A RIGHT TO BE A MODEL SERVANT
By Dennis Burns
ICE BREAKER
Do you like your job? If you could choose again your vocation, what career would you choose?
It is unlikely that anyone would choose the vocation of being a servant. The whole idea of servitude
seems diametrically opposed to North American culture. Most of us would likely choose a vocation that
would lead to a management position or some other profession with great financial rewards.
JESUS’ VIEW OF A MODEL SERVANT
Matthew 20:26-28, New King James Version
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
What did Jesus teach is the true position of one who seeks greatness in the kingdom of God?
Jesus taught that whoever desires to become great must be a servant.
How did Jesus teach us to be servants? Jesus taught this principle both in word and in deed, for He
did not come to be served, but to serve. Jesus’ example of a model servant was a life of serving, giving,
and surrender of personal will.
THE SOUL OF THE MODEL SERVANT
I Thessalonians 2:3-12, NKJV
3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing
men, but God who tests our hearts.
5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is
witness.
6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as
apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also
our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to
any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among
you who believe;
11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own
children,
12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
What was Paul’s testimony to the Thessalonians regarding his pure character and lack of false
pretense? Paul stated clearly in verse 3 that he came without “error or uncleanness, nor was it in
deceit.” Paul emphasized the purity of his motives.
Was Paul concerned with pleasing his fellow man or with pleasing God? Paul wrote, “not as
pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” As a model servant, Paul recognized the greater
accountability he had to God over his responsibility toward mankind.
What was Paul’s testimony concerning covetousness or the use of flattery? He reminded them
that he used no flattering words to gain their approval, and neither was he covetous. Jesus warned of
“false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew
7:15, NKJV). But Paul did not come seeking the glory of mankind or seeking the applause and approval
of people. He was a model servant who made no demands upon the Thessalonians for his own care.
Galatians 1:10, NKJV
1
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a
bondservant of Christ.
II Timothy 4:2-4, NKJV
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because
they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
THE MODEL SERVANT IS GENTLE NOT BURDENSOME
How did Paul portray his gentle influence toward the Thessalonians? He illustrated his gentle
manner toward them like a nursing mother is toward her child. He desired to gently nurture them with
“milk.” Paul illustrated the proper attitude of a model servant toward people over whom he has
responsibility and oversight.
Do we see any desire in Paul’s words to just have his way, or to force only his ideas on the
Thessalonians? Actually, we see the opposite of this. Paul’s greatest desire was for them to please
God in their actions and attitudes.
Acts 20:28-31, NKJV
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,
to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after
themselves.
31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with
tears.
Of what did Paul warn the leaders of the Asian churches? He warned them to be careful and gentle
as overseers of the church, calling them shepherds who would lead the believers and not drive them.
Model servants lead and not drive people. He further warned them of others who would come to hurt,
scatter, and destroy the people of the flock.
II Timothy 2:24-26, NKJV
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they
may know the truth,
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him
to do his will.
What qualities did Paul attribute to the model servant? The model servant will be gentle, able to
teach, and patiently correct with humility those who oppose them.
I Peter 5:1-4, NKJV
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and
also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God, which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for
dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
In Peter’s words of counsel for the model servant, what familiar tone using the same words as
Paul did Peter use to illustrate the model servant? Peter used the word “shepherd” and he
counseled leaders not to force their ways on the believers—not acting as “lords over those entrusted to
you, but being examples to the flock.” Peter illustrated the model servant as one who leads and does
not drive or force.
2
What is the reward of the model servant? When the Chief Shepherd appears the model servant will
receive an unfading “crown of glory.”
THE MODEL SERVANT EXHORTS AS A LOVING FATHER
How did Paul describe his exhortation to the Thessalonians? He described his exhortation as that
of a loving father.
When a father exhorts in gentleness, is it always painless to the child? No, in fact even gentle
exhortation can sometimes involve pain. But, a loving father will not hesitate to exhort and correct a
wayward child.
Proverbs 13:24, NKJV
24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
What did the wise man Solomon say regarding the discipline of children? If a parent loves his or
her children he or she will discipline them promptly to correct their wrongs.
Hebrews 12:6-7, NKJV
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not
chasten?
How does the Lord treat those whom He loves? The Lord will chasten and correct His children when
necessary because He loves them.
How does this pattern illustrate the model servant? The model servant will be like the Lord and will
lovingly chasten and lead by example just as Jesus did.
We have the right to be a model servant, and the best way to be a model servant is to follow the example
of Jesus, and others such as Paul and Peter who led others gently in the ways of God and showed a
godly example of life.
CLOSING CHORUS
To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus,
On earth I long to be like Him.
All through life’s journey,
From earth to glory,
I only ask to be like Him.
3
A RIGHT TO BE A MODEL SERVANT
By Dennis Burns
JESUS’ VIEW OF A MODEL SERVANT
Matthew 20:26-28, New King James Version
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave —
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
THE SOUL OF THE MODEL SERVANT
I Thessalonians 2:3-12, NKJV
3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing
men, but God who tests our hearts.
5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness — God is
witness.
6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as
apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also
our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to
any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among
you who believe;
11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own
children,
12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Galatians 1:10, NKJV
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a
bondservant of Christ.
II Timothy 4:2-4, NKJV
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because
they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
THE MODEL SERVANT IS GENTLE NOT BURDENSOME
Acts 20:28-31, NKJV
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,
to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after
themselves.
31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with
tears.
II Timothy 2:24-26, NKJV
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they
may know the truth,
4
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him
to do his will.
I Peter 5:1-4, NKJV
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and
also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God, which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for
dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
THE MODEL SERVANT EXHORTS AS A LOVING FATHER
Proverbs 13:24, NKJV
24 He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
Hebrews 12:6-7, NKJV
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not
chasten?
CLOSING CHORUS
To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus,
On earth I long to be like Him.
All through life’s journey,
From earth to glory,
I only ask to be like Him.
5