Embracing Humility: The Power of Servant Leadership
Summary
In today's gathering, we experienced a profound recalibration, a shift towards humility and freedom from shame. Many of us, myself included, have been wrestling with feelings of shame from various aspects of our lives, whether in parenting, marriage, or leadership. Yet, today, we are reminded that God desires to wipe away that shame, inviting us to humble ourselves and embrace His grace and mercy. This grace is not about our performance but about the transformation from death to life in Christ Jesus. We are called to walk in this new identity, recognizing that we are chosen and predestined for great things. Our identity in Christ makes us more than conquerors, and if God is for us, who can be against us?
As we delve into John chapter 13, we explore the concept of leading differently. Leadership is not about climbing the ladder of success but about holding the ladder for others. Jesus exemplified this by washing His disciples' feet, demonstrating that true greatness is found in serving, not in status. This act of humility challenges us to lead with love, security, and a desire to model what we want to see multiplied in others. Servant leadership is about being motivated by love, secure in our identity, and modeling the behavior we wish to see in others.
We are all leaders in some capacity, whether in our families, workplaces, or communities. The call is to lead differently, to be selfless rather than selfish, and to prioritize significance over success. This requires us to be secure in our identity, serving from love rather than for it. As we embrace this model of leadership, we allow God's love to flow through us, impacting those around us. The challenge is to examine our motivations and to serve with a heart of love, trusting that God will do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or imagine.
Key Takeaways:
1. Freedom from Shame: Embrace the invitation to humble ourselves and let go of shame. Recognize that our identity in Christ is not based on performance but on His grace, which transforms us from death to life. This freedom allows us to walk differently, live on mission, and embrace our calling as chosen and predestined individuals. [49:41]
2. Servant Leadership: True greatness is found in serving, not in status. Jesus modeled this by washing His disciples' feet, showing that leadership is about humility and service. We are called to lead differently, prioritizing significance over success and being motivated by love. [01:09:58]
3. Identity and Security: Our ability to serve without reservation comes from a secure understanding of our identity in Christ. When we are secure, we serve from love rather than for it, allowing God's love to flow through us. This security enables us to be selfless leaders, focused on serving others. [01:21:58]
4. Modeling and Multiplication: Servant leaders model what they want to see multiplied. Jesus demonstrated this by serving His disciples and then teaching them to do the same. Our actions influence those around us, and by modeling service, we inspire others to follow suit. [01:30:10]
5. Trusting God's Timing: Avoid being overexposed and underdeveloped. Trust in God's timing and allow your character to be developed before seeking the spotlight. This ensures that when God elevates you, your character will sustain you in that position. [01:26:13]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [49:41] - Freedom from Shame
- [50:12] - Embracing Grace and Mercy
- [51:13] - Identity in Christ
- [54:02] - Spirit of Humility
- [56:02] - Lead Different
- [01:00:05] - Prayer and Preparation
- [01:01:14] - Recognizing Leadership
- [01:02:01] - Influence and Leadership
- [01:04:28] - Selfish vs. Selfless Leadership
- [01:06:25] - Ladder Climbing vs. Ladder Holding
- [01:07:31] - Chasing Significance
- [01:08:45] - Jesus as the Ultimate Ladder Holder
- [01:09:58] - Greatness in Serving
- [01:11:34] - Jesus Washing Feet
- [01:13:43] - Leading by a Different Model
- [01:16:01] - Motivation of Love
- [01:18:43] - Serving God's Purpose
- [01:21:58] - Security in Identity
- [01:23:13] - Humility in Leadership
- [01:24:44] - Overexposed and Underdeveloped
- [01:26:13] - Trusting God's Timing
- [01:27:36] - Developing Character
- [01:29:21] - Modeling What You Want Multiplied
- [01:30:10] - Influence of Modeling
- [01:31:36] - Becoming a Ladder Holder
- [01:33:45] - Permission to Go First
- [01:35:03] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
- [01:38:50] - Call to Salvation
- [01:40:18] - Closing and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 13:1-17
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Observation Questions:
1. In John 13, what significant act does Jesus perform for His disciples, and what does this symbolize about leadership? [01:11:34]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between being a "ladder climber" and a "ladder holder"? [01:06:25]
3. What are some examples given in the sermon of how Jesus demonstrated servant leadership? [01:13:43]
4. According to the sermon, what is the relationship between identity in Christ and the ability to serve others? [01:21:58]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' act of washing the disciples' feet challenge the cultural norms of leadership both in biblical times and today? [01:11:34]
2. The sermon mentions that true greatness is found in serving, not in status. How does this perspective shift the way one might view success in their personal life? [01:09:58]
3. What does it mean to serve from love rather than for love, and how does this impact one's motivation in leadership roles? [01:16:01]
4. How can understanding one's identity in Christ lead to a more secure and selfless approach to leadership? [01:21:58]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt shame in your leadership or personal life. How can embracing your identity in Christ help you overcome that shame? [49:41]
2. Consider your current leadership roles, whether in your family, workplace, or community. How can you shift from being a "ladder climber" to a "ladder holder"? [01:06:25]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you can practice servant leadership this week. What practical steps can you take to serve others in that context? [01:13:43]
4. Think about your motivations for serving others. Are there areas where you are seeking validation or recognition? How can you realign your motivations to serve from love? [01:16:01]
5. How can you model the behavior you want to see multiplied in others, especially in your family or workplace? What specific actions can you take this week to lead by example? [01:30:10]
6. Reflect on a situation where you might be overexposed and underdeveloped. How can you trust in God's timing and allow your character to be developed before seeking the spotlight? [01:26:13]
7. In what ways can you encourage and empower others around you to take on leadership roles, becoming "ladder holders" themselves? [01:31:36]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Freedom from Shame
In our journey of faith, we often grapple with feelings of shame that stem from various areas of our lives, such as parenting, marriage, or leadership. However, we are reminded that God desires to remove this burden of shame from us. He invites us to humble ourselves and accept His grace and mercy, which are not contingent on our performance but on His transformative power. This grace allows us to transition from death to life in Christ Jesus, empowering us to walk in a new identity. As chosen and predestined individuals, we are called to live on mission, free from the chains of shame, and embrace our calling with confidence. [49:41]
"For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation." (Psalm 149:4, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel shame? How can you invite God's grace into that area today to experience freedom and transformation?
