Vineyard Church | Weekly Update September 17th, 2025

Strength in Surrender: True Leadership, True Sacrifice

What do you picture when you think of a “strong leader”?
Maybe someone confident, polished, powerful; someone who commands the room. That’s what the Corinthians thought too. They were drawn to leaders who looked impressive, who spoke with flair, who seemed larger than life.

And then there was Paul. Ordinary, unimpressive, even a little awkward, abrasive, and sometimes kind of a jerk. But Paul carried something deeper: the humility and gentleness of Jesus. His authority wasn’t built on charisma or control, but on sacrifice and surrender.

In 2 Corinthians 10–11, Paul reminds us that true leadership doesn’t boast in itself. It doesn’t compare or compete. It doesn’t demand recognition or power. Instead, true leadership looks like Jesus, the King who bent down to wash feet, the Savior who gave His life on a cross.

Devotional Thought

Real strength is revealed in surrender.
Real leadership is found in sacrifice.

This isn’t just a word for pastors or public leaders. Every one of us leads somewhere, in our families, in our workplaces, in our neighborhoods. The question is: will we lead like the world, or will we lead like Jesus?

A Practice for This Week

Take five minutes each day to pray with open hands:

1. Ask the Spirit to show you where you’ve been leading with control instead of humility.
2. Pray these words from Micah 6:8 slowly:
   “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
3. Invite Jesus to shape you as a servant-leader, wherever He’s placed you.

Who Needs to Hear This?

Think about someone in your life who’s wrestling with leadership, power, or control — maybe a friend, a coworker, or a family member. This passage could be exactly what they need!

Join us this Sunday at 10am as we continue our Strength in Surrender series: True Leadership, True Sacrifice (2 Corinthians 10–11).

Adam Greenwell
Lead Pastor
Vineyard Church
www.billingsvineyard.org