SAMPLE PARAGRAPHS FROM SECTIONS OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP NOW
Section 3
“A servant leader must not forget that leadership is for the Kingdom of God.”
The leadership of Moses has served as an example to a countless number of leaders. His calling was from God (Exodus 3:1-12). When Moses was called to lead, the Scripture tells us that he was not over-joyed for several reasons (after-all, he had murdered an Egyptian soldier). Moses also felt inadequate to lead because of a speech impediment. But his reason should be a reminder that whatever our imperfections, God is our strength – Our Source – Our El Shaddai. Knowing this should give us comfort; relieve some of the anxiety that many of us still feel; and aid us in stepping up to our call; for God is able and willing to provide the resources for our assignments (God even sent Aaron as a support to Moses).
However, let us keep in mind that Moses was the designated leader for the completion of the assigned purpose – lead the children of Israel out of slavery into the Promise Land. It was Moses who was given the Law of God for the people of God (Exodus 20). It was Moses whom God met face-to-face. It was Moses who performed miraculous signs in the presence of the people. He was an imperfect man called by the perfect God.
Section 4 Required Forgiveness in Servant Leadership
Please God try to forgive those people
Because even if they say those bad things,
They don’t know what they’re doing.
So You could forgive them,
Just like You did those folks a long time ago
When they said terrible things about You.
-Ruby Bridges
This was the daily prayer of a little girl from the South, Ruby Bridges, as she faced a mob while she walked to school. Every morning those people taunted her because they did not want her to integrate their school. Although she was forced to comply to a court order, it made no difference to them. The hate was larger than their love. Her skin color was problematic to them. But for this kindergarten, God was greater than any hate and anyone – a lesson she learned from her Sunday School teacher and parents. She did not consider herself brave; she considered herself loved by God and God loved everyone.
Unlikely leaders are identifiable by how they treat others.
As a young child, her resume read:
- Born in poverty in rural Kosciusko, Mississippi in 1954
- Named after the biblical figure in the Book of Ruth (Orpah)
- Born out of wedlock to a teen-age mother and young father
- Learned to read by age 3
- Raised by a God-fearing, abusive grandmother until the age of 6
- Relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to live in a single-parent home
- Raped by a cousin at the age of 9
- Continued physical and sexual abuse by other male relatives and Mother’s boyfriend
- Ran away from home at the age of 13
- Became pregnant at the age of 14; child died after giving birth
- Sent to live with strict father and stepmom in Nashville, Tennessee
This does not seem to be the resume of a billionaire woman – a media mogul, a giant of a leader in the business world today. But this the beginnings of media mogul OPRAH WINFREY.
Unlikely leaders are ordinary people purposed by an extraordinary God. A reluctant leader, a small, compassionate child, and a determined teen: “What do they have in common?”