Disciples Making Disciples

“It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.”
— Matthew 20:26 (LSB)

A Different Kind of Greatness

Every culture has its own definition of greatness.

In the world’s eyes, greatness is measured by influence, visibility, achievement, and control. We admire those who rise to the top, command attention, and are served by others. Even service—when praised by the world—is often platformed, branded, or leveraged for recognition.

Jesus turns that definition upside down.

In the kingdom of God, greatness is not found at the top of the ladder, but at the bottom—with a towel in hand. Authority is exercised through humility. Leadership is expressed through sacrifice. And discipleship reaches its fullest expression not in being served, but in serving.

This final post in the Disciples Making Disciples series brings us to the capstone of the disciple’s life: servanthood. After laying a sure foundation in Christ, ordering our worship, renewing our minds, standing firm in spiritual battle, and bearing faithful witness, we now arrive at the posture that holds it all together.

A disciple who does not serve has missed the heart of the Master.

How We Arrived Here

Throughout this series, we have been building a picture of discipleship from the ground up.

We began with Christ as the chief cornerstone—the unshakable foundation upon which everything else rests. We learned that disciples worship God in spirit and truth, not according to preference but obedience. We explored the call to put off the old self, renew the mind, and put on the new self in Christ. We recognized the reality of spiritual warfare and the necessity of standing firm in God’s strength. We saw that a well-built disciple cannot remain hidden—true faith produces visible witness.

Now, in this final post, we see that a disciple’s life is ultimately poured out for others.

Servanthood is not an optional virtue added to mature Christianity.
It is the shape of Christlikeness itself. Below are five aspects of the servanthood of the disciple.

1. The Call to Serve, Not Be Served

In Matthew 20, Jesus responds to a revealing moment among His disciples. James and John, through their mother, ask for positions of honor in His coming kingdom. Their request reflects a familiar way of thinking—greatness measured by status, proximity to power, and recognition.

Jesus does not rebuke their desire for greatness.
He redefines it.

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you.”
(Matthew 20:25–26, LSB)

In the kingdom of God, greatness does not rise through dominance but descends through service. Jesus then anchors this call in His own mission:

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
(Matthew 20:28, LSB)

Servanthood is not a strategy for influence—it is the shape of obedience.
It is not a role reserved for a few—it is the calling of every disciple.
To follow Christ is to walk the path He Himself chose.

2. What Servanthood Is — and Is Not

Biblical servanthood is often misunderstood, especially in a world that either glorifies self or exploits humility. Jesus’ call to serve must be rightly understood, or it will be distorted.

Servanthood is not weakness.
It is sacrificial strength. Jesus laid down His life not because He lacked authority, but because He possessed it fully.

Servanthood is not passivity.
It is intentional self-giving shaped by truth and love. Jesus served others while confronting sin, resisting injustice, and obeying the Father without compromise.

Servanthood is not enabling sin, abuse, or harm.
Christlike service never affirms what God condemns or protects what destroys. Love acts for the good of others—even when that requires truth, boundaries, or correction.

Servanthood is not self-erasure or people-pleasing.
Jesus washed feet because He knew exactly who He was and where He came from (John 13:3–5). True servants do not disappear; they steward their God-given identity and gifts for the good of others and the glory of God.

Servants of Christ do not serve to earn worth.
They serve because their worth is already secure.

A disciple serves freely because Christ has already given everything.

3. Taking on the Mind of Christ

Paul’s words in Philippians 2 pull back the curtain on the inner life of servanthood. He does not begin with actions, but with attitudes.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or vainglory, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.”
(Philippians 2:3, LSB)

This mindset does not come naturally.
It must be learned—and received.

Paul calls believers to take on the mind of Christ, who—though fully God—did not cling to His rights but humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant. Jesus’ humility was not a loss of divinity, but an expression of divine love.

He stooped to lift us up.
He descended so we could be raised.

Servanthood begins in the heart before it ever shows up in the hands. When the mind is transformed, service becomes joyful rather than begrudging—intentional rather than accidental.

And Paul reminds us that when believers live this way, they:

“…appear as lights in the world.”
(Philippians 2:15, LSB)

Humble service is one of the most countercultural and compelling witnesses the church has.

4. Servanthood Builds the Church

One of the dangers in modern Christianity is confusing visibility with value. Scripture tells a different story.

In Ephesians 4, Paul explains that Christ gives gifts to His people not to elevate individuals, but to build up the body. Every role, every act of service, every unseen contribution matters because the church grows as each part does its work.

Servanthood is how maturity expresses itself.

A mature disciple collaborates rather than competes.
They labor for unity rather than recognition.
They use their gifts to edify others, not platform themselves.

The church is healthiest not when a few are celebrated, but when many are faithfully serving—often unnoticed, always valuable.

5. Strength to Serve Comes From God

If servanthood depended solely on human effort, it would quickly collapse under pride, fatigue, or resentment. That is why Paul prays the way he does in Ephesians 3.

He asks God to strengthen believers with power through His Spirit, to root them in love, and to fill them with the fullness of God. This prayer reminds us that we serve from fullness, not emptiness.

We do not grind our way into humility.
We are shaped into it by grace.

When love for Christ deepens, love for others expands. When God’s power is acknowledged, self-reliance fades. Servanthood becomes sustainable when Christ—not ego—occupies the center.

The Servant Disciple Glorifies Christ (Series Conclusion)

Jesus did not climb over others to achieve greatness.
He laid Himself down.

A disciple follows that same path—not to earn salvation, but to reflect the Savior who has already saved them. Servanthood is the outflow of grace received, not an effort to earn God’s favor. It is the visible fruit of a life transformed by Christ, shaping how faith is lived out in relationships, in the church, and before a watching world.

As this series concludes, the full picture of discipleship comes into focus:

• A disciple is built on Christ
• Shaped by worship
• Renewed in mind and heart
• Strengthened to stand firm
• Sent to bear witness
• And humbled to serve

This is not the end of discipleship—it is its aim.

May we follow our Servant King not only in word and belief, but in posture and practice, for the glory of God and the good of others.

“But whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.”
— Matthew 20:26 (LSB)