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LEADERSHIP RESEARCH PAPER 1
Leadership Research Paper: Servant Leadership
Student Name
Liberty University

Abstract
This research paper reviewed the findings from the literature
review and discovered that servant
leadership principles increased employee empowerment, a
commitment to a shared vision and
team effectiveness. These three things were found to be force
multipliers in today’s modern
organization whether for-profit or non-profit. A set of criteria
was synthesized from the findings
from the literature review and the group research project. A
servant leader: (1) loves and serve

God first, (2) loves and serves others, (3) communicates a
vision, (4) empowers and develops
people, (5) practices humility, (6) builds and practices
community, (7) gives feedback and
direction, (8) welcomes feedback and is accountable to others.
A leader interview was conducted
with Colonel Charles Stevenson and he shared his servant
leadership philosophy. His philosophy
on servant leadership is intertwined with the Air Force core
values of (1) Service before Self, (2)
Excellence in all We Do, and (3) Integrity First. C. Stevenson’s
perspectives on servant
leadership provided a practical perspective and a valuable link
to this literature review and the
research conducted by the group. His views on the challenges of
applying servant leadership
from both his civilian and military careers underscore the need
for effective training in servant
leadership principles. Finally, the ideas of the research and the
leader interview were compared
and contrasted with the group discussions and group research
project on Biblical Leadership. The
primary lesson learned is that a truly effective servant
leadership behavior model must be

measured against the objective truth of Scripture.
Leadership Research Paper
The concept of servant leadership was introduced to mankind
over 2,000 years ago by
Jesus Christ but it has only been in the last four decades that the
subject has captured the
imagination of leadership scholars from across the globe. Part 1
of this paper will first discuss
some of the significant findings from the literature and from
these findings develop a set of
major criteria of servant leadership behavior. Part 2 will discuss
a leadership interview with
Colonel Charles Stevenson of the Alaska Air National Guard.
Part 3 will end with a comparison
and contrast of things learned from the group discussions and
the things learned from the
literature review and the leadership interview.
Part 1 – Literature Review

A review of the literature found that a significant focus of the
early research had been on
the theoretical (i.e. attempting to develop a working model)
however, the emphasis of newer
research studies has started to shift to testing and measurement.
A review of the research found
that servant leadership principles either promote or undergird
positive organizational behaviors
such as, employee empowerment, a commitment to a shared
vision and team effectiveness.
Further analysis of the research resulted in the formulation of a
common set of criteria of servant
leadership behavior.
Employee Empowerment
Russell and Stone (2002) proposed that employee empowerment
should be a central tenet
of any servant leadership construct. Spears (1996, 2004) and
van Dierendonck (2011) described
empowerment as the commitment to the growth and
development of people. Servant leaders
grow people by entrusting power to them (Fischer, 2014;
Kantharia, 2012), with the goal of
multiplying other servant leaders (Sendjaya & Sarros, 2002; &
Spears, 2004). Boone and

Makhani (2012) found that this takes an attitude on the leader’s
part which says: “It is good to
give away power” (p. 92). Murari and Gupta (2012) conducted
a study in India’s high tech
industry and they found that the application of servant
leadership principles had a positive impact
on employee empowerment which, in turn, lead to increased
organizational effectiveness and
competitiveness. This study affirms Blanchard and Hodges’s
(2008) assertion that in order to
lead like Jesus, leaders must provide an environment of
empowerment.
Commitment to a Shared Vision
Blanchard and Hodges (2003, 2008) found that one of the
primary roles of a servant
leader is to communicate a compelling vision and to persuade
others to follow it and to own it for
themselves. However, Collins (2001) concluded that creating a
compelling vision should only
come after recruiting the right people. Not surprisingly, the
research revealed that those leaders

who actively engaged their employees throughout the visioning
process with openness and
respect found increased trust and ethical behavior within these
organizations (Renke, 2004;
Senjaya & Pekerti, 2010). Interestingly, an effective
articulation of a compelling vision was
found to produce positive organizational behaviors regardless of
the type of organization whether
for-profit or non-profit (Collins, 2001; Cowley 2013; Russell,
2012; Spears 2004). Thus, the
research affirms the Biblical view on the necessity of having a
clear, compelling and shared
vision (Proverbs 29:18).
Team Effectiveness
Teams are the basic building blocks of the society. As the great
English poet John Donne
once penned, “No man is an island, entire of itself.” Blanchard
and Hodges (2003 & 2008)
concluded that only after a servant leader develops successful
one on one relationships with his
followers, can he began to focus on developing effective teams.
The research affirms Blanchard

and Hodges findings. For example, Mahembe and Engelbrecht
(2014) and Senjaya and Pekerti
(2010) found that servant leadership practices which facilitated
employee empowerment and
trust led to team unity and effectiveness. Even in high power
distance cultures such as Turkey
and China, the literature indicated that other contributing
servant leadership behaviors such as,
caring, listening and effective communication contributed to
team effectiveness (Oner, 2012; Hui
& Liden, 2011).
Criteria of Servant Leadership Behavior
The early literature heavily leaned on the initial set of 10
criteria of servant leadership
behavior developed by Spears (1996, 2004). Decades later, van
Dierendonck (2012) synthesized
several lists of criteria into 6 key characteristics of servant
leadership behaviors: empowering
and developing people, humility, authenticity, interpersonal
acceptance, providing direction and
stewardship. This set of criteria was compared to the research
performed by Wood, Stroupe,

