Jesus Servant Leader: Four Attributes of Servant Leadership

The word “leader” occurs in the King James New Testament three times; The word “servant”… 885. 

Jesus was both servant and leader.

Recently I was asked to speak to the leadership team of Atlanta Dream Center. I planned to share The Four Levels of Integrity from The Ripple Effect which I have shared hundreds of times since the release of the book.

The night before I presented a strange thing happened. Less than an hour into sleeping I woke up and felt prompted to rewrite the entire talk. I have never experienced a download like this in my life. In roughly 20 minutes an outline of the content below was written. I believe it was Spirit led. 

Servant Leader is NOT about:

• Position. We tend to associate certain titles with leadership. CEO, Quarterback, Executive Director, Team Leader… The truth is you can lead from wherever you are- right here, right now.
• Personality. Leaders can be introverted or extroverted, direct or indirect, people or task oriented…
• Physicality. Leaders come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
• Person. It’s not about him or her or you or even us. It’s about something much greater. 

Servant Leadership is about Purpose

This brings us to the “P” servant leadership is about. Purpose. Great servant leaders are clear on a higher purpose. They consistently and effectively communicate and embody this purpose. Purpose transcends position, personality, physicality, and person.

Servant Leadership Attributes

Four attributes which made Jesus an effective servant leader:

1. Consistent connection with higher power.  Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
2. Leadership by example. Everything Jesus asked his followers to do he demonstrated in his own life. He fed the poor, healed this sick, and was kind to women and children. Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:3)
3. Investment in core people. While Jesus did preach to the masses, he fully poured into his disciples. The disciples were instructed, developed, and loved by their leader. They in (most of them) became great leaders themselves. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. (Mark 4:34)
4. In the trenches. Jesus got dirty. For example he hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors, and lepers. And even washed the feet of his disciples (a task reserved for the lowest in the household). All in the name of a higher purpose. After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with a towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:5)

For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Luke 22:27

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