MODULE 1: SERVANT LEADERSHIP
OVERVIEW OF THE The lesson defines servant leadership by drawing a story
MODULE of Jesus from the Bible. It will differentiate between
leadership out of selfish motivation and self-less motivation
emphasize that servant leadership is more of a heart matter
rather than position.
LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of the lesson, the student shall be able to:
1. Understand what servant leadership is based on the Bible.
2. Be critical in choosing a leader to follow.
3. Develop a heart to serve for others.
4. Differentiate between self-interest and self-less motivation
in serving others.
5. Evaluate if actions towards others are motivated by love
and not through self-interest nor selfish ambition.
I. ACTIVITY: CHARACTERISTICS OF A GREAT LEADER
Choose from the following characteristics great leaders possess.
Micromanages Looks down on others Serves
Visionary Boss Too obsessed with goals and processes
Goal-oriented Appreciates People-oriented
Humble Knows-it-all Perfectionist
1. Appreciates
2. Visionary
3. Humble
4. Goal oriented
5. Serves
6. People oriented
II. DISCUSSION: SERVANT LEADERSHIP
Try to search in your web browser the phrase, “qualities of a good leader,” try to click the
first site and tell one quality that the site says. There are countless of books, articles, websites,
and motivational speakers that talk about leadership. All of them have different perspectives on
what a leader is. You would read qualities such as visionaries, people-oriented, team player,
influencer, and others. But what does the Bible say about leadership?\
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above
yourselves.
-bible.org
III. ACTIVITY: LOOK AT THE BOOK
1. Read Mark 10:35-45:
35
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they
said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for
you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your
left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you
drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We
can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be
baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for
me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus
called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of
the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over
them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must
be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the
Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many.”
2. Choose which one of the statements is accurate in the story.
James and John requested to be the or James and John requested to be with Jesus and
second in authority after Jesus learn from Him more.
Jesus replied by asking them if they or Jesus asked them if they are also willing to share
are willing to serve others more in His suffering.
When the other disciples heard what or When the other disciples heard of it, they got
the two asked, they were glad. angry.
The others were angry because it was or They got angry because they also wanted to be
very arrogant for the two to ask such second in authority.
things
Jesus taught them that whoever or It would take long enough for them to be as great
wants to be great among them must as Him.
learn how to serve others first.
1. James and John requested to be the second in authority after Jesus
2. Jesus asked them if they are also willing to share in His suffering.
3. When the other disciples heard of it, they got angry.
4. The others were angry because it was very arrogant for the two to ask such things
5. Jesus taught them that whoever wants to be great among them must learn how to serve
others first.
3. The passage we just studied portrays the kind of leadership the Bible wants. It is contrasted
from the Greco-Roman leaders who were authoritarian in their leadership style and “lord it over”
those below them. Jesus did not want His disciples to be like them. Instead, He wanted His
disciples to be leaders by simply serving others. This style of leadership is called, servant
leadership. Servant leadership is defined as, “A style of leadership that places the good of the
organization above the self-interest of the leader.”1 It is motivated primarily by a person’s desire
to serve and secondary is his/her desire to lead. 2 Here are the key foundations of servant
leadership:
a. love- it is in moral and social sense that is expressed with prioritizing the needs of others.
b. humility- the ability to see oneself as it really is.
c. altruism- ability to not think of one’s own over the needs of others.
d. vision- it is not focused on the organization but on individuals on how they can be better
persons.
e. trust- the follower trusts the leader as well as the leader trusts the follower.
f. service- it is giving oneself for others. It can be time, compassion, and resources.3
Servant leadership is more than just leading by example, doing menial work that
followers are doing, or living the phrase, “a leader is a good follower.” Servant leadership starts
with the heart for others that is translated in acts of service.
IV. CONCLUSION
If servant leadership is centered on others, then all of one’s actions for others must be
motivated by a desire to serve them.
1. Our political leaders must have this kind of motivation as they lead others. When you are
eligible to vote for election, servant leadership must be a character trait that you need to make
sure of the politicians you vote. Do not be fooled by beautiful faces or sweet speeches, but
always look at their actions.
2. We need to evaluate our motivations for actions to others as well. Whether we like it or not
there are people that look up to us and there are people whom we serve. We must also make sure
that our motivation in serving them, even in menial task such as washing dishes or taking care of
siblings must be out of the desire to serve.
3. Let us look at examples from other people that embody servanthood and try to imitate them.
They can be figures in history, in the Bible, or even the people that you know.
In our current situation we can say it’s a mess right now. We tend to complain a lot of thing
about our government. What I have learned is that the Lord has given us purpose in everything.
God has given us eyes not to insult but to look beyond situations. Lips not to criticize but to
speak for the truth. Hands not to punish sinners but to give a helping hand. Ears not to be
insensitive but to hear a voice of pain.
1
Bill Thomson, “Servant, Leader, Or Both? A Fresh Look at Mark 10:35-45,” Journal of
Applied Christian Leadership Vol. 9, no. 2 (Fall, 2019): 2.
2
Elizabeth J. Krumrei-Mancuso, “Humility in Servant Leadership among Christian
Student Leaders: A Longitudinal Pilot Study,” Journal of Psychology and Theology Vol. 46 no.
4 (2018): 2.
3
Steven Crowder, Biblical Servant Leadership: An Exploration of Leadership for the
Contemporary Context, (Switzerland: Springer International, 2018), 5-8.