Miller, & Hooven (2014), who developed a Biblical set of
criteria of servant leadership behavior.
They found that a servant leader: serves God first, loves others
as he loves himself, practices
humility, is nurturing, is caring, is empathetic, communicates a
vision, and builds community.
Further analysis and comparison of both sets of criteria in light
of Fischer’s (2014) perspective
on covenantal behavior brought forth a synthesis of the below
set of criteria:
1. Loves and serves God first
2. Loves and serves others
3. Communicates a vision
4. Empowers and develops people
5. Practices humility
6. Builds and practices community

7. Gives feedback and direction
8. Welcomes feedback and is accountable
Part 2 – Leadership Interview
In this section, the results of a leadership interview with
Colonel Charles Stevenson are
reported. Colonel Charles Stevenson is the Vice Commander of
the 176th Wing, Alaska Air
National Guard. He assists the Commander with ensuring the
missions of tactical airlift,
strategic airlift, combat search and rescue, and air sovereignty
operations are fully resourced,
trained, and operational. C. Stevenson is the epitome of a true
Citizen-Airman. He served over
20 years in the Alaska Department of Corrections where he
started out as a Correctional
Assistant and rose to the rank of Warden of one of the largest
correctional facilities in Alaska. He
did this while also serving in the Air National Guard as a
“weekend warrior”. C. Stevenson has a
Law Degree from Southwest California School of Law and a
Masters of Leadership degree from

Mid-American Christian University. He was handpicked by
senior National Guard officials to
serve a special 4 year active duty tour in his current position to
be the point man on developing
and implementing a new strategy and vision for the 176th Wing.
(C. Stevenson, personal
communication, June 24, 2014)
Perspective on Servant Leadership
C. Stevenson explained his perspective on servant leadership as
“serving others to get the
mission accomplished” (C. Stevenson, personal communication,
June 24, 2014). In his view,
before a leader can properly serve others under his command, he
must invest the time to get to
know both his subordinate officers and the frontline men and
women who actually perform the
mission. One habit that Stevenson practices on a regular basis is
what he calls MBA or
Management by Walking Around. He brought this habit over
from his career in Corrections. He

purposefully turns off his email and gets out of his office to
observe the mission first hand. In his
view, this simple habit allows him the opportunity to understand
the challenges that his followers
are facing and the opportunity to also model the appropriate
behaviors that are expected of the
men and women of the 176th Wing. In his own words, “I have
to be willing to do the same thing
that I am asking others to do.” (C. Stevenson, personal
communication, June 24, 2014)
Challenges of Applying Servant Leadership
C. Stevenson outlined some of the challenges that he has faced
in applying servant
leadership principles both in his civilian and military careers. In
his view, perhaps the biggest
challenge in applying servant leadership principles is
“motivating those who are self-serving,
those who have the attitude that I am only here to do my job and
collect a paycheck” (C.
Stevenson, personal communication, June 24, 2014). Stevenson
refers to these type of people as
“clock watchers”. In his view, the profession of the Armed
Services is a “calling” defined by
service, sacrifice and commitment above and beyond the call of

duty–even to the point of loss of
life or limb. (C. Stevenson, personal communication, June 24,
2014).
C. Stevenson shared several strategies to counter this attitude of
apathy or lack of
understanding among the chain of command. He encourages his
leaders to get their people
involved with other people across the organization, to take time
to show them how a person’s
particular job interfaces with other peoples’ jobs. In
Stevenson’s view, this practice allows
people to see how vital their jobs are to the overall mission. In
other words they can see the “big
picture”. Another strategy that he recommends and practices is
to give regular feedback on
performance, daily habits and interpersonal relationship skills
to both leaders and subordinates.
Additionally, C. Stevenson would like to see the subject of
servant leadership taught across the
Air National Guard and be made available to all personnel
regardless of rank. (C. Stevenson,

personal communication, June 24, 2014)
Criteria of Servant Leadership Behavior
C. Stevenson’s criteria of an effective servant leader can be
summarized by synthesizing
his personal views with the Air Force Core Values:
profession and as a
people. There is no military draft. People join the Armed
Services on their own
free will. Yes, there are many opportunities for growth and
skills training but “we
all took an oath to defend both the U.S. Constitution and the
Alaska
Constitution…it’s no longer about me, it’s all about We and We
serve a cause that
is worthy of our sacrifice.” (C. Stevenson, personal
communication, June 24,
2014)
strive to exceed the
standard “in our communications, skills development,
interpersonal relations,
customer service, and most importantly—executing the

mission.” (C. Stevenson,
personal communication, June 24, 2014)
one’s lifetime by daily
habits. This means doing what is right when no one is looking.
This simple but
essential habit produces honesty and credibility. The majority
of people want to
work with someone they can trust. “Trust forms the foundation
of effective teams
and the mission cannot be properly executed without effective
teams.” (C.
Stevenson, personal communication, June 24, 2014)
In summary, C. Stevenson’s criteria for servant leadership could
be simply stated as;
selflessness and a devotion to a worthy cause, competence in
everything you do, and integrity in
how you do things and the way you interact with people.
Part 3 – Comparison and Contrast of Servant Leadership
Perspectives

