Pastors of Growing Churches Are Servant Leaders
by Wesley S. K. Daniel

The Scripture passage that best holds up the example of Christ having a servant's heart is found in the book of Philippians 2:5-11:

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, talking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
— Philippians 2:5-11, NRSV

There are primarily three learnings in this passage for the servant leader. First, having a servant's heart means serving. For Christ, it meant washing feet, healing the sick, identifying with the poor, and being with sinners. It meant a complete giving of himself for the sake of others.

Second, a servant's heart is prepared to suffer. For Christ, it was the indignity of becoming human and the physical suffering of dying a criminal's death on the cross.

Third, when Christ humbled himself even to the point of death, he was exalted and lifted high so that "every knee should bend" and "every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." (Also see Romans 14:11.)

The application for the servant leader is obvious. A servant leader is not to spend his or her time aspiring and dreaming of being asked to serve in prestigious places of ministry. Rather, servant leaders ought to seek the needy places of service. The call to servant leadership is a call to humility and faithfulness. Humility and the servant's heart go hand-in-hand. Leaders in the church who take the Philippians passage to heart will soon find themselves free from personal and lofty aspirations, and they can give their entire self for the cause of Christ in their communities and the world. Such humility and faithfulness opens the door for God to build and grow God's kingdom. God will then say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." The rewards of a faithful servant leader are immeasurable.

Wesley S. K. Daniel, former staff of the General Board of Discipleship, is now serving as a superintendent in the Des Moines District of the Iowa Annual Conference.

Posted 3-23-04.