Day 2: Redefining Greatness through Servant Leadership
True greatness is not measured by status or success but by the willingness to serve others. Jesus exemplified this by washing His disciples' feet, demonstrating that leadership is about humility and service. We are called to lead differently, prioritizing significance over success and being motivated by love. This model of servant leadership challenges us to hold the ladder for others rather than climbing it ourselves. By doing so, we reflect the heart of Jesus and inspire others to follow His example. [01:09:58]
"But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all." (Mark 10:43-44, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you practice servant leadership in your current roles? How can you prioritize serving others over seeking personal success this week?
Day 3: Finding Security in Our Identity in Christ
Our ability to serve without reservation comes from a secure understanding of our identity in Christ. When we are confident in who we are, we can serve from a place of love rather than striving for it. This security allows God's love to flow through us, enabling us to be selfless leaders focused on serving others. By embracing our identity in Christ, we can lead with love and security, modeling the behavior we wish to see multiplied in others. [01:21:58]
"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3, ESV)
Reflection: How does your understanding of your identity in Christ influence the way you serve others? What steps can you take to deepen your security in this identity?
Day 4: Modeling and Multiplying Servant Leadership
Servant leaders model what they want to see multiplied in others. Jesus demonstrated this by serving His disciples and teaching them to do the same. Our actions have a profound influence on those around us, and by modeling service, we inspire others to follow suit. This approach to leadership is about being motivated by love, secure in our identity, and modeling the behavior we wish to see in others. [01:30:10]
"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can intentionally model servant leadership to? How can you demonstrate love and service to them in a tangible way this week?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Timing for Our Development
In our pursuit of leadership and influence, it is crucial to trust in God's timing and allow our character to be developed before seeking the spotlight. Avoiding the trap of being overexposed and underdeveloped ensures that when God elevates us, our character will sustain us in that position. By trusting in His timing, we allow God to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or imagine, preparing us for the great things He has predestined for us. [01:26:13]
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." (1 Peter 5:6, ESV)
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are rushing ahead of God's timing? How can you practice patience and allow God to develop your character in this season?
Quotes
1. "I believe today that God wants to wipe away shame in the room. I don't know what it... I don't know what it means for you. But I think oftentimes we try to busy ourselves or distract ourselves or... or not deal with that matter, but I believe that this morning there's just a sweet invitation from God to humble ourselves in his house today and to leave here free." [50:12] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Thank you that you don't call the qualified, but you qualify the called. God, we declare in the house today that we have been called, that we have been chosen, that you have predestined us to do great things in the earth. And so God, I pray today just a refreshing over our identity. Thank you that our identity is in you, Jesus. And because it's in you, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. And if you're for us, who can be against us?" [51:13] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "To me, there's nothing more attractive than people that just carry a spirit of humility. And the two of them up here, it was like palatable in the room. So much so that when they were communicating together during the host moment, who was in the room for the host moment, by the way? Put your hands in the air. Were you feeling what I was feeling? Or is it, am I like, am I just getting older and more emotional? But my heart was so moved." [54:02] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If John Maxwell's definition of leadership is true, then all of us in this room are leaders. And John's definition is that leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. The question is, is if you rose your hand in here just a second ago and you said, I'm in one of these roles, the reality is is there's somebody that's following you. In essence, there's somebody that you have influence over, in other words, you're a leader." [01:02:01] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Greatness is found in serving, not in status. Now, some context here to John chapter 13. I think it's really important because we read over in Luke chapter 22, that the disciples in this moment in the upper room had been arguing about who was the greatest. Do you remember this conversation? Do you remember reading this earlier when we were studying in Luke? They were preoccupied with thrones when they should have been focused on towels." [01:09:58] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If serving is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you. There's no other brand of leadership. Leadership is servant leadership. There's nothing, there's nothing, there is no other kind of leadership. And so the question I want us to ask this morning is how can we follow Jesus's model of leading through service?" [01:13:43] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The insecure are into titles, but the secure are into towels. We're okay with getting low. We're okay with serving. We're okay of being of no reputation. Jesus didn't need to prove anything. He had nothing to lose and he had nothing to hide." [01:21:58] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The people around you catch what you carry. If you model selfishness, it spreads. But if you model service, others will follow. Are you with me today? I want to bring us back to this thought because Matthew 23, 11 and 12 says this, that whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." [01:30:59] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "I love that there's a translation of scripture that says do you want to stand out, then step down and be a servant. I think that the invitation for those of us in the room today is that if we're going to lead different, we can't keep climbing the ladder. We've got to hop off the ladder and we've got to be a ladder holder." [01:31:36] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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