In this section a comparison and contrast of C. Stevenson’s
perspective on servant
leadership to the literature review will be discussed.
Additionally, things that were learned from
the group discussions about servant leadership will be compared
and contrasted to findings
discovered in the literature review and from C. Stevenson’s
perspectives.
Comparison of C. Stevenson’s Perspective to the Literature
C. Stevenson’s perspective on servant leadership is tied to the
three primary core values
of the United States Air Force. In his view, it was necessary to
re-order the core values to align
with his views on servant leadership. Therefore, he re-orders the
core values as follows: Service
before Self, Excellence in All We Do and Integrity. In his view,
the thoughts, feelings and actions
that are necessary to implement the core value of Service before
Self are the same thoughts,
feelings and actions that are necessary to be a servant leader in
any organization (C. Stevenson,
personal communication, June 24, 2014). This corresponds to
Blanchard and Hodges (2003,
2008) findings that it takes an alignment of the heart and the

head and the hands to effectively
practice servant leadership.
Stevenson’s assertion that the Air Force core value of Service
before Self defines the
essence of servant leader leadership is affirmed by the
preponderance of the literature. For
example, Sendjaya and Sarros (2002) explored the philosophical
basis of servant leadership and
concluded that the primary intent of a servant leader is to “serve
others first, not lead others first”
(p. 59). Stone, Russell and Patterson (2004) also affirmed this
concept of a leader whose
primary focus is on serving and developing their followers
rather than on serving themselves or
the organization. More importantly, the Biblical worldview
affirms this concept of a servant
leader. For example, Jesus Christ himself embodied perfect
servant leadership by voluntarily
putting aside his authority to serve mankind by accepting death
on the cross (Philippians 2:6-8).
Thus, this is why Blanchard and Hodges (2003, 2008) concluded

that the practice of servant
leadership is not an option but a God directed mandate.
C. Stevenson’s criteria of servant leadership (by following the
Air Force core values)
compares similarly to the criteria gleaned from the literature.
For example, van Dierendonck
(2011) six characteristics of servant leadership were used a
basis of comparison. The six
characteristics of servant leadership categorized by van
Dierendonck are as follows: (1)
empowering and developing people, (2) humility, (3)
authenticity, (4) interpersonal acceptance,
(5) providing direction and (6) stewardship. Stevenson’s view
on the core value of Service
before Self relates to the characteristic of humility, while his
views on the core value of
Excellence in all We do was found to align with the criteria of
empowering and developing
people, interpersonal acceptance, and providing direction and
stewardship. Finally, Stevenson’s
views on the core value of Integrity First relates to the
characteristic of authenticity.
Comparison of Ideas to Lessons Learned from the Group
Discussions

Lessons learned from the group discussions culminated in a
group research project by
Wood, et al. (2014) in which they compared and contrasted the
views of a man-centered view of
servant leadership with the Biblical worldview. They found
that a great portion of the literature is
heavily biased towards a humanistic orientation (Boone &
Makhani, 2012; Spears, 1996, 2004; &
van Dierendonck, 2011) and does not cite or even recognize the
Biblical perspective on servant
leadership. This was in contrast to the research conducted by
Sendjaya and Sarros (2002) which
traced the roots of the modern servant leadership movement
back to Biblical model as exemplified
by Jesus Christ. Additionally, Duby (2009) strongly cautioned
Christian leaders that the modern
view of servant leadership which is heavily grounded in
humanistic notions should be critiqued
against the Biblical standard (2 Cor. 10:5 & Phil. 4:8). Wood,
et al. (2014) concurred with Duby
and found that a man centered version of servant leadership

lacked the sustaining power to truly
transform organizations and people because it denied essential
biblical doctrine on sin, redemption
and grace.
One of the tests of an effective servant leader as quoted from
Robert Greenleaf, the founder
of the modern servant leadership movement was this: “Do those
served grow as persons; do they
while being served, become healthier, wiser, more autonomous,
more likely themselves to become
servants?” (Spears, 2004, p. 8). Findings from the research say
yes. Rivkin, Diestel and Schmidt
(2014) concluded that servant leadership can be taught and that
there is a positive effect on
employee health and growth. The group discussions comparing
situations from their personal and
work experience also led to the same conclusion. However,
these findings were tempered with
Fischer’s (2014) teaching on the ego and sinfulness of mankind.
The Biblical worldview reminds
all mankind that without a heart transformation, men and
women are instinctively bent on being
self-centered and evil (Ecclesiastes 9:3). This is why it takes a
heart transformation by the saving

grace of Jesus Christ to be a truly effective servant leader
(Ephesians 2:8).
Probably the most important lesson learned from comparing the
things learned from the
literature, to C. Stevenson’s interview and the group discussions
is that criteria for man centered
servant leadership falls short of a Biblically framed criteria of
servant leadership. For example,
the two top two criteria from the group research paper and this
author’s criteria are: (1) love and
serve God first, and (2) love and serve others. These two
essential criteria are left off any list of
criteria that this author found in his review of the literature.
This is a sobering thought and reminds
all Christians to number the days carefully because without
God’s grace and power we are unable
to gain a heart of true wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
Conclusion
Servant leadership principles were found to have a positive
impact on employee

empowerment, a commitment to a shared vision and team
effectiveness. These are three of the
most recognizable attributes of an effective servant leadership
organization. Further analysis of
the literature resulted in a set of criteria of servant leadership
behavior. They are: (1) love and
serve God first, (2) love and serve others, (3) communicate a
vision, (4) empower and develop
people, (5) practice humility, (6) build and practice community,
(7) give feedback and provide
direction, (8) welcome feedback and be accountable to others.
Colonel Charles Stevenson shared
his servant leadership perspective which is intertwined with the
Air Force core values of (1)
Service before Self, (2) Excellence in all We Do, and (3)
Integrity First. His views on the
challenges of applying servant leadership from both his civilian
and military careers underscore
the need for effective training in servant leadership principles.
More importantly, the ideas of the
literature review and the leader interview were compared with
the group discussions and the
research that they did together. The primary lesson learned is
that a truly effective servant

