Sep. 06, 2026

Key Sermon Points:

1. God's leadership displays grace and inclusion (vv. 1-16)

• Those in leadership today tend to only think of themselves
• Some qualities of a leader are listening empathy
• In this scripture Jesus is teaching us to look at kingdom leadership and not worldly leadership
• Leadership should include generosity and inclusion
• The people who stayed their heart was fixed on the job and taking care of their families
• The grace of God came looking for the workers
• Some of us serving today are orchestrated by God
• The text could argue about personal responsibility
• Some people face disadvantages not because of lack of ability but because of opportunities
• Leaders need to be careful about judging a person success
• This message can be applied to leadership employment and education
• The real world today tends to not let us see the generosity of God
• In the kingdom of God everyone is welcome even though this world has systematic oppression is place
• The haves look down on the have nots because of the present day structure
• The grace of God is being challenged because the workers that were first weren't angry because there was unjust to them but they were angry because he was given grace to those who came after them (vs 8)
• God's grace is going to come to someone who has been there for 1 year just like someone who has been there for 50 years
• First workers believed the longer worker the more entitlement
• Why does another persons blessing feel like my loss instead of celebrating with them?
• When things begin to get equal laws or things get put in place to keep certain people on top
• We are all made in the image of God and there should not be someone higher than the other
• Why are people indignant when it should be equal?
• The things that kept them from being equal they saw they were able to fight and still succeed knowing that they could not fight the way they did to be where they are in they were in their shoes
• God will be with us where ever we go and with him on our side they are in a no win situation
• Can we accept Grace when God gives it to someone we don't think deserves it?
• God will show mercy upon anyone he chooses
• Don't be in a hurry to be up front and that is what the first will be last, the last will be first means (vs 16)

2. Servant leadership does not include personal gain...it begins with a willingness to sacrifice (vv. 17-19)

• Nowhere in the text do we see the leader being served
• This is the third time He has told the disciples about going to Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21;17:22;20:18)
• Jesus is trying to get them to understand that leadership deals with self-sacrifice
• As a leader, we must mentor and sacrifice
• Everlasting life means eternity and we have it the moment we believe
• Jesus is not only demonstrating with words but also with giving His life
• The paradox of Christian faith is often manifested in faith before reaching triumph (sacrificial love)
• In this text, the church and the government were plotting against Jesus but what they did not know what they were actually fulfilling what God already had planned
• We must stay away from leadership that does not involve the scripture but involves everything else
• God chooses us and He will reveal Himself to us
• As a leader, we must have a relationship with God and He was the one who reached down and got us
• As a leader, everything should not be about you and that is entitlement

3. Servanthood allows Jesus to redefine our understanding of Leadership and misguided ambition (vv. 20-28)

• In our lives today this still exists- who will be the greatest among us?
• Stop saying the thorn in our side represents the devil, it is placed there to keep Paul humble
• Their mind wasn't there just for worship but also for positions
• Whoever wants to be a leader must be a servant and it is a requirement (vs 27)
• There is no way that our leadership will exceed Jesus and who He is because we become a servant in His presence
• Allowing Jesus to redefine our understanding of power success, leadership, and greatness
• Don't give up our ambition of being great
• We do not have to be worldly to serve
• A person must first be a servant before God before they can become anything higher (ex. David, Timothy Joshua, etc.)
• The world say protect yourself and Jesus says give yourself away
• A leader is a servant and a servant is a leader