Men of Low Degree

JUPITER, FLORIDA – On Sunday, March 23, 2025, Pastor Jerry Wragg of Grace Immanuel Bible Church delivered a convicting sermon on church leadership. The teaching was based on 1 Corinthians 4:1-6 and stressed the importance of humility in church leaders and the proper way for them to be viewed by the church body at large. As is customary at GIBC, Pastor Wragg set the tone for the message by first reading a related passage, John 3:22-36. The passage is about the disciples of John the Baptist complaining to him that more people were now going to Jesus to be baptized than to John. John’s answer to them is profound as he says to them in verses 27-30:
“A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must increase; I must decrease” (BSB).
Pastor Wragg was emphatic that church leaders should neither be exalted nor idolized. Instead, they should be seen as slaves of Christ, low-level helpers, and no-name assistants who are under authority. The focus should not be on them, but on Christ, who deserves all the glory.

One of the key points of the sermon was the importance of waiting for the Lord’s judgment. As 1 Corinthians 4:5 states:
“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God” (BSB).
This was a powerful reminder that human judgments are of no eternal significance and that true rewards come from God alone.

Pastor Wragg also emphasized that church leaders should not seek fame. They are stewards of what belongs to God and must care for what is precious to Him. He referenced 1 John 3:16, which reads, “By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (BSB). He also shared Luke 12:47 saying, “That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows” (BSB) to illustrate the responsibilities and expectations of church leaders.

The sermon concluded with a reminder that Christ is the model for church leaders and that they should serve God’s purposes until their time is done. Pastor Wragg’s message was both potent and practical, reminding church leaders of every level of the humility and dedication required of their God-given positions.

Grace Immanuel Bible Church continues to be a place where the Word of God, the Bible, is deeply loved and is taught with conviction and clarity. If you are looking for a solid Bible Church in the Palm Beach County, Florida area, GIBC is highly recommended. The contact information for the church is as follows:

Address – 17475 Jonathan Dr., Jupiter, Florida 33477
Phone – 561-746-4617
Contact Page – https://gibcjupiter.org/contact-us 

References

Disclaimer: Grace Immanuel Bible Church is not affiliated with The Believer’s Byline (save in the fact that the author attends there). GIBC did not sponsor this article and is not responsible for its content.
Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which is a project of Bible Hub. Used with permission. The Berean Standard Bible has been released into the public domain.
Wragg, Jerry. “Wait for the Lord’s Final Exam – A Sermon.” https://gibcjupiter.org/media/sermon-details?sermonId=15340&type=video (Accessed April 5, 2025).