The Towel Comes Before the Title

Live the way Jesus calls you even before others recognize.

Christopher Alexander • Lead Pastor
July 13, 2026

5 Minute Read

The Towel Comes Before the Title

It's easy to assume that leadership begins when someone receives a title. We celebrate promotions, ordinations, and appointments because they mark an important moment. But in God's Kingdom, public recognition is almost never the beginning of the story. It's simply the moment everyone else catches up to what God has already been doing.

When Jesus gathered with His disciples on the night before the cross, He did something no one expected. The One who deserved every honor took off His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began washing dirty feet. The Creator became the servant. The King picked up a towel.

That's the picture of biblical leadership.

Jesus Redefined Greatness

After washing His disciples' feet, Jesus said,

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." (John 13:14–15)

Jesus never taught that greatness comes through position. He taught that greatness comes through service. The towel always comes before the title.

Later He would tell His disciples,

"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant." (Mark 10:43)

That is still God's definition of greatness today.

Character Before Responsibility

The qualifications for a deacon in 1 Timothy 3 focus far more on character than responsibilities. The Apostle Paul spends very little time describing what a deacon does and much more time describing who a deacon is.

Why?

Because ministry always flows from character.

God is far more interested in shaping our hearts than handing us a position.

Faithfulness, integrity, humility, and spiritual maturity are not qualities that suddenly appear when someone receives a title. They are cultivated over years of quietly walking with Jesus.

Recognition of What God Has Already Done

This past Sunday, our church had the joy of ordaining Michael Jay as a deacon at New Prospect Baptist Church.

While the ordination was a meaningful milestone, it wasn't the day Michael became a servant.

Long before anyone laid hands on him or presented him with a certificate, he was already living the life of a deacon. He had already been serving faithfully, caring for people, loving the church, and demonstrating the character that Scripture calls us to recognize. The ordination simply affirmed what God had already been producing in his life.

That is how God's Kingdom works.

God often develops us in hidden places before He ever places us in visible positions.

David was a shepherd before he became a king. Elisha faithfully served Elijah before becoming a prophet. The disciples spent years following Jesus before they were sent to lead the early church.

God prepares people in private before He entrusts them with greater responsibility in public.

Every Believer Is Called to Pick Up the Towel

This principle isn't just for pastors, elders, or deacons.

Every follower of Jesus has been called to serve.

You may never hold an official title within the church, but every act of kindness, every prayer offered, every meal delivered, every encouraging conversation, every unseen sacrifice, and every quiet act of obedience reflects the heart of Christ.

Our culture asks,

"How high can you climb?"

Jesus asks,

"Whose feet are you willing to wash?"

The One who wore the crown first carried the towel.

He showed us that the pathway to influence is humility, and the pathway to greatness is service.

So don't wait for a title before you begin serving. Don't assume ministry starts when someone recognizes your gifts. Begin today. Love people well. Serve faithfully. Honor Christ in the ordinary moments.

Because in God's Kingdom...

The towel always comes before the title.

Now It’s Your Turn

Maybe you've been waiting for the "right time" to take your next step with Jesus. Maybe you've told yourself, When I know more... when life settles down... when I feel ready... But what if God isn't waiting for perfection? What if He's simply inviting you to pick up the towel?

At New Prospect, we believe following Jesus is a journey, and every journey begins with one faithful step. Whether you need to Encounter Jesus for the very first time, Overcome Together by finding healing and authentic community, Grow Deeper through discipleship and God's Word, or Serve Others by using your gifts to make an eternal difference, your next step matters.

Don't wait for a title before you begin living out your calling. God does some of His greatest work in ordinary people who simply say, "Yes, Lord."

The towel comes before the title. Faithfulness comes before recognition. And your next step could be the beginning of everything God wants to do in and through your life.

So... what's your next step? We'd love to walk that journey with you.

