Be Great In The Sight Of God! Series

Be Great in the Sight of God!

The Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 18:1-5

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared September 29, 2022)

MESSAGE:

*Who would you name as a great man or woman? Almost everybody could offer some suggestions, and opinions around the world would have huge differences. But Jim Kane helped us understand true greatness in a little memory quiz. It included these fill-in-the-blank questions:

-Name the last 5 Academy Award winners for best actor.

-Name the last 5 winners of the Miss America contest.

-Name the last 10 winners of the World Series.

*Very few people could answer even one of those questions. But how about these fill-in-the-blank questions:

-Name a few teachers who helped your journey through school.

-Name 3 friends who helped you through a tough time.

-Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. (1)

*I hope everybody could answer those last 3 questions. Jim's little quiz helps us get closer to true greatness. But the best wisdom about greatness comes from Jesus Christ. And in Matthew 18:1-5, the Lord teaches us how to be great in God's sight.

*Stop and think about this amazing truth: You and I can have true greatness! We can be great in the sight of the Lord. And the Bible shows us how.

1. FIRST: WE HAVE TO OVERCOME OUR SELFISH MINDSET.

*If we are ever going to be great in the sight of God, we have to face up to our selfish ego and pride. This is not an easy thing for us to do. And the Lord's disciples faced the same struggle right up to the night before the cross.

*Their selfish pride was the reason why they asked the question in vs. 1: "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'''

*We need to know that this question was not the beginning of the story. Mark 9 tells us that they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest as they traveled down the road. And we have to see the right picture. They weren't walking down the road saying, "You're the greatest!" -- "No. You're the greatest!" The disciples were all proudly saying, "I'm the greatest!"

*Later, they didn't want to admit their argument to Jesus. But He knows our hearts, and He called them out on it when they got to the house. Listen to the story from Mark 9:33-35:

33. Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?''

34. But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.

35. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.''

*They needed to know, and we need to know that if we are ever going to be truly great, we have to overcome our selfish ego and pride. We have to humble ourselves and get servant-hearted attitudes. This is not an easy thing to do, because this "I'm the greatest" pride is a very common problem.

*Jesus had to talk to His disciples about this over and over again. The incident here in Matthew 18 took place about 6 months before the cross. But later on, in Matthew 20:20-28 the mother of James and John worshiped Jesus and asked Him to do something for her.

21. And He said to her, "What do you wish?'' She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.''

22. But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?'' They said to Him, "We are able.''

23. So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.''

24. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brothers.

25. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.

26. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

27. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave