"Dear Corinth: So You Want To Be a Leader?” | Rev. Vicki Harrison

Are You Leading Like Jesus?

Have you ever hesitated to take a leadership role—at work, at home, or even in church—because it felt intimidating or messy? In week two of our Dear Corinth series, Pastor Vicki Harrison dives into 1 Corinthians 4 with a powerful reminder: leadership in the Kingdom of God looks nothing like leadership in the world. Watch the full service video below or listen to the sermon audio player.

Leadership, God's Way

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, he confronts a community obsessed with popularity, platform, and power. Sound familiar? Pastor Vicki reminds us that while the world promotes self-glorifying leaders, God calls leaders to be servants and stewards.

1. A Leader Is a Servant (1 Corinthians 4:1)
True Christian leadership starts at the bottom. Paul says church leaders should be seen as servants of Christ. Jesus models this when He kneels to wash His disciples’ feet (John 13).

• A Christian leader isn't above any task.

• Strength is found in humility, not control.

• Our identity is rooted in Christ—not our title or role.

2. A Leader Is a Steward (1 Corinthians 4:1–2)
Paul says leaders are “entrusted with the mysteries of God”—that is, the Gospel. A steward doesn’t own the message but manages it faithfully.

• Stewarding the Gospel means living it out, not just preaching it.

• God’s leaders don’t cater to comfort—they deliver truth, even when it’s hard.

• We’re accountable first to God, not human applause.

Living Leadership Daily

Pastor Vicki challenges us to examine our lives—because we are all leaders in some way. Whether you’re parenting, teaching, managing, or mentoring, the call is the same: serve others in Jesus’ name.

Ask yourself:

• Do I put others’ success above my own?

• Do I genuinely listen and respect others, regardless of their role?

• Do I serve, even when no one’s watching?

• Am I faithfully stewarding the Gospel in my words and actions?

Leadership isn’t about climbing up—it’s about bowing down, like Jesus did.

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More Sermons in this Series

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Other Sermons from Pastor Vicki