We’ve been walking through Kings and Chronicles, and this week we arrive at a pivotal moment in Israel’s history—a kingdom torn in two.

What started as a request—“Give us a king”—has now become a consequence.

Samuel warned the people. Kings would demand, take, and burden. But the people insisted. And now, just three generations later—Saul, David, Solomon—the kingdom fractures under Rehoboam.

Why?

Because of one decision.

When the people came asking for relief, Rehoboam had a choice:

• Listen with humility
• Or lead with force

The elders said:

“If today you will be a servant to these people… they will always serve you.”

But Rehoboam rejected that wisdom.

Instead, he listened to his peers—voices that encouraged power, dominance, and control.

And in doing so, he didn’t just lose trust.

He lost the kingdom.

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The Leadership Lesson That Still Matters

Rehoboam’s failure wasn’t a lack of authority.

It was a lack of a servant mindset.

And that’s where this story meets us today.

Because whether we’re leading in a church, a family, or a ministry—
we are constantly faced with the same question:

Will we lead by control… or by service?

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Ministry Calls Us to a Servant Mindset

This is the heartbeat of the message:

Ministry calls us to operate with a servant mindset.

Not:

• “How do I get my way?”
• “How do I assert my authority?”

But:

• “How do we work together?”
• “What leads us where God is calling us?”

That kind of leadership requires something difficult:

👉 Listening
👉 Discernment
👉 Surrendering personal preference

Because the truth is:

Not everyone gets their way—but together, we can find God’s way.

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Three Conversations That Matter

Just like Rehoboam faced a defining moment, we also stand in one.

As a church, we’re navigating three important conversations:

1. Summer Worship Schedule

Do we gather as one body in a single service?
Or maintain space for growth and accessibility with two?

This isn’t just logistical—it’s spiritual.

It’s about:

• Unity vs. capacity
• Preference vs. mission

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2. Church Rebranding

What name and image best help us reach our community?

We honor who we’ve been.
But we also ask:

Is anything unintentionally creating barriers for those not yet here?

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3. Reinbeck Ministry Opportunity

A door has opened.

A space with no active ministry…
And real needs:

• Midweek worship
• Youth engagement

The question is not just can we do it?

But:

Is God calling us to it?

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The Power of Listening

In every one of these conversations, one word matters most:

Listening.

Because when we listen:

• We gain perspective
• We grow in understanding
• We make wiser decisions

And most importantly—

We avoid becoming a divided kingdom.

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Good Kings vs. Bad Kings

Scripture simplifies leadership in a powerful way:

• Bad kings: Did what was evil in the sight of the Lord
• Good kings: Did what was right in the eyes of the Lord

That’s the measure.

Not success.
Not popularity.
Not control.

Faithfulness.

Even David—imperfect as he was—was called good because his heart sought the Lord.

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The Question Before Us

So here’s where it comes down for us:

In these decisions…
In these conversations…
In this season…

What does it look like to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord?

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Final Thought

Rehoboam chose power over partnership—and it cost him everything.

But we have another choice.

We can:

• Listen deeply
• Serve humbly
• Discern faithfully

So that together—

God is glorified, and His love is made known in our community.

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Sermon video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TwXeTJXJEg

[Blog post created by Sunday Message Repurposing Assistant from original sermon content preached by Rev. Kent F. Jackson on April 26, 2026.]

Sermon Series NOTE: The Story by Max Lucado ch. 14 “A Kingdom Torn in Two”