servant role.

WHAT IS SERVANTHOOD?

1. The motivation for service is love.
   • How much did Jesus love his followers? (John 15:12-13)
   • Jesus’ whole life was about love (John 21:15-17) and he calls us to love.
   • Jesus knew that without love, serving others could become a selfish act aimed at self-righteousness (John 13:34, 15:9-10)
2. The model of leadership is servanthood.
   • Jesus told the disciples to reject the lifestyle of the religious leaders of his day (Matthew 23:8-12)
     • Where do we get our authority? (Matthew 23:11)
     • Jesus linked greatness with humility (Matthew 23:12)
   • The disciples were more comfortable with the world’s style of leadership (John 13:3-16)
     • No respectable master would perform this menial household servant task.
     • Jesus led by example, modeling leadership in the kingdom of God.
3. The measure of judgment is service.
   • We will all one day be judged (Luke 14:12-14)
   • What does Paul command? (Galatians 5:13)
   • What does this parable tell you about the importance of servanthood? (Matthew 25:31-46)
   • Good intentions are not enough, but actions and follow-through (James 2:15-16)

APPLICATION and EVALUATION:

1. Are you involved in ministry?
2. Are you known as one who seeks to meet the needs of others?
3. Who are you presently serving?
4. How might you become more involved in serving others?
5. Do you exhibit an attitude of servanthood?
6. How would my church be different if…
   • All the members were motivated by love?
   • Leaders were thought of as servants?
   • Members were evaluated on the basis of their service to others?