THE TOWEL & THE TITLE - SUNDAY SERMON NOTES
Sunday • September 6, 2026
THE TOWEL & THE TITLE
CAN GOD TRUST ME WITH INFLUENCE?
Communion Sunday
Theme: Servanthood • Leadership
Primary Scripture: Mark 10:42–45
Supporting Scriptures: John 13:1–17 • Philippians 2:3–8 • Exodus 32:31–32 • Genesis 41:39–41 • Acts 11:23–26
“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”— Mark 10:43 NLT
THE BIG IDEA
In the Kingdom, leadership is not measured by how many people serve you, but by how faithfully you serve God and the people He has entrusted to you.
Jesus does not reject greatness.
Jesus redefines greatness.
The world often measures leadership by position, power, recognition, followers, money, access, and authority.
Jesus measures it differently:
Who did you serve?
Who did you strengthen?
Who did you carry?
Who became better because God gave you influence?
1. THE TITLE DOESN'T MAKE THE LEADER
Mark 10:42–45
James and John wanted positions beside Jesus.
Jesus responded:
“Among you it will be different.”
Kingdom leadership isn't primarily about obtaining a position.
It's about accepting responsibility.
You don't need a title to have influence.
You already influence people through your:
Words • Decisions • Character • Relationships • Example • Faith
SERMON TRUTH
Leadership begins before the title.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
If my title disappeared tomorrow, would my service disappear with it?
2. SECURE LEADERS CAN CARRY THE TOWEL
John 13:3–5, 12–15
Before Jesus washed His disciples' feet, John tells us Jesus knew:
who He was,where He came from,where He was going,and what the Father had placed in His hands.
Then He picked up the towel.
Jesus didn't wash feet because He forgot He was Lord.
Jesus washed feet knowing He was Lord.
That's security.
Humility isn't denying your authority.
Humility is refusing to use your authority merely to elevate yourself.
SERMON TRUTH
Jesus didn't lose authority when He knelt down. He showed us what authority was for.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
What have I decided is beneath me?
3. KINGDOM LEADERS CARRY PEOPLE
Exodus 32:31–32
Moses confronted Israel's sin.
But then Moses prayed for Israel.
He didn't excuse what they did.
He carried the people before God.
Moses could not save Israel—and neither can we save anybody.
Jesus is the Savior.
But when God entrusts people to our influence, He may also entrust their names to our prayers.
SERMON TRUTH
Mature leaders don't just talk about people. They pray for people.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Whose name should I be carrying before God?
4. INFLUENCE IS STEWARDSHIP
Genesis 41:39–41
Joseph received tremendous authority.
But his promotion wasn't merely about Joseph becoming important.
A famine was coming.
God put something in Joseph because somebody else's future would depend upon how he used it.
Influence can include:
Knowledge.Experience.Money.Relationships.Opportunity.Access.Position.Spiritual gifts.Someone's trust.
THE KINGDOM QUESTION
Don't merely ask:
“How much influence do I have?”
Ask:
“What happens to people when my influence touches them?”
SERMON TRUTH
God may have put something in my hands because somebody else's life will be affected by how I use it.
5. SECURE LEADERS MAKE SOMEBODY ELSE BETTER
Acts 11:23–26
Barnabas saw God's grace working in Antioch and celebrated it.
Then he went looking for Saul.
Barnabas didn't protect his platform from another gifted person.
He made room for him.
Healthy leadership doesn't require you to remain the strongest person in everybody else's life.
Healthy leaders:
Encourage. Teach. Equip. Introduce. Recommend. Correct. Celebrate. Release.
SERMON TRUTH
Secure leaders aren't intimidated by somebody else's gifts.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Who should become stronger because God placed me in their life?
THE TOWEL TEST
Now remove everything people can see.
No title.
No microphone.
No announcement.
No recognition.
No social-media post.
No compensation.
No applause.
No credit.
Would I still serve?
Because:
If the title disappears and the service stops, maybe I wasn't serving—I was performing.
SERVANTHOOD IS NOT WEAKNESS
Jesus washed feet.
But Jesus also:
confronted hypocrisy, corrected His disciples, established boundaries, spoke truth, made difficult decisions, and overturned tables.
Therefore:
Serving people does not mean being controlled by people.
Humility isn't passivity.
Love doesn't eliminate correction.
Service doesn't require enabling dysfunction.
Kingdom leadership requires enough authority to lead and enough humility to serve.
WHERE IS JESUS?
Everything this week must eventually bring us here.
Philippians 2:5–8
Jesus didn't merely carry a towel.
Jesus carried a Cross.
The towel shows us His humility.
The Cross reveals the ultimate depth of His service.
Mark 10:45 says:
“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.”
Jesus didn't merely teach servant leadership.
He gave His life.
COMMUNION — THE TABLE & THE TOWEL
Today we come to the Lord's Table.
The same Jesus who took the towel...
took the bread.
The same Jesus who washed feet...
allowed His hands to be pierced.
The same Jesus who told us to serve...
gave Himself completely for us.
So Communion asks us to remember more than His death.
It confronts us with the heart of the One who died.
“Do this in remembrance of Me.”
Before we take the bread and cup, we examine ourselves.
Where has pride replaced humility?
Where has recognition become more important than obedience?
Where have I used influence for myself instead of others?
Who have I refused to serve?
Who do I need to forgive?
Where do I need to surrender again to Jesus?
MY RESPONSE THIS WEEK
MY TITLE
What responsibility or influence has God entrusted to me?
MY TOWEL
Where is God calling me to serve?
MY PEOPLE
Who has God entrusted to my influence?
MY STEWARDSHIP
What has God placed in my hands that could help someone else?
MY NEXT STEP
What will I actually do because I encountered this Word?
THIS WEEK'S JOURNEY
MONDAY — PUT DOWN THE TITLEWould I still serve without recognition?
TUESDAY — TAKE UP THE TOWELWhat have I decided is beneath me?
WEDNESDAY — CARRY PEOPLE, NOT JUST POSITIONWho am I carrying before God?
THURSDAY — USE YOUR POWER TO PRESERVEWhat happens when my influence touches people?
FRIDAY — MAKE SOMEBODY ELSE BETTERWho is becoming stronger because God placed me in their life?
AND NOW SUNDAY:
CAN GOD TRUST ME WITH INFLUENCE?
TAKE IT HOME
Don't ask God only:
“Give me more.”
Ask:
“Can You trust me with more?”
Don't merely ask:
“When will my opportunity come?”
Ask:
“Who am I serving with the opportunity I already have?”
Don't simply celebrate the title.
Carry the towel.
Because:
The title may tell people what you are called. The towel reveals who you are becoming.
And Jesus is still our example.
Lead like Jesus. Serve like Jesus. Love like Jesus.
LoveUMoreThanUKnow, Pastor Stephän Kirby
Ekklesia Christian Life Ministries
Called • Chosen • Shifted
