“The Greatness of Servanthood” (Part 6)

From Salvation to Service Sermon Series

“The Greatness of Servanthood” (Part 6)

KEY PASSAGE: Mark 10:35–45 (NASB)

Gracious Father, we thank You for the gift of praise and the joy of worship. As we now turn our hearts to Your Word, we ask that You speak to us clearly and powerfully. Let every soul be attentive, every heart be open, and every mind be renewed. May Your purpose be fulfilled in this gathering, and may Christ be exalted in all we do. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Please be seated.

TITHE and OFFERING

We will call on the ushers to pass around the offering plates so we can collect our tithes and offerings. The worship team will lead us in song as we collect our tithes and offerings.

PRAYER FOR TITHE and OFFERING

Almighty God, bless these tithes and offerings, that they may be instruments of peace and vessels of hope. May they serve the mission of Your church and the needs of Your people. Through Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.

WELCOME

Welcome to our Sunday Worship Service—we are glad you have joined us today. Let’s take a moment to stand and greet one another with the joy of the Lord, and if you are visiting for the first time, we would love to recognize and warmly welcome you. To those worshiping with us online, may you feel the presence of Christ Jesus right where you are.

ANNOUNCEMENT

📖Wednesday Night is our Bible Study Connect at 7:00 p.m. Please join us for a time of learning, fellowship, and spiritual growth as we study the Word of God! We are studying the Book of First Samuel, and this week we will focus our attention on Chapter 13. I encourage you to read Chapter 13 of First Samuel and come ready for Bible Study on Wednesday night.  📅Corporate Prayer Meeting—We meet every Sunday at 9:00 a.m. downstairs in the fellowship hall for a time of prayer. Please join us during our Corporate Prayer Meeting here at the church.   

DECLARATION of FAITH in GOD

Let us stand and say the Declaration of Faith in God together. Please remain standing as we pray.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Let’s pray. O Lord of glory and grace, as we open Your Word to behold the greatness of servanthood, we ask for the light of Your Spirit to light up our hearts and minds. Speak to us through the example of Christ, who did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. May Your Word confront our assumptions and comfort our souls, calling us to a life of humility, surrender, and kingdom purpose. Grant us ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to obey. Let this passage not just inform us, but transform us—so that we may walk in the footsteps of the Servant King, bearing witness to His love in how we lead, serve, and live. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. You may be seated.

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Let me begin today’s message with a question that deserves our honest attention. Have you ever traveled with someone who insists on packing everything into a carry-on bag? No matter how long the trip is, they refuse to check a bag in. Why? Because they don’t want to wait. They don’t want to depend on anyone. They want to be in control because it is faster; it is easier; and it is all about convenience.

That is how many people live their spiritual lives today—carry-on Christians. We have far too many carry-on Christians today: no baggage, no burden, and no service. There is no love poured out in service: just me and myself. And so, we live in a culture of convenience and control. People want what they want for themselves. And that spirit shows up in our families, where spouses and siblings clash over their wills and ways. That spirit shows up in our churches, where many come not for church service, but for church [selfish]. And it shows up in our society, where the pursuit of recognition has replaced servanthood. Everybody wants to be seen. Everybody wants to be celebrated. And everybody wants to be on top.

Self-glory, self-reliance, and the rejection of divine dependence have become the default settings of our generation. We chase power, possessions, prestige, and position. And the question behind so many decisions is: What am I going to get out of this? I am not saying that God doesn’t reward faithfulness. I am not suggesting that a good day’s work shouldn’t earn a good day’s pay. But when it comes to the heart of our Lord, God is looking for people who carry more than convenience—God is looking for those who come to serve.

SERMON EXPOSITION 1

The story of James and John’s request to sit at the right hand and left hand of Jesus is told three times in the Synoptic Gospels—in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Today, we will focus on Mark 10, where James and John ask Jesus for seats of glory. I will reference Matthew and Luke as needed, with one simple goal: that this church will become more and more a church of servants, not just a church with servants. Because in heaven’s economy, the measure of greatness is not how far you rise, but how deeply you serve.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus in Mark 10:35 with a bold request. They said, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” Now I want you to pause right there for a moment—because that is not just a question, that is a setup from James and John. They are not telling Jesus what the request is; [Watch This] they are asking Jesus to agree to the question before they even say it. “It is as if they are saying, ‘Lord, give us your yes—before we give you the details.’ James and John want divine agreement without divine disclosure. They wanted to get a commitment from Jesus before they revealed their request. They were asking for a blank check from heaven, hoping to fill in the request later.”

