In Matthew 20:25-28, Jesus delivers a profound message about leadership and sacrifice. He contrasts the world’s view of power with what true greatness looks like in His Kingdom: “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people… But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 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.” (Matthew 20:25-28 NLT)
The Christian faith is built upon the foundation of this unparalleled act of sacrifice. Jesus gave His life not as a martyr for a cause, but as the ultimate act of obedience and love to redeem humanity. His sacrifice is the defining moment of God’s grace, not just in our lives but in the entire history of creation. As Philippians 2:8 reminds us: “When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
We often hear today that the church has money problems, political problems, or cultural problems. But the root issue is often deeper than that—we have an obedience problem. God doesn’t need our money; He’s not lacking in resources. He’s looking for something far more valuable—our hearts, our willingness to be led, and our commitment to follow in obedience.
In John 10:17-18, Jesus says: “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily…” The greatest sacrifice ever made was done willingly, out of love and obedience. The question we must ask ourselves is: How do we respond to this sacrifice?
Romans 12:1 calls us to a powerful response: “…give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable.” But what does it mean to be a “living and holy sacrifice”? In essence, it means we are called to live a life that reflects Christ’s sacrifice—serving and giving of ourselves.
We live in a world that tells us to keep, gather, and hoard. Our culture encourages us to prioritize our comfort, wealth, and success. But the Jesus way flips that narrative. The greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.)—Jesus—didn’t come to be served but to serve and give His life for others. And He calls us to do the same.
It’s hard to live sacrificially. I’ll be honest—like many of you, I enjoy being served at a restaurant or receiving praise and recognition. But when that attitude becomes dominant, it leads us away from the heart of Jesus. Our calling as Christians is to sacrifice, serve, and give, not out of obligation but out of love and gratitude for all God has done for us.
Starting next week, we’ll be collecting our 2025 Estimate of Giving Cards. As we do, I challenge you to approach this season with a mindset of sacrificial living. Don’t give out of your leftovers but from your first fruits. When we give sacrificially—whether it’s our time, talents, or financial resources—it reflects our trust in God and our desire to see His Kingdom grow.
On the night of His arrest, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples—men who would betray, deny, and abandon Him. This act wasn’t just about physical cleanliness, but about modeling a lifestyle of service and sacrifice. Jesus demonstrated that greatness in the Kingdom of God is found not in being served, but in serving.
So, what about us? Are we living as a reflection of our Savior? Do we walk into rooms with a mindset of “Who can I serve? Who can I bless today?” Christ-like sacrifice means giving of ourselves—our time, our money, our energy—in obedience to God and in service to others.
As we move forward in this season of generosity, let’s remember that Jesus’ sacrifice calls for a response. Not just with words, but with action. Let’s live to give, live to serve, and live in obedience to the One who gave everything for us.
Jesus is the G.O.A.T.
The Christian faith is built upon the foundation of this unparalleled act of sacrifice. Jesus gave His life not as a martyr for a cause, but as the ultimate act of obedience and love to redeem humanity. His sacrifice is the defining moment of God’s grace, not just in our lives but in the entire history of creation. As Philippians 2:8 reminds us: “When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
We often hear today that the church has money problems, political problems, or cultural problems. But the root issue is often deeper than that—we have an obedience problem. God doesn’t need our money; He’s not lacking in resources. He’s looking for something far more valuable—our hearts, our willingness to be led, and our commitment to follow in obedience.
In John 10:17-18, Jesus says: “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily…” The greatest sacrifice ever made was done willingly, out of love and obedience. The question we must ask ourselves is: How do we respond to this sacrifice?
Romans 12:1 calls us to a powerful response: “…give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable.” But what does it mean to be a “living and holy sacrifice”? In essence, it means we are called to live a life that reflects Christ’s sacrifice—serving and giving of ourselves.
We live in a world that tells us to keep, gather, and hoard. Our culture encourages us to prioritize our comfort, wealth, and success. But the Jesus way flips that narrative. The greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.)—Jesus—didn’t come to be served but to serve and give His life for others. And He calls us to do the same.
It’s hard to live sacrificially. I’ll be honest—like many of you, I enjoy being served at a restaurant or receiving praise and recognition. But when that attitude becomes dominant, it leads us away from the heart of Jesus. Our calling as Christians is to sacrifice, serve, and give, not out of obligation but out of love and gratitude for all God has done for us.
Starting next week, we’ll be collecting our 2025 Estimate of Giving Cards. As we do, I challenge you to approach this season with a mindset of sacrificial living. Don’t give out of your leftovers but from your first fruits. When we give sacrificially—whether it’s our time, talents, or financial resources—it reflects our trust in God and our desire to see His Kingdom grow.
On the night of His arrest, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples—men who would betray, deny, and abandon Him. This act wasn’t just about physical cleanliness, but about modeling a lifestyle of service and sacrifice. Jesus demonstrated that greatness in the Kingdom of God is found not in being served, but in serving.
So, what about us? Are we living as a reflection of our Savior? Do we walk into rooms with a mindset of “Who can I serve? Who can I bless today?” Christ-like sacrifice means giving of ourselves—our time, our money, our energy—in obedience to God and in service to others.
As we move forward in this season of generosity, let’s remember that Jesus’ sacrifice calls for a response. Not just with words, but with action. Let’s live to give, live to serve, and live in obedience to the One who gave everything for us.
Jesus is the G.O.A.T.
Life Group Questions
1. What does it mean to you personally that Jesus came to serve and not to be served (Matthew 20:28)? How can we practically follow His example in our daily lives?
2. How does our culture’s focus on gathering and keeping for ourselves challenge the call to live sacrificially? What areas of your life are hardest to sacrifice—time, comfort, finances, or something else?
3. Romans 12:1 calls us to be “living and holy sacrifices.” What does living as a “holy sacrifice” look like in your current season of life? How does this impact your relationships and your role in the church?
4. Reflecting on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, even knowing their betrayal and denial, how can we serve those in our lives who may be difficult to love or serve?
5. In what ways can we, as a small group or as individuals, practice sacrificial giving and living that reflects Jesus’ love and obedience? How can we support one another in this pursuit?
2. How does our culture’s focus on gathering and keeping for ourselves challenge the call to live sacrificially? What areas of your life are hardest to sacrifice—time, comfort, finances, or something else?
3. Romans 12:1 calls us to be “living and holy sacrifices.” What does living as a “holy sacrifice” look like in your current season of life? How does this impact your relationships and your role in the church?
4. Reflecting on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, even knowing their betrayal and denial, how can we serve those in our lives who may be difficult to love or serve?
5. In what ways can we, as a small group or as individuals, practice sacrificial giving and living that reflects Jesus’ love and obedience? How can we support one another in this pursuit?
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