THE CHRISTIAN
SERVANT LEADER
Chapter 1
Introduction
But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you from the darkness into his own marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)
God commissions all who believe in him to serve and seek his will in all things. Faith makes this possible. So faith stands above all, enabling us through his grace to seek truth and serve as good leaders and followers. The intent here, in this work, is to strengthen this discipleship through the encouragement of servant leadership.
Purpose
Each of us, believing in Jesus Christ, are priests, each responsible for service as we are called, individually and collectively. The church laity and its pastors constitute Christ's kingdom on earth, the essential human element of all its successes and failures. This book is designed to foster the distinctive, loving brotherhood required, and promote the constructive service to which we are all commissioned.
The purpose here is to explain and promote the role of servant leadership in Christian congregations, and present related guidance in the various church functions. The aim is to engender a philosophy of individual importance and the value of each member's active involvement, however modest. In God's sight all are important, even to the very least one. His spirit enables us all to serve and be leaders. So we address not only existing officers, but more importantly, all followers as potential leaders. The message is also directed to pastors who as our spiritual counselors must be equally, if not more fully, informed and supportive of servant leadership if it is to be a viable central instrument of church management.
Perspective on our focus may be gained from the order of forces involvedīGod, human effort, skills and talents, guidance and direction. We are intent here on aiding the last fourth dimension, the responsibilities and...