Servants of the servant : a biblical theology of leadership / by Don N. Howell, Jr.

Language of the servant : from deprivation to dignity -- Old Testament : from slave of man to servant of the Lord -- New Testament : servant of the Lord and servant of others -- Old Testament profiles in leadership -- Joseph : character refined through suffering -- Moses : persevering advocate for a stubborn people -- Joshua : courageous successor to a legend -- Deborah : a woman for the times -- Gideon : divine power in human weakness -- Samson : potential squandered by character flaws -- Samuel : leader at the crossroads -- David : man after God's heart -- Solomon : wisdom undermined by excess -- Daniel : spiritual vitality in a secular setting -- Nehemiah : motivator and mobilizer -- Jesus : equipper of equippers -- Kingdom harvest through sacrifice -- Kingdom righteousness through freedom -- Kingdom greatness through servanthood -- New Testament profiles in leadership -- Peter : a broken rock becomes a foundation stone -- John the Apostle : the taming of ambition -- Barnabas : power of the mentor -- Timothy : extraordinary usefulness of an ordinary vessel -- Titus : Paul's troubleshooter -- Paul : builder of faith communities -- Characteristics of his leadership -- Criteria for community leaders -- Profile of the servant-leader.

What emerges from tracing the theme of leadership through the biblical record is a servanthood pattern wholly distinct from prevailing secular models. Our exposition begins with the biblical language of the servant. Eleven Old Testament and five New Testament leaders are profiled. The portrait of Jesus Christ focuses on three motifs that governed His training of the twelve for kingdom ministry. The Pauline letters are mined for those convictions that governed Paul's leadership practice. The final chapter offers a summary profile of the servant leader whose character, motives, and agenda align with the divine purposes.