Redefining Greatness Through Servanthood and Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Redefining True Greatness

True greatness is not about power, wealth, or status but about humility and service. Jesus teaches that anyone who wants to be first must be the very last and the servant of all. This radical redefinition of greatness challenges societal norms that prioritize individual achievement and self-promotion. Instead, Jesus calls His followers to focus on serving others, especially the vulnerable and marginalized. By welcoming a child, Jesus illustrates that true greatness in the Kingdom of God is measured by our willingness to serve those who cannot repay us.

In a world that often equates greatness with power and influence, Jesus' teaching is a counter-cultural call to humility and service. This perspective invites us to examine our own lives and priorities, asking whether we are seeking to elevate ourselves or to serve others. True greatness, according to Jesus, is found in acts of service and humility, where we put the needs of others before our own. [01:12:22]

Mark 10:43-45 (ESV): "But 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 slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: Think of a specific way you can serve someone in your community this week. How can you put their needs before your own in a tangible way?

Day 2: Holistic, Relational, and Intentional Formation

Discipleship involves holistic formation, considering the whole person, building relationships, and being intentional in our actions. Jesus' approach to discipleship was comprehensive, relational, and purposeful, aiming to form future leaders who would carry out His mission. This means that discipleship is not just about imparting knowledge but about shaping character, values, and behaviors through intentional relationships and community.

Holistic discipleship recognizes that every aspect of a person's life is important and interconnected. It involves walking alongside others, understanding their struggles and strengths, and helping them grow in their relationship with God. This kind of discipleship requires time, commitment, and a willingness to invest in others deeply and meaningfully. [01:02:08]

Colossians 1:28-29 (ESV): "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

Reflection: Who in your life can you invest in more intentionally this week? How can you support their holistic growth in Christ?

Day 3: Treating People's Needs as Holy

Jesus modeled treating people's needs as sacred by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and addressing social injustices. As disciples, we are called to see and act on the needs of others, recognizing their value and showing care, compassion, and justice. This means that every interaction with others is an opportunity to reflect God's love and to treat their needs as holy.

In a world that often prioritizes profit over people, Jesus' example challenges us to see the inherent worth in every person and to respond to their needs with compassion and justice. This perspective calls us to be attentive to the needs around us and to act in ways that honor the dignity and value of each individual. [01:06:05]

Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Reflection: Identify a need in your community that you can address this week. How can you treat this need as holy and respond with compassion and justice?

Day 4: Examining Personal and Communal Priorities

We must regularly re-evaluate our priorities to ensure they align with Jesus' teachings. This involves seeing and valuing the whole person in every interaction and prioritizing communal well-being over individualistic practices. By examining our personal and communal priorities, we can ensure that our actions and decisions reflect the values of the Kingdom of God.

This process of re-evaluation requires honesty and humility, as we must be willing to recognize areas where our priorities may be misaligned with Jesus' teachings. It also involves a commitment to making changes that prioritize the well-being of others and the community as a whole. [01:17:36]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others."

Reflection: Take time to reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas where you need to realign your focus to better reflect Jesus' teachings? What changes can you make to prioritize the well-being of others?

Day 5: Radical Obedience and Service

Discipleship requires radical obedience to Jesus' teachings and a commitment to serving others. Our actions should reflect the love and teachings of Jesus, transforming the world through acts of kindness, justice, and compassion. This kind of obedience is not passive but active, involving a willingness to step out in faith and serve others in tangible ways.

Radical obedience means being willing to follow Jesus' example, even when it is difficult or counter-cultural. It involves a commitment to living out the values of the Kingdom of God in every aspect of our lives, from our personal relationships to our broader community interactions. [01:25:41]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What is one specific area where you can practice radical obedience to Jesus' teachings this week? How can you serve others in a way that reflects His love and compassion?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, New Life Community Church family and friends. Today, we gather to celebrate the goodness of our God and to delve into the lessons of discipleship. As we approach the fall season, we are reminded of the importance of community and fellowship, especially on Fifth Sundays. Whether you choose to attend the Virginia State Fair, participate in the Pamunkey Baptist Association Sunday School Union, or engage in other forms of fellowship, the key is to be in community and not isolated.

