St. Francis
If you are forming a new small group especially for this six-week study of servant leadership, you may want to agree upon some group expectations. For example:
• Confidentiality. It’s important that the comments people make in the group are not repeated outside the group. That way, group members can feel safe sharing their experiences.
• Preparation. Discuss whether your group members will read the passages and prepare responses to questions before the group meeting. (Some of the readings are longer than others.)
• Discussion. The provided questions are suggestions to spark discussion. But your group may come up with its own questions and insights, and those can be a rich source of discussion, too.
• Time. Try to stick to the allotted time for your meeting.
• Refreshments. Discuss whether your group wants to have refreshments; if the group does, consider how to share the responsibility of providing the refreshments.
What Is Servant Leadership?
This week, we look at several readings to consider our own answers to these questions: What is servant leadership? And how am I a servant for Christ?
• John 13:3-17
• John 12:1-8
• Mark 10:35-45
• GOSPEL: John 20:19-31
Discussion Questions
If Jesus arrived at your home today, took off his outer robe, and started to wash your feet, how would you respond? What does your response reveal about servant leadership?
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Describe a time when you have performed a similar service for someone (a sick relative, a child, a spouse, a coworker, a friend at school). How did you feel? How did they respond?
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In several passages, Jesus describes how his disciples must be “slaves to all.” (In his culture, slaves were more like servants who chose to follow a master; in return, they were well cared for.) Describe a Christian leader in your life who has best exemplified this servant quality. What effects has this leader had on people?
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How are Christian leaders different from other leaders?
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In the gospel reading, Jesus tells the disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” How is this statement empowering? How is it intimidating? Is Jesus simply stating a reality about human relationships?
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How are you a servant for Christ at St. Francis? What ministries do you enjoy? Which would you like to try? How do you feel called to serve?
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Week 2 (4/22)
Identifying Servant Leaders
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. 1 Corinthians 15:9, 10
In our lives, leaders are identified all the time. We get new supervisors at work; parents watch their children develop into adults and take on leadership roles in the family; sports teams vote for captains; the country elects a new President. These transitions can be joyous … and occasionally jarring.
This week we look at a few Bible passages related to the selection of servant leaders—sometimes unlikely ones.
• 1 Samuel 16: 1-23 – 17:1-37
• Acts 6:1-7
• Acts 9:1-22
• GOSPEL: John 21:1-14
Discussion Questions
The passage from 1 Samuel describes God’s selection of David as the next king, David’s various services to his family and the current king, Saul, and his offer to take on Goliath.
How does God prepare David to be the king of Israel before David actually becomes king?
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What qualities of a servant leader does David exhibit? What qualities do you admire in him?
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In the passage from chapter 6 of Acts, the 12 disciples ask the early Christian community to choose “seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” to help with church duties. Describe a leadership selection process you have witnessed (elections, appointments, etc.) and consider what qualities the community looked for in a leader. How do we determine what qualities a leader should have?
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One of the most unlikely of God’s choices of leaders was Saul/Paul, who was on the road to Damascus, “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,” when Jesus spoke to him and converted him into a great evangelist. At first, others were shocked that he was chosen.
Think of unlikely leaders you have known. It might be a prodigal son or daughter who suddenly blossoms; an unpopular student at school who gets elected to the student council; a quiet, unassuming coworker promoted to management. How did people respond to the new leader? How did the unlikely leader change in others’ eyes, if ever?
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In the gospel passage for Easter 3, Simon Peter says to his friends, “I am going fishing,” and they respond, “We will go with you.” And after “the disciple whom Jesus loved” recognizes Jesus on the beach, Peter jumps in the water to swim to Jesus without any summons from the Lord.
Think of times when you have followed people without their even asking … or when others have followed you before you even realized you were the leader. Describe the situation. What made you follow that person? Or, if you were the leader, consider why others have followed you without your even asking them.
