Sermon Tone Analysis

Tom Brady cleaning Toilets?

imagine Tom Brady, the superbowl winning quarterback fro the New ENgland Patriots…in the end of the post Superbowl Parade stepping away from the motorcade to get into an uber and heads into the slums of Boston.

to the projects that have been overridden with poverty, drg use and violence, imagine Brady gets out of the uber…without any cameras or Patriot fanfare, just him, a bucket and some cleaning supplies, and he walks himself into the public bathrooms and begins washing the floors, the toilets, the sinks and all the nasty things that find their way into a public restroom that hasn’t been clean in years.

Imagine then that the people in the community who use the bathroom come in and begin berating him and telling him to get out and go back to the parade but he just keeps on cleaning.

This is the type of leadership Jesus displays.

Its the type of leadership it takes for someone who has been called to compete at the highest levels.

Respect is earned by way of service to others.

Especially when they don’t deserve it and its not fair for you to give it.

I heard a preacher once say that “fairness went out the window at the cross”

This Biblical principle has been tested and found to be true even in our current sports world.

Successful coaches and athletes will declare it with conviction.

“My job as a leader is to do everything I possibly can to help each player reach her full potential and whatever it takes for our team to reach its potential.

As someone who cares about people I want to be able to help each player contribute her best to the team.”

- JENNY BOUCEK Former WBB Coach Seattle Storm

Professional athletes are some of the best examples of servant leadership.

Servant leadership at its core is about the leader feeling a desire to serve others, to put others well-being before theirs (Northouse, 2016).

Servant leadership emphasizes the growth, maturation, and health of those being served (Northouse, 2016).

Servant leadership focuses on developing followers based on the leaders’ altruistic and ethical ideals while focusing the follower’s needs.

Once the follower’s needs are addressed they can grow (Eva, Robin, Sendjava, van Dierendonck, & Liden, 2018).

For the sake of this post the focus will remain on Lebron James.

Lebron James grew up in Akron, Ohio which itself is an underserved struggling city.

Lebron has went on record stating that “as a fourth grader [he] missed 83 days of school” while he and his mother moved from couch to couch trying to find a place to stay (Zahn, 2018).

The school that Lebron just opened is a public school in collaboration with Akron public school system that offers classes for elementary schoolers and GED courses and job placement for parents (Zahn, 2018).

The school also provides free breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks as well as, a free bicycle for every student (Zahn, 2018).

Brandi Davis, the school principal told USA today that “it is about true wrap-around support, true family integration and true compassion.”

To add to it if the students that attend the Lebron Promise School go on to graduate high school Lebron James will cover their full tuition to the University of Akron, the local public college.

Lebron James told ESPN that “we as a foundation don’t have a ceiling on how much we can improve our community.”

The I Promise School isn’t the only cause that Lebron James champions.

Lebron James has donated to After-School All-Stars, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Children’s Defense Fund, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, ONEXONE, and others.

Lebron has also announced a partnership with the University of Akron to provide scholarships for as many as 2,300 children beginning in 2021.

Lebron has hosted a bike-a-thon every year since 2005 to raise money for various causes.

The list of Lebron’s charitable and philanthropic contributions is endless.

10 Practical ways to learn servant leadership.

10 Practical ways to learn servant leadership.

Practical ways to learn servant leadership.

1 - Put the group first.

True leaders know that the team is a priority.

2 - Have confidence.

Know that you will make the right choices for your group and yourself.

3 - Set a good example.

Lead by doing.

4 - Communicate.

Include everyone in your group.

5 - Be a friend.

Treat everyone as you would like to be treated.

6 - Show respect.

Servants must respect leaders and leaders must respect servants.

7 - Find a need and fill it.

Have courage to make positive changes.

8 - Make a commitment.

Plan for the future.

9 - Think of your family.

Avoid anything that would embarrass your loved ones.

10 - Develop a sense of community.

Work to connect the people in your group.

What is the difference between gospel shaped servanthood and all this philanthropy?

simply put, I believe the difference is found in the “why and the how”.

The gospel of Jesus shows us that the God of the universe emptied himself out for others for their rescue.

Gospel shaped servant leadership comes from a place of deep gratitude and love for others because it understands the value God has placed on every human being.

nothing can change it, not wins or losses, not which jersey you wear or don’t wear, not the start of the game clock or the end of it.

Gospel shaped Servant leadership is a way of life for those who are learning to follow Jesus.

be mindful of the whole message though.

the gospel states that we are all sinful and fall short right....that we have this sin sickness in our hearts that causes us to want our own way and rebel against Gods way.

The beauty of the Gospel is that Jesus demonstrated the ultimate act of servant leadership from a place of unfairness. it wasn’t fair for him to die on the cross for us.

Write conclusion below: