Meeting guide · command 65

Be Servants

Reject domineering leadership and become a servant, following the Son of Man who gives Himself for others.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Matthew 20:25–28

25 But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

World English Bible

Luke

Luke 22:24–27

24 A dispute also arose among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so with you. Rather, the one who is greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. 27 For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

World English Bible

Amid ambition and arguments about greatness, Jesus contrasts worldly authority with His own presence as one who serves.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. How can service remain genuine rather than becoming another strategy for gaining influence or praise?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Use one area of authority to remove a burden, share credit, listen to someone with less power, or perform a task others are expected to do for you.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

How did you use authority to serve, and what did the action expose about your view of greatness?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Servant King, overturn our ambition. Make our authority protective, generous, and patterned after your self-giving love.

Teach

Jesus does not erase leadership; He transforms its purpose and practice around service and His ransom-giving mission.