True GreatnessTrue Greatness

Mark 9:30-35Mark 9:30-35

BackgroundBackground

A New direction: (Mark 9:30-32)A New direction: (Mark 9:30-32)– Jesus focuses on the disciples exclusivelyJesus focuses on the disciples exclusively– Avoiding the crowdsAvoiding the crowds– Teaching them about his Teaching them about his purposepurpose (v.31) (v.31)– As usual, they don’t understand.As usual, they don’t understand.– They don’t They don’t wantwant to understand! to understand!

See Mark 10:35-40, Matt. 20:20ff, Lk.22:24See Mark 10:35-40, Matt. 20:20ff, Lk.22:24

The Disciples Argue (Mark 9:33-34)The Disciples Argue (Mark 9:33-34)– ““Who is the greatest?”Who is the greatest?”– A Reasonable “Cabinet” Discussion?A Reasonable “Cabinet” Discussion?

A Vital Kingdom A Vital Kingdom Principle:Principle:

Sitting down, He called the twelve Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35 Mark 9:35 (NASB-U)(NASB-U)

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.” Mark 8:34-35 (NASB-U)

Acts 20:35 (NASB-U) “… and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

2 Cor. 12:10 (NASB-U) Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

God is Not Opposed to God is Not Opposed to Greatness!Greatness! God has made everything beautiful for God has made everything beautiful for

its own time. its own time. He has planted He has planted eternity in the human hearteternity in the human heart, but , but even so, people cannot see the whole even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to scope of God's work from beginning to end.end. Eccles. 3:11 (NLT) Eccles. 3:11 (NLT)

God blessed them; and God said to God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule …”the earth, and subdue it; and rule …” Genesis 1:28 (NASB-U) Genesis 1:28 (NASB-U)

“The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works…” John 14:12 (NLT)

And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel…But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.” Matthew 19:28-30 (NASB-U)

Yet there is something Yet there is something flawed with our view of flawed with our view of ‘Greatness’…‘Greatness’…Taking a child, He set him before them, and Taking a child, He set him before them, and

taking him in His arms, He said to them, taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one child like this in My “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” Mark 9:36-37Mark 9:36-37

““Permit the children to come to Me; do not Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” to such as these.” Mark 10:14Mark 10:14

““Truly I say to you, unless you are Truly I say to you, unless you are convertedconverted and become like children, you will not enter and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4 (NASB-U)kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4 (NASB-U)

What is “Greatness” ?What is “Greatness” ?

Different:

Paradigm,

Rules,

People,

Destiny!

Fleeting

Death

Destruction

Eternal

Life

Building!

True Greatness:True Greatness:The Servant-LeaderThe Servant-Leader

1.1. Is Is God’s willGod’s will for you. for you.– It is a trustworthy statement: if any It is a trustworthy statement: if any

man aspires to the office of man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. desires to do. 1 Tim. 3:11 Tim. 3:1

– Not as in:Not as in: “Are you seeking great “Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don't do it!” things for yourself? Don't do it!” Jeremiah 45:5Jeremiah 45:5and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and

fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:17

True Greatness:True Greatness:The Servant-LeaderThe Servant-Leader

1.1. Is Is God’s willGod’s will for you. for you.

2.2. Is not a Is not a positionposition..– ““I am the good shepherd. The good I am the good shepherd. The good

shepherd shepherd lays down his lifelays down his life for the for the sheep…I know My own and My own sheep…I know My own and My own know Me.” John 10:11,14know Me.” John 10:11,14

True Greatness:True Greatness:The Servant-LeaderThe Servant-Leader1.1. Is Is God’s willGod’s will for you. for you.

2.2. Is not a Is not a positionposition..

3.3. Must be willing to Must be willing to serveserve..– ““If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last

of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35– RealReal service – i.e., bearing a service – i.e., bearing a Cross!Cross!

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfaststeadfast, , immovableimmovable, always , always aboundingabounding in the work of in the work of the Lord, knowing that your the Lord, knowing that your toiltoil is not in vain in is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58

True Greatness:True Greatness:The Servant-LeaderThe Servant-Leader

1.1. Is Is God’s willGod’s will for you. for you.

2.2. Is not a Is not a positionposition..

3.3. Must be willing to Must be willing to serveserve..

4.4. Must be Must be competentcompetent..– Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily

discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Tim. 4:7-8for the life to come. 1 Tim. 4:7-8

– Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.handling the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:152 Tim. 2:15

True Greatness:True Greatness:The Servant-LeaderThe Servant-Leader1.1. Is Is God’s willGod’s will for you. for you.

2.2. Is not a Is not a positionposition..

3.3. Must be willing to Must be willing to serveserve..

4.4. Must be Must be competentcompetent..

5.5. Willing to Willing to suffersuffer..– Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm

yourselves also with the same purpose…yourselves also with the same purpose…1 Peter 4:11 Peter 4:1

– We know love by this, that He laid down His life for We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. brethren. - 1 John 3:16- 1 John 3:16

True Greatness:True Greatness:The Servant-LeaderThe Servant-Leader

1.1. Is Is God’s willGod’s will for you. for you.

2.2. Is not a Is not a positionposition..

3.3. Must be willing to Must be willing to serveserve..

4.4. Must be Must be competentcompetent..

5.5. Willing to Willing to suffersuffer..

6.6. Requires Requires initiativeinitiative..– ““If anyone wants to be first, he shall be If anyone wants to be first, he shall be

last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35