How to Develop a Christian Servant Leader

Jesus modeled the greatest form of servant leadership by sacrificing his life for others.

When people hear the word leadership they usually think of someone who exhibits strength and power, a charismatic personality and decisive in action. Jesus modeled many of these qualities, but modeled something much more profound. He illustrated what real leadership should be about when he washed the feet of each of his followers. He encouraged them to do the same for each other. He modeled a dynamic form of leadership built on serving and empowering others. The Greek word "doulos" means true servant. Developing Christian servant leaders today hearkens back to this model of Jesus.

Instructions

1. Determine who you are going to make a disciple and train in servant leadership. Jesus spent an entire night in prayer before choosing the 12 men he spent consistent time with over the next three years. Prayerfully seek a few that you will spend consistent time with over a period of time.

2. Discuss together what a servant leader looks like. Begin with the model of Jesus. Observe how he lived his life in the Gospels and how he treated those who followed him. Write out those qualities you observe together in Jesus and make them the goal and basis for your training.

3. Plan weekly meeting times together to study the life of Christ together to continue seeing in the Gospels Jesus as the model of servant leadership. Also use that time for accountability on your student's growth in servant leadership. Identify weaknesses as well as strengths. End each time together with challenges and practical assignments on servant leadership opportunities. An example might be looking for an opportunity to serve someone without them knowing you did it. Jesus shared about this in the book of Matthew.

4. Periodically call, email or personally visit your student to check on him during the week to see how he is doing. Encourage the student in areas you have seen growth and remind him to work on areas of struggle.

5. Challenge the student each week to look for opportunities to serve and minister to others. Teach him to see each day and each interaction with people as opportunities to serve in the model of Jesus, who said in Mark 10:45 that he did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life away as a ransom for many.

6. Encourage them when you think they are ready to begin training someone else in servant leadership. Teaching others often provides the greatest opportunity for personal growth. They cannot truly grow in servant leadership if they are not training others in being a servant leader.

7. Stay with them for the long haul. Even after your formal set-aside training time finishes, make it a lifelong commitment to keep in touch with them from time to time. Consistent followup marks great servant leaders. Model this with those you are training.

Tips & Warnings

• Challenge your students to keep a journal of their experiences and growth in servant leadership. Writing down what we learn helps us to crystallize all we are processing from both a mental and emotional standpoint.

References

• Church Leadership: Servant Leadership

Resources

• Doulos Discipleship: What We Do