23rd July 2017 – Servant leadership – Liam Parker

23^rd July 2017 – Servant leadership – Liam Parker

John 13 vs 1 – 17

Liam first publicly honoured Dan McNabb for his leadership of LIFE. After reading John 13 1-17 Liam shared a personal story about his Drama teacher, Mr Snip good guy. Liam loved acting and was often in  school play as the main character. Liam asked Mr Snip if he could also be the assistant director for the play Grease. He was made assistant director but one day couldn’t make a rehearsal as was doing a driving lesson. He didn’t tell Mr Snip who replied that this wasn’t good enough for an assistant director. Liam went to speak with Mr Snip and went in to his office. Liam sat on the table next to his desk “Hey Mr Snip, you were talking about me?”  He said “get off my table, Liam look, just because you are wearing jeans and the Assistant Director you are here to help young people get the most out of the school play”. Liam’s attitude started to change to become more like Mr Snip who has read the script more times – who knows all the solos –and who notices when someone is not in place.

By being the director he was serving the people around him..

In John 13 1-13 JC is about to be separated from his father in heaven for the first time in eternity – he’s going to experience separation, Everyone is going to abandon him except John. Life is going to get messy for Jesus – even though these people going to leave him – he makes a decision to get down from position of authority and goes to the place of lowly servant and washes the disciples feet  

He does something very simple but very dramatic – Jesus is probably thinking “I’m going to give them a symbol” Through Jesus teaching this form of leadership he is saying this servant leadership is the only form leadership

The bible talks very clearly about people standing in leadership but don’t have the character to handle it.  Jesus knew that being a servant kills selfish ambition and vain conceit.

We all need to get to a place where we are all servant leaders.  When we come to church we come to serve  Through serving you can influence people – because you have served them before

Simons job as Senior Pastor is to create a space for us to be servant leaders – serve the servers. As it says in the bible it is more blessed to give rather than receive. The challenge is when not giving out of cheerful heart.

If you truly become a servant leader – you will experience hardship…Servant leadership takes a lot of effort, to be more patient, give more time to people – keep humbling – let people make mistakes – keep washing people’s feet until the job is done

Serve the coffee because someone might find salvation – keep car parking as someone might find healing

Questions for Small Groups:

How do I get there to get to a place of servant leadership|?

Are you trying to find a love from the people – trying to please them?

Can I endure it – keep serving – what areas of Church can you serve in?

Do you know you are loved?? Does anyone in your group feel unloved by God? Pray for each other to experience more love and speak biblical truths over each other