Humility and Service: Following Christ’s Example of Sacrifice

Devotional

Day 1: Shifting Our Focus from Entertainment to Spiritual Equipping

The church exists to equip the followers of Christ for the work of ministry. It is easy to fall into the trap of seeking entertainment or asking what the church can do for us. However, the true goal is to mature in faith so that we are no longer tossed about by every new idea. When Jesus is our priority, we find ourselves willing to sacrifice our comfort for His glory. This shift in perspective allows the body of Christ to be built up in unity and knowledge. [30:05]

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Reflection: When you evaluate your commitment to your local church, do you find yourself more focused on how the service meets your preferences or how the ministry equips you to serve others?

Day 2: Embracing the Victory and Sacrifice of the Cross

Jesus repeatedly shared the reality of the gospel to prepare His disciples for what was to come. He identified as the Son of Man, claiming an everlasting dominion that would never be destroyed. Yet, this glorious King chose a path of being delivered over, mocked, and crucified. His sacrifice was the necessary ransom to take care of the problem of sin. We can find hope in the fact that the agony of the cross was followed by the victory of the third day. [39:19]

And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Reflection: As you consider Jesus’ willingness to be delivered over and crucified for you, what is one specific area of your life where you struggle to believe that His grace is truly enough?

Day 3: Choosing Humble Devotion Over the Pull of Selfishness

Humility leads us toward the cross, while selfishness often leads toward betrayal and brokenness. We may not betray Jesus for silver, but we often prioritize our own personal ambitions or comforts over His call. When we focus on what is in it for us, we lose sight of the self-sacrificing example Jesus set. True discipleship requires us to deny ourselves and stay close to Him even when the path becomes difficult. By walking in humility, we protect our hearts from the pride that leads us away from our Savior. [42:10]

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Reflection: In the quiet moments of your week, what personal priorities or "idols" tend to compete most strongly with your undivided attention to Jesus?

Day 4: Finding Joy and Growth Through Life's Various Trials

Following Jesus does not exempt us from trials; in fact, we are invited to drink from a cup that includes suffering. These difficult moments are often the very tools God uses to teach us humility and strip away our self-reliance. Whether we face a major crisis or a simple daily frustration, we can choose to count it all joy. These testings of our faith produce a steadfastness that leads to spiritual maturity. When we realize we cannot do it on our own, we learn to trust His goodness more deeply. [54:38]

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Reflection: Looking back at a recent trial or frustration you faced, how might God have been using that situation to strip away your self-reliance and invite you into a deeper trust in Him?

Day 5: Redefining True Greatness Through the Act of Servanthood

In the Kingdom of God, greatness is measured by how well we serve others rather than how much authority we hold. Jesus completely redefined leadership by coming not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom. We are called to move away from serving our own egos and toward the lowly jobs that often go unnoticed. Whether it is cleaning up a mess or caring for the needs of a child, these acts of service keep us grounded. By washing the feet of others, we follow the ultimate example of our Lord. [01:03:10]

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection: What is one "lowly" or unnoticed act of service you could perform this week within your church or community that would require you to set aside your own desire for recognition?

Sermon Summary

Jesus’ path to Jerusalem is cast as both a prediction and a paradigm: suffering precedes triumph, and the true shape of discipleship is costly service. The narrative rehearses the gospel plainly—betrayal, mockery, flogging, crucifixion, and resurrection—so that followers understand the stakes of allegiance. The church’s chief task is described not as entertainment but as equipping: building mature Christians who are not tossed by every cultural wind, but who grow into the fullness of Christ through teaching, discipline, and mutual ministry. When self-interest governs a community, intimacy with Jesus frays and betrayal follows; when humility governs, people remain steadfast even amid persecution.

Practical life in the body of Christ is shaped by this gospel logic. Followers are invited to “drink the cup” of Christ—to expect trials and to see affliction as a refining tool that cultivates steadfastness. Real faith is measured not by comfort or consumer preferences but by willingness to suffer for the name and to serve others without fanfare. True greatness in God’s kingdom is presented as radical reversal: the first shall be last, and the one who would be great must become a servant and slave to others, following the Son of Man who came not to be served but to serve.

The teaching presses the congregation toward concrete obedience: sacrificial giving, intentional discipleship, foster and orphan care, and local and global mission. It warns against reducing church to a product tailored to personal tastes—chairs, temperature, or production value—because such priorities divert attention from Jesus and cripple the church’s mission. Instead, maturity is formed in ordinary, humble acts: locking doors, washing dishes, comforting the hurting, and sacrificially supporting ministry. The call is crisp and sober: yield the quest for status, embrace humility, expect suffering when following Christ faithfully, and let service be the currency of greatness in the kingdom. If worship, teaching, and community are rightly ordered around Christ’s self-giving, the church will be an equipped, persevering, and mission-shaped body that displays the gospel to a watching world.

