Exploring the Book of Acts: Leadership as ServanthoodSample

Humility

At the end of his third missionary journey, while Paul was enroute to Jerusalem, he met with the elders of the church in Ephesus to say goodbye. Because Paul had lived in Ephesus for three years, the quality of his life and leadership was well known to them. During his farewell address, Paul summarised his ministry, shared his anticipation of further suffering, exhorted the elders to be alert to danger, and called them to follow his model of leadership. Paul’s reflections and the quality of his relationships provide a compelling example of leadership marked by humility, compassion, faithfulness, and self-sacrifice.

Read Acts 20:15-38 and then consider:

1. What was Paul’s purpose in summarising his ministry in Asia (i.e. modern-day Turkey) to the Ephesians elders?
2. What dangers to himself did Paul anticipate? What dangers did he anticipate for the Ephesian church?
3. What are the various ways Paul demonstrated humility as a leader?
4. From his reflections on his own life and ministry and his exhortation to the elders, what do we learn about Paul’s view of Christian leadership? How does this compare to how leadership is generally viewed in your culture?