leadership behavior model must be measured against the
objective truth of God’s word. As
Blanchard and Hodges (2008) asserted, “in order to lead and
serve others you have to love Jesus,
and you must love like Jesus” (p. 183).
References
Blanchard, K., & Hodges, P. (2008). Lead like Jesus: Lessons
for everyone from the greatest
leadership role model of all time. Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson
Blanchard, K., & Hodges, P. (2003). The servant leader.
Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Boone, L. W., & Makhani, S. (2012). Five necessary attitudes of
a servant leader. Review of
Business, 22(1), 83-96. Retrieved
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Collins, J. C. (2001). Good to great: Why some companies make
the leap...and others don't. New
York, NY: HarperCollins.
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Cowley, E. J. (2013). Servant leadership at zappos.com, Inc.
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Duby, D.G. (2009). The Foundation for Biblical Leadership.
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University.
Hu, J., & Liden, R. C. (2011). Antecedents of team potency and
team effectiveness: An
examination of goal and process clarity and servant leadership.
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An imperative leadership style
for leader managers. Bharat N. Kantharia: Author.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1980625
Fischer, K. (2014). Biblical Leadership. [Video Presentation].
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Mahembe, B., & Engelbrecht, A. S. (2014). The relationship
between servant leadership,
organisational citizenship behaviour and team effectiveness. SA

Journal of Industrial
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Öner, Z. H. (2012). Servant leadership and paternalistic
leadership styles in the Turkish business
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(TOJDE), 13(1), 15-19.
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4: Biblical integration paper.
Servant Leadership, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.
BUSI502(Readings & References.docx
The text book readings consist of The servant leader by Ken
Blanchard and Phil Hodges (2003) and Lead like Jesus by Ken
Blanchard and Phil Hodges (2008) and from Good to Great by
Jim Collins (2001)
Journal readings Dr. David G Duby: The greatest
commandment: The foundation for biblical servant leadership

and Larry C. Spear: Leader to Leader
Readings from Greenleaf about servant leadership
Video lectures by Dr. Khalib Fischer on the Liberty University
website
Video lectures by Dr. DJ on the Liberty University website
Bible_Readings_for_Module-Week_1.doc
BUSI 502
Bible Readings for Module/Week 1
Servant Leadership
Biblical Servant Leadership
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers
of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials
exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever
wants to become great among you must be your servant, and
whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of
Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life
as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25–28)
The greatest will be your servant
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one
Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth
'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are
you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself
will be exalted. (Matthew 23:8–12)
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time
had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed
them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already
prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus
knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that
he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up
from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel
around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and
began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel
that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going
to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but
later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my
hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to
wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean,
though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to
betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes
and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done
for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and
rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one

another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I
have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than
his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent
him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you
do them. (John 13: 1–17)
Following Jesus
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of
men." (Matthew 4:19)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after
me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:24–25)
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
The Heart, Head, Hands, and Habits
Heart
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark
12:30)
Head
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be

able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing
and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
(Philippians 2: 5–8)
Hands
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him. (Colossians 3:17)
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but
has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or
sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to
him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does
nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same
way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
(James 2:14–17)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is
this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to
keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
Habits

Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1–3)
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (I
Thessalonians 5:16–18)
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Parable of the Wheat and Tares
Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like
a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone
was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the
wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed
heads, then the weeds also appeared.
"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow
good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
"'An enemy did this,' he replied.

"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them
up?'
"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds,
you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together
until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First
collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then
gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" (Matthew 13:24–
30)
Knowledge and wisdom
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise. (Psalm 111:10)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil. (Proverbs 3:3–7)
Problem with the World (Sin)
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and
death through sin, and in this way death came to all men,
because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)
As it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one.”
(Romans 3:10)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans
3:23)
Strength
Strength in God, Not in Man
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the
weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (I Corinthians
1:25)
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:13)
God Demonstrates His Strength in Our Weakness
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not
many of you were wise by human standards; not many were
influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the
foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the
weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the
lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the
things that are not—to nullify the things that are. (I Corinthians
1:26–28)
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the
more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may
rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II
Corinthians 12:9–11)
The Strong are to Help the Weak
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak
and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)

Management
The Dominion Mandate—The First Management Assignment
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in
number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the
sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that
moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:28)
Illustration: Parable of the Ten Minas (Note the emphasis on
management)
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a
parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought
that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said:
"A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself
appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his
servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he
said, 'until I come back.' (Luke 19:11–13)
Illustration: David’s planning of the temple. Read this and ask
yourself who, what, where, why, and how the work will get
done.
Then David said, "The house of the LORD God is to be here,
and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel."
Preparations for the Temple
So David gave orders to assemble the aliens living in Israel, and
from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed
stone for building the house of God. He provided a large amount
of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the
fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed. He also
provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the
Sardinians and Syrians had brought large numbers of them to
David.

David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and
the house to be built for the LORD should be of great
magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the
nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it." So David
made extensive preparations before his death.
Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a
house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon:
"My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of
the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me:
'You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You
are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed
much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son
who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest
from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,
and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is
the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son,
and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his
kingdom over Israel forever.'
"Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have
success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said
you would. May the LORD give you discretion and
understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that
you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will
have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws
that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
"I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD
a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver,
quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood
and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workmen:
stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in
every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron—
craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the LORD

be with you."
Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son
Solomon. He said to them, "Is not the LORD your God with
you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has
handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is
subject to the LORD and to his people. Now devote your heart
and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the
sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of
the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to
God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the
LORD." (I Chronicles 22)
Now can you answer who, what, where, why, and how the work
would be done.
Choosing Right
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose
for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and
my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and
destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your
God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees
and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your
God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if
you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship
them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be
destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing
the Jordan to enter and possess.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I
have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now
choose life, so that you and your children may live
(Deuteronomy 30:15–19)

