Synopsis
Servanthood and Discipleship
Text: Various passages
Speaker: Lau Hong Choon
This message explores the inseparable relationship between servanthood and discipleship in the Christian life. Drawing from the Great Commission and the practice of the early church, the sermon shows that discipleship involves learning from Christ, following Him under His authority, and faithfully passing on God’s truth to others. Believers are reminded that true disciples are servant-learners who listen to the Lord, live under His authority, and serve Him by making disciples for His glory.
Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.
Title: Servanthood and Discipleship
Text: Various passages (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 2:41–42; 2 Timothy 2:2, etc.)
Speaker: Lau Hong Choon
Introduction
A very good morning to everyone here, brothers and sisters in Christ.
It’s still the Lunar New Year season, so let me wish you a blessed new year in the Lord.
Let’s pray.
Father, we thank You for Your wonderful presence with us this morning through Your Son and the Holy Spirit. Thank You for giving us Your Word, and for speaking to us even through the sharing of our brothers earlier. Thank You for everything You have done for us, and for preparing us as we live out our days on this earth before we meet You in heaven. We praise You and pray all this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Over the past few weeks, we have been learning about various aspects of servanthood in Christ.
Today, our focus is on the connection between servanthood and discipleship.
The speaker’s brief for today was to show that the life of discipleship is inherently linked to the life of servanthood, as depicted in Scripture.
The Greek word for disciple (mathetes) appears over 250 times in the Gospels and Acts.
A disciple in the New Testament is both a learner and a follower. When Jesus says, “Come, follow Me”, He is calling someone to walk with Him, learn from Him, and eventually pass on what they have learned to others.
Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1–2:
“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
This has been God’s pattern since ancient times. From the days of Enosh, the grandson of Adam, men began to “call on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26), passing down the Word of God to the next generation—first orally, and later in written form.
Discipleship means passing on what we have received—entrusting it to others who will be faithful to teach others also.
In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Notice the two main actions in disciple-making:
The command is singular: make disciples. Baptism is the entry point; teaching is the lifelong process.
We see this lived out in Acts 2:41–42:
“Those who had received his word were baptized… about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Here are the five elements of disciple-making from that passage:
We have all these elements in our assembly life today.
The word baptizo means “to immerse completely.” In Romans 6:3–4, Paul says:
“All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death… so that as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might walk in newness of life.”
Baptism is like a burial—we are buried with Christ into His death and raised with Him into a new life.
We are not spectators; we are disciples and servants (doulos). In God’s household, we are all involved in the work—whether teaching children in Sunday School, leading youth groups, sharing at YWA or fellowship meetings, or teaching within our families.
2 Timothy 2:15 reminds us:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
Discipleship is not about following human leaders. The Corinthian church fell into this trap, saying “I am of Paul” or “I am of Apollos.” Paul corrected them: the servant is nothing; God causes the growth.
Jesus Himself said in Matthew 23:
“Do not be called Rabbi… Do not call anyone on earth your father… Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Two weeks ago, we were reminded of Jesus in John 13, washing His disciples’ feet—the task of a slave (doulos). Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:26–28).
The apostles never forgot this. They called themselves “slaves of Christ” (2 Peter 1:1; Revelation 1:1; James 1:1; Jude 1:1).
A disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master (Matthew 10:24–25). Our Lord is both our Teacher and our Master.
Jesus promised in John 14:26:
“The Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
In John 16:13:
“When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.”
Paul affirms in 1 Corinthians 2:12–13 that we have received the Spirit from God so that we may know and speak the things freely given to us by God.
The whole Gospel of Matthew emphasizes the authority of Jesus—authority in teaching (Matthew 7), healing (Matthew 8), forgiving sins (Matthew 9), and over Satan (Matthew 10).
In the Great Commission, Jesus declares: “All authority has been given to Me… go therefore…”
Like the centurion in Matthew 8, we understand authority because we are under authority. As servants and disciples, we act not on our own power but in the name and authority of Jesus.
When God called Samuel, he replied: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9–10). Listening comes before serving.
In Luke 10, we see Mary of Bethany sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word—while her sister Martha was distracted with much serving. Mary’s three appearances in the Gospels always find her at Jesus’ feet—listening (Luke 10), grieving (John 11), and worshiping with costly perfume (John 12).
Service flows best from a listening heart.
In Numbers 14:24, God commends Caleb:
“My servant Caleb… has followed Me fully.”
Some disciples left Jesus when His teaching was hard, but the true servant-disciple follows fully to the end.
Conclusion
Discipleship is:
The Great Commission’s present participle “going” reminds us that this is a lifelong mission. The command is to make disciples—teaching, baptizing, and living as doulos servants of Christ.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for Your presence, for the Holy Spirit who teaches and guides us into all truth, and for calling us to follow You fully. Help us to be faithful disciples and humble servants, able to entrust Your Word to others who will also teach. Bless our fellowship and teaching that follows. In Jesus’ name, Amen.