Whether you are here in person or engaging from home, we are thankful you have chosen to worship with us today. If it is your first time, welcome! we would love to get to know you better. Would you consider filling out our Next Steps card and let us know you stopped by?

At Grace Family we focus our worship on Sunday to impact our lives every other day of the week as well. We also believe no one is perfect but everyone is welcome to worship God with us. So, no matter where you're from, what you've done, or what your week has been like, let's worship God and learn from His word together today.

Leadership = Influence.

Godly Leaders see influence as an opportunity to serve.

John 13:1-2

" Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.[a] 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus."

Jesus loved the disciples with purpose and with the end in mind.

Jesus led with attention not intention.

John 13:3

" Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God."

Jesus didn't need to prove his authority.

John 13:4-5

" 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him."

Calculated.

Intentional.

Uncomfortable.

John 13:6-8

"6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Sometimes the people we lead don't want us to lead.

John 13:9-11

"Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” 10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,[c] to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Sometimes the people we lead don't understand the decisions we make.

Decision making hack: Does the decision I'm making honor Jesus?

John 13:12-14

"12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. "

Jesus shows them how to lead with a towel instead of a title. 

John 13:15-17

"15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them."

The best leaders show how it's done before they tell how it's done.

Mark 10:42

"So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them."

Typical leadership finds a way to control people rather than lead people.

Authority gets compliance.

Leadership gets growth.

Mark 10:43-45

"43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”"

Godly leaders serve rather than control.

Each of us has the unique opportunity to influence unique people.

What does it take to lead others well?

1. Get comfortable living in discomfort. 

2. Always be willing to go first.

3. Lead as little as you can through authority and as much as you can through service.

You are leading someone somewhere.

Are you the kind of leader you would want to follow?

Who are the people I can uniquely lead?

What is one way I can serve them this week?

Use the space below to ask a question and one of our pastors will get back to you!

Every week we spend time praying for your requests at our staff meeting. Submit your request below and we will be sure to pray for you this week!