The Leadership ChallengeSample

Challenge 45

PAUL, THE SERVANT LEADER

READ: Galatians 5:1–26

Since the publication of Robert Greenleaf’s book Servant Leadership, people have been fascinated by the concept of servanthood as an approach for successful leadership. The terms “servant” and “leadership” sound contradictory. We think of leadership as the exercise of authority and power, not as service. But Jesus turns our thinking upside down. As Mark reminds us in his Gospel, Jesus came not to be served but to serve—and to give His life for us (Mark 10:42–45). Instead of a standard organizational pyramid with the leader at the top and the followers below, a leader drawing from biblical wisdom sees an upside-down pyramid—with them at the bottom, serving and supporting all those above. Yes, power and authority are a part of leadership; Jesus exercised them in His earthly ministry. But the servant leader shares power and authority and uses them to serve and build up those they lead. They do not pit the mission against the team, lose the team along the way, or hurt the team in the process. Servant leadership is the most effective way to achieve the team’s mission. In our text Paul reminds us that loving one another as Jesus commanded us means serving one another. This is as true in a leadership context as in any other aspect of life.

What consequences does Paul warn against if we are not loving servants to each other? How can you serve those you lead in a military context?