We also celebrate the achievements within our church community, such as the re-election of our pastor as the moderator of the Pamunkey Baptist Association and the contributions of our members. Despite the challenges, we see God's hand at work in our collaborative efforts, reminding us that even small, incremental changes are significant.

Today's sermon focuses on Mark 9:30-37, where Jesus teaches his disciples about true greatness and servanthood. Jesus emphasizes that anyone who wants to be first must be the very last and the servant of all. He uses the example of welcoming a child to illustrate that serving others, especially the vulnerable and marginalized, is paramount in the Kingdom of God.

Discipleship is about holistic, relational, and intentional formation. It involves treating people's needs as holy, recognizing their value, and showing care, compassion, and justice. In a world that often prioritizes profit over people and individualism over community, Jesus calls us to redefine greatness and servanthood. We are challenged to examine our personal and communal priorities, ensuring that we see and value the whole person in every interaction.

As we continue our journey of discipleship, let us remember that our actions should reflect the love and teachings of Jesus. Whether it's remembering the name of a waiter or providing for someone in need, every act of kindness and justice matters. Let us strive to be true disciples of Christ, growing in our relationship with God and transforming the world through radical obedience and service.

###

Key Takeaways

1. evaluate our priorities to ensure they align with Jesus' teachings. This involves seeing and valuing the whole person in every interaction and prioritizing communal well-being over individualistic practices. [01:17:36]
5. Radical Obedience and Service: Discipleship requires radical obedience to Jesus' teachings and a commitment to serving others. Our actions should reflect the love and teachings of Jesus, transforming the world through acts of kindness, justice, and compassion.

### [77:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[16:01] - Call to Worship and Invocation
[28:47] - Announcements and Calendar Recap
[29:51] - Fifth Sunday Fellowship Options
[30:59] - Pamunkey Baptist Association Update
[32:36] - Collaboration and Community Efforts
[34:16] - Incremental Changes and God's Work
[35:45] - Upcoming Discussions and Proposals
[37:19] - Importance of Attendance in October
[38:50] - September Birthdays Celebration
[40:36] - Offering Time and Giving Options
[42:08] - Preparing for the Sermon
[44:03] - Scripture Reading: Mark 9:30-37
[45:39] - Lessons on Discipleship
[53:41] - Prayer and Reflection
[55:38] - Discipleship Principles
[60:00] - Holistic, Relational, and Intentional Formation
[62:08] - Jesus' Model of Discipleship
[66:05] - Treating People's Needs as Holy
[72:22] - Redefining Greatness and Servanthood
[77:36] - Examining Personal and Communal Priorities
[85:41] - Radical Obedience and Service
[87:20] - Invitation to Discipleship
[88:26] - Closing Remarks and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were the disciples arguing about on the road to Capernaum? ([44:03])
How did Jesus respond to the disciples' argument about who was the greatest? ([44:03])
What example did Jesus use to illustrate true greatness and servanthood? ([44:03])
According to the sermon, what are the three aspects of discipleship formation that Jesus emphasized? ([01:02:08])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the disciples were concerned about who was the greatest among them? How does this reflect human nature? ([44:03])
How does Jesus' teaching on welcoming a child challenge the disciples' understanding of greatness? ([44:03])
In what ways does treating people's needs as holy redefine our approach to discipleship? ([01:06:05])
How can examining our personal and communal priorities help us align more closely with Jesus' teachings on servanthood and greatness? ([01:17:36])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you prioritized power, wealth, or status over humility and service. How can you shift your focus to align more with Jesus' teaching on true greatness? ([01:12:22])
Jesus emphasized holistic, relational, and intentional formation in discipleship. How can you incorporate these aspects into your daily interactions with others? ([01:02:08])
Think of a specific need in your community that is often overlooked. How can you treat this need as holy and take action to address it? ([01:06:05])
Evaluate your current personal and communal priorities. Are there areas where you need to make changes to better reflect Jesus' teachings? ([01:17:36])
Jesus calls us to radical obedience and service. Identify one act of kindness or justice you can commit to this week to demonstrate your discipleship. ([01:25:41])
How can you be more intentional in remembering and valuing the people you interact with daily, such as knowing the name of a waiter or a service provider? ([01:17:36])
Discuss a practical way you can support the vulnerable and marginalized in your community. How can your small group collectively contribute to this effort? ([01:12:22])

