Let me ask you a question…Have you ever been in the car driving teenagers around? They forget you are there andduring the journey the conversation flows and goes to unexpected places. This is whathappens to Jesus and the disciples. As Mark 9:33-37 tells us, they were walking toCapernaum and started debating who was the greatest. They forgot the Jesus was in themix and their conversation continued. Jesus played it smart and just simply listened.When they arrived at the house in which they would stay, Jesus let them get settled and thengathered them together. He posed a simple question knowing what the answer was…“What were you arguing about on the road?” When everyone hesitated to answer, hecontinued saying, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last and the servant of all.”The first shall be last and the last shall be first? Servant to all? What was Jesus trying to tellthe disciples? He was trying to teach them to be great in the eyes of God, they needed tobe Servant Leaders. For in God’s kingdom service over status is what is valued.Philippians 2:3-7 digs in further and says like this:“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others aboveyourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Inyour relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who being in thevery nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his ownadvantage. Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, beingmade in human likeness.”2 | P a g eBut what does it mean to be a Servant Leader? In Peter G. Northouse’s book simply called“Leadership” Servant Leadership is defined in this way.“Servant leadership is a paradox – an approach to leadership that runs countto common sense… How can a person be a leader and a servant at thesame time? Servant Leadership begins with the natural feeling that onewants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice to lead… (but) first tomake sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served…Practicing Servant Leadership comes more naturally for some than others,but everyone can learn to be a servant leader.”This ability to learn and become a servant leader is at the core of Jesus’s teaching in thisencounter with his disciples. He offers an example of servant leadership when he talks aboutthe children. In Mark 9:36 & 37, Jesus held a little child among their gathering and said;“Whoever welcomes one of these little children, welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me,welcomes my Father”This example of children is key to being a servant leader. In the days of Jesus, children werenot highly regarded. In many ways they were in the fringe community. Sound familiar? Bywelcoming and helping those in the fringe community, you are honoring Jesus and hisFather, God. This is a key part of being a servant leader.But… don’t let the word leader throw you off. I know that some of you are thinking; I am nota leader and I don’t want to be a leader. A simple definition of a leader is someone whoguides or influences. There are many ways to guide and influence without being a CEO or incharge of a ministry. Start thinking of the leader as being an example and resource toothers. We can be an everyday servant leaders just by doing what Jesus is asking, to serveothers.Listen to this clip by Ted Talk Presenter Drew Dudley as he talks about an everyday leadershipmoment that happened to him. Check it out…(Video Clip)In this Tedx Talk Toronto 2010 video, Drew tells the story of anencounter with a fellow college student that changed her life.She attended college and because of that encounter found herlife partner. This all took place while Drew was handing outlollipops at a college event. The interesting part is Drew doesn’tremember the encounter. As individuals we can all have these“lollipop moments.” He goes on to share his insights aboutEveryday Servant Leadership and the amazing gift it can be toourselves and others.Imagine that with every encounter you have with others, even if you don’t remember it, youcan be confident that it had a positive effect. You could be creating a “lollipop moment.” 3 | P a g eJesus wants to us change our thinking, our approach, and be everyday servant leaders thatnot only reaches out, welcomes and serves those with the most need, but helps us developlife long habits that always feed this God defined purpose of greatness that we can all strivefor.Just to be clear, there is nothing wrong with working towards a goal. There is nothing wrongwith a cashier in a store working towards becoming a manager. There is nothing wrong witha teacher working towards becoming a Principal. Where it goes wrong is when you believestatus makes you entitled and you stop serving others. For in God’s kingdom service overstatus is what is valued.We are surrounded by servant leaders if we take the time to look around. We can learn fromtheir actions. There are the obvious ones like Mother Theresa, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., andso many others. But have you heard of Jim McIngvale?Also known as “Mattress Mack”, he is the man behind Gallery Furniture stores in Houston,Texas. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Jim realized that folksneeded help but what could he do? He opened the stores for people to come and stay untilthey could return to their homes or find a place to stay with family or friends. Again, in thisWinter of 2021 freezing temperatures ravaged Texas. Jim jumped into action and he openedhis stores for folks to come, stay, eat, and just be warm.One more example I would love to share with you that is happening right here inPhiladelphia. Check out Ala’s story.(Video Clip)In this Philadelphia Tribune News video from July 29, 2020, Dr. AlaStanford tells her story on how the Black Doctors Consortiumbegan. She saw and need and when government agencies couldnot help serve the underserved black community she decided toact. Within 48 hours she used her resources and gathered a teamof nurses and doctors to conduct COVID-19 testing out of a van.They drove around to test folks and educate them. Dr. Ala feelsthat this was God’s calling and reaps more rewards being aservant leader than she ever expected. It feels good to serve.4 | P a g eAs Mark 10:45 says, Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as ransomfor manyDrew was a college student that made a difference in someone’s life and doesn’tremember doing it.Jim is a business owner who used what he had to help people.Ala used her mighty resources to serve the underserved.Whether you are making a meal for a sick friend, painting the walls of the church, shovelingsnow for a neighbor, making prayer shawls, or recording worship segments… you are serving.This is being a servant leader.“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”Just imagine how you can serve and be a Servant Leader for the Kingdom of God.