The Greatest

Comparison of Greatness

Ali, Tyson, or Mayweather

Lemieux, Gretzky

Jordan, James

Babe Ruth, Willie Mays

Joe Montanan - Tom Brady

2 Pac - Biggie

The Beatles, Rolling Stones

C.S. Lewis - J. R.R. Tolkien

It seems Comparison is what Americans love.

Reese Bobby - Ricky Bobbies dad -”If you ain’t First your last.

The Greatness is Found in the Depths of Service

Stop Comparing & Start Serving

Stop Comparing

Mark 9:33-34 “They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.”

The Gospel according to Mark … and the Second Misunderstanding (9:33–37)

For the last time in the Gospel of Mark Jesus returns to Capernaum

Peters House?

The Gospel according to Mark … and the Second Misunderstanding (9:33–37)

disciples are silenced before Jesus because of guilt and shame

V. 33-34 Greatness is not found in comparing one anther.

Comparison leads to Frustration

What where they arguing about?

The Transfiguration?

Peters Confession?

After the disappointing moment and their inability to cast out the evil spirit maybe they are comparing themselves those who didn't get to go up the mountain.

Comparison isn't something new.

The Fall of the angels and the fall of the human race all started because of Comparison.

Satan Wanted to be like God. He Told Adam And Eve They could be like God.

It is sin.

Rachel In Comparison with Leah

he sisters Rachel and Leah appear quite different. Rachel is described as especially beautiful, and while Leah’s eyes are described as being “weak.” Given that a contrast between the sisters is implied, the less flattering “weak” appears the more likely translation (Turner, Genesis, 128). The incongruity in appearance seems balanced by an incongruity in status: Leah is the firstborn daughter, while Rachel is the younger and thus labeled “insignificant.” However, Jacob’s heart clearly belongs to Rachel.Rachel and Leah differ most markedly their capacity for childbearing. Leah is fertile, while Rachel is infertile. Rachel’s jealousy and anger over this is directed at Leah. It is only after Rachel gives birth to Joseph that the animosity between the two appears to decrease. They appear unified in agreement with Jacob’s assessment of their father’s devious treatment, and they both agree to join Jacob in flight (Schneider, Mothers of Promise, 93).

1 Co 1:11–13 “For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you. What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?”

“Comparison is the thief of Joy.” -Teddy Roosevelt

The disciples were still earthly minded. They still did not understand the depth of Jesus statement that he would be handed over to the be put to death. What where they thinking? Jesus just told them they would die and they did not listen and continued to think about themselves

They were looking for an earthly kingdom. They compared their current state of following Jesus as if they were going to be able to get wealth and happiness on this earth in Jesus Kingdom when they advance physically with the military they were going to create.

They could not understanding the greatness of the work they would do. The Spiritual War they would fight and the Kingdom that will come.

Know one could really understand. James and Johns Mother is recorded asking Jesus to let her sons sit at his right and left hand. It wasn't until shortly after Jesus Ascension (Acts 1:6 “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”” ) they understood their mission and reward completely.

Application

Comparison in your life does a few things

1. Shows that love of self at that moment rules your heart.

2. Shows that you are discontent with your current situation

3. It can make you think you deserve more of less of what you have.

4. When you compare yourselves to other you are ungrateful for who God made you to be

Comparing ourselves to each other is always going to create pride and shame.

If you are doing better than you r brother or sister in Christ in one area or another you are going to be lead to compare yourself.

Comparing our Children

Comparing your wives

Comparing your jobs and income

comparing our lifestyle

comparing our sin

Comparison is leading or following one sin or another

Though Shall not covet.

The more of heaven and what it contains there is in our lives, the less of earth and what it contained we shall covet.

Anonymous; Charles Spurgeon

Comparison in every way is not a bad thing.

We should be comparing ourselves to Scripture to see where we can improve in our Christian Character.

The Book of ECCLESIASTES compares a lot of things

7:10 Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?”since it is not wise of you to ask this.

It is okay to compare your self toady to the past and see how far God has taken you .

Comparison to the Christian should always make us reflect, not on how better we are than each other, but how undeserving we are to be given the right to become Children of God.

Greatness in not achieved by being better, have more, or even just being diffrent than the next person.

Greatness is shown in your ability to “Love God with all of your soul and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself. “

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 9

The wise person should not boast in his wisdom;

the strong should not boast in his strength;

the wealthy should not boast in his wealth.

24 But the one who boasts should boast in this:

that he understands and knows me—

that I am the LORD, showing faithful love,

justice, and righteousness on the earth,

for I delight in these things.

This is the LORD’s declaration.

True Greatness is found in the Depths of Serves.

Start Serving- Stop Comparing & Start Serving

Mk 9:35.“If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.

It is our pride that makes us want to be First. Some may think that reaching the being great will result in others waiting on you hand and foot.

True Greatness is found in the Depths of Serves.

Jesus is the Servant

In Isaiah he is know as the suffering servant.

Jesus is telling His Deciples that you have to out do one anther by doing Good. If you want to be great show me how well you can server.

And look at this not only how well you can serve but you must be unconditional in your service.

You are not to only server those who can repay you for what you have done. But you server the least of these and those who would be consider “great in this world.

James 2 “My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you? Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. If, however, you show favor…”

V.36-38 Greatness is not measured by the servant but by service

Jesus said some of the most confusing statements reordered in the new testament. Child in Aramaic is the same word used for servant

Servant is the word διάκονος (diakonos) Deacon the ordinary Greek word for waiting tables

Children were insignificant

It better not to be seen or heard.

the posture of the servant is a visible manifestation of the reality of God’s love

We are not saved by service, but we are saved to service. We Endeavor, Page 6

Charles Spurgeon

The Gospel according to Mark (… and the Second Misunderstanding (9:33–37))

Greatness in God’s economy is not reserved for the gifted and privileged; rather, it presents itself to every believer in the common and simple tasks of serving others.

Jesus is showing them they if the want to be great they have to humble themselves like the little child.

Micah 6:8 “Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”

39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

When we are serving the same Lord it is better to serve together.

When we are worried about how the other person is serving we stop serving and start comparing.

You are call to a life of service if you are a Christian not a life to be served. God showed his love for us that he became a servent to the point of death.

Philippians 2:5–8 “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.”

Service is Love in action

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 13

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.

Love does not look at itself—it is absorbed in the object of its love.

Love manifests itself by loving persons in the concrete.

The Love of God, 77

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Love is service rather than sentiment.

John Stott

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 9

41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ—truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

Water was not a common thing to give someone a clean glass of water was a sure sign of generosity and service and love.

True service is as simple but as important as giving someone a glass of water.

Application

How do you serve in this world?

In our service we are not supposed to let our right hand know what our left hand is doing.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.,

True service involves no boasting

No comparison

No compromise

True service is not serving someone else to fit your need

Service is finding the needs of others and meeting their need.

Do not serve to make yourself feel Good. While it does make you feel complete and useful in Gods Kingdom service should always be for the Good of the one being served.

Facebook videos about giving stuff away

The best service we can offer God is to walk in obedience to his command. The best way we can show the love of God is by tell the Valley what he has Done.

Who is the Greatest among you? Jesus is the Greatest.

Service is the overflow of super-abounding devotion.

Oswald Chambers

The most holy service that we can render to God is to be employed in praising his name.

John Calvin