Sermons on San Marcos 10:40:

Are You Able?

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Oct 18, 2018

Being a servant for God

Are You Able? Mark 10: 35 – 45 The secretary picked up the phone and heard a very countryfied voice on the other end saying; “I want to talk to the head hog at the trough! ” Secretary: “Excuse me sir?” Man: I want to talk to the head hog at the trough! She then realized the man wanted to talk ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Elevated To Serve

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Oct 19, 2018

A sermon from the perspective of John, which explores that Jesus helps us see that true Christianity leads us to serving in love.

Good day, I am John Many people know me as John the Gospel writer or John the apostle who was sent to the island of Patmos as punishment for encouraging others to worship God. This punishment turned out to be a real blessing. It was on this island that God gave me a magnificent vision of what ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Lutheran

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

Greatness In Serving Series

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on May 6, 2021

The disciples had to learn, often the hard way, that following Jesus does not mean favoritism from Him. They had to learn that service towards God and others is to be done with a loving, gracious attitude and not with an ego.

You have to admit that James and John thought a lot about their ability to serve the Lord Jesus. They wanted places of honor in the Kingdom of God without coming to grips with the hardship that follows everyone who gives their lives to Him. The disciples and all who would surrender their lives ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Baptist

#44 Okay, Let’s Roll Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 25, 2021

2 self-serving disciples tried to talk Jesus into giving them the greatest seats of honor and power. In this text, Jesus teaches His disciples that the way to be first is to be a servant and a slave, a concept that upends the world’s and the apostles’ values.

#44 Okay, Let’s Roll Series: Mark Chuck Sligh April 25, 2021 2 self-serving disciples tried to talk Jesus into giving them the greatest seats of honor and power. In this text, Jesus teaches His disciples that the way to be first is to be a servant and a slave, a concept that upends the world’s and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:32-45

Denomination: Baptist

Servanthood And Palm Sunday

Contributed by Tim Melton on Mar 15, 2021

Jesus had not come to be an earthly, military king who would free the Jews from Rome. He came for something greater. He came to free mankind from themselves, the slavery of sin, and an eternity separated from God. He came as a servant and bids us to do the same.

Greatness. Who comes to mind when you hear this word? To some, this word brings thoughts of a great athlete. To others, it brings to mind a great military commander or world leader of the past. To others, it brings to mind an artist or a musician. But who is truly great, what does greatness mean ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45, Mark 10:36-52, Mark 11:1-11

Hierarchy And Discipleship

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Oct 5, 2021

Jesus did not want heirarchy. He was quite clear about this. Yet the church has a huge hierarchy. Why?

Hierarchy and Discipleship Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Mark 10:35-45 35 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant that we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: United Methodist

James And John And The Near Occasions Of Sin Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 8, 2021

We must work hard to avoid situations in which our buttons are pushed, or our “triggers” are pulled.

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Course 2021 Temptation. If any of us might claim never to have been tempted to do something morally evil, I’d just suggest that you haven’t been paying attention. We are tempted all the time. Turn on radio, TV, Internet, you are assailed by ads. Most of them tell you to buy ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16, Psalm 33:18, Mark 10:35-45, Isaiah 53:10-11

Denomination: Catholic

Love Does Not Boast- Eliminating The Me Monster Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Feb 28, 2025

1 Corinthians 13:4, which says that love 'does not boast.' James and John were focused on elevating themselves, but Jesus' teaching reminds them that love and greatness come through selfless service, not by boasting or seeking honor.

Love does not boast, or to put it another way, love does not brag.INTRODUCTION - As we continue to learn to love better, the focus of the thing we need to work on in order to be able to love better is getting a handle on the issue of boasting. - Love does not boast or put another way, love does ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Cross-Shaped Leadership

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Mar 12, 2026

This sermon explores cross-shaped leadership: a life surrendered upward to God and poured out horizontally in sacrificial love for others, where true authority is born not from power grasped, but from self given away.

Cross-Shaped Leadership Mark 10:35-45 Let me start with a question that might make some of us squirm just a little: If James and John—the Sons of Thunder—were sitting in our pews today, what do you think we'd say about them? They come to Jesus and basically say, “Teacher, we want You ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Methodist

The Upside-Down Kingdom: When Greatness Looks Like A Towel And A Cross Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 17, 2026

There are moments in life when everything feels backwards. What once seemed certain begins to shift. What the world celebrates starts to feel hollow. And deep within the heart, there is a quiet question: Is this really what greatness looks like?

The Upside-Down Kingdom: When Greatness Looks Like a Towel and a Cross Introduction — The Upside-Down Kingdom: When Everything Feels Backwards There are moments in life when everything feels backwards. What once seemed certain begins to shift. What the world celebrates starts to feel hollow. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45, Luke 22:24-27, John 13:1-17, Philippians 2:5-8, Isaiah 53:5, Mark 8:34  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Cross: The Way To Servanthood PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 28, 2023

The main point of this sermon is to understand the cross as a ransom for all, a call to servanthood, and a model for our lives, emphasizing the importance of selfless service and sacrifice in following Jesus.

Good morning, family. Today we’re going to dive deep into a passage from Mark. It’s a passage that highlights three profound aspects of the cross: The Cross as a Ransom for All, The Cross as a Call to Servanthood, and The Cross as a Model for our Lives. Let's read together from Mark 10:32-45. "They ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:32-45

Topics: Jesus, Cross, Relationship

What Ministry Is About PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

The call to service as taught by Jesus in Mark 10:32-45, emphasizing the importance of selfless service and humility in the Christian life.

Good morning, family! Today, we're diving into the heart of Mark 10, verses 32-45, where Jesus teaches His disciples about service. This passage is all about the call, cost, and reward of service. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said: "The Church is the Church only when it exists for others...not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:32-45

Topics: Service

Servant Leadership Involves Pain--Even In Election Season

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 16, 2024

One of the two major parties has made abortion this voting cycle their preeminent priority. Let's look at the morality behind that divide.

There is something almost humorous in today’s Gospel pericope. The story has come down to us in two versions. Both place this incident right after Jesus predicted His passion and death for the third time. St. Matthew’s original version pictures Salome, mother of James and John, making the request. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:10-11, Psalm 33:4-5, Hebrews 4:14-16, Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Catholic