How To Be Great In Jesus’ Kingdom Series

IS IT WRONG TO WANT TO BE "GREAT"? Jesus doesn’t say “don’t be great” but instead tells them how to be great.

- Luke 22:24-27.

- Matthew 5:19; Matthew 20:26; Mark 10:43.

- It could have been when the disciples argued over being great that Jesus replied, “No. You will never be great. Don’t even think about it.”

- But He didn’t.

- Instead, He gave insight into how to be great.

- Now, this is going to require that we understand what it means to be “great” in Jesus’ kingdom. So this morning we’re going to unpack what that looks like.

HOW TO BE "GREAT": Humbly obey Christ’s teaching even in the smallest situations.

- Luke 22:24-27.

- Matthew 5:19; Matthew 20:26; Mark 10:43.

- There are two things that Jesus tells us in the gospel concerning being great in His kingdom:

a. Be a servant.

- Matthew 20:26; Mark 10:43; Luke 22:24-27.

b. Obey Jesus’ teaching.

- Matthew 5:19.

- When you add the two together, you get something like the statement I just shared: “Humbly obey Christ’s teaching even in the smallest situations.”

- It’s great that Jesus gives us the roadmap for becoming great.

HOW DOES SERVING MAKE ME "GREAT"?

- Consider looking up a passage or two for each point.

1. Humble obedience leads to a transformed heart.

- Matthew 7:24; Matthew 12:50; John 7:17; John 14:23.

- For us to be transformed into the people God wants us to become, we must obey the teaching of Christ.

- Our hearts are not magically changed, but rather a little at a time as we obey the teaching of Christ.

- This includes serving as Christ calls me to in His teaching. I am humble in doing what He calls me to do.

- To go back to Luke 22:24-27, the desire to be great often begins and ends with the personal exaltation. We are interested in having people bowing down to us and looking up to us.

- Jesus point us in a different direction. We are humble in being obedient to our master as Jesus is. As we do this, it transforms our heart.

- What does it transform our heart into? Christlikeness.

2. A transformed heart leads to a trustworthy servant.

- Matthew 10:42; Matthew 24:45; Luke 12:43.

- Our obedience to Christ’s teaching transforms our heart to look like Christ’s. Once that has happened, we are a servant whom God can trust to do what needs done.

- There are many who are not dependable. In what ways?

a. They will not do what’s right when it’s personally difficult for them.

b. They will not do what’s needed if it’s going to cost them money.

c. They will not obey if it pushes them out of their comfort zone.

d. They will not stand up if it’s going to make them unpopular.

e. They will not trust the words of Christ over what they want to do.

- In sum, they cannot be trusted by Christ to do what’s right when it matters most.

3. A trustworthy servant can be given great authority.

- Matthew 23:12; Matthew 25:21, 23; Luke 14:11; Luke 16:10; Luke 18:14; Luke 19:17.

- Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14 – exalt/humble.

- Luke 16:10; Luke 19:17 – trusted with little, trusted with much.

- Matthew 25:21, 23 – faithful in a few things, put in charge of many things.

- Unpack the three sections of Scriptures above.

- Here is where you have the opportunity to do great things. It’s not because you intrinsically have enormous talent. It’s not because you have great power in yourself. No, it’s because you have become someone through whom God can allow His power to flow. You are a trustworthy servant, so He knows He can trust you with that great power.

- Seeing God do something great through you is about God’s power working in and through your life. Therefore it is more about who you are than what you can do.

- Let’s go back as we close to the definition of “great.”

- “Great” means that we have gotten into a position where God can do powerful things through us.

- “Great” does not mean that attention or praise come to us. It does not mean that wealth or position come to us.

- “Great” means that we are great in God’s eyes.