One of the greatest needs of the local church is the development of a culture of serving. In this consumerism society in which we live, it is often expected that the church is here to serve me and meet my needs, rather than me serving the church. The Bible is clear that we are one body in Christ and every member of that body has a responsibility and role to fulfill based on the primary spiritual gifts assigned to them by the Holy Spirit. The Bible also teaches the manner in which we are to serve. We are to serve as those who are living a Spirit-filled life evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit displayed in our behavior. Unfortunately, this culture of serving is lacking in most local churches. We have succumbed to the world’s idea that it is all about me. We tend to have a self-centered view.
A culture of serving is best developed by having a follower mentality. It must be understood that there is no hierarchy in the church. There is one head and His name is Jesus. However, we are all given different roles. Every role is that of a follower; following Jesus. The church is structured with God-given leadership roles, such as the role of pastor. The scripture is clear in how we are to respond to those in such leadership roles. However, the leaders are also followers. Sometimes, followers are leaders as they use their giftedness to complete various needed tasks. Understanding that we are all followers serving in various roles, helps us to better respect one another in our various roles and increases a culture of serving within the church.
Jesus set the greatest example of what it means to be a servant. Jesus was also a follower. Over and over in the Gospel of John we see Jesus stating that He came to do the will of the Father. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and to fulfill the mission that the Father sent Him to do. In John 13:1-30 we learn of the account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. It is in this context that we learn several things about being a servant.
The Love of the Servant. In verse one we read, “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”[1] There is no greater love than the love of Jesus. Think about what Jesus came to do. Think about the suffering of the cross. It was all because of love. Jesus came to this earth to die on the cross because He loves you. When it comes to serving, it must be understood that the thing that drives us, the thing that compels us, the thing that motivates us; is love. First Corinthians 13 is known as the ‘love chapter.’ In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 we find these words: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”[2] I can do a lot of different good things, but if I do not love people, the good I do is meaningless. You can volunteer and serve in multiple areas within the church, but if you do not love, it is worthless. John 13:35 says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”[3] Loving one another is not just in words, but in action. Love is demonstrated in how you treat others. Think about it. Can you honestly say that you love those you go to church with? Does it show in how you treat them? Can you honestly say that you love the lost sinner who is in desperate need of Christ? Does it show in how you lovingly and passionately share the Gospel with them? A true servant is one who loves the way Jesus loves. Can that be said of you?
The Humility of the Servant. Verses 3-5 tells us something remarkable: “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”[4] Just think about what is going on here. The creator of the universe. The Word that became flesh. The incarnate of God. He knelt down on the ground and washed His disciples’ feet. Jesus lowered Himself and did what few people would ever do. Jesus taught us that there is no task that is beneath us. Jesus also taught us that there is no one that we are above. We may have different roles as we together follow Christ. Some may be in the role of a leader. But, no role is more important than another. No one is above others. Ephesians 5:18-21 talks about how we are to encourage one another as we worship the Lord together. In verse 21 we read, “submitting to one another in the fear of God.”[5] To submit to one another is to regard others as greater than ourselves. It is to value others the way God values us. It must be understood that no one is over anybody in the church. We may have certain roles that places us in a role of leading others. However, leading others is not being ‘over’ them. No one is ranked higher than another. No one is more important than another. None of us have any right to ‘lord over’ others. We are all called to submission. We are called to be humble servants. For me, serving in the role of pastor, I work hard to practice being a servant. For example, I am not the children’s ministry director or the music leader, or the senior adult leader, or the youth leader, etc. Yes, I have a responsibility as pastor to oversee the work and to cast the vision. But, I am not to ‘lord over’ those serving in other roles. Therefore, I don’t tell the children’s director how to run the children’s ministry or the worship leader which songs we sing or which instruments we use or don’t use. I, as the pastor, submit to their expertise. Instead of saying, “let me tell you what to do”, I say, “how can I help you.” As pastor, I cast the vision, I provide the overall framework and direction of the church. The staff and other ministry leaders, serve within that framework in order to fulfill the vision. Those staff members and ministry leaders then have the freedom to do what they believe is best to fulfill that vision. As pastor, I trust them to do that. I then become a follower, as I follow their lead in the details of their specific areas of ministry. That’s what it looks like to submit to one another. We submit to one another in the various roles that God has given us, within the structure that God has provided for the church as laid out in scripture. This is what servants do. They humble themselves and submit to one another.
The Blessing of the Servant. Jesus tells His disciples that they are to follow His example of being a servant and by doing so they will be blessed. Verse 15-17 says, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”[6] There is no greater blessing than the blessing received by serving others. When we live as Jesus taught us to live, we are blessed. There is something rather enjoyable about serving others. I love when I have opportunity to follow someone’s lead and just serve. I enjoy just simply doing ministry. I love the opportunities to do things outside of the office. For example, I enjoy helping others with various church events. I enjoy moving the chairs and setting things up. I enjoy cleaning up after the event. I enjoy doing hands on physical labor. I enjoy serving. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. It fills you with joy. It gives you a sense of belonging. Serving is fun! We should know that in the ministry of the church, there is no task that is smaller or bigger than another. Every task is important. Every task is big. Every task is for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. Therefore, it is a blessing to serve in every way, because it is all for His Kingdom and for His glory! You see, I don’t have to serve. I get to serve! It is a blessing to be a servant.
The Opposition against the Servant. Jesus reveals in verses 21-30 that Judas would betray Him. When a servant serves faithfully, there will always be opposition. Why? Because when we serve, we are fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. Fulfilling that purpose is what the Holy Spirit uses to draw the lost to Christ. Therefore, Satan will always oppose the servant. He is perfectly fine with those who ‘lord over others’ and exalts themselves above others. Satan knows when we are focused on ourselves and our own egos and our own selfish desires and comforts, we have lost focus on our purpose. When we lose our purpose, we have lost sight of Jesus. When that happens, we become a hindrance to the Gospel rather than proclaimers of the Gospel. However, when we are fulfilling our purpose as servants, Satan will use everything he possibly can to oppose us and hinder us. Because there is nothing more powerful than a church filled with true servants of God. This opposition should not discourage the servant. On the contrary, opposition should embolden the servant to serve more faithfully; knowing that Jesus Himself also faced opposition.
It is my prayer that in the church we would see a culture of serving. May God help us to get over ourselves. May we repent of our sins and be the servants that God intends for us to be, following in the footsteps of Jesus.
[1] The New King James Version (Jn 13:1). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Co 13:1–3). (2025). Crossway Bibles.
[3] The New King James Version (Jn 13:35). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[4] The New King James Version (Jn 13:3–5). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[5] The New King James Version (Eph 5:21). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[6] The New King James Version (Jn 13:15–17). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
Pastor Chris Noland 