That is not a question—that is a contract with no terms, no context, and no accountability. And Jesus, in His wisdom, doesn’t sign off blindly. Jesus responds, “What do you want me to do for you?” Before you get a yes, there needs to be clarity. Before you get a seat, there needs to be substance. And here comes the request from James and John: “Grant that we may sit, one on your right hand and the other on your left, in Your glory.” In other words, what James and John are saying is that, “When You set up Your Kingdom, when You take Your throne, we want the seats closest to You. We want the positions of prominence. We want to be seen as Your inner circle.”

James and John are asking Jesus for a position of power and authority. They are asking Jesus for elevation without understanding the cost of the cross. They see the throne, but they haven’t grabbed the suffering. They want the crown, but they haven’t considered the cup. How often do we ask God for a position before we have embraced the process? How often do we want the seat without surrender, the glory without the grind, and the influence without the intimacy? Jesus doesn’t rebuke James and John’s ambition—because in the Kingdom, greatness is not measured by where you sit, but by how you serve.

And the timing of this question is interesting because the verses leading up to it, Jesus is describing how He is getting ready to die. Jesus is on His way to Calvary. He says in verses 33 and 34, “The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him; and three days later He will rise from the dead.”

SERMON EXPOSITION 2

 Matthew tells the same story in Matthew 20. Matthew says Salome asked the question. So,  if James and John asked the question, and Matthew says Salome asked the question. Who asked the question? All three asked the question. Why was Salome involved? Because she was Mary’s sister, James and John were first cousins of Jesus. They were trying to use family ties [family connection] to gain a position. But when Luke tells the same story in Luke 22, he adds more detail. He says that a dispute broke out among all the disciples about who would sit where.

Mark 10:41 says the other ten were upset—not just because James and John asked, but because they asked first. They all wanted the top spot. This wasn’t just about ambition—it was about the timing, the influence, and the proximity. And while they were arguing over seats, Jesus was preparing for the cross. Jesus Christ was getting ready to die.

Have you ever been pouring out your heart—telling someone how heavy life feels—life feels like it is pressing down on your soul—and before you finish, they flip the script and start talking about their problems? You are trying to share your storm, and suddenly it is all about them. You are reaching for support, and suddenly you are the one doing the listening.

Jesus says, Your question comes from ignorance. He says in verse 38, ‘You do not know what you are asking.’ This was a serious question, a self-centered one born out of ignorance. They had a sincere question about themselves, but lacked an understanding of how God works. Many Christians today make requests to God. We sometimes make requests to God through prayer, but we are unaware of how God’s program works. If you are uninformed about how God works, you will pursue something in a way that God does not accept, and then you will wind up being upset that God is not answering your request.

It is remarkable how many aspire to reach the top without climbing the mountain. They seek shortcuts—leveraging family ties, money, or social influence—to bypass the very process that shapes character and credibility. But true elevation doesn’t come through manipulation; it comes through preparation, perseverance, and purpose. Jesus says in verses 39 and 40, ‘You shall drink and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized, but to sit on my right or on my left, this is not mine to give. It is for those for whom it has been prepared.’

To get a position with Jesus, you don’t just get it through asking for it. You get it for being prepared for it. Any career that you pursue, you prepare for that career. You go to school, and sometimes you do an internship to get the experience. This leads Jesus to a profound statement, a transforming statement, and one that, if you grasp it, will totally change your life. This statement will transform your life forever.

SERMON EXPOSITION 3

In verse 42, Jesus enters into His pastoral role and responsibility, and he calls all the twelve disciples to Himself. He said, “Let me teach you what greatness looks like in the Kingdom of God.” Verse 42 says, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you, but whosoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.” This is one of the most profound things Jesus ever said. This is one of the most radical truths Jesus ever spoke. He says greatness in God’s eyes is measured by service to others. Greatness is achieved by humble service, and this is the great paradox of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus says, in the world you live in—among the Gentiles, among those who don’t know God—greatness is pursued by controlling other people. That is how it works in the streets, that is how it works in Corporate America, in boardrooms, and in government. That is not the way of the Kingdom. That is not how greatness is measured in the church. In God’s house, greatness is found in serving, not in ruling.

SERMON STORY 1

This reminds me of a story about a well-known man. A gentleman walked through the doors of a megachurch. The gentleman was renowned in the community, and his name carried weight in the civic circles—he sat on boards, he ran a successful company, and he had all the accolades and titles to his name. He approached the Pastor of this megachurch and respectfully asked, “Pastor, I would like a leadership role in this church.” The Pastor of the church responded and said to him, “Brother, I appreciate your desire to serve in this church. But let me walk you through the process of how leadership works in the house of God.” The Pastor explained to him and laid out the entire process in detail. The Pastor said to him, “Leadership here in this church is not about titles. It is not about how high you have climbed the Corporate ladder out there, but how low you are willing to serve in this church. The Pastor said to him, Sir, you have to serve faithfully and consistently. And when that service bears fruit, the church will recognize it. Your name will rise not because you pushed it forward, but because your service pulled it upward.

He paused for a moment. Then he said, “But Pastor… you don’t understand. I am on this board, I am on that board. I have built this company, and out there in the world, I am a great leader. So when I walk into any church, I expect that same recognition. The Pastor looked at him and said, “Sir, I hear you. But you are in the wrong church. Because your résumé out there doesn’t qualify you to be a leader in a church, in this church, we do it the old-fashioned way: You have to serve.”

The gentleman left the church. And I share this story to remind us all—this church — God’s Kingdom doesn’t operate on worldly credentials and principles. In this church, greatness is not achieved by ruling over people. Jesus said, ‘Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.’ That is the standard. That is the calling.

SERMON EXPOSITION 4

Jesus says: among you, the greatest of you shall be your servant. Now, please understand this. Jesus Christ doesn’t mean being a servant is being a nobody in the church. So, whatever this thing called servanthood is, it is not a small thing; it is a big thing. Jesus doesn’t condemn them for wanting to be great. He condemns James and John for being ignorant about how to become great. Jesus says, “You become great by serving.”

We serve God by serving others. Verse 44  says, ‘… and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.’ A man’s ambition (greatness) is judged and measured by his …wealth….his home….the number of cars……his gadgets….his position…….his influence……his recognition……   his social standing…and his authority. But Jesus says true ambition (greatness) becomes the servant of all.

A servant sees the need and fills the need because they can. You say, “Well, how do I know God wants me to address that need?” There is so much hurt out here today that you never run out of opportunities to serve. One person can’t do everything, but everybody can do something. Christian service has no unemployment, and God has enough work for every Christian.

The one who desires to lead must first become the greater servant. True leadership is marked not by status, but by the scope, level, and depth of one’s service to others. If you are called to sit in the seat of influence, let it be evident in how deeply you serve other people. What, then, is servanthood if this is the path to greatness? Servanthood is both an attitude and an action—it is the posture of the heart that seeks the well-being of others [Watch this] in alignment with the will of God. It is where you are seeking the well-being of somebody else by offering obedience and worship to the Lord.

Many of us want to be served—but we resist the call to serve. We want to be served well with excellence – and we want to be served quickly. And if things don’t happen on our timeline or in our preferred way, we complain, we criticize, we cuss, and fuss, and we lose our peace.

SERMON APPLICATION 1

Galatians 5:13 says: “Serve one another through love.” Not for applause. Not for recognition. Not for exchange. Just serve—freely, faithfully, and without strings attached—because love compels us to do what is good. Now I hear the objection from you: “But they don’t appreciate anything.” They don’t appreciate my work.

Colossians 3:24 reminds us, “…you shall receive your reward from the Lord.” Not from people [Not from this church] but from the Lord. Far too many Christians today approach ministry like contestants in a beauty pageant—seeking crowns, craving attention, and waiting to be admired. But the Kingdom of God doesn’t need beauty queens; it needs volunteers. People who show up not to be seen, but to serve. People who say, “I am here because someone is hurting, and I can help.”