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then
peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good
fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think
about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Truth
What is Truth?
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17)
comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me,
you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know
him and have seen him." (John 14:6)
Consequences of Rejecting God’s Truth
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the
godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by
their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain
to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the
creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal
power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being
understood from what has been made, so that men are without
excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God
nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and
their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be
wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and

birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their
hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with
one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and
worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—
who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even
their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In
the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with
women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men
committed indecent acts with other men, and received in
themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the
knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do
what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every
kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of
envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they
invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are
senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know
God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve
death, they not only continue to do these very things but also
approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:18–32)
Knowing oneself
Knowing God Is More Important Than Self-Knowledge
This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:

that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD. (Jeremiah9:23–25)
Man is Not Basically Good
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:
who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The
same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are
full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live,
and afterward they join the dead. (Ecclesiastes 9:3)
For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual
immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (Mark 7:21–22)
Responsibility
From everyone who has been given much, much will be
demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much,
much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for
his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than
an unbeliever. (I Timothy 5:8)
Illustration of Responsibility (The Parable of the Talents)
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his
servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five
talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one
talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his
journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once

and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the
one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had
received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and
hid his master's money.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and
settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five
talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted
me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You
have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of
many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you
entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You
have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of
many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"Then the man who had received the one talent came.’Master,'
he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you
have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.
See, here is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew
that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have
not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money
on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would
have received it back with interest.
"'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten
talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will
have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has

will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant
outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:14–30)
Openness
Be Careful to What you Open Yourself
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so
that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach
ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your
servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out
of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
(II Corinthians 4: 4–6)
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise
by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that
he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise
in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows that the
thoughts of the wise are futile." (I Corinthians 3: 18–20)
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's
cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your
sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (II Corinthians 11:3)
Openness to Wisdom
For wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,

evil behavior and perverse speech. (Proverbs 8:11–13)
Stay away from a foolish man,
for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception. (Proverbs 14:7–8)
It may be helpful to be open to knowledge, but test that
knowledge for truth.
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the
Thessalonians, for they received the message with great
eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what
Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and
only a few find it.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit
you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn
bushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7: 14–16)
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to
see whether they are from God, because many false prophets
have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the
Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the
antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is
already in the world. (I John 1:4–3)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up
against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every
thought to make it obedient to Christ. (II Corinthians 10:5)

Listening
The Art of Listening
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to
listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19)
To Whom Should we Listen?
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint
of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God,
and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from
God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of
truth and the spirit of falsehood. (I John 4: 5–6)
But you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep
listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give
them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch
them out of my hand. (John 10:26–28)
Foresight
Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what
Israel should do… (I Chronicles 12:32)
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit
down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to
complete it? (Luke 14:28)
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day
may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this
or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make
money." Why, you do not even know what will happen
tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a
little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is
the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you

boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who
knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (James
4:13–17)
Spirit
There is nothing in Scripture saying that we should be
“spirited.” Rather, we are to be infused with the Holy Spirit as
our source of power.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead,
be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear
fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear
fruit unless you remain in me.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me
and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do
nothing. (John 15:4-5)
Faith
Faith defined
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what
we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that
he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
The object of faith is critically important. Faith in man is
insufficient as is “having faith in faith.”

Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save. (Psalm 146:3)
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm
20:7)
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man. (Psalm 118:8)
Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. (Psalm 40:4)
We are to have faith in God.
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if
anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,'
and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says
will happen, it will be done for him. (Mark 11:22–23)
Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The
righteous will live by faith." (Galatians 3:11)
Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in
his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out
to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has
given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given
us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (I John 5:10–11)
Results of faith
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that
no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance
for us to do. (Ephesians 2: 8–10)

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Hope
As with faith, the reasons for hope are found in the object. Hope
in hope is futile. Hope in God is hope properly placed.
But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7)
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead
and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (I
peter 1:21)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in
me [Jesus].” (John 14:1)
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;
he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
(Proverbs 21:1)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed,
but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down,
but not destroyed. (II Corinthians 4:8-9)
Leadership

Beware of Evil or False Leaders
But he answered and said, every plant, which my heavenly
Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they
be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:13–14)
A Biblical Model of Leadership
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who
are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and
their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with
you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must
be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of
all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 42–
45)
Ethics
True Ethics Are Grounded in the Nature and Character of God
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is,
and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation
1:8)
Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1)
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and
teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of

heaven. (Matthew 5:18–19)
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on
these two commandments." (Matthew 22:35–40)
History
Understanding History Teaches Us in the Present
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach
us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the
Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
These things happened to them as examples and were written
down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages
has come. (I Corinthians 10:11)
The Means
For the End to be Right, the Means Must be Right
"'Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight
or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest
ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought
you out of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:35–36)
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure
motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we
speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.
We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
(I Thessalonians 2:3–4)

