The Greatest In The Kingdom

THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM

MATTHEW 18:1-5

MARK 9: 33-41

LUKE 22:24-29

I.                   THIS HAS BEEN THE QUESTION FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME

A.   FOR THIS PURPOSE LIES HAVE BEEN SPOKEN

B.   DRIVEN BY THIS QUESTION MURDER HAS BEEN COMMITTED

C.   FOR THIS PURPOSE WARS HAVE BEEN FOUGHT

D.   BECAUSE OF THIS PEOPLE HAVE BECOME UNCHARACTERISTICALLY UGLY

II.                THREE DISTINCT TIMES THE DISCIPLES ARGUED THE QUESTION

A.   THIS WAS A QUESTION WHICH LAY HEAVILY UPON THEIR MINDS

B.   THEIR HEARTS WERE FOCUSED UPON THE WRONG THINGS

C.   THEY WERE LACKING IN UNDERSTANDING

III.             THE GREATEST ACCORDING TO JESUS

A.   NOT THOSE WHO DEMAND RESPECT

B.   NOT THOSE WHO EXALT THEMSELVES

C.   NOT THOSE WHO WISH TO EXERCISE AUTHORITY OVER OTHERS (I’S AND U’S)

D.   THOSE WHO HUMBLE THEMSELVES

E.    THOSE WHO’S HEART LONGS TO SERVE EVERYONE ELSE

F.    THOSE WHO BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDRE4N (NOT SENIORITY RIGHTS)

IV.            THE QUESTION OF JOHN

A.   SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING

B.   SOMEONE IS INFRINGING UPON OUR TURF

C.   WE TOLD HIM TO STOP IT, HE CAN’T BE DOING THAT

D.   WE DID RIGHT, DID WE NOT JESUS?

E.    YOU AGREE, DO YOU NOT?

V.               THE RESPONSE OF JESUS

A.   IF THEY ARE DONG GOOD, LEAVE THEM ALONE

B.   IF THEY ARE DOING IT IN MY NAME DON’T COME AGAINST THEM

C.   IF THEY ARE NOT AGAINST US THEY MUST BE FOR US