Sermon Clips

1. "And so sometimes we get overzealous in what we're doing and don't see the small things, the small incremental change. I'm reminded of how we often do change for change. And I've got to make sure I'm bringing that back to our attention every Sunday for change for change, because God does indeed bless us with $100 change. But sometimes it comes through pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Now, some of you are missing that because you're thinking I'm talking about just money, but I'm talking about how God operates in our life." [32:36] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Discipleship is how we grow in our relationship with God and spiritually mature. It is demonstrated when we live a life that is aligned with the mission of Christ, loving God, loving others, and perhaps even transforming this world. With some radical obedience and service, discipleship is a mark of growth. And Jesus models what discipleship looks like in his journey with the 12. The disciples are following him and he is teaching them through transformative leadership and, and he is mentoring them and he approaches everything that he does in a certain way." [01:00:00] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus taught his disciples that serving others was the primary part of that teaching. He taught the importance of collective concern. We see that in Bible study. That's my shameless plug. If you ain't been there, this is a good time to come on and jump in. Even though it sounds like we're in the middle of the book, we didn't ask anybody to buy the book or read the book. We're teaching you what's in the book. You can jump in at any time." [01:06:05] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When we look at the text, it says that, we as individuals must redefine what we think is great and what we think is servanthood. It comes directly from the text. Consider how we treat the needs of those who are particularly vulnerable and marginalized. Consider how we or what we give our attention to. In the text, you have the disciples arguing over what is great. Who's going to be great? Who's going to make it to the left and the right?" [01:10:32] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus is trying to help us reevaluate. Redefine what it is to be great. He says, come on here, little children, come like the kids humbly. Come on here, servanthood, that you got along to serve one another. Come here, compassion for the vulnerable and sacrifice for the least of these. Holiness is what is right and great, and obedience to God is what makes you great. Anybody on the line today that understands that the world cannot make a definition of what is great because the world is not God." [01:14:09] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Too often, have we only seen portions of individuals and not their whole being of who they are. Come on here holistic ministry. Too often have we prioritized individualistic practices over relational communal practices. Too often have we been focused on the little when God wants you to see the light. And so we've got to remind or be reminded that treating people's needs, as holy on today and the discipleship process that God wants us to see today, is that we've got to learn how to re-evaluate what has already been put before us." [01:22:37] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Discipleship principle one, and I hope that you will join us in Bible study as we continue talking about treating the people's needs as holy, that you will understand that we are called to see people and to act on their behalf. Prayer is great, but without works, without works, Aubrey Hendricks says in the book, we pray for you, when you hungry, but we all never give you no food. What's the point? Jesus desires for us to learn in discipleship and model it and what we do and what we say in the world." [01:25:41] (71 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Treating the people's needs as holy is valuing them, caring for them, having compassion for them, and seeking God. And seeking justice on their behalf. We invite you in a relationship with the God who wants that for your life. If you don't know Jesus in the pardon of your sins, we encourage you to reach out to us at New Life Community Church at 804-928-1376 or newlifecommunitychurchva at gmail.com. And we certainly will walk and walk with you on this journey to discipleship." [01:27:20] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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