Two Examples of the Means to an End Being Wrong in Israel’s
History
But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my
ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"
Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the
Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to
sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the
rest."
"Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD
said to me last night."
"Tell me," Saul replied.
Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes,
did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD
anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission,
saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the
Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.'
Why did you not obey the LORD ? Why did you pounce on the
plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?"
"But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission
the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites
and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and
cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in
order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king." (I Samuel 15–23)
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said
to him: "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the
LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped
from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty
army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when
you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For
the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen
those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a
foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war." (II
Chronicles 16:7–9)
Coercion
Biblically, the use of coercion is legitimate in the hands of
government. God has delegated this authority to government to
punish evildoers.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for
there is no authority except that which God has established. The
authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling
against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who
do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free
from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he
will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But
if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for
nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring
punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:1–4)
Manipulation
"It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer;

then off he goes and boasts about his purchase. (Proverbs
20:14)
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of
God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I
leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare
the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and
distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So
be on your guard! (Acts 20:28–31)
Persuasion
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Proverbs 25:15)
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to
persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also
plain to your conscience. (II Corinthians 5:11)
Every Sabbath he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue, trying to
persuade Jews and Greeks. (Acts 18:4)
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short
time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28)
Illustration of Paul Persuading Philemon Rather Than Forcing
Him to Comply
Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to
do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of
love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of
Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who
became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless
to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would

have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place
in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not
want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you
do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he
was separated from you for a little while was that you might
have him back for good—no longer as a slave, but better than a
slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer
to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. (Philemon 8–
16)
Power
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in
your power to act. (Proverbs 3:27)
A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases
strength; (Proverbs 24:5)
Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a
city. (Ecclesiastes 7:19)
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew,
then for the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(I Corinthians 1:18)
Planning
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they
succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)
Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit
down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to
complete it? (Luke 14:28)
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this
or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make
money." Why, you do not even know what will happen
tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a
little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is
the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you
boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. (James 4: 13–16)
Deciding
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make
victory sure. (Proverbs 11:14)
For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many
advisers. (Proverbs 24:6)
Communicating
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips. (Proverbs 4:23–24)
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes
great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a
small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the
parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole
course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James
3:5–6)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but
only what is helpful for building others up according to their
needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)
Growth
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the
prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:13–14)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly
handles the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy,
envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave
pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your
salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I
Peter 2:1–3)
Statesmanship
Statesmanship is best illustrated by actions—The charge to
Queen Esther, the actions of King Hezekiah and King Josiah
[The charge to Queen Esther:] For if you remain silent at this
time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another
place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who
knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time
as this?" (Esther 4:14)
[King Hezekiah’s statesmanship] In the third year of Hoshea
son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah
began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became
king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His

mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what
was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had
done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones
and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the
bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites
had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)
Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no
one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or
after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow
him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. And
the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he
undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not
serve him. From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the
Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory. (II Kings 18:1–8)
[King Josiah’s statesmanship]
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and
Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men
of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the
prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read
in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant,
which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king
stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of
the LORD -to follow the LORD and keep his commands,
regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus
confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then
all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the
household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things
seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the
requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the
priest had discovered in the temple of the LORD. Neither
before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to

the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and
with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
(II Kings 23: 1–3; 24–25)
Distinction/Distinguished
Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
he will not serve before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29)
[A Distinguishes Memorial for David:] And the time that he
reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in
Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor:
and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. (I Chronicles 29:27–
28)
Illustration of distinction: King David’s Mighty Men
These are the names of David's mighty men:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three;
he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed
in one encounter.
Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of
the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the
Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of
Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the
Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The
LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops
returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the
Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field
full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. But Shammah took
his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck
the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great

victory.
During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to
David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was
encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in
the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get
me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines,
drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried
it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it
out before the LORD. "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!"
he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their
lives?" And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. (II Samuel
23:8–17)
Illustration of Distinction from the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the
prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered
justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of
lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of
the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who
became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women
received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were
tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a
better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still
others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they
were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They
went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted
and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They
wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in
the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them
received what had been promised. God had planned something

better for us so that only together with us would they be made
perfect. (Hebrews 11:32–40)
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Leadership
Qualifications for Leadership
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being
an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be
above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-
controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to
drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a
lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see
that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does
not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care
of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may
become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he
will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not
indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They
must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear
conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is
nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect,
not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in
everything.

A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage
his children and his household well. Those who have served
well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith
in Christ Jesus. (I Timothy 3:1–12)
Goals
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one
gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (I
Corinthians 9:24)
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will
succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the
prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:13–14)
Individuality
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the
body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom
you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has
power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not
five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is
forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many
sparrows. (Luke 12:4–7)
Hermeneutics/Interpretation of Scripture
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(II Timothy 3: 16–17)

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture
came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy
never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God
as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:20–21)
BUSI 502
EGO: Edging God Out
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even
with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their
destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory
is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. (Philippians
3:18–19)
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God
nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and
their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be
wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and
birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their
hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with
one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and
worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—
who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1:21–25)
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the
knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do
what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every
kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of

envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they
invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are
senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know
God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve
death, they not only continue to do these very things but also
approve of those who practice them.
(Romans 1:28–32)
Idolatry
Idolatry can be defined as the act of prioritizing anything over
God. In ancient times, it would be a block of wood or stone
fashioned in an image. Today it may be a job, money, or a
relationship.
And God spoke all these words:
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out
of the land of slavery.
"You shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything
in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the
LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for
the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those
who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of
those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:1–
6)
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,
which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you
can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man
is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and

of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because
of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
(Ephesians 5:4–6)
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which
is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
(Colossians 3:5–6)
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God
and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the
vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice
magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the
fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
(Revelation 21:7–8)
EGO: Exalting God Only
comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name
under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts
4:12)
It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.' " So then, each of us will
give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11–12)
Forgiveness
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter
root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews
12:15)
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times
shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven

times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but
seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21–22)
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you, leave
your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to
your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–
24)
Grace
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that
no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in
every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then
approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
(Hebrews 4:15–16)
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all
things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in
every good work. (II Corinthians 9:8)
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)
Vision
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
but blessed is he who keeps the law. (Proverbs 29:18)
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth
the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

