Descending into Greatness.  

Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is about KING, forming a people, to live under His REIGN.

Mark 9:33-37

³³ And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,³⁷ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Big Idea:

In the Kingdom of God, Jesus helps his disciples and us figure out how to be great; we descend into greatness.

• The disciples are wrestling with, “Who is the greatest?”

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• The disciples are wrestling with, “Who is the greatest?”

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• Jesus doesn’t tell them NOT to be great.

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What does it mean to be great?

• Significant.
• Meaningful.
• Lives that count.

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God created us to pursue significance, having our lives matter. Desiring that our lives count, hoping to make a difference, is a very good thing.

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• The disciples are wrestling with, “Who is the greatest?”

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• Jesus doesn’t tell them not to be great.

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• Jesus describes the path to true greatness.

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Jesus tells them how to be great. He turns our understanding of great on its head, he turns it upside down.

Jesus tells them how to be great. He turns our understanding of great on its head, he turns it upside down.

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• The universal view of greatness:

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• We are comparing ourselves with others.
• Looking for our significance in how others view us.

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🡪 makes us feel GOOD.

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Jesus tells them how to be great. He turns our understanding of great on its head, he turns it upside down.

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• The universal view of greatness:

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• We are great if…
• Others view us as better
• Others serve us

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• Attractiveness
• Physical strength
• Height
• Clothes
• Car
• Giftedness
• Vocation

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Areas of Comparison:

• Athlete, Music, Artist, Acting…
• Hotdog eating, Livestock...
• Race
• Home
• Popularity
• Accomplishments
• Money

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Mark 9:33-37

³³ And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,³⁷ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Jesus tells them how to be great. He turns our understanding of great on its head, he turns it upside down.

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• We are great if...
• We view others as better (Humility)
• We serve others

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Jesus tells them how to be great. He turns our understanding of great on its head, he turns it upside down.

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• Jesus demonstrates greatness with a child.
• To happily serve those that others consider lowly, for Jesus, is to serve Jesus.
• To happily serve those that others consider lowly, for Jesus, is to serve God the Father.

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If we find ourselves on this journey of faith…

• Still looking for significance in comparing yourself with others…
• Not as motivated as you would like to serve...
• Desire more of Jesus’ greatness, less of the world’s view…

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What can we do to become great in Jesus’ kingdom? How do we become humble and motivated to serve the lowliest?

• Keep growing in our understanding and experience of Jesus.
• Keep growing in our understanding and experience of who we are in Jesus.

Implications:

How can I help?

Implications: