The Mind of a Servant

Text: I Timothy 6:15

1. We are to have a mind of a servant – Luke 22:24-30
2. Mind of a servant
   1. Desire for preeminence
      1. Jew’s culture
         1. Matthew 23:5-12 – Scribes and Pharisees
         2. Matthew 6:1-18 – rebuking works that are performed to be seen of men
      2. Apostles
         1. Luke 22:24-30 – arguing over who was to be greatest
         2. Matthew 20:20-28 – James and John
      3. Early church
         1. Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira
         2. I Corinthians – rampant in the church
         3. James 2:1-9 – prejudice among Christians
         4. James 3-4 – teachers were driven by self-ambition
         5. III John 9 – Diotrephes
   2. Luke 22:26 – but you shall not be so
      1. He that is greatest, let him be as the younger
      2. He that is chief, as he that doth serve
   3. Matthew 20:26-27 – but it shall not be so among you
      1. Whosoever will be great, let him be your minister
      2. Whosoever will be chief, let him be your servant
   4. Jesus our Example
      1. Lord of Lords and King of Kings But:
      2. Matthew 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.
   5. Servant and Minister
      1. Matthew 20:26-27 – but it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (diakonos), and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be you servant (doulos)
      2. Minister (diakonos)
         1. Matthew 20:26 – whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (diakonos)
         2. Strong’s – to run on errands, an attendant, a waiter
         3. Thayer – one who executes the commands of another, especially of master, a servant, attendant, minister
         4. Same word translated Deacon
      3. Servant – doulos
         1. Matthew 20:27 – and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant (doulos)
         2. Strong’s – a slave
         3. Thayer – a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
   6. Key attributes
      1. Meek
         1. Yielding to another
      2. Humble
         1. Of low degree, lowly in Spirit
      3. Forbearing
         1. Patiently enduring ill or wrong
      4. Submissive
         1. To rank under
3. Summary
   1. The sin of preeminence widespread
   2. We are called to be servants and ministers
      1. Jesus our example
   3. Critical attitudes
      1. Meek
      2. Humble
      3. Forbearing
      4. Submissive
   4. He that is Greatest – is a servant
      1. Matthew 20:26-27