Implementation
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him. (Colossians 3:17)
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the
glory of God. (I Corinthians 10:31)
Stages of Growth
The Scriptures use a number of metaphors to illustrate stages of
growth
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child,
I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish
ways behind me. (I Corinthians 13:11)
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all
over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on
milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching
about righteousness. (Hebrews 5:12–13)
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BUSI 502
Seek First the Kingdom
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you
as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(Matthew 6:32–34)
Honor God’s Commandments
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on
these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36–40)
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, (Matthew 5: 43–44)
Love of Jesus in Action
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is
this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to
keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is
still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the
light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But
whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in
the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the
darkness has blinded him. (I John 2:9–11)
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these
little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will
certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42)
Model Jesus to others
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (I
Corinthians 1:11)

BUSI 502
Humility
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you
should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others. (Philippians 2:3–4)
Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone
else on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3)
The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:33–34)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
(James 4:10)
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble
yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift
you up in due time. (I Peter 5:5–6)
The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself
will be exalted. (Matthew 23:11–12)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against
such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

Responsibility
Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the
situation God called him to. (I Corinthians 7:24)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive
whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive
as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love,
which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians
3:12–14)
The right people
[Jethro’s advice to Moses:] But select capable men from all the
people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest
gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds,
fifties and tens. (Exodus 18:21)
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being
an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be
above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-
controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to
drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a
lover of money. (I Timothy 3:1–3)
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who
are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the
others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his
faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him
teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is
contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it
is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy,

let him do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:4–8)
Page 1 of 2
The Greatest 1
Running head: THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
The Greatest Commandment: The Foundation for Biblical
Servant Leadership
Dr. David G. Duby
Liberty University
2009
The Greatest 2
The Greatest Commandment: The Foundation for Biblical

Servant Leadership
“The servant-leader is servant first…It begins with the natural
feeling that
one wants to serve, to serve first.” (Greenleaf, 1977, p. 13).
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45, NASB).
Introduction
In 1977, Robert Greenleaf published his reflections on his
journey into the nature
of power and greatness. Greenleaf’s reflections presented a
rather optimistic model of
leadership that he believed could be achieved—that leaders,
through their service, could
legitimize their power and help build a serving society. Yet to
do so, leaders had to model
principles that, at least at the outset, seemed counterintuitive to
many peoples’ concept of
leadership. These principles emanated from a desire to serve
which, according to
Greenleaf, was inherent in the leader. For Greenleaf, “the
servant-leader is servant

first…It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve”
(Greenleaf, 1977, p. 13).
For Christians, the concept of serving others—even from a
leadership position—
is not new. Jesus called us to serve (Matt. 20:26, John 12:26),
demonstrated service
(Matt. 20:28, Phil. 2:7, John 13:3-17) and reminds us of God’s
command to serve (Luke
4:8). The Bible is replete with examples of leaders who sought
to serve others (e.g.
Joseph, Moses, Peter, and Paul). Thus it is not difficult to see
why the concept of servant
leadership continues to resonate with Christian leaders today.
What may be more difficult
is for believers to remember the importance of who is to be the
primary recipient of our
service. For Greenleaf, the call to “serve first” assumes service
to others, the people the
leader leads, and proceeds from his naturalistic worldview.
Christians rooted in the
Biblical worldview, however, must understand that the Greatest
Commandment outlines

The Greatest 3
the order of our service—that order being God first, then others.
This paper will examine
how the Greatest Commandment serves as the foundation for
demonstrating Biblical
servant leadership.
The Christian and Servant Leadership
Even as Greenleaf defined the servant leader as one who has a
desire to serve, to
“serve first,” he knew that the words serve and lead were
overused and even carried
negative connotations (1977). With the recent proliferation of
the concept of servant
leadership in academia, the marketplace, and the church,
perhaps the phrase itself is
overused and, if not a negative term, is one whose meaning is
suspect. Yet as Greenleaf
noted, though the words serve and lead were overused, they are
nonetheless good words.
Thus, although the phrase servant leadership may be overused—
or wrongly used—the
phrase is nonetheless a good phrase since it identifies a concept
that is good and Biblical.

Biblical servant leadership is good since it espouses a crucial
concept for
Christians who would lead—that leadership and service are not
separate and
contradictory terms, but are two sides of the same coin.
Blanchard & Hodges
(2005) posit, “Servant leadership is a concrete expression of a
daily commitment
to live out the Word of God and the will of God and thereby
advance the kingdom
of God” (p. 194). For Blanchard and Hodges, servant leadership
is not an option;
it is a mandate for the believer.
The earliest call for believers to both lead and serve can be
traced back to the first
chapter of Genesis. In Genesis 1:27 we read, “God created man
in His own image, in the
image of God He created him; male and female He created
them” (NASB). As image-
bearers of God, Adam and Eve were then given a command: “Be
fruitful and multiply,
The Greatest 4

and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the
sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth”
(Genesis 1:28).
These two verses relate profound truth for Christians called to
lead. Finch (2007)
believes that Genesis 1:27 carries the implicit message to serve
others, since serving
others “is the only response commensurate with God’s work in
creation, in which God
imprinted the divine image on Eve and Adam and, through
them, on every human being”
(p. 204). This understanding—that we are all image-bearers of
God—is critical to rightly
implementing the command of Genesis 1:28, in which Adam and
Eve were told to rule
over the earth that God created.
Stevens (2006) observes that by this command to rule, Adam
and Eve were given
the role of stewards who had “the wonderful role of
representing the absent monarch’s
interests” (p. 6). As stewards, followers of God act as trustees
that are to develop and to

