Delvin Atchison preaches a powerful sermon on leading like Jesus

After the second business session concluded, messengers and guests at the 2025 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting enjoyed a time of worship together and heard a message from Delvin Atchison, senior pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Lewisville. 

Atchison preached from John 13:1–17 on leading like Jesus.

“Our Lord now begins to teach us in demonstration before he gives dialogue  … Instead of an exhortation, he gives an example … He gets up, takes a towel … and begins to wash their feet,” said Atchison. “I believe that principles of Jesus as they relate to leadership are seen in this text.”

Atchison shared first that leaders need the humility to serve. 

“Here the God who was there on the morning of creation … who defied his own laws of gravity and walked on water now takes this water and washes the feet of his disciples,” he said.

“If we are too big to serve, we are too small to lead,” emphasized Atchison. “The Lord shows us that the way to get up is by going down.”

Second, leaders need the vulnerability to suffer. 

“God does not give us the option of serving only the people we like. He did not call us to this shallow service … God has called us to love, and you cannot love without opening yourself up to be hurt,” Achison said. 

He cautioned leaders against trying to protect themselves from being hurt because to love deeply, as Christ calls us to do, is to be vulnerable to hurt.

“You can’t serve and try to guard and protect … our very service is to open up and say even if you hurt me, I still love you enough to serve. We don’t get to be our best until we experience hurt,” Achison said. 

Third, leaders need the tenacity to stand. 

“The time has come for us to stand up … God needs some people with the tenacity to say I’m going to stand for right. That's when, in conflict, I go with the Bible over anything else,” Atchinson said. 

Lastly, Atchison encouraged leaders that they have the certainty of success.

“You can serve with blessed assurance when you understand that you are not fighting for a victory but from a place of victory,” he said. 

“We are in some challenging times, but the good news is that when the dust settles it will be alright,” Atchison said. “When the dust settles, the victory will be secured … When the dust settles, God’s honor will be vindicated. When the dust settles, all of us will be able to join in the chorus … and say all hail the power of Jesus. Crown him!”