- Greatness is something we respect, something that we admire.
- Look at the topic of many movies and the people we remember from history
- God has created us in a way so we can admire and respect greatness,
- This helps us appreciate God’s amazing qualities.
- God has also created us to aspire to greatness – were amazed at what we can do when an unexpected or urgent need requires us to act.
- God has called us to greatness – but his definition of greatness is much different than the one we find in the world.
CALL TO GREATNESS – Being a Servant
- Matt 20:20 – 28 – “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant”
- Jesus did not challenge them about their desire to be great; he wanted them to aspire to greatness.
- It is not prideful to be striving for greatness the way Jesus calls us to.
- Verse 28 – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- Definition of a servant:
- From the Greek – to minister, to wait on tables, the “under rower”
- John 13:1-17 – how did Jesus serve? Taking a “lower” of position to meet a need.
- We must see the need – Be outward focused.
- Self motivation – Must act. Can not be a bystander.
- Why does God want us to be servants?
- James 2:20&26 – Faith without deeds is useless, it is dead
- Luke 9:23-25 – helps us not be selfish.
- Practical application of our discipleship. It is not going to feel normal because it is not our nature to be serving
Q: What do you think Jesus’ disciples thought about him washing their feet? Q: What keeps us from serving others?
CALL TO GREATNESS – Loving God and Your Neighbor
- The Greatest Command – Matt. 22:36
- Love God:
- I John 4:19 – We love God because he first loved us.
- I John 5:3 – To obey his commands
- Love our neighbor:
- This is a practical application of our relationship with God
- Disciples are the arms and legs of Jesus’ body – the church
- I Cor. 13:4-13 – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
- Love means being involved – having godly relationships with people
- Who is my neighbor?
- Luke 10:25-37 Those God put in our path
- Act 17:26-28 God placed you in your neighborhood so you can have a godly impact.
Strangers – Matt 25:31 – 40
Strangers – Heb 13:2 – Entertain strangers
Strangers – Mark 1:40-41 – love the poor
Friends – John 15: 12-13 – lay down your life for your friends
Physical Family – I Timothy 5:8
Spiritual Family – Romans 12:9 – be devoted, be sincere, honor each other
Q: Jesus in this verse says we need to love others as we love ourselves. What are some of the aspects of how we love ourselves? How should this influence how we love others?
CALL TO GREATNESS – Making Disciples
- People’s greatest need is to be saved – to have a relationship with God
- Matt 28:18-20 – The Great Commission
- Go
- Make disciples, teaching them to obey
- Matt: 9:35-38 – the workers are few – you are needed for God’s great purpose.
- What will it take?
- Courage – Act 4:13
- Conviction – I Thess. 1:4 (with power, Holy Spirit, and deep conviction)
- Compassion – Matt 9:36 – 38
- • I Tim 3:13 – life and doctrine
- Having a life worthy of example – to save yourself and others
- But it is more than our live – we must speak out.
- Jesus lived an amazing life here on earth for 3 years, but he also had to speak.
- • Matt 7:13-14 – the gate is narrow
- It is unloving to assume that our friends, neighbors and other people we meet have found the narrow road.
- Wouldn’t it be more loving to help ensure sure that they have found it.
- I Cor 2:15 – We need to “judge” that is to discern, to evaluate (but we are not to condemn)
SUMMARY
God is calling us to greatness as we follow Christ, but not as the world defines greatness. We need to love people like Jesus did by serving them, loving them, and helping them have a relationship with God.
Q: What do you think Jesus’ disciples thought about him washing their feet?
Q: What keeps us from serving others?
Q: Jesus in this verse says we need to love others as we love ourselves. What are some of the aspects
of how we love ourselves? How should this influence how we love others?
Q: How does “being a servant” and” loving our neighbors” help people be open to God’s plan of salvation?