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From this Author: Christopher Alexander

August 2, 2026 • 3 Minute Read

This Week at New Prospect

New Prospect At a Glance This is your one-stop spot for everything happening this week. From kids to adults, LIFE groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days. Sunday, August 16th 21 Days of Prayer - Day 16, 6:00am @ NPBC 10:00am Worship Gathering Monday, August 17th 21 Days of Prayer - Day 17, 6:00am @ NPBC Tuesday, August 18th 21 Days of Prayer - Day 18, 6:00am @ NPBC Wednesday, August 19th 21 Days of Prayer - Day 19, 6:00am @ NPBC Kids Own Worship - 6:00pm Youth Night - 5:30pm @ The Wrestling Gym The WAY @ NPBC - 6:30pm Thursday, August 20th 21 Days of Prayer - Day 20, 6:00am @ NPBC Friday, August 21st 21 Days of Prayer - Day 21, 6:00am @ NPBC Saturday, August 22nd Hadlee & Harper’s Birthday | 2:00pm @ Buddy Bear Ladies Night | 5:30pm @ Jennie’s | Bring a Finger Food Upcoming Events Sunday Worship - 8/23/26 @ 10:00am FORGED Devo - 8/27/26 @ 6:00pmNew here? We'd love to connect. This Week's Message "Time to Rebuild” Pastor Christopher Alexander | Ezra 1:1-4 ESV God is often working long before we can see it. As the people of God returned from exile, God kept His promises, stirred their hearts, and called them to rebuild—but before they rebuilt the Temple, they rebuilt the altar. In this opening message from Ezra, we discover that true rebuilding begins with worship, obedience, and a willingness to respond when God begins stirring our hearts.Subscribe To Our Podcast Community Prayer We carry each other through the spiritual practice of prayer. Here's what our community is lifting up this week: 🙏 NPBC – We are praying for our church, all our members, those who have recently come to faith and have been baptized - may God bless and be with each and every one. 🙏 Our Community – For the families still in need of knowing Jesus. May we be the hands and feet of Jesus in everything we do and say. Submit your own prayer request here. Giving Your generosity makes our work and missions possible. We’re so grateful for you. New to our community? No pressure. Today, just be our guest.Give Now Here Stay Connected 📩 Subscribe to this Collection to get these updates delivered directly to your inbox. 📸 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. 💬 Pastoral care or questions? Connect with us here. Services: Sunday at 10 AM 248 New Prospect Church Rd Come see us next Sunday. See you soon!

