Lesson Two: Servanthood - The Life God Shapes in Us

Servanthood is the life God forms in us as His truth takes root - an inner posture shaped by justice, mercy, and humble walking with Him. Jesus shows that greatness is found in serving, giving, and stooping low to lift others, and Paul urges us to offer our whole selves to God as living sacrifices. Through love we become servants to one another, laying aside pride, embracing the mind of Christ, and working wholeheartedly as unto the Lord. Every gift we’ve been given becomes a tool for God's glory, so that in all things He is the One seen, honored, and magnified. We will look into the call, example, practice, and fruit of servanthood:

1. The Call to Servanthood

God’s call to servanthood begins with His own revealed desire for how His people should live. Micah declares that the life pleasing to God is one that “does justice, loves mercy, and walks humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Paul echoes this call when he urges believers to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1), showing that servanthood is not a task but a way of life. Through love, we are called to “serve one another” (Galatians 5:13), allowing God to shape our character into one that reflects His heart. Let us now study the relevant scriptures:

Mic 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Micah 6:6 speaks with the tone of a searching heart - one that senses distance from God and wonders what offering might restore fellowship. He speaks of the people imagining that God desires increasingly costly sacrifices, revealing their misunderstanding of His character. The questions expose a belief that external rituals can substitute for inward obedience. This verse prepares the way for Micah 6:8 by showing the contrast between what the people assume God wants and what He actually requires. It reminds us that servanthood does not begin with dramatic gestures but with a heart aligned to God’s will.

Mic 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Mic 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 answers the restless questions of verses 6 and 7 with calm clarity, shifting the tone from anxious striving to grounded simplicity. Instead of dramatic sacrifices, God reveals that He desires a life shaped by His own character -doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Him. Each phrase carries the weight of covenant faithfulness, calling God’s people away from performance and toward transformation. This verse stands as a corrective to empty religion, reminding us that true servanthood begins not with outward offerings but with an inward posture that reflects God’s heart.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1 carries a tone of gentle urgency, calling believers to respond to God’s mercy with the offering of their whole selves. Paul shifts the focus from outward religious acts to an inward surrender, urging us to present our bodies as a “living sacrifice” - a life continually yielded to God’s shaping hand. The language reflects temple imagery, yet the sacrifice is not something placed on an altar once, but a daily posture of availability and obedience. This verse grounds servanthood in surrender, reminding us that the life God shapes in us begins when we willingly place ourselves in the care of His Holy Spirit (Gal 8:14,26; 5:25).

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 speaks with a tone of gentle correction and redirection, reminding believers that God's freedom is never a license for self‑indulgence but an invitation to Spirit‑led love among believers. Paul warns that the flesh naturally bends inward toward the self, yet freedom in Christ (Joh 8:32) bends outward - toward serving others. His use of the word “serve” carries the weight of becoming a bond‑servant, showing that love is not sentiment but action. This verse anchors servanthood in freedom, teaching that those who have been liberated by Christ now give themselves to serve one another in sincerity and truth (Jos 24:14; 1Co 5:8).

The call to servanthood emerges from scripture as a quiet but unmistakable summons to a life shaped by God’s own character. Micah reveals that God is not seeking dramatic offerings but hearts committed to justice, mercy, and humble walking with Him. Paul shows that this calling begins with surrender - presenting ourselves as living sacrifices shaped by God’s mercy. Galatians reminds us that freedom in Christ is not self‑focused but expressed through love that willingly serves others. Together, these passages form a unified call: servanthood is not an occasional act but the very life God invites His people to live.

2. The Example of Christ

Jesus defines servanthood not by authority but by self‑giving love. He teaches that “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26–28), and then demonstrates this truth by washing his disciples’ feet, saying, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:12–15). Paul describes this same pattern when he calls us to the mind of Christ, who “made himself nothing… taking the form of a servant” and humbled himself even to death (Philippians 2:3–8). Christ’s life becomes the blueprint for ours. Let us see some examples:

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

When Jesus revealed that the rulers of this world grasp for control and “lord it over” others, He exposed the natural pattern of the human spirit - a way of living built on status, self‑importance, and the resulting need to feel in control over others.

Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Into the atmosphere of "Lording over" Jesus spoke a very different way: “It shall not be so among you.” With that single pivot, he invited his followers out of the world’s system and into the gentle governance of God.

Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

In the spirit of serving, we place ourselves under the care of the Holy Spirit, choosing humility over self‑assertion, dependence over self‑direction, and servanthood over the pursuit of position or control.

