1. Agree on the outcome
What does success look like, and why does it matter? Ask what the other person is trying to accomplish before assuming you know.
WEEK 04 · SERVANT LEADERSHIP
Lead
by serving.
What does serving people actually require of a leader? Explore how we can take responsibility for others’ good—at work, at home, and among friends.
01 / SINCE LAST WEEK
What’s one step you took this week without knowing exactly how it would turn out?
02 / BUILDER’S TABLE
Anyone working through some tough problems right now?
03 / OPEN THE WORD
What does serving people actually require of a leader?
Lead by serving · Mark 10:35–45
The situation
Jesus and His disciples are traveling toward Jerusalem. Just before this conversation, He tells them He will be condemned, killed, and rise again. James and John then ask for places of honor beside Him. The other disciples become angry, and Jesus gathers them to explain what greatness means among His followers.
The “cup” and “baptism” point to the suffering ahead. Jesus connects leadership with service, and His own service with giving His life for others.
Read Mark 10:35–45
The full passage is below. Highlighted verses 42–45 show Jesus’ call to serve and the example He gives.
10:35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”
10:36 He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
10:37 They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your glory.”
10:38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
10:39 They said to him, “We are able.” Jesus said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;
10:40 but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.”
10:41 When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant toward James and John.
10:42 KEY VERSE Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
10:43 KEY VERSE But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.
10:44 KEY VERSE Whoever of you wants to become first among you shall be bondservant of all.
10:45 KEY VERSE For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
World English Bible (public domain). Read the full chapter →
Why lead by serving?
Jesus calls His followers to use influence for others’ good. He grounds that call in His own life: He came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. His death saves us; our service is a response to His grace. We follow Him by caring for the people He puts in our lives.
A servant leader uses their influence, effort, and any authority they have for the good of others.
You can practice this with employees, colleagues, peers, customers, family, and friends. A title isn’t required. Among equals, leadership can mean taking initiative, offering help, and keeping your commitments while respecting the other person’s choices.
What does it look like?
- Listen. Understand what someone needs before deciding how to help.
- Take responsibility. Address problems, keep promises, and own your contribution when things go wrong.
- Equip. Share information, resources, and opportunities that help others grow.
- Tell the truth with care. Have the difficult conversation when avoiding it would leave someone worse off.
- Share credit and ownership. Make room for other people’s ideas, decisions, and success.
A tension to explore: Serving someone’s good won’t always mean giving them what they want. Honest feedback, clear boundaries, and room to learn can all be acts of service.
Discuss
- Who has led you in a way that made you feel both supported and challenged? What did they actually do?
- What changes when you measure leadership by others’ good, as Jesus describes in verses 42–45?
- How can you tell whether you’re serving someone or trying to earn their approval?
- When does helping become rescuing—and keep someone from growing?
- What responsibility or conversation have you avoided that would serve someone else?
Watch: John Maxwell on servant leadership
A short Minute with Maxwell video on servant leadership.
What would serving look like in your world?
Think about the people you work with and the people closest to you. How could you use your influence to help them succeed?
Put service into practice
| Who? | What service could look like | Discuss |
|---|---|---|
| Peers & colleagues | Share information and credit, keep commitments, and offer help without taking over. | How could you help a colleague succeed when there’s nothing in it for you? |
| Employees & people you supervise | Set clear expectations, remove obstacles, give honest feedback, and make room for decisions. | Does this person need more support—or more room to take ownership? |
| Your boss | Understand their priorities, flag problems early, and offer solutions. Disagree respectfully when needed. | How can you serve your boss while being honest about a decision you disagree with? |
| Friends & family | Listen before fixing, share everyday responsibilities, and follow through without needing recognition. | What would someone close to you find helpful—and have you asked them? |
Keep these ideas in mind
- Serve their good. What helps someone may differ from what they want in the moment.
- Ask before assuming. Understand the need before offering your solution.
- Help people grow. Support their judgment and ownership rather than becoming necessary for every decision.
- Care and accountability belong together. Honest feedback, clear expectations, and reasonable boundaries can be acts of service.
Where does it get difficult?
- When someone takes credit for your work or doesn’t return your help.
- When deadlines and business results compete with someone’s need for support.
- When serving requires a difficult conversation, a firm “no,” or admitting your own mistake.
- When you have given so much at work that your family gets what’s left.
Discuss: Which situation is hardest for you? What would serving well look like without avoiding responsibility or taking on more than you can sustain?
Why might we hesitate?
- Fear of being used: “Will people take advantage of me?”
- Fear of losing authority: “Will they still respect me if I serve them?”
- Pressure to deliver: “Wouldn’t it be faster to do it myself?”
- Need for recognition: “What if nobody notices what I contribute?”
- Uncertainty about helping: “What if my help isn’t wanted?”
Discuss: Which hesitation do you recognize in yourself? Is it pointing to a real boundary you need—or something you need to let go of?
Bring it home: Who is one person you could serve differently this week, and what would you actually do?
04 / THE BUSINESS IDEA
Have you given the other person what they need to succeed?
Delegation & shared ownership
When work involves other people, good intentions need clear agreements. Whether you’re delegating to an employee, collaborating with a colleague, helping a peer, or guiding a customer, you can help them move forward with clarity and confidence.
Use these four questions to turn an offer of help into something useful:
2. Clarify ownership
Who is responsible for what, and which decisions belong to whom? Give employees appropriate authority; agree on responsibilities with peers; respect a customer’s choices.
3. Offer useful support
What information, tools, training, introduction, or practical help would make a difference? Ask before taking over.
4. Agree on a check-in
When should we reconnect, what will we review, and how can either person ask for help along the way?
A practical Business Lab exercise for delegation and collaboration.
Put it in a real situation
- With an employee: Explain the result you need, provide tools and training, and agree on decisions they can make independently.
- With a colleague or peer: Ask where they’re stuck, agree on each person’s contribution, and follow through on yours.
- With a customer: Understand their goal, explain the options and trade-offs honestly, and make the next step clear.
Repeatedly doing everything for someone can leave them dependent on you. Good support helps them build capability and ownership. With peers and customers, offer help and agree on next steps together.
Discuss
- Think of someone you work with or serve. Which would help most right now: a clearer outcome, clearer ownership, better support, or a check-in?
- Someone keeps coming back to you for every decision. What could be unclear, missing, or difficult for them—and what might you need to change?
- How could you help a peer succeed without taking over or acting like their boss?
05 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Make someone’s next step easier
Choose one person to serve this week. Ask what would be useful, then commit to a specific action that supports their good.
“This week, I’ll serve __________ by __________. I’ll ask what they need and follow up on __________.”
It might be an honest conversation, a clearer agreement, a shared resource, or help with something they’re carrying.