I'm last...Great!

Good morning & Welcome to New Hope

I hesitate sharing this because I don’t need the entire church harassing me about my eating habits, but some of you may not know that I have an extreme aversion to condiments. I can’t stand them. I don’t like them on sandwiches, french fries, casseroles, steak or chicken, hot dogs, or anything else you might like to put them on. It’s so bad, I don’t like touching the bottle. After a meal, I’m fine cleaning up everything else on the table except the condiments. There might be some residue on the outside of the bottle. The lid might not be on tight. I don’t want my fingers smelling like any of them. I mean, it might be a little weird.

So you can imagine my phobia when going to a particular style of restaurant, where sandwiches are made right in front of you. In fact, the staff went out to lunch a few weeks ago to one of these restaurants and I said, “Hey, can I go first since I don’t want all that stuff on my sandwich? Because I’ll let you in on a little fast food secret…they don’t clean off the knife! I remember one experience standing in the middle of a line, people in front and behind me, freaking out about the sauces the guy in front of me might be putting on his sandwich. When the worker actually used the knife to smash down all the stuff on the sandwich and it was covered in sauces. Then…they wanted to use the knife to cut my sandwich! My head about exploded! I kindly asked them to not cut my sandwich. They were confused by my request, so I repeated myself. My wife was mortified!

But let me give you an example of what your sandwich can look like when they cut it in half with a contaminated knife… (slide)

This is why I ask them not to cut my sandwich and why I will ask about going first.

As silly as all this is, it’s a microcosm of society. It’s a silly illustration of an idea or attitude that many of us have. And here’s the deal…there’s a tension with this idea or attitude. It’s not all bad. The idea or attitude is this - we want to be great!

There’s nothing wrong with doing things well or doing the best we can. I’m not speaking of greatness in these terms. Like, the Bible tells us to do everything as if we’re doing it on behalf of the Lord, so we are called to be great.

But what I’m speaking of is something that’s a little different. The greatness that I’m talking about is a pursuit of greatness at the cost of others.

I want people to know my name; I want people to think I’m awesome; I want to be connected to all the right people; I want to get special privileges because of my status; I don’t want to wait in line because I’m important; My opinion holds more weight because of who I am… I’m the man! I’m the woman!

Jesus dealt with this from the disciples. And there’s a principle that he taught them, that’s important for us to learn and practice even today. And so we turn to the book of Mark in the New Testament.

Jesus predicts his death 1st / Peter rebukes him because it’s not his plan

(NLT) 31Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.

31Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.

32As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.

33Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Two weeks ago we talked about how Peter didn’t like Jesus’ message that he would be rejected by the religious leaders, treated harshly, and suffer many things. He didn’t like that message because he saw the connection with Jesus’ suffering and his suffering. Jesus then tells the disciples: Give up your own way, take up your cross, follow Jesus. Remember, Jesus called in the crowd for this saying. It wasn’t just for the chosen disciples.

34Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

35If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

Jesus predicts his death 2nd / Disciples argued about who’s the greatest

(NLT) 31for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”

31for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”

32They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

33After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”

34But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.

Jesus predicts his death 3rd / James & John want power others mad

(NLT) 33“Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”

33“Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans.

34They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”

36“What is your request?” he asked.

37They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

(NLT)

33After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”

34But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.

35He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

36Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,

37“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

1About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

2Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.

And so it is today with us. We want a place of honor. We want to be first. We want to be treated like we are special. In our ways, we want to be great.

3Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

4So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

46Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest.

47But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side.

48Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

(NLT)

24Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.

25Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’

26But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.

27Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

Here we find the disciples having a discussion about their desire to be great. Not just that, but a desire to be greater than one another.

The disciples are found acting like children; Jesus uses a child as the illustration.

There may not be a greater difference between the way of Jesus and the way of the world than when it comes to greatness.

The challenge is to be great in things that matter to God. Nothing is greater in God’s eyes than giving, and no vocation affords the opportunity to give more than that of a servant (10:43).

The challenge is to be great in things that matter to God.

Nothing is greater in God’s eyes than giving

Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 287). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.

No vocation affords the opportunity to give more than that of a servant

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.

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.

Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 287). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.

True selflessness is rare, but remembered

Indeed, the more common and humble the task, the greater the deed, for humility is the essence of him who said, “ ‘For I am among you as one who serves’ ” (). Service to others is the primary way in which believers imitate and fulfill the mission of Jesus (10:43–45).

How do I know it’s rare? When’s the last time you said to yourself, “I’m last…Great!”?

Serving others is the primary way we imitate and fulfill the mission of Jesus

Let me ask you - at home is there not enough stuff to do to keep all the servants busy or are you always having to remind, poke, prod, threaten lives to get things done?

At church, I don’t know that we’ve ever said, “What are we going to do with all these volunteers?”

Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 287). Grand Rapids, MI;

Serving others is the primary way we imitate and fulfill the mission of Jesus

Discipleship is becoming more like Jesus

Mark 10:45 NLT

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The primary way we become more like Jesus is by serving others

Find ways to serve and not focus on how you can be served

Simple, practical, right in front of you ways

Want to change the world which we live?

Mark 10:31 NLT

But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”

Imagine what the world would be like if its people put this principle into practice?

Want to change our culture?

Want to change the political system?

Imagine what our political system would be like if this principle was put into practice?

Want to change

Put this principle into practice and find a way to serve others.

Imagine what the church would be like if its people put this principle into practice?

Pray

(Play the video)

1. How did you know God was calling you to give up “this” to serve the people in Peru? Hannah, specifically what has that looked like for you?

2. What does an average day look like for your family?

Jesus predicts his death 2nd / Disciples argued about who’s the greatest

3. Share with us how you see God moving where He has sent you.

Jesus predicts his death 3rd / James & John want power others mad

4. What are your greatest challenges – how can we best pray for you?

5. What is God’s long-term vision for the ministry?

6. What would you tell someone who is sensing a call from God?

Thank you so much for answering “Yes” to God’s calling on your life. It is our desire here at New Hope to relationally connect with those who we partner with. So if you are interesting in better connecting and engaging with Steve & Hannah we want to give you a couple options; #1 Indicate on your communicator card that you’d like more info from them. #2 They will be out at the Information Table after service to chat and answer any questions you might have.

We’d also love to bless them in a practical and financial way, so this morning we will be receiving a love offering for them. So here’s what I’d love for you to do. Above your normal giving, we’d ask that you take one of the envelopes in the chair back in front of you and include cash, check, IOU… Checks can be made out directly to Steve & Hannah Johnson.

Let’s pray over them...

Chris announcements