And let’s be honest—it is a spiritual injustice to benefit from a ministry [from a church] you refuse to serve. That is not just selfish; that is a distortion of God’s grace. It is saying, “Ministry, cater to me. Feed me. Fix me. Take care of me. Bless me,” while you walk past folks who are broken and hurting without lifting a hand – without saying brother so and so or sister so and so – can I encourage pray for you or can I bless for you?

Now I know—you can’t do everything, and you can’t help everyone. But don’t tell me a day, a week, a month, a year goes by and you do nothing. That is not Kingdom living. That is spiritual inactivity. So, be on the lookout—hunting for opportunities and ways to serve. Why? Because you are pursuing greatness. And in the Kingdom, greatness only comes through servanthood.

SERMON EXPOSITION 5

There is no greater picture of servanthood than Jesus Himself. Verse 45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Jesus turns to His disciples and says, in essence, “Follow Me.” If anyone had the right to be served, it was Jesus—the Son of the Living God, the One who came to bear the weight of our sin. If anyone could have demanded honor, recognition, and service, it was Jesus.

Mark 10:45 stands as the heartbeat of the Gospel. In a single verse, the essence of divine intention is crystallized. This verse is a picture of the most extraordinary Life ever lived. The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve—and to give His life as a ransom for many. Greatness is not the end goal. Service is the goal because Christ defines greatness in His lifelong exercise of servanthood. Christ Himself sets the standard in Matthew 20:26: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

Throughout the Scripture, greatness was always preceded by servanthood. Before elevation comes servanthood. Before Moses led a nation, he first led sheep through the wilderness. Before Joseph could wear the robe of authority in Egypt, he had first to wear the apron of servanthood in Potiphar’s house. Joseph’s elevation came only after his submission. Joseph didn’t step into greatness—he served his way into it. Daniel had to learn to serve before he was promoted and trusted with authority in Babylon. Ruth pledged lifelong service to Naomi before she was positioned into the lineage of Jesus Christ. And then, Peter had to learn to serve with the disciples before he became head of the early church. Everybody who became great was great because they learned to serve.

SERMON CONCLUSION  – INVITATION TO FAITH, COMMISSION TO ACTION, AND CALL TO THE ALTAR

As John Wesley once said, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, for as long as you can.” Jesus is not recruiting admirers—He is calling servants. The true measure of a man is not how many serve him, but how many he serves. So, find a way to serve in the church. Formally, through the ministry. Informally, through moments like the Good Samaritan. The priest and the Levite saw the need, prayed about it, and they walked away. But the Good Samaritan—the outsider—he bent over, and served. That is the kind of greatness heaven recognizes.

Some of you may remember the movie The Tuxedo, where Jackie Chan plays Jimmy Tong, a humble taxi driver who ends up driving around a top-secret agent named Clarke Devlin. When Devlin is critically wounded, Jackie Chan puts on the high-tech special tuxedo—one that, when worn, unlocks extraordinary abilities. A special watch controls the Tuxedo, and Jackie Chan quickly gains the power to defy gravity. Jackie Chan found the power to walk on walls, to do all kinds of flips and twists, and to fight the enemies, and do things he never imagined—all because he wore the jacket of another man.

When we put on Jesus Christ, embrace His character, and radiate His glory, we share and step into the greatness that flows from Jesus alone. Christ’s jacket is always the jacket of servanthood, and if you really want to be somebody in time and in eternity, ask yourself this question: “Am I serving more toward others than others are serving toward me?” May this be a great church, served by a great staff, because everybody, all day long, all month long, all year long, is raising the question, “Who can I serve today?”  God bless you.

If your heart is stirred today—if you sense the Lord drawing you closer, whispering your name—don’t ignore that moment. If you need prayer, if you are seeking clarity, healing, or renewal, the altar is open. This is your time to respond in faith. Step forward. Come as you are. Let this be the moment where heaven meets your surrender.

CLOSING WORDS OF GRACE

Let’s stand on our feet and let’s pray together. Gracious God, Your Word has reminded us that true greatness is found in surrender and service. May we go forth with hearts that reflect Christ’s compassion, hands ready to serve, and lives committed to Your mission. Let Your Spirit guide us in every step. In the name of Jesus—and everyone says Amen.

 You are dismissed. God bless you. We look forward to seeing you next week at 10:30 a.m.