Service Leads To Honour Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). Christ’s love for a lost world (vs 30-32).

(2). Loving one another (vs 33-37).

(3). Loving those outside the fellowship (vs 38-41).

(4). Loving the lost (vs 42-50).

SERMON BODY:

Quote: A.W. Tozer (American Christian pastor, preacher & author)

• “A real Christian is an odd number anyway.

• He feel supreme love for One whom he has never seen.

• Talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see.

• He expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another,

• Empties himself in order that he might be full,

• Admits he is wrong to he can be declared right,

• And goes down in order to get up.

• He is strongest when he is weakest,

• Richest when he is poorest,

• And is happiest when he feels worst.

• He dies to he can live,

• Forsakes in order to have,

• And gives away so he can keep.

• He sees the invisible,

• Hears the inaudible,

• And knows that which passes knowledge.”

• This quotation came to my mind because I thought of that line:

• And goes down in order to get up.

• In other words the way of Jesus Christ;

• Is not the way of the world in which we live.

• The way to go up the ladder of success and greatness as a Christian;

• Is always: ‘you go up by going down’,

• That is we become great only when we are found serving others!

Question: What does it mean to be great?

Answer:

FIRST: The world in which we live:

• Power:

• A person’s greatness is measured by the things that they have the ability to control

• Prestige:

• A person’s greatness is measured by the accolades that they receive

• Position:

• A person’s greatness is measured by where they are in life

• Possessions:

• A person’s greatness is measured by the things that they own

• So according to the world in which we live:

• Greatness & success are most often defined as: ‘Power, prestige, position and possessions’.

In his teaching & example Jesus gave a new and different explanation of greatness:

• Greatness is not measured by what you have;

• Or what you can do.

• It is not measured by who you are;

• Or by where you are in life.

• Greatness for the Christian is more about;

• Why you do and who you do it for.

• In fact Jesus taught greatness flows out of giving not getting.

In the eyes of Jesus, greatness flows from three things

• Sacrifice:

• We are called to give up who we are right now so we can become who God wants us to be

• Service:

• We are called to give ourselves to others and invest our lives in those around us.

• Selflessness:

• We are called to give ourselves to Christ and His Kingdom

• Quote:

• “When God measures a man, he puts the tape around the heart instead of the head.”

• So God is looking in his people for sacrifice, service and selflessness!

• God is looking for people with big hearts!

• Question: How are you doing?

• Answer: In all of us I guess there is plenty of room for improvement!

Let’s turn to Mark chapter 9 verses 30-50 to find some help and encouragement:

• The key word for me that summaries the passage is ‘love’.

• I think you can write it again and again over each of the sections.

(1). Christ’s love for a lost world (vs 30-32).

“They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.”

• This is the second time that Jesus has spoke openly to his disciples;

• Concerning his death and resurrection,

• (The first time was Mark chapter 8 verse 31).

• But just like the first time the disciples are still not able to grasp,

• To understand what he meant.

• You will remember from previous studies they were looking for a Messiah;

• Who would kick out the Roman oppressors and set up his kingdom on earth;

• Not a Messiah who was going to die!

• Be raised from the dead and in a future time set up his earthly kingdom.

Ill:

• I have told you before about the humours birthday card that I saw;

• I was going to send to my wife Penny,