C.A.C Sunday School Manual For February 22, 2025 Lesson 6 : Topic - Servant Leadership

C.A.C Sunday School Manual For February 22, 2025 Lesson 6 : Topic - Servant Leadership

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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria And Overseas

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Theme : PREPARING GOD'S PEOPLE for LEADERSHIP

JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2025

FEB. 23, 2025.

LESSON 6

TOPIC: SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Memory Scripture

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35).

Servant leadership means serving others selflessly, inspiring greatness, and empowering them to reach their full potential, rather than seeking to be served.

BRIEF COMMENT

Then Jesus lived among us, He set an example for us all to follow as a servant leader. He washed His disciples' feet, submitted to God's desire to serve them, and gave Himself up as a ransom by dying on the Cross to save mankind. He directly verified the prophecy that the Messiah would be a servant (Isa. 42:1), written years before He was born. Therefore, Matthew 10:28, 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, and Galatians 5:13 affirm that the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve. Situations in human leadership that ultimately highlight God's emphasis on servanthood run counter to what the majority of leaders preach and teach. Christ exemplified servant-leadership, and other biblical leaders imparted valuable teachings in line with Jesus' warning, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all" (Mk. 9:35).

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS

*Mon. 17:* Set Apart For The Task (Rom. 1:1-6)

*Tue. 18:* Surrendered For The Task (Matt. 20:28-34)

*Wed. 19:* Skilled For The Task (Jer. 3:15)

*Thur. 20:* Served With The Best Ability (Num. 14:24)

*Fri. 21:* Sent To Save Lives (Lk. 7:12-16)

*Sat. 22:* See Leadership styles In Others (Php. 1:1-6)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

i. In the Christian community, we should embrace the spirit of servanthood, as servant-leaders to our brethren.

ii. A servant-leader finds identity and trust in Christ, giving glory to God and credit to others in success.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES:* Isaiah 42:1-4; 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 ..

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

AIM:* To show servant-leaders as those carrying Christ's Spirit, influence and transformation into the world.

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this lesson, learners should be:

i. better showing appreciation for Christ's sacrificial efforts by emulating Him as the perfect Model;

ii. exhibiting leadership with a shepherd's heart that prioritises God's Kingdom and His people over personal desires; and

iii. working well with others, acknowledging their importance, and showing tolerance and maturity in leadership.

INTRODUCTION

TEXTUAL SOURCE: Isaiah 53; Mark 10:42-45; Philippians 2:3-8

Last week's lesson on Samuel and Daniel highlighted the importance of honesty and good character in leadership, with hope f for a positive impact. Glory be to God!

This week focuses on Servant-leadership, seen in biblical figures like Moses, David, Paul and Jesus, who prioritised followers' needs through encouragement and support. A leader's heart shapes his/her life, driving passion for the Lord and service in His Kingdom. To be a servant-leader, one must prioritise being a servant first and then, a leader. Emulating Jesus' humility, Who washed His disciples' feet, exemplifies true servant- leadership. Chosen leaders must seek God's guidance, adopting His passion and humility, committed to the rescue mission despite challenges-distinct from the innate desire for self-glory.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. THE PORTRAIT ISAIAH PRESENTS

II. THE PARAMOUNT EXAMPLE OF JESUS

LESSON EXPOSITION

I. THE PORTRAIT ISAIAH PRESENTS (Isa. 53:1-12)

...He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (v. 12).

a) Isa. 53:1-12 present a vivid portrait of leadership through the suffering Servant, prefiguring Christ's sacrificial leadership.

b) v. 1: Leaders need spiritual insight to understand and fulfil their roles effectively-...to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

c) vv. 3-7; Leadership is sacrificial. The true leader is he who sacrifices himself for the benefit of others, willing to endure suffering and humiliation.

d) vv. 4-5: God equips servant-leaders to be willing to suffer for the benefit of those they lead as mirrored in Christ's sacrificial love.

e) v. 9: The significance of integrity and righteousness in leadership cannot be overemphasised. The leader must remain faithful to God's will despite facing opposition and persecution.

f) v. 10: Divine appointment/calling: Leaders are appointed by God for specific purposes. Don't go, if you aren't called.

g) v. 11: Servant-leaders prioritise the needs of others above theirs, as reflected in Christ's humility and selflessness.

h) vv. 10-12: Isaiah depicts a leader who displays resilience, steadfast faith and commitment in the face of opposition and adversity. Such also intercedes for others and bear their burdens (v. 12).

i) Isaiah's depiction of the suffering servant shows that God supports servant-leadership. Leaders who follow God's plans and possess His qualities will achieve their goals and earn His approval.

