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Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
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All right. Welcome back. Day four of the Daily Blade. This week we're in Matthew chapter 20. All week long, we're talking about what it means to be a great man. The. The fourth characteristic in Matthew chapter 20 of A Great man is a great man serves. A great man serves. Matthew 20:20 and following. I know we read it every week, but you can't go wrong reading the Bible. Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked him for something. And he said to her, what do you want? And she said to him, say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom. And Jesus answered, you do not know what you were asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink? And they said to him, we are able. And he said to them, you will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and my left is not mine to grant, but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. Verse 25. But Jesus called them, and he said, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Here's what this means. He says that the way the world works is that people in positions of power lord it over them. That people use positional authority to tell people, other people, to get in their place. That the way the Gentiles, the way that the world works is if you're the boss. And the reason everybody else exists is to serve you. If you're the dad, the reason everybody in your house exists is to serve you. That's the way of the world. And then verse 26 says this. It shall not be so among you. Well, let me just ask you, bro, is it this way among you? Like when you walk into your house, does peace walk in with you? When you walk into the boardroom, if you're the boss, does peace walk in with you? You see, the reality is there's a bunch of us that when we walk into the room and everybody kind of puckers up because we're in charge, we kind of like it. And Jesus says, It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant. And whoever would be first among you must be your slave. Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve. That's right. So what do you do when you look around and you realize you're the most powerful person in the room? Well, what Jesus did was serve. So let me ask you a few questions. Do you lord your authority over others? Like do you point to your name tag and you say, see, it says assistant to the general manager right here. You do what I say? Are you? Well you do what I say because I said so, because of my position as authority. Is that the kind of person you are? Because Jesus says it shall not be so among you. Jesus says that if you do this, you're being a practical atheist. You're saying, what do you mean? I'm not an atheist. I go to church, I worship with my hands up, I read my Bible, I'm listening to the Daily Blade. And he goes, nate, you might believe those things. You're just acting like a gentile. He doesn't mean non Jewish. He means you're acting like somebody that is not submitted and surrendered to God as their father. When we lord our authority over others. Let me ask you this question. Jesus says that if you want to be great, then you must be a servant. So do you see yourself as a servant that gets to lead or as a servant leader? You see we've bastardized this word in the English language man. You see we use the word servant. Jesus calls us to be a servant. We use that word to describe the kind of leader that we want to be. Oh, I'm a servant leader. And Jesus is like neat, I told you just to be a servant. You see everybody's okay with the idea of servant until you get treated like one. If serving is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you. And Jesus sets the ultimate example in John chapter 13. Jesus, knowing all authority in heaven and earth have been given unto him. He stands up from the table and the Bible says that he shows to the disciples the full extent of his love. And he does not preach a sermon, he does not do a miracle. He dresses himself as a servant and he washes his disciples feet. And then he goes on to say, I have set for you an example and you will be blessed if you do likewise. So if you want to be great in the kingdom of heaven, then you serve. A great man dresses himself as a servant and serve, he takes the lowest job, not as a means to an end to get what you want, but just in obedience to Christ. Because this is what Christ did for us. And in that obedience is the blessing in the Kingdom of God a great man serves.
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The Daily Blade: Episode #112 - Joby Martin // Servant Leadership Redefined
Release Date: June 5, 2025
In Episode #112 of The Daily Blade, hosts Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 and Kyle Thompson of Undaunted.Life delve into the profound topic of Servant Leadership, drawing insights from Matthew Chapter 20. This episode offers a deep exploration of what it truly means to be a great man in the Christian context, challenging conventional notions of leadership and authority.
The episode opens with a reflection on Matthew 20, where Joby Martin introduces the theme for the week: understanding the characteristics that define a great man from a biblical perspective. He emphasizes that being a great man is intrinsically linked to the act of serving others.
Joby Martin [00:20]: "All week long, we're talking about what it means to be a great man. The fourth characteristic in Matthew chapter 20 of a great man is a great man serves."
Joby breaks down the passage in Matthew 20, where the mother of the sons of Zebedee requests special positions for her sons in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus responds by highlighting the futility of seeking authority for the sake of power.
Joby Martin [00:35]: "Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you were asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?’"
He explains that Jesus’ response underscores the difference between worldly authority and divine purpose. While the world operates on positional power, Jesus introduces a radical alternative: leadership through service.
Delving deeper, Joby contrasts the typical Gentile approach to authority—where leaders lord it over others—with the servant leadership model advocated by Jesus.
Joby Martin [02:10]: "The way the Gentiles, the way that the world works is if you're the boss. And the reason everybody else exists is to serve you."
He challenges listeners to self-examine their own leadership styles:
Joby Martin [02:30]: "Do you lord your authority over others? Are you acting like somebody that is not submitted and surrendered to God as their father?"
This segment urges Christians to reject authoritarianism and embrace humility and service in leadership roles.
One of the pivotal moments in the discussion is Joby's reinterpretation of what it means to be "great." Referencing Matthew 20:26-28, he elucidates that true greatness is achieved not through dominance but through servitude.
Joby Martin [03:05]: "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant. And whoever would be first among you must be your slave."
He emphasizes that leadership in the Kingdom of God is fundamentally different from worldly leadership. It is characterized by a willingness to take on the lowest tasks and serve others selflessly.
To illustrate servant leadership, Joby highlights the ultimate example set by Jesus in John Chapter 13, where Jesus washes His disciples' feet— a task typically reserved for the lowest servant.
Joby Martin [03:45]: "He dresses himself as a servant and he washes his disciples' feet. And then he goes on to say, I have set for you an example and you will be blessed if you do likewise."
This act is portrayed as the epitome of servant leadership, showcasing that true leaders prioritize the needs of others above their own status or comfort.
Joby transitions into how listeners can apply these principles in their daily lives, whether at home, in the workplace, or within their communities. He challenges men to adopt a servant’s heart, leading by example rather than by decree.
Joby Martin [04:20]: "If you want to be great in the kingdom of heaven, then you serve."
He encourages men to embrace humility, take on tasks that may be considered beneath their status, and lead with love and compassion, mirroring Christ’s leadership style.
Wrapping up the episode, Joby reiterates the core message that true greatness in the Christian life is found in serving others. He calls on men to redefine their understanding of leadership by following Jesus' model of selfless service.
Joby Martin [04:50]: "A great man serves. A great man dresses himself as a servant and serves; he takes the lowest job... just in obedience to Christ."
This invitation to servant leadership serves as a powerful reminder for listeners to align their actions with the teachings of Jesus, fostering a community built on mutual respect and genuine service.
Notable Quotes:
Joby Martin [00:35]: "Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you were asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?’"
Joby Martin [02:10]: "The way the Gentiles, the way that the world works is if you're the boss. And the reason everybody else exists is to serve you."
Joby Martin [03:05]: "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant."
Joby Martin [04:20]: "If you want to be great in the kingdom of heaven, then you serve."
Final Thoughts
Episode #112 of The Daily Blade offers a compelling exploration of servant leadership, grounded in scriptural insights and practical exhortations. Pastor Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson effectively challenge conventional leadership paradigms, urging Christians to embody the humility and selflessness exemplified by Jesus Christ. This episode serves as both an encouragement and a call to action for men seeking to lead with integrity and faith in their everyday lives.
For more insightful discussions and to support The Church of Eleven22, visit coe22.com/donate. Don't forget to join Pastor Joby & Kyle in person at the 2025 Men's Conference in Jacksonville, Florida—reserve your seat at mensconference.com.