Sermons on San Mateo 20:20:

James The Servant And Leader

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 21, 2025

We must expect daily to serve others and do so happily even to death. Jesus will provide the grace to enable our service.

Feast of St. James the Greater (Santiago) July 25, 2025 Today’s psalm is anchored in a particular moment of Israelite history. In 539 BC, King Cyrus of Persia conquered the Neo-Babylonian empire and issued a decree that permitted, even encouraged the people exiled to Babylon to return to Judea and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Psalm 126:1-6, Matthew 20:20-28, Galatians 2:20

Denomination: Catholic

The Kingdom Way – Grace Over Fairness. Matthew 20 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Aug 9, 2025

MATTHEW 20: GRACE, GREATNESS and THE GOD WHO SEES. GOD’s kingdom operates on grace, not human merit. GOD’s grace defies human fairness, greatness is measured by servanthood, and spiritual sight is found in recognizing JESUS.

2025.08.10. Sermon Notes. THE KINGDOM WAY – GRACE OVER FAIRNESS. Matthew 20. GRACE, GREATNESS and THE GOD WHO SEES. William Akehurst, HSWC SCRIPTURES: Matthew 20:1-34, Romans 9:15-16, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Peter 1:10-11, Revelation 22:17, Matthew 7:21-23, John 15:16, James 4:6, Ephesians 4:1 BIG ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-34, Romans 9:15-16, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Peter 1:10-11, Revelation 22:17, Matthew 7:21-23, John 15:16, James 4:6, Ephesians 4:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

What A Mom

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 31, 2000

A mother’s day look at Salome mother of James and John

She was a mom and like any other mom, all she really wanted was for her kids to do good. And the fact that her kids were both grown men really wasn’t all that relevant. She still wanted them to do good, and she would do whatever she needed to do to make sure they did good. Including talking to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-21

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Towel And The Throne: Greatness Redefined Series

Contributed by Kory Labbe on Oct 25, 2025

True greatness in God’s Kingdom isn’t found in titles or positions, but in the humility of serving others. Jesus redefined leadership by trading the throne for the towel, showing us that to lead is to love through service.

Introduction: “The CEO with the Mop” Good morning, everyone. It’s great to see you here today. We’re continuing in our “Live” series, where we’ve been looking at what it really means to be different — to live in this world, but not be shaped by it. Each week we’ve seen that following Jesus isn’t ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Greatest That Is In You

Contributed by Ronald Fair on Feb 7, 2001

Like the potential in a seed so is the undeveloped greatness in you, Rev. Fair’s sermon speaks of the possibility that each of us have with God’s love and guidance.

THE GREATEST THAT IS IN YOU Matthew 20:17-34 INTRODUCTION I hold in my hand one of the most marvelous things in the whole world. It is brown in color, stream lined in shape, and so small that if I dropped it, I would have difficulty finding it again. Science can duplicate it’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1, Matthew 20:17-34

Denomination: Methodist

A Mother's Request Series

Contributed by James Hayford Sr. on Nov 15, 2000

Jesus talks with the mother of two of His disciples about being a servant.

A MOTHER’S REQUEST” Fourth In The Series: “Conversations With Christ” Matthew 20:20-28 LET’S LOOK AT OUR TEXT: 20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: *other

The Humillity Of The Towel

Contributed by Kevin Taylor on Nov 16, 2000

Discover the importance of servanthood.

I. Less Than and Greater Than A. Text: Matthew 20:20-28 B. It’s easy in our society to get things backwards; mixed up. We live in a backwards society. Everything we as a society does is opposite of what God’s Word says we should. 1. Remember, Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, John 13:1-17

The Problem Of A Basin Theology

Contributed by Michael Blankenship on Dec 22, 2000

Do we worship with a Basin theology or A TUB?

BASIN THEOLOGY Matthew 20:20-28 Bruce Thielemann, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, tells of a conversation he had with a member of his congregation who said, "You preachers talk a lot about ‘do unto others,’ but when you get right down to it, it comes down to basin theology." ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

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

The Wage Agreement PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 1, 2023

To explore the parable of the workers in the vineyard, emphasizing the boundless nature of God's grace, the fairness of His promises, and the need for humility instead of entitlement.

Hello, friends. I'm glad to see you all here today. We're going to explore a passage today that's got a lot to teach us about how we view God's grace, His promises, and our own sense of entitlement. It's a parable that Jesus shared with His disciples, and it's found in Matthew 20:1-20. I'll read it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-20

Topics: Religious Entitlement

The Wage Agreement PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 1, 2023

To explore the parable of the workers in the vineyard, emphasizing the boundless nature of God's grace, the fairness of His promises, and the need for humility instead of entitlement.

Hello, friends. I'm glad to see you all here today. We're going to explore a passage today that's got a lot to teach us about how we view God's grace, His promises, and our own sense of entitlement. It's a parable that Jesus shared with His disciples, and it's found in Matthew 20:1-20. I'll read it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-20

Topics: Religious Entitlement

Serving Like Jesus Series

Contributed by David Owens on Feb 8, 2016

In this first sermon, I establish that we must be conformed into the likeness of Jesus. Because He was a servant, we must also become servants. A resource I am basing the series on is Charles Swindoll's "Improving Your Serve."

A. One day a woman was interviewing a prospective butler and asked him, “Are you trained to serve guests?” 1. The prospective butler replied “Yes, ma’am, I have been trained to serve guests both ways.” 2. The woman looked puzzled and asked, “What do you mean, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

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

Mrs. Zebedee

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on May 10, 2020

“Mrs. Zebedee,” the mother of James and John, gets a bad rap for her request to Jesus for places in the kingdom on the right and left hand of Jesus. Actually, there are some good qualities for mothers on Mother’s Day to emulate.

Mrs. Zebedee A Mother’s day sermon Charles Sligh May 10, 2020 NOTE: PowerPoint presentation is available for this sermon by request at chucksligh@hotmail.com. Please mention the title of the sermon and the Bible text to help me find the sermon in my archives NOTE: Adapted from a sermon by Melvin ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-23

Denomination: Baptist