*II. THE PARAMOUNT EXAMPLE OF JESUS (Mk. 10:42-45; Php. 2:3-8)*

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Php. 2:5)

a) Mk. 10:42,43: The disciples' nature contrasted with Jesus' model of servant-leadership; they sought power for selfish reasons. Jesus establishes the foundation of godly leadership, different from the worldly system of dominance (Exod. 1:15-22; Matt. 20:25).

b) v. 43: Leaders should emulate Jesus, the humble Servant (1 Cor. 16:15- 16; Eph. 1:20-23).

c) vv. 44-45; Jesus' sacrificial service shows that leaders shouldn't elicit submission through force but through their examples of serving others (cf. 1 Pet. 2:21).

d) Php. 2:3-5: Leaders should imbibe Christ's humility (Eph. 1:20-22). Instead of selfish ambition, cultivate Jesus' selflessness (cf. 1 Cor. 4:6,18,19).

e) vv. 6-8: Jesus voluntarily sacrificed His all for us (vv. 6,7; Heb. 2:14). His humble obedience to God, even unto death, despite His divine nature, should be emulated (Heb. 5:8-9).

f) Jesus is our perfect model with respect to servant-leadership. He perfectly fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering Servant and sets us examples, if we are going to do leadership exploits like He did. Are you following Him?

LESSONS DERIVED

1. Isaiah's portrayal validates servant-leadership as aligning with God's will. Pray for the grace.

2. Leaders should emulate Jesus, exhibiting His humility, sacrificial service, and obedience to God's will.

QUESTIONS

1. Discuss how Jesus portrayed servant-leader's attributes.

2. Do we still have servant-leaders in our churches' today?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1

* Robert K. Greenleaf is often credited with coining the phrase "servant leadership" in the corporate sector in 1970. However, the concept of servant leadership predates Greenleaf's work and finds its roots in the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.

* Jesus exemplified servant leadership through humility, compassion and selflessness during His ministry on earth.

* He invested significant time and effort in training His disciples to lead the early Church, handpicking them, imparting wisdom, and preparing them for their future roles.

* Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for humanity and demonstrated forgiveness, even as He endured suffering on the Cross.

* His life epitomises unparalleled selflessness and remains a timeless example of servant-leadership for We must follow Him!

ANSWER TO QUESTION 2

Your answer.

Servant leadership enriches individuals' lives, builds better societies, and fosters a more just and caring world.

A servant-leader prioritises the growth and well-being of people and their communities.

Servant-leaders share power, prioritise the

needs of others, and facilitate their development and performance.

Servant-leadership is not defined by position, or titles but by an attitude that values people and relationships above all else, recognising their importance for mission success and honouring God and humanity.

Churches lacking these characteristics do not practise servant- leadership and will fail to reflect Christ's example.

APPLICATION

Jesus, Who saved the world, showed that He is the greatest servant-leader ever. In John 13, when the disciples arranged the upper room for the Passover, they forgot to ask a servant to wash the feet of those coming in. This was the usual practice. Surprisingly, when the disciples realised there was no servant, none of them offered to do the job. Any way, they had earlier argued about who was the greatest among them. When Jesus noticed this, He decided to teach them a lesson. So, after dinner, Jesus took off His outer clothes and put on a towel like a servant. Then he washed His disciples' feet with a basin of water and a towel. We must learn from this perfect Model.

CONCLUSION

Being a servant isn't about being special or in charge. It's about how we treat others. Leaders show they care by serving others. Instead of being angry or proud, we should be kind, gracious, and humble. Jesus, the greatest servant leader, taught His followers this. Let's work hard, treating others as we want to be treated by the Lord. Our real reward comes from serving Him.