serve the “unfolding kingdom” of creation (Roels, 1990, p. 27).
Further, Roels contends
that if one believes that his or her business plays an important
role in God’s kingdom,
then an important concern is to best determine how to be God’s
steward in such business
endeavors. This concern leads many to search for the best ways
to both serve and lead in
their business, and thus the continued allure of servant
leadership as the biblical answer
to fulfilling the role of a steward.
Stevens (2006) calls the Genesis mandate to both serve and lead
the cultural
commission of God that, like the Great Commission of Christ, is
incumbent upon all
believers to undertake (p. 82). But does this call necessarily
equal a call to servant
leadership? Though Finch (2007) observed that servant
leadership resonates with people
who are not necessarily connected to any religious tradition (p.
203), Reinke (2004)
The Greatest 5

posits that servant leadership is “highly consistent with Judeo-
Christian philosophical
traditions and teachings” (p. 34). Yet Chewning (2000) cautions
against assuming a
biblical call for such a paradigm, suggesting instead that the
Christian should focus on the
aspect of service rather than leadership. “Christ did not come to
mentor leadership…He
came to serve, not to be served” (p. 15). Niewold (2007) also
warns Christians against
uncritically adopting Greenleaf’s version of servant leadership.
“Here is a Christianized
humanism suited to the modern autonomous self unfamiliar
with, and even hostile to,
such essential soteriological categories as transcendent holiness,
sin, personal moral
corruption, repentance, conversion, and even mission dei” (p.
126).
Interestingly, when Greenleaf first published his thoughts on
servant leadership,
he understood that its central tenets were at best
counterintuitive and must weather
inevitable criticism. He wrote, “Criticism has its place, but as a

total preoccupation it is
sterile…if too many potential builders are taken in by a
complete absorption with
dissecting the wrong and by a zeal for instant perfection , then
the movement so many of
us want to see will be set back” (1996, p. 11). Yet he also
understood the need for his
ideas to be analyzed and expounded upon as new information
became available and new
analysis conducted. Far more than just adopting contemporary
theory on a particular
leadership practice, the Christian in business must take all such
theories captive to the
obedience of Christ and see if such ideas are good, virtuous
ideas (II Cor. 10:5; Phil. 4:8).
With this in mind, let’s begin with the very foundation of
Greenleaf’s servant
leadership—that the “servant-leader is servant first” (1977, p.
13). Few Christians would
argue that Christians are not called to serve—this was the very
essence of Christ, and
again relates to the powerful attractions to Greenleaf’s central
tenet that the servant-

The Greatest 6
leader is to serve. For Christians, the issue is not service, but
who is to be the foremost
recipient of our service as stewards of God. Despite Greenleaf’s
definition, the call to
serve others is not the foundational call of the Christian servant
leader. The foundational
call for Christians is to serve God first.
Seeking the Kingdom: The Greatest Commandment
Jesus said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things
will be added to you” (Matt. 6 33). Jesus spent the entirety of
his public ministry teaching
and showing the way of the kingdom while living the
righteousness of God. Thus the
exhortation to seek the Father’s kingdom first is exemplified in
the life of Christ in word
and deed. For Jesus, seeking the kingdom was not merely living
a moral life of perceived
holiness before God—think of his stinging rebukes of the
Pharisees. Seeking the
kingdom was first and foremost submission to his Father’s will,

a will that included
obedience unto death, “even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8).
It is worth noting that there were times when Jesus seemingly
refused service to
others in order to be obedient to the Father. Jesus delayed his
healing of Lazarus so that
God would be glorified (John 11). Jesus withdrew himself from
the crowds to be alone
with the Father (Luke 5:16). Jesus refused those who would
proclaim him political
messiah so that he could become their spiritual Messiah—just as
the Father had required
(John 6:15). In short, Jesus was a servant to his Father first in
order to better serve those
he came to save. Scripture reinforces this idea for believers who
seek to be servant
leaders—our service to others is complete when it is first and
foremost rooted in loving
service to God.
The Greatest 7
A lawyer, well versed in matters of covenant and Mosaic law,

once asked Jesus a
question: “Which is the greatest commandment?” (Matt. 22:36).
His question hearkened
back to the teachings of Deuteronomy—a book Jesus knew quite
well. Jesus readily
answered, “To love the Lord with all of your heart, with all
your soul, and with all your
mind. This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matt. 22:37-
38). Then Jesus added,
“And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. In these rest all of
the law” (Matt. 22:39). This was life in the kingdom of God.
This is what it meant to seek
the kingdom first. Love God, then love each other. Scripture
gives us numerous examples
of how we demonstrate our love for God. Deuteronomy 10:12
states we are to “love Him,
and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul.” Here, love is
couched in service. Deuteronomy 11:1 adds that when we love
God, we will keep His
charge, His statues, His ordinances, and His commandments.
And His command is that
we love and serve others. This is how we show the Father we

love Him—by keeping
these commands (John 14:21, 23). Love and serve God first to
better love and serve each
other. It is by being rooted in this truth—and understanding the
critical order in which
Jesus encapsulated the commandments of God—that our service
to others can be blessed
and sustained.
Again, Jesus lived and modeled the truth he taught. He is the
perfect role model of
servant leadership (Blanchard & Hodges, 2005). Stevens (2006),
for example, noted that
although one of Jesus’ messianic titles is “the servant,” his
service was rooted in his
obedience to the will of the Father (p. 52). Similarly, Stark
(2005) posits that everything
Jesus did related to what the Father was doing, that Jesus’
activity flowed as the Father
directed. This is Biblical servant leadership. As Borek, Lovett,
& Towns (2005) remind
The Greatest 8

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