In this classic volume, Charles Swindoll uniquely shows the important aspects of authentic servanthood, such as: What it takes to serve unselfishly, why a servant has such a powerful influence, and what challenges and rewards a servant can expect. The author offers clear guidelines on developing a servant’s heart and challenges you to realize the rich rewards promised in a life of authentic Christian servanthood. In Swindoll’s words, “This book is not a touchy-feely book on service. The truths are meant to be applied. And, change will not come without transforming your mind and your living to be servant-minded.”
Improving Your Serve
Charles R. Swindoll
This book's Disciple Making Purpose
This book focuses on disciples hearing God call them to do (Step 5 – Called) and pitching the value of serving God (Step 6 – Serve). It is an irreplaceable read and should be positioned after the mid-point of Year One to “seed the field” for service. The book does the heavy lifting of showing disciples that they are designed to serve, that God wants them to serve for their good as well as the good of those they serve, and that service is an opportunity, not just a responsibility. When disciple makers do not use this book, our data reflects a dramatic drop in folks moving from called to serving. Simply put, it sets the stage and makes the call to service.
Key Topics or Truths
Servanthood
Christian Living
This Book is Good For...
This book is great for people in Year One as they prepare for Year Two and they begin serving. It lays down a solid foundation that we are serving God, not doing things. It is also great as a reread or bonus read when disciples hit Step 12, “Servant Minded” on the Predicatble Pathway.
How We Use this Book to Make Disciples
The book is complete in its teaching, content, and extensive scripture references. Improving Your Serve will teach itself. Your role when using this book is to keep people focused on being a servant who then serves instead of serving to become a servant (be comes before do). As a friend of ours Rick Malm puts it, “What does a server do at a restaurant? He serves you. He waits to see and meet your needs.” We constantly remind disciples that they are serving God even as they serve His people. We read and discuss the book over two weeks. Here is our team’s reading plan:
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Week One
Day 1: Introduction + Chapter 1 – Who, Me a Servant? You Gotta Be Kidding!
Day 2: Chapter 2 – A Case for Unselfishness
Day 3: Chapter 3 – The Servant As a Giver
Day 4: Chapter 4 – The Servant As a Forgiver
Day 5: Chapter 5 – The Servant As a Forgetter
Day 6: Chapter 6 – Thinking Like a Servant Thinks
Day 7: Rest and reflection day - Week Two
Day 1: Chapter 7 – Portrait of a Servant, Part One
Day 2: Chapter 8 – Portrait of a Servant, Part Two
Day 3: Chapter 9 – The Influence of a Servant
Day 4: Chapter 10 – The Perils of a Servant
Day 5: Chapter 11 – The Obedience of a Servant
Day 6: Chapter 12 – The Consequences of Serving + Chapter 13 – The Rewards of Serving
Day 7: Chapter 14 – A Challenge to Improve Your Serve
Using several of the themes for each week, we review the book asking disciples questions like:
Week One Themes:
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Identifying false assumptions about servanthood
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Embracing unselfishness, giving, forgiving, and letting go
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Renewing the mind to think like a servant
Week One Sample Questions:
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Which chapter challenged your assumptions the most?
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How do humility, forgiveness, and generosity interplay in your life?
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What “mindset shift” is God asking of you this week?
Week Two Themes:
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Embodying servant traits outlined by Jesus (Beatitudes, character values)
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Understanding both the pitfalls and obedience inherent in servanthood
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Recognizing the costs—and the divine rewards—of serving others
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Responding personally to the call to live unselfishly
Week Two Sample Questions:
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What character traits stood out most to you in “Portrait of a Servant”?
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Have you experienced the challenges Swindoll describes—perils or consequences of serving?
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How did the chapters about rewards and final charge motivate or convict you?
Real Life Story
People wanted me saved but no one wanted to disciple me except Bobby Porter. She kept me fed with books. Little short books. And while I lived with her family, she constantly played Swindoll’s cassette tape messages (so old school!). She also gave me a copy of this short book, Improving Your Serve. I have read it again and again and I will always remember the line, “The honor goes to the one fighting in the arena.” I was clueless about Christian living but I determined that I would have a servant mindset when I read this book. Its truths changed me forever.
Know Issues or Controversies
No Known Issues
Our team loves this book because it is old-school, practical, and single-focused. We love it because it changed our lives when we started trying to really follow God. It is clear. It is practical. It is life changing.
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Charles R. Swindoll
Book Details
Pathway Steps: 5, 6
- Phase: Year 1
- Book Type: Non-Fiction
- Flair: Eye Opening, Instructive
- Tags: Easy Read
Reading Time
Two Weeks
Start Reading After Week 41
16 Pages per Day
27 Minutes per Day
Related Reads
This is a great, easy stand-alone read. It is a prequel to Spiritual Leadership and 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and can be used as a refresh read in Year Three.