What Does the Bible Say About Servant Leadership?

Mark 9:35 ESV / 20 helpful votes

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Matthew 20:25-28 ESV / 10 helpful votes

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Numbers 33:1 ESV / 8 helpful votes

These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.

Hebrews 13:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

1 Peter 3:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ...

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Galatians 6:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

Acts 20:35 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

1 Peter 2:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

James 3:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

1 Thessalonians 2:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

Colossians 2:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

Colossians 2:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Philippians 3:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Philippians 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Ephesians 5:21-33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ...

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:26-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 11:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.

Acts 20:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Acts 18:1-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. ...

Acts 5:1-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. ...

Acts 2:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

John 15:1-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ...

Luke 2:36 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,

Mark 6:7-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” ...

Matthew 23:8-12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

Matthew 23:8-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:1-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. ...

Matthew 10:5-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, ...

Matthew 6:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 5:1-48 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ...

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: ...

Ecclesiastes 5:1-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. ...

Psalm 119:105 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

2 Kings 22:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her.

Numbers 30:3-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“If a woman vows a vow to the Lord and binds herself by a pledge, while within her father's house in her youth, and her father hears of her vow and of her pledge by which she has bound herself and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. But if her father opposes her on the day that he hears of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. And the Lord will forgive her, because her father opposed her. “If she marries a husband, while under her vows or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself, and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand. ...

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 1:26-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

45 Bible Verses about Servant Leadership

Mark 9:35 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 20:25-28 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Numbers 33:1 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 6:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 20:35 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 2:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 2:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 2:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 3:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:21-33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 3:26-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 11:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 20:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 18:1-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 5:1-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:1-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 2:36 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 6:7-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:8-12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:8-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:1-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 10:5-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:1-48 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 5:1-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 119:105 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Kings 22:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Numbers 30:3-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:26-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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