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Have you ever just jumped in (metaphorically speaking) to some task or relationship or ministry for the sake of Jesus? What makes people jump into the deep end, so to speak, to reach him?
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Week 3 (4/29)
Passing Leadership On
This week we examine a number of passages related to leaders passing on responsibilities to other leaders. We consider how the transition of responsibilities from one leader to another is related to shared ministry and servant leadership.
• Numbers 27:12-23
• John 3:22-30
• Luke 10:1-6
• GOSPEL: John 10: 22-30
Discussion Questions
Poor Moses… First he has to wander in the desert with complaining, disobedient Israelites for forty years, and then God informs Moses that he will not reach the land of milk and honey with his people due to his one rebellious act against God. And how does Moses react? He asks God to “appoint someone over the congregation.”
What qualities of servant leadership does Moses display in this passage?
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In the passage from the Gospel of John, John the Baptist’s followers tell him, “[Jesus] is baptizing, and all are going to him.” How does
John respond? What does John mean by “He must increase, and I must decrease”?
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Discuss John the Baptist’s use of a wedding metaphor to describe Jesus and himself. What does the comparison reveal about our relationships with Jesus and with each other?
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What are some common reactions you have seen when a new coworker or schoolmate or church member has arrived on the scene? How do others react to the change?
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Jesus is frequently shown choosing disciples and giving them directions. In the passage from Luke, Jesus appoints 70 leaders and gives them instructions. Imagine your response if Jesus showed up in person and gave you explicit directions such as the ones in this passage. How might you respond?
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In the same passage from Luke, Jesus tells the seventy, “I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.” Describe a time when you have felt like a lamb in the midst of wolves. What was the experience like for you? How did you survive?
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Even while sending out the seventy to prepare the way for him, Jesus tells them, “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” What might this instruction indicate about our relationship to God and the work of the kingdom?
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In the appointed Gospel reading for this week, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” How does following Jesus make you a leader for His kingdom? How might you be called to increase or decrease for His sake?
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Week 4 (5/6)
The Loving Servant Leader
In the move Jerry Maguire, the title character, a sports agent, loses his high-profile job when he sends a memo to his whole company espousing love, not greed, as the crucial guiding value in sports management. He manages to retain only one client, Rod Tidwell, who keeps telling Jerry, “Show me the money!” But in the end, Jerry and Rod teach each other about love—love of work, love of family, and love of other people.
• GOSPEL: John 13:31-35
• Luke 1:26-55
• Ruth 1:1-18; 2:1-13
• John 21:15-23
Discussion Questions
Many times in the Gospels, Jesus exhorts us to love God and love one another. In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus explains that, as the song says, “they will know we are Christians by our love.”
Describe a leader in your life (whether a Christian leader or another type of leader) whose guiding principle was love. What were people’s reactions to this leader?
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Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s annunciation of the coming Messiah is considered an example of perfect obedience. How are obedience and love related? What are some examples of obedience and love working together in your own life?
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In the passage known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), Mary gives Elizabeth a long response to Elizabeth’s greeting. What do Mary’s words here reveal about her relationship with God?
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What qualities does Ruth have in common with Mary?
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If you have ever followed someone in blind faith (a spouse moving to a new city or changing careers, a sports coach with different training ideas, or a parent, for example), describe what that experience was like for you.
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In the second passage from John, we revisit the beach party with Jesus and the disciples, joining in when Jesus asks Simon Peter three times, “Do you love me?” And each time Peter says yes, Jesus responds, “Feed my sheep.”
Which sheep do you think Jesus wants you to feed at St. Francis? In your family life? At work? In your community?
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Who or what feeds you spiritually?
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How do you respond to the rest of the passage, in which Jesus tells Peter that he will no longer go wherever he wishes, but will be taken where he does not wish to go?
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Week 5 (5/13)
The Imperfect Servant Leader
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.-- 2 Corinthians 12:9
There’s some good news and some bad news. The good news is that God chooses imperfect servant leaders and works through them. The bad news is that we’re the imperfect ones. Or maybe it’s not bad news. This week we look at very human, imperfect, but lovable servants.
