Lord, Help Us Walk Your Servant Way
Lord, help us walk Your servant way
The hymn exemplifies Lutheran accent on the Two Kingdoms and Christian vocation, particularly the priesthood of all believers called to humble service in the world. It reflects the Reformation's rehabilitation of ordinary works as spiritual witness when performed in faith and love toward the neighbor.
History & Background
Written by contemporary Canadian hymn poet Sylvia Dunstan in 1991, this hymn directly addresses the Marcan pericope of James and John's ambitious request and Jesus's teaching on servant leadership. It was first published in hymnals including LSB (2006) and subsequently ELW.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 719
- Glory to God — 767
- Lutheran Service Book — 857
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 909
- Voices Together — 574
Bulletin Note
Composed in 1991 by Sylvia Dunstan, a Canadian hymnwriter, this text reclaims the Reformation insight that all honest labor glorifies God when rooted in grace and offered to the neighbor—the priesthood of all believers made visible.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran recovery of vocation: the Law strips away our self-serving pride, and the Gospel of Christ's redeeming servanthood transforms ordinary work into acts of love that bear witness to God's kingdom.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From contemplation of Christ's humble birth in obscurity to personal invitation for Christ's transformative indwelling; movement from historical event to soteriological application
Themes
Christian discipleship Servanthood Humility Cross-bearing Kingdom values