Key Takeaways

1. Church exists to equip believers The church’s purpose is formation, not entertainment; leaders are called to train, correct, and mobilize saints for ministry. Prioritizing discipleship reshapes time, money, and attention toward producing mature faith rather than merely pleasing consumers. When churches embrace equipping, members learn to withstand false teaching and cultural pressures. [30:05]
2. Gospel framed by suffering and victory The gospel is neither sentiment nor success formula but a narrative of betrayal, redemptive suffering, and resurrection that secures eternal dominion. Seeing Jesus’ path to the cross clarifies why trials follow faithful living and why hope persists despite pain. This balance prevents cheap triumphalism and despair alike. [36:56]
3. Humility produces faithfulness, not betrayal Self-seeking corrodes fidelity; pride opens the door to compromise and desertion. Humility, by contrast, roots disciples in dependence on Christ and enables endurance when opposition comes. The community that cultivates lowly service resists the betrayals born of ambition. [42:10]
4. Count trials as refining joy Affliction in the Christian life is not accidental but formative: testing produces steadfastness and spiritual maturity. Counting trials as joy reorients suffering from loss to leverage for growth, so that patience and character are the gospel’s fruit. This perspective sustains witness under pressure. [52:32]
5. Greatness in kingdom is service Authority in God’s kingdom is inverted: greatness is measured by willingness to serve and bear others’ burdens. Small, hidden acts—cleaning up, caring for children, locking doors—reflect the posture of Jesus and guard against ego-driven ministry. Service becomes the proving ground for authentic leadership. [58:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:14] - Announcements & Upcoming Events
[24:30] - Building Momentum for Ministries
[30:05] - Purpose: Equip Not Entertain
[36:56] - Gospel Preview: Suffering and Resurrection
[42:10] - Humility vs. Selfishness
[52:32] - The Cup: Trials and Joy
[58:35] - Servanthood: Greatness Through Service
[63:56] - Application & Prayer
[72:27] - Closing and Invitations

Bible Study Guide

### Bible reading

Matthew 20:17–28 (ESV)
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Ephesians 4:11–14 (ESV)
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

### Observation questions

In Matthew 20:18–19, what are the specific stages of the "gospel preview" that Jesus describes will happen to Him in Jerusalem? [37:28]
According to Ephesians 4:12, what is the primary purpose for which leaders are given to the church, and what is the "saints" responsibility in that process? [30:05]
When the mother of James and John asks for her sons to sit at Jesus' right and left hands, how do the other ten disciples react? [57:34]
What does Jesus say was His primary reason for coming to earth as the Son of Man? [01:03:10]

### Interpretation questions

Jesus asks the disciples if they are able to "drink the cup" He is about to drink. Given that this cup involves the wrath of God against sin and intense suffering, what does it mean for a follower of Jesus to "drink the cup" in their own life today? [49:40]
Ephesians 4:14 warns against being "children tossed to and fro by the waves." How does a lack of biblical "equipping" make a person vulnerable to "every wind of doctrine" or cultural trends? [33:35]
Jesus contrasts the "rulers of the Gentiles" with the "servant" in His kingdom. Why is the world’s definition of authority and greatness so different from the "radical reversal" Jesus describes? [58:35]
Humility is described as a guard against betrayal, while selfishness leads to it. How does a "what's in it for me" attitude toward church and God eventually lead to a person walking away when things get difficult? [42:10]

### Application questions

The church exists to equip you for ministry, not to entertain you. [30:05] Have you ever found yourself treating church like a "pizza buffet," where you only participate if your specific preferences—like the music, the temperature, or the seating—are met? [35:35] How can you shift your focus from being a consumer to being a servant?
Following Jesus means being willing to sacrifice your time, money, and attention. [29:37] What is one area of your life where you are currently "sacrificing for yourself" rather than sacrificing for the sake of Christ and His mission?
We are told to count all trials and afflictions as joy because they produce steadfastness. [52:32] Think of a recent "trial"—even something as small as a broken-down car or a frustrating day. [53:45] Did you respond with humility and trust, or did you lose your focus on God’s goodness? How can you practice "counting it joy" this week?
True greatness is found in doing "lowly" jobs that no one else sees, like cleaning up trash, locking doors, or serving in the nursery. [01:00:30] What is a "hidden" act of service you can do this week to keep your ego in check and follow the example of Jesus? [01:02:04]
Jesus gave His life as a "ransom for many." [01:03:10] Since we can never "out-give" the Lord, how should His ultimate sacrifice change the way you view your commitment to local and global missions, such as foster care or supporting missionaries? [01:04:47]
Are there "winds of doctrine" or ideas you’ve seen on social media that have been pulling you away from the simple truth of the Gospel lately? [33:35] How can you intentionally "grow into the fullness of Christ" this week through teaching and discipline? [33:20]

