Sermons on Matthew 20:20-21:

The Closest Thing To God's Love Is A Mothers Love, (A Mothers Day Sermon).

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Mar 16, 2015

The closest love to God’s love is to witness the love of a good mother. Sadly this is not always the case, but it is the best model we have to follow. There are some emotional bits in this sermon making it very powerful, even hard to deliver.

Title: The closest thing to God's love is a Mothers love. Summary: The closest love to God’s love is to witness the love of a good mother. Sadly this is not always the case, but it is the best model we have to follow. There are some emotional bits in this sermon, but it is very powerful, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Episcopal

God, I Want To Be A Cowboy (Not A Shepherd)

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 7, 2017

This has been a very successful lesson through the years. It requires foot work to gather the material but it well worth it. We search the two different strategies of life styles of a COWBOY vs a SHEPHERD... O, LORD I WANT TO BE A COWBOY. (not a shepherd)

GOD I WANT TO BE A COWBOY ---I AM SO SORRY, BUT I MUST TO BE A COWBOY... LOOK AT TWO STRATEGIES OF DAILY LIVING... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. O, GOD, I WANT TO BE A COWBOY... I start out singing, HOME, HOME ON THE RANGE STRATEGY: game plan, a careful plan, approach, method to achieve goals to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-27, Matthew 5:28-41

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Ambition

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Apr 4, 2017

James and John wanted to to sit at Christ's side in His kingdom - is this raw ambition? or is there something else here we can learn from?

Ambition Matthew 20:20 - 28 Today we see two of Jesus' closest disciple being ambitious, the request to sit at Christ's side in His kingdom. Ironically in Mark’s gospel it is James and John who actually come to Jesus with this request. In Matthew, today's gospel, it is their mother… ambition. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45

"Lessons Learned From Mom"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on May 14, 2017

A few spiritual things I learned from Mom.

“Lessons Learned from Mom” May 14, 2017 Matthew 20:20-21 “Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-21

Denomination: Holiness

Ambition Of James And John Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 3, 2018

James and John were naturally talented and dedicated to the Lord. Their mother, just like many mothers today, wanted the best for her children, and so a few days before Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, she made a request in behalf of her children.

April 20, 2006 Near Jordan (37) Ambition of James and John Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45 20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. From Matthew 4:21 we know that the two sons of Zebedee were the apostles James ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Baptist

Disciples Of Jesus Have The Heart Of A Servant Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 18, 2021

Jesus' own life and purpose was to serve and to give, and as His followers that must be our purpose as well.

A. One day a kind old gentleman saw a little boy who was trying to reach a doorbell. 1. The boy asked the old gentleman for his help, and the old man lifted the boy up so the boy could push the doorbell. 2. As the old gentleman put the boy back on the ground he asked the boy, “What now, little ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, Philippians 2:5-11, John 13:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Following In His Footsteps

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 28, 2020

The road which the Lord sets before us is not easy. It requires us to give up our selfish ambition, and to walk the path of service.

FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS. Matthew 20:17-34. Jesus was a patient teacher. The Lord reminded His disciples that His journey to Jerusalem would precipitate events which would lead to His death and resurrection. This was why He came into the world. It was not outside His control (Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:17-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I’ve Got A Mansion…do You?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Oct 28, 2022

A little boy got on the elevator with his father at the Empire State Building. They were going to the observation deck at the top and view the city.

• As the elevator ascended the boy watched the signs flash as they went by the floors: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70. • The farther up they went, the more nervous the boy became. • Finally he looked up as his dad and said, “Daddy, does God know we're coming?” (Leighton Ford, "Hope for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Christian: What Kind Of Disciple Are You? Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Dec 6, 2022

How can we be better disciples? 1. Avoid distractions (vs. 17-21, 23). 2. Accept the difficulties of following Jesus (vs. 22-23). 3. Avoid pointless disputes (vs. 24). 4. Live with Christlike devotion (vs. 25-28).

Christian: What Kind of Disciple Are You? The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 20:17-28 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared December 6, 2022) BACKGROUND: *Please open your Bibles to Matthew 20:17. In this verse of Scripture, Jesus has started His trip to Jerusalem to die on the cross for our sins. And by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:17-28

Denomination: Baptist

Crowns And Rewards

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Oct 20, 2018

When the disciples approach Jesus about spots in his Kingdom, he turns things upside down

A friend of mine this week said something that has resonated with me. She said that in her family, she was the designated worrier. Now, I admit, she has much in her life to be worried about, but that is her story. Our stories are different, but I can’t help but wonder if we have a designated ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 2:10, Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 20:20-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Bottom-Up Leadership

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Oct 22, 2018

Monologue of the elderly apostle John, as he looks back at today's story and considers lessons learned on servant leadership.

Mark 10:35-45 Bottom-up Leadership My name is John. Yes, that John, one of Jesus’ twelve, in fact, the one he loved the most. At least that’s the way I always felt. I’m in my late ’80s now. I know that’s nothing for many of you, but for my time, that’s an extremely long life. All of my battle ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45, Matthew 20:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:11-12, John 13:5, 1 John 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Salome Mother Of James And John. Series

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Feb 17, 2021

Solome is remembered as the mother who just didn’t get the concept of the kingdom right and was overly ambitious for her children

Salome mother of James and John. Matt. 20:2-21, Mark 15:40-41 There are two women named Salome in the New Testament, but only one is mentioned by that name. One Salome was righteous; we read of the other Salome in Mark 6 - the daughter of Herodias who danced at Herod's party. was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-21, Mark 15:40-41

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Which King? Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Mar 3, 2021

Bob Dylan famously wrote, "But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody." As disciples of Jesus, we must choose daily who gets to be king in our life. Which king do you follow?

* Squeeze to the last drop: The manager at the local pub had what he considered to be the world’s strongest man working as his bouncer. In fact, the bouncer was so tough, the manager actually used the man to make money on the side with a little bet he had contrived over the years. The manager was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:15-20, Genesis 1:26, Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-14, Colossians 3:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Believe Following Jesus Means Serving Like Jesus Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Feb 6, 2025

A Servant is Faithful, Available, and Teachable

Good morning! Please open your Bibles to Matthew 20:20-28. Before we begin, let’s pray? [pray] In 1859, three businessmen began work on an express mail service that promised to get messages between Missouri and California in ten days or less—an unheard of speed at the time. They began to build a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Baptist

A Mother's Request

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 12, 2025

Today, we are going to look at the mother of James and John, those two who were in the inner circle among the followers of Jesus. Their mother was a mom and like any other mom. She was looking after the best interest of her children. All she really wanted was for her kids to do good.

Alba 5-11-2025 A MOTHER'S REQUEST Matthew 20:20-28 A little boy was talking with the girl next door. “I wonder what my mom would like for Mother’s Day.” The girl answered, “Well, you could promise to keep your room clean and orderly. You could go to bed as soon as you’re told. You could brush ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