Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Servant Leadership

as a means of building up and protecting others, not as a means of controlling and gaining prominence or material advantage for himself (2 Cor. 1028; 2 Cor. 1:24). Paul’s restraint in his use of authority is a remarkable example of his humble, servant spirit. Paul would rather suffer than risk wound ing his children in the faith (2 Cor. 1223-224; 1327). He would rather appeal than command, choosing to deal with people in love and gentle ness rather than “with a rod” (1 Cor. 4:21; 2 Cor. 10:1,2; 1328-10; Gal. 4220). Although he used his authority and power when needed to stop false teachers, his patience with erring converts was extraordinary. He so identified with his converts that their discipline, weakness, and hu miliation became his (2 Cor. 11:29; 12:21; Gal. 4:12). He would lower and sacrifice himself so that he might raise others in faith and maturity (2 Cor. 1127,21; 1329) He sacrificed all personal gain and advantage for others (1 Cor. 10:33). In everything, his converts’ spiritual welfare was foremost in his mind. As a humble servant, Paul avoided self-promotion and self-exalta tion. He always promoted Christ, never himself: “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-ser vants for Jesus sake” (2 Cor. 425). Consider the following example of his humble service. Although he lived in Corinth for a year and a half, he never once mentioned to his new converts his extraordinary experi ence of being taken up to the third heaven to hear “inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak” (2 Cor. 1224). He revealed his heavenly experience some four years later only when he was com pelled to do so because the proud Corinthians had fallen prey to the boasting of false teachers (2 Cor. 1221-13). He didn’t speak of his heav enly experience prior to that time because he knew the Corinthians would have falsely idolized him. Paul wanted them to exalt Christ, not himself. The Corinthians’ sinful propensity to idolize powerful teachers and form groups around them is addressed in the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians. There Paul says, “So then let no one boast in men” (1 Cor. 3221a; cf. 426,7). Paul reminds the Corinthians that he and Apollos are servants, not tin gods: “What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportu nity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who caused the growth” (1 Cor. 326-7).

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