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The contrast is deliberate: where the world demands control and "being ministered unto", the Holy Spirit invites surrender to God; where the world elevates authority, the Spirit forms a servant’s heart. Stepping into God's leading, we allow His Spirit - not the patterns of men - to shape our attitudes, guide our steps, and define what giving a life to serving God truly is.

Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know you what I have done to you?

When Jesus finished washing the disciples’ feet, he rose from the servant’s posture and quietly returned to his place at the table. The room may have held a stunned stillness as the disciples watched him resume the seat of their Master. John 13:12 captures this sacred pause - the Son of God, having taken the lowest role of a servant, now sits before them. Nothing is said yet, but everything is already speaking: the humility of God, the redefinition of greatness, and the invitation to understand what true leadership looks like in His kingdom. It is a moment suspended between action and explanation, preparing their hearts for the meaning he is about to unfold.

Joh 13:13 You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am.

Jesus did not deny the titles they gave him; instead, He affirmed them with calm authority, allowing his true identity to stand in full view beside the humility they had just witnessed. In this moment, John 13:13 gathers the weight of both realities - the One who washed their feet is the One who holds rightful mastery over them (Joh 17:6; 10:28). His words settle over the disciples like a gentle but unmistakable reminder: the act they saw was not a denial of his authority but a revelation of its nature - servanthood. He prepares their hearts to understand that his example was not beneath him but perfectly consistent with who he truly is - the Son of God yes, yet, a servant of God carrying out the will of God who sent him (Joh 4:34; 6:38,40,44).

Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet.

When Jesus turned to the disciples and said that saying, the meaning of his earlier actions would have came into sharp, unavoidable focus. John 13:14 carries the weight of a gracious command - an invitation wrapped in authority - as he tells them that they also ought to wash one another’s feet. The basin and towel, still present in the room, now become symbols of a new pattern of life he is placing before them. His words do not diminish his position; they reveal the kind of Lord he is and the kind of followers he calls them to be. In this moment, the humility they witnessed becomes the standard they are to embody, not as an outward ritual to perform but as an inward posture of the heart. The verse stands as a gentle but firm summons: the greatness of the Master is seen in his serving, and the greatness of his disciples will be measured the same way.

Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

John 13:15 stands as Jesus’ gentle explanation of the act they have just witnessed. He has given them an example, not merely to admire, but to follow. The basin and towel now take on the weight of instruction as he reveals that his humility was not a momentary gesture but a pattern for their lives. In this verse, the Master makes his intentions unmistakable - his service was meant to shape their service, his posture to form their posture. The disciples are invited to see that the path he walked is the path they must walk, not in outward ritual but in the inward willingness to stoop, to serve, and to love without concern for status. John 13:15 becomes the bridge between his action and their calling, a quiet but compelling summons to embody the same spirit of humble obedience they saw in him.

Php 2:2 Fulfil you my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Philippians 2:2 gathers the heart of Paul’s appeal into a single, unifying vision: that the believers would be “likeminded,” sharing the same love, joined in one spirit, and intent on one purpose. This unity is built on a shared posture of servanthood shaped by the Christ Himself. When each believer embraces the calling to serve - laying aside self‑importance, refusing rivalry, and seeking the good of others - the community of followers naturally moves toward the harmony Paul describes. Servanthood becomes the soil in which likemindedness grows, because a servant’s heart is free from the pride and competition that fracture fellowship. In this way, Philippians 2:2 is an invitation to embody the mind of Christ, whose demonstration of humility creates the very atmosphere where true unity can flourish.

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Philippians 2:3 brings Paul’s call to unity down to the level of the heart, urging believers to set aside selfish ambition and empty pride so that true fellowship can flourish. The verse invites a posture that is essential for servants of Christ: a willingness to see others as worthy of honour, attention, and care. When each believer chooses humility over self‑promotion, the community of followers becomes a place where Christ’s character is visible and His love is shared freely. Servanthood fits naturally here, because a servant’s heart is not driven by competition or comparison but by the quiet desire to lift others up in faith. In this way, Philippians 2:3 becomes both a mirror and a guide - revealing the attitudes that fracture unity and pointing us toward the Christlike humility that makes being “likeminded” not only possible but beautiful.

Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Philippians 2:4 turns the gaze outward, calling followers to look beyond their own concerns and to take an active interest in the needs of others. This is an invitation to a wider, Christ‑shaped way of seeing. A servant’s heart naturally fits this command, because servanthood teaches us to notice, to care, and to value the well‑being of those around us. When each believer lifts their eyes from self‑preoccupation and begins to consider the burdens, joys, and needs of others, the community of followers becomes a place where love is practiced rather than merely spoken. Philippians 2:4 is a practical expression of Christlike humility - unity grows as each person chooses to serve, and the mind of Christ becomes visible in the shared life of his followers.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:5 gathers the entire call to unity and humility into a single, decisive invitation: to let the mind of Christ himself shape the inner life of every believer. This verse urges alignment with his way of thinking - his posture, his priorities, his willingness to stoop in love. For servants of Christ, this becomes the defining center: unity grows where Christ’s mindset is shared, and humility flourishes where his attitude is embraced. The call to be likeminded, to set aside selfish ambition, and to look to the needs of others all find their anchor here. Philippians 2:5 reminds us that servanthood is not simply a task we perform but a way of seeing shaped by the One who emptied himself for our sake. To have his mind is to walk in his humility, to serve with his heart, and to let his example become a light to the world (Joh 8:12).

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:6 draws us into the mystery of Christ’s humility by beginning not with His descent, but with His exalted identity. Though He existed in the very form of God—sharing fully in the glory, majesty, and rights of deity—He did not cling to that equality as something to be grasped, guarded, or used for His own advantage. The verse invites us to see the astonishing starting point of His servanthood: the One who had every right to remain enthroned chose instead the path of self‑giving love. This is the mind Paul urges believers to adopt—a mindset that does not cling to status, privilege, or position, but willingly releases them for the good of others. In Christ, we see that true greatness is not found in holding tightly to what is ours, but in the freedom to lay it down. Philippians 2:6 becomes the doorway into the wonder of His humility, showing that servanthood begins not in weakness, but in the strength of love.

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Paul tells us that Jesus “emptied himself,” taking the form of a servant. This does not mean he stopped being God of Israel - prophesied to come in the flesh (Exo 5:1; Joh 1:1-5; Isa 35:4-6; Eze 34:11,12; Isa 41:14; 43:15; Zec 9:9); rather, he willingly laid aside the privileges, honors, and glory he previously had with the Father (Joh 17:5). He chose the downward path - stepping into our world with humility, wrapping himself in the ordinary limitations of human life. In doing so, he showed that true greatness is not found in grasping for position but in releasing it for the good of others. Christ’s self‑emptying becomes the pattern for every believer: servanthood begins when we loosen our grip on our own status, comfort, and expectations so that God the Father can shape in us the same mind that was in His Christ Jesus.

Jesus did not become divine by serving; he served because he was divine. The One who “emptied himself” is the eternal God of Israel - the Lord who spoke through the prophets, who formed the covenant people, who revealed his character in mercy and steadfast love. When Paul says Jesus took “the form of a servant,” he is showing us something astonishing: the God who delivered Israel is the same God who knelt with a towel, walked dusty roads, touched the unclean, and bore the cross. His humility does not hide his deity; it reveals God’s heart more clearly than anything else. In Jesus, we see that the true nature of God is not distant power but self‑giving love. Servanthood, for God's Christ, is not a step away from greatness - it is the very expression of the God who has always been faithful to his people - including all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ today (Joe 2:32; Rom 10:12,13).

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Paul now brings us to the lowest point of Christ’s willing descent. Jesus “humbled himself,” not because anyone forced him (Joh 10:17,18), but because love led him there (Joh 15:13,14). His obedience was not partial or convenient - it carried him all the way to death, and not just any death, but the shameful, public, humiliating death of a cross. In the ancient world, crucifixion was reserved for the lowest and the despised, yet this is the path the Lord of glory chose. Here we see the true shape of servanthood: a life yielded to the Father’s will, even when that obedience costs everything. Christ’s humility is not weakness; it is the strength of a love that holds nothing back. And this is the life God shapes in us - an obedience that grows from trust, a humility that reflects His Christ, and a willingness to serve even when the path is costly.

In summary, Jesus shows us what servanthood truly is. Though he was fully God, he did not cling to his rights or status. He willingly released privilege, took the form of a servant, and stepped into our world with humility. He kept descending - choosing obedience over comfort, choosing the Father’s will over his own, and embracing even the shame of the cross. In Jesus we see that servanthood is not about position but surrender; not about being diminished but about love poured out. Christ’s path becomes our pattern: a life that yields, serves, obeys, and trusts God with the outcome. Let us see servanthood put into practice:

3. The Practice of Servanthood

Servanthood becomes visible in the daily choices we make. Paul instructs believers to work “heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23–24), reminding us that every act of service is ultimately offered to God. Peter adds that each follower has received gifts to be used to “serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10–11). Whether through acts of love, humility, generosity, or quiet faithfulness, servanthood is practiced when we allow God to use our lives for His purposes rather than our own recognition.

Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

Paul’s instruction to servants in Colossians 3:22 lifts our eyes beyond earthly relationships and expectations. He reminds us that true obedience - whether in work, service, or daily responsibilities - is not performed for human approval but with a willing attitude in the eyes of God Himself. When we serve with sincerity of heart, even in unnoticed or difficult tasks, we are practicing a form of worship. This perspective transforms ordinary duties into sacred opportunities. Servanthood becomes less about pleasing people and more about honoring the God who sees, values, and rewards faithfulness done in His name.

Col 3:23 And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Paul continues by calling followers to do their work “heartily,” with their whole heart and spirit being engaged. This kind of service is not half‑hearted or reluctant but springs from a sincere desire to honour the Lord. When we give our best - even in small, routine, or unseen tasks (Mat 6:4,6,18) - we reflect a heart aligned with God’s purposes. Serving “as unto the Lord” lifts our daily responsibilities out of the ordinary and places them within the realm of worship. It reminds us that every act of faithfulness, no matter how simple, becomes meaningful when offered to God.

Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.

Paul anchors our service in a promise: the Lord Christ himself will reward those who serve him faithfully. This assurance reminds us that nothing done for Christ is ever wasted. Even when our efforts go unnoticed by others, God sees every act of obedience and every quiet moment of faithfulness. We serve with hope, knowing that our true inheritance comes from the Lord, not from earthly recognition. This perspective strengthens weary hands and encourages steadfast hearts - our service is ultimately for Christ, and he is the One who rewards.

1Pe 4:10 As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Peter reminds the elect that every act of service begins with a gift - something God Himself has entrusted to each of His children. “The gift” is not limited to a talent or ability; it is a grace‑given capacity to bless others in ways that reflect God’s own heart. Some gifts are visible, others quiet and hidden, but all are purposeful. When we use these gifts to serve one another, we become stewards of God’s grace, passing along what we have received. This means no believer is without a role, and no act of service is insignificant. God equips us so that His love, strength, and compassion flow through us to others.

1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Peter lifts our understanding of service even higher by reminding us that every word spoken and every act performed in Christ’s name must be done through the ability and strength that God supplies. This keeps us from relying on our own abilities or becoming discouraged by our limitations. Instead, we learn to serve from a place of dependence - drawing on God’s power rather than our own. The purpose is unmistakable: that in all things, God may be glorified through Jesus His Christ. Servanthood, then, is not merely about doing good; it is about revealing the goodness, strength, and glory of the Father who works through us.

To sum it all up, the practice of servanthood takes shape as we recognize that all our service is ultimately directed toward God, not merely toward people (Colossians 3:22). This understanding leads us to serve wholeheartedly, offering our best with sincerity and devotion as an act of worship (3:23). We persevere in this calling because God Himself promises to reward every faithful act done in His name, even those unseen by others (3:24). Peter reminds us that God equips each believer with a grace‑given gift, enabling us to serve one another as stewards of His abundant grace (1 Peter 4:10). And in all of this, we rely not on our own strength but on the strength God supplies, so that every word and deed ultimately brings glory to Him through Jesus His Christ (4:11). We will now look at the fruit of servanthood:

4. The Fruit of Servanthood

When servanthood takes root in a follower's life, God’s glory - not ours - is what becomes visible. Peter teaches that we serve “so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11). As we follow Christ’s example and walk in the Holy Spirit’s leading, others are strengthened, the body of Christ is built up, and our own hearts grow in joy, purpose, and spiritual maturity. Servanthood becomes the outward evidence that Christ is forming his life within us.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jesus teaches that when his followers do good works, others see them and glorify the Father. This directly mirrors 1 Peter 4:11 and keeps the fruit of servanthood centered on God’s glory, not human recognition.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

A servant’s life, lived in step with the Holy Spirit, naturally bears love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‑control. These qualities become the visible evidence of God’s transforming work.

Php 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Php 2:15 That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;

Php 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

When followers serve without grumbling or arguing, they stand out in a dark world. Their humble obedience becomes a radiant testimony - fruit that points others toward Christ.

Servanthood is the life God patiently shapes within us as we respond to His call, follow Christ’s example, and practice daily obedience in His strength. It begins with humility - recognizing that our service is ultimately directed toward the Lord and not toward human approval. As we offer ourselves wholeheartedly, God equips us with grace‑given gifts and empowers us through His Holy Spirit, transforming ordinary tasks into acts of worship. Over time, this life of service bears visible fruit: good works that bring glory to the Father, Christlike character formed by the Spirit, and a radiant witness that shines in a dark world. Servanthood is not merely something we do; it is the Christ‑shaped life God forms in us for His glory.

Farewell,

Servanthood