God’s Plan for Leadership – September 14, 2025, Installation of Officers
Matthew 20:17-28, Acts 6:1-6
September 14, 2025
This is the day we honor the leaders in our congregation. And that’s always a good thing to do! It gives us good feelings about ourselves and our Church! And as we do so, as we honor our leaders, we’re thinking about “God’s Plan for Leadership.” That’s the title of this sermon.
Now, that’s a tough thing to think about sometimes, because we are so inundated by the world’s plan for leadership. And the world’s plan for leadership is all about power! Who’s got it, who wants it, and how those who have it plan to hold it. I thought about making that part of my title, as well. Maybe something like, “God’s plan for Leadership in a world focused on Power.” But, that wouldn’t fit very well on the sign.
But, that contrast is what we’re talking about! We live in a world where there are power struggles everywhere. That’s true whether we’re talking about Ukraine, or Gaza, or any number of other places in the world that we don’t even hear about – or whether we’re talking about the political struggles in this country. So much of the world’s attention is focused on who holds power.
Jesus recognized that, even in his world. And remember, he lived during the Roman Empire! The Romans had conquered most of the known world in those day! And any historical account of that time would tell us that they ruled with an iron fist! And yes, they did give us much in the way of our art, and culture, and architecture, and technology, but they were also brutal in their wars and occupations.
That was the world in which Jesus lived. Israel was living under the “Pax Romana” – the “Roman Peace.” That meant they were allowed to live relatively peacefully, they were allowed to keep their religion, and their religious leaders were allowed to rule over the people – as long as they remembered who was really in charge! And if anyone stepped out of line, the Romans could be brutal!
So, in our passage from Matthew, Jesus contrasted all of that with his view of the world. He said to his disciples, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles ‘lord it over’ them, and their great men exercise great authority.” He was talking about Rome! He was well aware of how they ruled. And so were his disciples! And they didn’t like it. None of the people did! And the more they got to know this Jesus, the more they hoped he would be the one to help them win their freedom!
That was the backdrop for today’s story. That was the context in which James and John came to Jesus, asking to sit beside him in his kingdom. And actually it was their mother who asked him. And I’ve always liked that part of this story! There are any number of Jokes that come to mind about Jewish mothers and their positions of power!
She asked that her sons would be the ones to sit beside Jesus “in his kingdom” – the kingdom they all wanted. As they saw it, Jesus was going to establish his earthly kingdom. And she wanted her sons to be part of that. And they wanted that, too! They wanted to be his top leaders. They wanted to “exercise that authority” over their world. And granted, it would be a “benevolent authority.” Because the kingdom everybody wanted was a kingdom like David’s kingdom. His were the “glory days” of Israel. But in all their visions of Jesus’ kingdom, it was a worldly kingdom they saw. They – and everyone else – were still thinking along those lines.
To all of those visions, Jesus gives this iconic line. He said, “You know that the Rulers of the Gentiles ‘lord it over them’” And here’s the part I like! “But it shall not be so among you!” “That’s not my plan for leadership!” “In my kingdom, whoever would be great among you must be your servant.”
That had to have been shocking to them! Maybe they thought Jesus was just exaggerating to make a point. He often did that! He often used hyperbole! He was certainly rocking their world view. He was breaking down their expectations. “Whoever would be great must be servant?” They must have thought, “How’s that gonna work?” Then the last part. “And whoever would be first among you, must be slave of all – Just like me!” And the “Just like me” part, was what they really didn’t get.
I often think that was the people’s biggest frustration with Jesus. They had the worldly powers “exercising authority over them.” But Jesus refused that power – even though I believe his actual power was greater than all earthly powers! I love the scene where he stood before Pilate – in his rags and chains. And I often think, “Who holds the real power here?!” But Jesus refused that earthly power, and he went humbly to his death – with far more on his mind than just the political revolution that everyone wanted.
It all had come to a head on the day we call Palm Sunday. They were ready that day to crown him king! “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Luke’s Gospel says, “Blessed is ‘the king!’” John adds, “Even the king of Israel.” Can you imagine what the Romans thought when they heard that?
But despite the adulation of the crowds, Jesus did not accept the crown that day. He didn’t turn to storm the fortress of Rome. Instead, he turned to the temple, and he drove out those who bought and sold. And I think the people witnessing that had to be just as dumbfounded as those whose temple businesses were being ruined. That’s not what the people wanted!
Four days later, when they arrested him in the garden, the disciples – by all the Gospel accounts – were ready to fight. “Lord, shall we strike with our swords?” But Jesus said no. And they didn’t know what to do! So they fled! And as far as we know only John was there at the cross. (Though we even don’t know that for sure.)
Jesus had every opportunity to begin the revolution everybody wanted. And, who knows, maybe history would have been different. Maybe there could actually have been seats by his side in his kingdom – seats for his top leaders! But he said, “No! It shall not be so among you!” “Whoever would be great must be your servant – just like me.”
That was and always has been God’s plan for leadership. It was “Servant Leadership.” And that stands in stark contrast to a world based on power. And that’s what has come down to us in the Church today. Leadership in the Church has always been “Servant Leadership.” And that’s something that world cannot comprehend. And sometimes even God’s people can’t comprehend it. Even the disciples had a struggle with this. We find them arguing about who among them was the greatest – even when Jesus was heading towards his fate in Jerusalem!
Paul would write, “The Jews seek signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly – foolishness – to the Gentiles. Of course it is! The cross is always foolishness to those who only see the world through the eyes of power. To the disciples – and to the church today, Jesus still says, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant!”
Now, I always feel like I want to ask the new officers at this point, “Does anybody want to reconsider.” (That’s why I always ask it after they’ve already been installed – after it’s too late!) This has always been God’s plan for leadership. It’s always been about “servant leadership.” That’s what you’re taking on!
And your job is important! Down through the years, the church has used the term “Apostolic Succession.” Did you ever hear that before? That means different things to different denominations. But in its essence, “Apostolic Succession” means that the authority and leadership in the church has come down to us through the ages, from the Apostles themselves, who of course, received it from Jesus himself.
So you leaders, those we installed today, and those who are still serving terms, you are part of that Apostolic Succession. Your leadership comes down through the ages from the Apostles and from Jesus himself. And his plan for leadership is “Servant Leadership.” And for you who follow their leadership, that’s the plan for the church as well. As I reminded you last week, it is the goal of every Christian to be conformed to the image of Christ.
So, for all of us, his words are the same today. “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant – Just like me!”
Prayer
Eternal God, it’s not easy to understand the words of Jesus. It’s not easy to think of following his humble ways in a world consumed with power. Help us, as we face our world, to remember the spiritual kingdom Jesus talked about all the time. And help us to see the world through his eyes. For we pray in his name, Amen.