Greater Than

INTRO

What are you good at? we are all good at something! what would it take to make you great?

10k hrs to master = 9 years (5 days / 4hrs per)

Have you ever heard of GOATs?

Greatest Of All Time...

Sports

Gordie Howe - Wayne Gretzky

Mickey Mantle - Babe Ruth

Bill Russell - Michael Jordan

Joe Montana - Tom Brady

Mike Phelps, Simone Biles, Usane Bolt

Science

Isaac Newton

Marie Curie

Albert Einstein

Galileo

Spiritual

Apostle Paul

Martin Luther / John Calvin

Puritans / Charles Spurgeon

Billy Graham

I want to tell you a secret about kingdom greatness… You can be great starting today!!

You can, should, and if saved will grow in greatness incrementally, but you can pursue, strive for, set yourself to greatness today!!

PRAYER

400 Prayers for Preachers An Opening Prayer for a Church Service

Gracious and holy Father, who has sanctified this day for your own service and worship, and for the furthering of us in the way of salvation; and has made a most gracious promise, that when “two or three are gathered together in your name, you will be there in the midst of them”: grant, then, we ask you, the performance of this your promise unto us, now gathered together in your name, to pray unto you, to hear and speak your holy and blessed Word, and so sanctify our hearts by your Holy Spirit at this time, that we may perform these holy services as shall be most to your glory and our own comfort. Amen.

RICHARD SIBBES

The first step to greatness is Humility

Matthew 18:2–4 (ESV)

2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Humble yourself before our great and mighty God.

Contrite heart!!

The Path to Greatness [1-5]

childlike humility is essential to entering the kingdom

childlike humility is essential to greatness in the kingdom

Tender & Teachable

Terms of Greatness

Change of attitude of self 3-4

change of attitude of society 5

change of attitude of sin 6-9

The second step to greatness is Love

We must seek to protect each other.

Matthew 18:6–9 (ESV)

6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.

9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

The responsibilities of a mature(ing) believer [6-22]

causing spiritual harm to another disciple will result in severe punishment

a punishment worse than death by drowning

a punishment of eternal fire

Avoiding causing spiritual harm to another disciple is worth enormous sacrifice

hand - the doing

foot - the going

eye - the viewing

A word to parents / grandparents for the self sacrificial protection of our children !!

We must seek to pursue each other.

Matthew 18:12–13 ESV

12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

LK 15 - Carried home and throws a party

God’s love for little ones [10-14]

disciples should not look down on other believers

God rejoices in the restoration of straying believers

love notices

love pursues

love rejoices

Love Acts!

We must seek to restore each other.

Church Discipline [15-20]

the grounds for = sin

the process of

Private Correction

Matthew 18:15 (ESV)

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

Small Group Clarification

Matthew 18:16 (ESV)

16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Church Admonition

Matthew 18:17a (ESV)

17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church…

Corporate Excommunication

Matthew 18:17b (ESV)

17… And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

the aftermath = repentance / renegade

the authority = the church / guided by God

the unity = agreement among gods people ensuring gods blessing

The third step to greatness is Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21–22 ESV

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Forgiveness requires the commitment to move forward past our hurts.

Experience and express forgiveness [21-35]

Jesus disciples should express radical forgiveness to others

God forgave our enormous debt

we are obligated to forgive debts of others

to refuse to forgive is wicked

to refuse to forgive expresses lack of thankfulness

refusal to forgive will result in severe eternal punishment

Matthew 18:32–35 ESV

32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Main Point

Greatness in Christ’s kingdom community is built upon humility, love and forgiveness

GOOD is the enemy of GREAT!...

Les Brown

Oct 26 2021 ----- “The Greatness Within You” Believe in yourself and discover your potential.

JESUS

Humility

Love

Forgiveness

Outside of myself - IN CHRIST - Believe in HIM and discover your potential!!!

CLOSE

Going Deeper

Getting to know you:

What is one thing that you think you are good at, something you take pride in? Why do you think so? Where did you learn this… did someone teach you… who?

What is one thing that you wish you were great at? Why? How would you use that for God?

Into the Bible:

Why do you think the disciples want to know who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Discuss the four changes Jesus speaks about in v3-14. Which do you struggle with most and why?

What is the difference between having childlike faith and being immature in your faith?

How does the requirement of humility in verses 1–4 compare with our culture’s view of greatness?

Explain how a biblical view of the church goes against a culture that prizes independence?

How should the parable of the Lost Sheep in verses 10–14 inform our view of church discipline?

Respond to the following objection to church discipline: If our church disciplines members, then unbelievers will be turned off and discouraged from coming.

What is the ultimate goal of church discipline?

What does Matthew 18 have to add to our view of church membership?

List things that should and should not be matters of church discipline.

What do you think Jesus meant when he says to treat them as a “gentile and a tax collector”?

What is the main point of the parable of the Unforgiving Servant (vv. 23–35)?

If someone will not repent should you still forgive them?

Application:

If you aren’t showing mercy to others, how might that be an indication that you are not being shaped by the gospel?

Are you causing, leading, or enabling a brother or sister to sin?

Are you guarding, protecting, and nurturing your own personal holiness?

How can you more clearly express the love of the Father to the church around you?

Is there anyone you need to humbly confront concerning sin for their good and for the Father’s glory?

Are you harboring any bitterness or un-forgiveness toward someone else?