Christopher Alexander

Lead Pastor

Currently Reading

July 13, 2026 • 5 Minute Read

The Towel Comes Before the Title

The Towel Comes Before the Title It's easy to assume that leadership begins when someone receives a title. We celebrate promotions, ordinations, and appointments because they mark an important moment. But in God's Kingdom, public recognition is almost never the beginning of the story. It's simply the moment everyone else catches up to what God has already been doing. When Jesus gathered with His disciples on the night before the cross, He did something no one expected. The One who deserved every honor took off His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began washing dirty feet. The Creator became the servant. The King picked up a towel. That's the picture of biblical leadership. Jesus Redefined Greatness After washing His disciples' feet, Jesus said, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." (John 13:14–15) Jesus never taught that greatness comes through position. He taught that greatness comes through service. The towel always comes before the title. Later He would tell His disciples, "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant." (Mark 10:43) That is still God's definition of greatness today. Character Before Responsibility The qualifications for a deacon in 1 Timothy 3 focus far more on character than responsibilities. The Apostle Paul spends very little time describing what a deacon does and much more time describing who a deacon is. Why? Because ministry always flows from character. God is far more interested in shaping our hearts than handing us a position. Faithfulness, integrity, humility, and spiritual maturity are not qualities that suddenly appear when someone receives a title. They are cultivated over years of quietly walking with Jesus. Recognition of What God Has Already Done This past Sunday, our church had the joy of ordaining Michael Jay as a deacon at New Prospect Baptist Church. While the ordination was a meaningful milestone, it wasn't the day Michael became a servant. Long before anyone laid hands on him or presented him with a certificate, he was already living the life of a deacon. He had already been serving faithfully, caring for people, loving the church, and demonstrating the character that Scripture calls us to recognize. The ordination simply affirmed what God had already been producing in his life. That is how God's Kingdom works. God often develops us in hidden places before He ever places us in visible positions. David was a shepherd before he became a king. Elisha faithfully served Elijah before becoming a prophet. The disciples spent years following Jesus before they were sent to lead the early church. God prepares people in private before He entrusts them with greater responsibility in public. Every Believer Is Called to Pick Up the Towel This principle isn't just for pastors, elders, or deacons. Every follower of Jesus has been called to serve. You may never hold an official title within the church, but every act of kindness, every prayer offered, every meal delivered, every encouraging conversation, every unseen sacrifice, and every quiet act of obedience reflects the heart of Christ. Our culture asks, "How high can you climb?" Jesus asks, "Whose feet are you willing to wash?" The One who wore the crown first carried the towel. He showed us that the pathway to influence is humility, and the pathway to greatness is service. So don't wait for a title before you begin serving. Don't assume ministry starts when someone recognizes your gifts. Begin today. Love people well. Serve faithfully. Honor Christ in the ordinary moments. Because in God's Kingdom... The towel always comes before the title. Now It’s Your Turn Maybe you've been waiting for the "right time" to take your next step with Jesus. Maybe you've told yourself, When I know more... when life settles down... when I feel ready... But what if God isn't waiting for perfection? What if He's simply inviting you to pick up the towel? At New Prospect, we believe following Jesus is a journey, and every journey begins with one faithful step. Whether you need to Encounter Jesus for the very first time, Overcome Together by finding healing and authentic community, Grow Deeper through discipleship and God's Word, or Serve Others by using your gifts to make an eternal difference, your next step matters. Don't wait for a title before you begin living out your calling. God does some of His greatest work in ordinary people who simply say, "Yes, Lord." The towel comes before the title. Faithfulness comes before recognition. And your next step could be the beginning of everything God wants to do in and through your life. So... what's your next step? We'd love to walk that journey with you.

