This document discusses the centrality of character for Christian leadership and servanthood. It analyzes Paul's character as seen in Acts 20:17-35, including his humility, compassion, faithfulness, lack of self-seeking ambition, and willingness to sacrifice. It also addresses how God can transform individuals through opening their hearts to His love, using the examples of Hosea and John White. The conclusion reiterates that character is key for the Christian life and calls the reader to reflect on their own progress.

1. The Biblical Call to Servanthood Series
1. Servanthood vs Leadership -
What does the Bible says?
2. The Source of Spiritual Authority
3. The Centrality of Character
Scripture: Acts 20:17-35

2. 1. Introduction : The Centrality of Character
• The tendency in the modern world is to
emphasize ability and gifts in the choice of
leaders.
• But in the Bible, character is central:
 Cf. 1 Sam 16:7;
 1 Tim 3:1-12;
 Tit 1:6-9.

3. 2. Character and Servanthood as seen in
Paul’s life: Acts 20:17-35
i. Humility: v. 19. Three things at least are implied.
a. The willingness to do lowly and needful tasks.
b. Appreciating the contributions of others: Cf.
Phil 2:3.
c. Self-effacement: Cf. Barnabas in Acts 4:36f;
9:27; 11:22, 25f; 13:2,7; and transition from
13:9ff onwards.
d. ‘There is no limit to how far to you can climb so
long as you do not care who gets the credit.’

4. 2. Character and Servanthood as seen in
Paul’s life: Acts 20:17-35
ii. Compassion
• Cf. ‘tears’ in v. 19;
• repeated in v. 31;
• also ‘shepherd’ in v.28.

5. 2. Character and Servanthood as seen in
Paul’s life: Acts 20:17-35
iii. Faithfulness in Ministry
• V.19b also speaks of ‘faithfulness’ in
spite of severe testing by the enemies
of the gospel.
• V.20, 27 speaks of the determination to
preach the ‘whole will of God’.
• V.31 speaks of an untiring ministry year
in year out.

6. 2. Character and Servanthood as seen in
Paul’s life: Acts 20:17-35
iv. No self-seeking ambition
• In v.33-35, Paul speaks of there
being no covetousness for money.
• The same principle applies whether
it is money, sex or power!

7. 2. Character and Servanthood as seen in
Paul’s life: Acts 20:17-35
v. Sacrifice
• Verses 22-24 speak of the willingness to pay
the cost of obedience, whatever it may be.
This is something that the church today does
not understand very much today.
• James Denney (1910): ‘… in this present evil
world there must be great renunciations as
well if there are to be great Christian
careers.’

8. 2. Character and Servanthood as seen in
Paul’s life: Acts 20:17-35
vi. Christian character does not come easily!
• It takes years and generations to form. Cf.
Chinese proverb: ‘It takes 10 years to grow a
tree but a hundred years to grow a person.’
• But it is possible that God can do a very
deep work in you and me. How does this
happen or take place in the individual?

9. 3. Opening Our Hearts to God’s
Transforming Love
Our Father’s goal is to transform
us into the image of Christ.
But He can only do it if we are
willing to let Him enter into our
lives.
Two stories:...

10. 3. Opening Our Hearts to God’s
Transforming Love
i. How did Hosea come to understand
God’s love for Israel?
• Hosea 1:2f; 3:1-3; through his own pain,
he began to understand the love of God
for His people.
• Only then could Hosea’s prophecies
breathe with the tenderness of God’s
love for His people; cf. 6:4; 11:8; also
Hos. 14:4-7.

11. 3. Opening Our Hearts to God’s
Transforming Love
ii. Overwhelmed by God’s love in
prayer
• John White’s struggles in prayer
for his son.

12. 4. Conclusion
• Character in central in our life of
servanthood.
• How far we on this road?