• GOSPEL: John 14:23-29
• Exodus Chapter 3 and 4:1-17
• Jonah Chapters 3-4
• Matthew 26:31-75
• Luke 10:38-41
• 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Discussion questions
In the Gospel passage for this Sunday, Jesus says that those who love him will keep his word. He also says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” How does being troubled or afraid affect our ability to keep the word of Jesus?
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In the book of Exodus, God tells Moses he needs to go to Egypt to free the Israelites, and Moses lists a series of objections. What emotions underlie Moses’ objections, and how does God convince him to go?
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In one of the more humorous accounts in the Bible, the book of Jonah portrays a prophet who would prefer that God slay all the Ninevites for their sins rather than save them; yet Jonah is “angry enough to die” when the tree shading him perishes.
What are Jonah’s weaknesses, and how is God’s power made perfect in Jonah’s weaknesses? Who benefits from the choice of Jonah?
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Just before the Last Supper, Peter tells Jesus he never will deny him. And why would Peter? He was the first one to answer when Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” He shows a fierce desire to protect Jesus in other passages. He’s a natural leader. But then he denies Jesus—three times. Try to imagine yourself in Peter’s situation. Why might he have denied Jesus? How might that serve God’s purpose?
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When Martha complains to Jesus that he should tell Mary to help Martha with the cooking, we see another very human servant. She’s serving, but she’s complaining that Mary is doing nothing but listening to Jesus.
Describe a time when you or someone you know resisted the expected chore or service and did something else that brought you to the feet of Jesus to listen.
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If you can recall a time when you consciously resisted the service of God or being identified as his disciple, explore privately or with the group what thoughts or feelings led you to resist the call to serve or to witness for Christ.
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Consider how God might be using your particular weaknesses or imperfections as an instrument to show his grace. How is God’s power made perfect in your weakness? Share if you feel comfortable.
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What is the difference between rejoicing in our weaknesses as a sign of God’s strength and giving in to our weaknesses?
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Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. --1 Corinthians 1:26-29
How would you explain to non-Christians your attraction to belonging to a group of people Paul calls foolish, weak, low, and despised?
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Week 6 (5/20)
Servant Leaders as Community Builders: Collaboration and Compromise vs. Competition
As Christians, we serve to give glory to God and to build up the Church, the community of Christ. This week, we examine how Christian servant leaders can use collaboration and compromise instead of competition to achieve the work of God.
• GOSPEL: John 17:20-26
• Acts Chapter 10
• Acts 4:32-37
• Acts 15:36-41
Discussion Questions
The Gospel reading for this Sunday drops us in the middle of Jesus’ long prayer about his disciples. In this passage, Jesus prays that the disciples “may be one” as Jesus and God the Father are one. How do you interpret Jesus’ desire for us to be “one”?
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What other words or passages from this selection grab your attention? What do they say to you?
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The Book of Acts chronicles the experiences of the first disciples and the early churches. In Chapter 10, Peter repeatedly experiences a vision that tells him it’s okay to abandon strict Mosaic laws about eating and circumcision and spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. “God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.”
Describe a time when you or someone you know has experienced a similar conversion in your opinion about a religious matter.
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What experiences have you seen of strong collaboration and compromise in church life?
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In Acts 4:32-37, Luke writes that “those who believed were of one heart and soul.” Have you belonged to a group that were so united, so collaborative, that you were of “one heart and soul?” What was the experience like? How did the group encourage collaboration?
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On the other hand, if you have experienced communities in which the members compete with one another and rarely collaborate or compromise, describe what life in that community is like.
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The fight between Paul and Barnabas can remind us of strife at home, at church, at work, or at school. Think of examples of conflict that led to some kind of split. Discuss whether you think the split was beneficial and led by the Holy Spirit.
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Are there areas in your church life in which you would like more collaboration and compromise? How could you begin to bring that about?
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