Christopher Alexander

Lead Pastor

July 3, 2026 • 5 Minute Read

The WAY

Jesus Said, Follow Me! Following Jesus is one of the simplest invitations in all the scriptures! Yet it is also the call with the heaviest implications of all time. How you respond to Jesus’s call determines the trajectory of the rest of your life on this side of eternity, and it also determines where you will spend eternity. Jesus did not desire admirers or hope for fans. He did not seek after faithful church attenders or beg people to give money. He invited people to come and see what he was up to, come and follow him, come and be with him, and to stay with him. He invited people to become his followers... his disciples (not his fans or admirers). Throughout the gospels, Jesus said, “Follow Me,” roughly 20 times. Those two simple words changed the world as people began following Jesus and becoming disciples who would make more disciples of Jesus. There were thousands of people who heard, believed, and followed Jesus while he was in the midst of his earthly ministry. In the upper room, on the day of Pentecost and when the Holy Spirit came and filled those who were gathered, there were only 120 left. But that day, 3,000 people were radically saved through the hearing of the Gospel, and by the year 350 AD, roughly 35 million people (of an estimated global population of 220 million) considered themselves followers of Jesus. Jesus is the WAY! Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus made one of the most remarkable statements in all of Scripture. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Notice He didn't merely say He would show us the way. He said He IS the Way. Jesus isn't simply pointing us toward God. He is inviting us to walk with Him into a relationship with the Father. That's why the earliest followers of Jesus weren't first called Christians. In the book of Acts, they were known as followers of The Way. What a beautiful picture. Following Jesus isn't a destination. It's a lifelong journey. A Journey Worth Taking... At New Prospect, we've been asking one question for years: "What's your next step?" Eventually we realized something. Many people genuinely wanted to follow Jesus... they simply weren't sure what their next step was. So we began praying. Studying. Talking together. Looking for a simple, biblical way to describe what it means to follow Jesus throughout a lifetime. Out of that came The WAY. Not a program. Not another class. Simply a common language that helps all of us understand where we are in our walk with Christ and where He may be leading us next. The WAY Following Jesus is a lifelong journey, and we believe every disciple continually grows in four ways. Encounter Jesus Every journey begins by encountering Jesus. This is where we surrender our lives to Christ, trust Him as Savior and Lord, and begin learning to follow Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and according to the will of the Father. So often, this begins with an awakening to our need for a Savior, which leads to salvation, baptism, and becoming part of a local church family. Overcome Together God never intended for us to follow Jesus alone. We all face struggles, battle sin, and have strongholds that need to be broken. We all carry burdens. That's why authentic Christian community matters so much. We were made to Live in Community! Healing often begins when we stop pretending we're okay and allow trusted brothers and sisters in Christ to walk beside us. Grow Deeper Healthy things grow. As we spend time in God's Word, discover our spiritual gifts, and allow mature believers to encourage and equip us, we become more like Jesus. Growth isn't about knowing more information. It's about becoming more like Christ. Serve Others Jesus didn't save us simply to sit in a pew and enjoy the rest of our lives, fat and happy. He calls us to serve just as he first served us. Every believer has unique gifts and opportunities to make a difference. Everyone of us is called to serve the church in one way or another. At New Prospect, you have a great opportunity to serve on Ministry Teams. Some teams serve “inside” the church, while others serve our neighbors, support missions, or reach out to the “least of these.” No matter where or how you serve, we are all called to share our faith with others and make a difference in our world. May we live Life on Mission on purpose for Jesus! Begin Your Journey on The WAY No matter where you are today... Whether you're just beginning to ask questions about Jesus, returning after years away, or even if you've followed Jesus for decades... There's always another step to take. We'd love to walk alongside you, because following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. So... let us ask you the same question we've been asking our church family for years: What's your next step? We'd love to help you discover it. Welcome to The WAY.Subscribe To These Posts

Christopher Alexander

Lead Pastor

July 2, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

Men's Ministry Update

Brothers in Christ. Men on Mission! Our Men's Ministry exists to help men become more like Jesus by building authentic friendships, growing in God's Word, and serving others together. Once a month we gather at Michael Jay's home to share a meal, encourage one another, spend time in Scripture, and challenge each other to become the men God has called us to be. Every gathering is an opportunity to laugh together, pray together, and take another step on The WAY. We believe men grow best when they have brothers walking beside them—not only around a table, but shoulder to shoulder in service. That's why our ministry isn't just about meeting together; it's about living on mission together. Whether we're serving our church, helping a family in need, or simply encouraging one another through life's challenges, our desire is to Encounter Jesus, Overcome Together, Grow Deeper, and Serve Others. No matter where you are in your journey, there's a place for you at the table. 🔨 Living on Mission One of the ways our men are putting their faith into action is by helping renovate a mobile home that will become a new beginning for a local family who lost their home in a fire. This project is more than construction—it's an opportunity to share the love of Christ in practical ways. As we prepare the property, move the home, and complete the renovations, we're reminded that following Jesus means loving our neighbors with both our words and our hands. If you'd like to join us on an upcoming workday, we'd love to have you. Whether you're experienced with construction or simply willing to lend a hand, there's a place for you to serve. Volunteer need: We're looking for men who will help with the sound system on a rotating basis. Also, anyone willing to help re-home a family in the name of Jesus, please contact Michael Jay or Pastor Topher.Sign Up Here 📅 Men's Ministry – Our men gather once each month for food, fellowship, encouragement, and God's Word. We also schedule service projects throughout the year as opportunities arise. Check back here or follow our social media and calendar for details about our next Men's Gathering or workday. Upcoming: Men’s Gathering at Michael Jay’s on July 25th.

Christopher Alexander

Lead Pastor