Sermon Clips

they're always after my money. That is not the case. Jesus doesn't need it. He wants your undivided attention. If he has that, if he has your heart, then you'll sacrifice for him. If your sole priority is Jesus, then then what you want to do is is is do is sacrifice whatever it is in your life to to to bring more glory to him, to to be more focused on him. This this brings me to the idea or the reminder of what the purpose of the church is and the purpose of the church is to equip not to entertain. [00:29:27] (45 seconds) #EquipDontEntertain

Jesus is enough for you to come. I don't need any other gimmick or any other invention this morning. Like, Frank didn't have to come up here and go, we're unveiling a new new thing for you to come jump into worship. No, the new thing is Jesus. Come and learn more about Jesus. I don't care what book of the bible we're gonna read. We're gonna talk and listen and learn about Jesus. [00:33:54] (22 seconds) #JesusIsEnough

And then the tune's not gonna change when you're discipled. Why? Because we want you to serve in Jesus' name. And then when we get our serving fill and you continue to serve, we don't wanna burn you out, but we want you to think wholeheartedly about what missions looks like in your life. Whether you are doing a blessing box, whether you are reaching kids with with with food on a a weekly basis, or you're going to the Ecuador's or to the ends of the earth with us. It's the point. To glorify and magnify Jesus Christ and get the gospel, the good news out. [00:34:16] (35 seconds) #ServeToSpreadGospel

If the point is you, then I wanna talk about all your feelings all the time. Do you like the chairs? Do you like the the temperature? Do you like the volume of the songs? Do do you like, then we're gonna spend a lot of time on you. And and come on. You can't be pleased. You can't be. [00:34:53] (28 seconds) #ChurchIsNotForYourComfort

``So I wonder when they hear this, if they are remembering the call of discipleship or the call to follow Jesus whether it's like in Luke nine twenty three where he says, come follow me. Deny yourself and pick up your what? Cross. Same cross you could be crucified. Like, it's not a cross just to wear around our neck. It's not a cross that you can just tote in your back pocket. This is a not just toting a torture device, but one that you will go and die on. [00:40:40] (30 seconds) #TakeUpYourCross

It it plays into an idea of pride. It plays into an idea of how how do I go get mine? What what what's in it for me? Like we talked about last week. So so here's a side point. Ready? Humility leads to the cross and selfishness leads will lead to betrayal. If the disciples are walking, all of them walking in humility, then they're right there with Jesus ready to die on a cross. They will be. But if it's selfishness at the root of it, guess what? Betrayal's coming. Brokenness is coming. Running away is coming. [00:41:48] (42 seconds) #HumilityLeadsToTheCross

It's this idea that it's not about us. It's about Jesus and if it's about Jesus, he didn't come for us to shower him with grapes and and wave fans on him and just just serve serve like he came to say, no, I'll serve you and the ultimate act of service was come in the gospel. Then, I shared on the front end before I gave you the test. That the son of man would come, be handed over. That he'd be arrested, that he'd be mocked, that he'd be beaten, that he'd be crucified and killed. But he doesn't stay dead. [01:03:25] (39 seconds) #ServeLikeJesus

I'm so thankful friend that Jesus does not give us what we deserve. Right. But he gives everything that we deserved onto himself at the cross As he gave his life as a ransom for many and so, as he beckons us to give or to serve or to share or to grow, it's with that understanding that he has given and you cannot out give him one inch. [01:04:17] (32 seconds) #YouCantOutgiveJesus

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Humility and Service: Following Christ’s Example of Sacrifice

Devotional

Day 1: Shifting Our Focus from Entertainment to Spiritual Equipping

Day 2: Embracing the Victory and Sacrifice of the Cross

Day 3: Choosing Humble Devotion Over the Pull of Selfishness

Day 4: Finding Joy and Growth Through Life's Various Trials

Day 5: Redefining True Greatness Through the Act of Servanthood

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Humility and Service: Following Christ’s Example of Sacrifice

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