Servant Leadership

Servant Leadership: Forming Public Officials Who Lead Like Jesus

Many in public office wrestle with how to be effective without becoming hard, proud, or power-driven. Servant Leadership is a concise, Scripture-saturated discipleship booklet that shows civil servants what it means to govern as “a minister of God to you for good” by patterning their leadership after Jesus in Matthew 20:25–28.

What this booklet is

• Part of FPIW’s Elected Discipleship Series, created specifically for elected officials and government leaders who want to align their leadership style with a biblical worldview.
• A guided, interactive study built around one key passage—Matthew 20:25–28—unpacking what it means to reject domination, pursue true greatness, and embrace sacrificial service.

Core biblical themes

The booklet walks leaders phrase by phrase through Jesus’ teaching:

• “Do not lord it over them”: Confronts intimidation, arrogance, and power abuse, and calls officials to renounce “lording it over” those they serve.
• “Whoever desires to become great…be your servant”: Redefines greatness as humble, others-focused service rather than personal achievement or status.
• “Whoever desires to be first…be your slave”: Calls leaders to radical humility and voluntary self-emptying, echoing Philippians 2:7 and Christ’s own bondservant posture.
• “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”: Presents Jesus as the model public servant who uses authority to bless, not to take.
• “…and to give His life a ransom for many”: Applies Christ’s sacrificial mindset to public office—laying down comfort, ambition, and self-protection to seek the good of citizens.

Designed for heart-level transformation

• Each section includes reflection prompts like “Write a commitment to be a PUBLIC SERVANT” and space for personal covenants, repentance, and prayer, making this more than a theory piece.
• A full Philippians 2:1–11 meditation invites leaders to embrace lowliness of mind, esteem others above themselves, and reject selfish ambition in policy and practice.

Ideal audiences and uses

• Sitting legislators, local officials, school board members, and staff who want a simple, portable tool for personal retreat, quiet time, or mentoring conversations.
• Chaplains, pastors, and Christian advocates who meet regularly with civil servants and need a focused, gospel-centered resource to walk through together.
• Leadership cohorts or small groups in state capitals who desire a shared biblical framework for servant leadership.

Integrated with the Defender vision

By forming leaders who refuse tyranny, resist ego, and joyfully serve those they represent, Servant Leadership advances FPIW’s mission to defend and advance biblical values in the public square—not just through better laws, but through transformed leaders whose character matches their calling.

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