- You've heard from Katie, Annie and Darren... but now it's my turn. Why am I thankful for Berean CC? Well there are many reasons, I am thankful for the love and support that you have all shown us over the past 2 and a half years. In our moments of discouragement, and frustration you have proven to be a church that is able to offer us the right words, the comforting comments that encourage us and lift us up. In our moments of celebration and good news, you are a church that has celebrated with us. We are thankful to have a church where our daughter can be raised in a positive, uplifting church environment that will allow her to grow and mature as a child of God. A church filled with people who love us and pray for us, and support us in so many ways. And I could go on and on, describing all the reasons why we are thankful for BCC.
- Perhaps, most of all, for me personally, I am thankful for the leadership of this church. A leadership that has allowed me to make mistakes, allowed me to try new things, to voice new ideas. A leadership which for the most part, has the right priorities about what church should be. A place of encouragement for God's people with the purpose of going out into our world and sharing God's relevant message of hope and forgiveness. I am thankful for a leadership that is willing to come together for prayer... to pray for you, for those who are sick and hurting, for those who are wrestling with the decision to follow Christ, to pray for me and my family.
- You see, the reality is this... the church is only as strong as its leaders. The elders of the church are the ones who are to ultimately set the spiritual direction of the church, the ones who are to be the spiritual protectors of the church. The church is only as strong as its leaders. Or to be more specific, the church is only as strong as its elders.
- For the last 3 weeks we have been focused on 'What the World Needs'. The need for a "relevant church"... a church that matters, that makes a difference in people's lives. The need for a "unified church"... a church that stands together under God to carry out his will and goals for us. And last week, a "giving church"... one that is willing to give of itself to those in need, to the work God wants us to accomplish. But the only way we can be the kind of church the world needs, is if we have the kind of leaders the church needs. What the church needs are Biblical Leaders. That is our focus for the next several weeks... Biblical leadership. The kind of leadership we can all be thankful for.
- And to begin with we will focus our attention on "Servant Leaders." Because what the church needs are "Servant Leaders." And to drive this message home, let us look at a story found in Mark 10:35-45...
- Mark doesn't tell us here, but Matthew in his gospel tells the same story, but in Matthew's telling of it, he lets us know that it wasn't James and John who asked this question of Jesus... it was their who asked the question. They didn't even have the courage to do it themselves, they ran to mommy and had her do the dirty work. Listen to what Matthew says, "Then the mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, kneeling down, asked a favor of him."
- And what was it they were asking Jesus. Well, what they were asking is routed in their misunderstanding of who Jesus was and what he was about to do in Jerusalem. You see they thought that Jesus had come with the purpose of earthly power. They thought he was going to stride on into Jerusalem, overthrow the Roman gov't which they despised and then as the Messiah, the Jewish savior, Jesus would make himself King of the World and would sit on the throne and would rule the people as their King. That's what James and John were expecting to happen.
- And with this thought racing through their minds, they sent their mother in with them, to ask Jesus to allow them, James and John to sit in the 2nd and 3rd most prominent positions in this future kingdom Jesus was going to establish. Today it would be like asking to be the Vice-President and Speaker of the House. They wanted to be the #2 and #3 man on the Totem Pole. That was their desire, their wish, and it was their mother who requested it for them.
- Basically, what they were asking for was power, influence, position. That was what they desired, and aspired for. They wanted their ego to be fed. And James and John were not the only ones guilty of this. As you heard in verse 41, the rest of the disciples were indignant, upset that James and John beat them to the punch. They wanted the same things for themselves. They too, wanted the power and position that James and John had requested.
- If ever their was a trap for leaders to get caught in, this is it! Elders, deacons, or anybody here in some sort of leadership position in this church... the trap is their for all of us to step in to. Pride, ego, power, position, influence, self-gratification. It's the most deadly and dangerous trap a leader in the church can get caught in. It's like a deer hunter who quietly, discreetly waits in their deer stand perched on the side of a tree. As the deer creep along, without a care in the world, all of a sudden a shot rings out and strikes the deer before they know what hit them.
- Likewise, leaders go along doing God's work, and without warning, all of a sudden the trap is set, the shots ring out, and the leader who once was filled with good intentions is caught, is struck down by the trap of pride and power.
- It can happen so easily, to even the most godly of leaders. It happened here in our story. It's exactly what happened to James and John and the rest of the disciples. They were thirsty for power and position. Their egos were hungry for more. So, leaders, let me ask you, are you caught in the trap this morning? We need to ask ourselves that question. I need to ask myself that question on a regular basis. Am I caught in the trap of pride, of power, of ego?
- Well, how do we know if we are. Perhaps, a few revealing questions will help us know whether we are about to be struck down, whether or not we are about to get caught in the trap.
- When I do things, good deeds, do I do them hoping other people will find out?
- When other people are receiving praise, and affirmation, do I get jealous, do I get slightly offended that I did not receive that same praise?
- Do I try to find ways to criticize other people, other leaders, in order to make myself look more important?
- Am I more interested in attending a meeting where decisions are made, then I am in serving and learning and growing?
- Is it important to me that people know the position that I am in?
- Do I think of my position as more important than my relationship with Jesus Christ?
- And perhaps the bottom line question. The question that will completely reveal to us whether or not we are caught in the trap of pride and position and power, is this... what is my first priority... to serve or to be served?
- After all, that's what Jesus brings it down to doesn't he. After seeing that his disciples are caught in the trap of power and position, Jesus asks them if they are willing to go through what he is about to go through. Are they willing to take on what he is about to take on. And without knowing what Jesus is about to do, they say sure we can. Again, they still are thinking in terms of earthly power, and they are all ready for that.
- But Jesus goes on to say... no, no, no boys, you don't know what you are saying. If you want to be first in my kingdom, then you must become a slave. If you want to be great and powerful and be in a high standing in my kingdom, you must be a servant, a slave to all. Because if you want to go through what I am about to go through, then you must serve instead of being served.
- After all, it's not just leaders who are called to be servants. All Christians are called to serve others. All Christians are called to think of the interests of others before their own interests. All Christians are called to the difficult task of putting the needs of others above their own needs. All of us must become servants.
- But, it is leaders who are to be the example. They are to lead the way. They are the ones who are to demonstrate what it means to serve instead of being served. To be quite frank, and open.... I am not sure it is possible to be a Christian without being a servant. And, I certainly know this without doubt.... you can not be a leader in the church without first being a servant. It's impossible. Now don't misunderstand me. I am not saying you can't attain a title, it's possible to have a title without being a servant. I might be called a minister, you might be called a teacher, or elder, or deacon. We may have the title, but having a title doesn't make us a leader. Being a servant, makes us a leader. And if we are not servants, then we are not leaders. And if we are not servants, then we shouldn't be given the title of a leader. Because it is the leaders of the church who are to be the examples of servants.
- This lesson, this truth comes directly from the greatest example of a servant the world has ever known. In fact, just before James and John place their request before Jesus, he tells them exactly what he is about to do. Mark 10:33-34...
- "For the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." What the church needs are leaders who will follow the example of Christ and be an example themselves of what it means to be a servant. What the church needs are servant leaders.
- I love stories that are told about George Patton, the great US war hero. I just read about a time when he was leading his men as they were marching through a war torn area. As they were marching, they were cold, it was rainy, and all of the men were overcome with exhaustion from carrying their heavy artillery bags. And to make matters worse for them, they came upon a river that they would need to cross in order to reach their destination. Upon coming up to the river, all of the soldiers began mumbling to each other that it would be impossible for them to cross in such conditions... with the coldness, and the weight they were carrying and the fatigue of the men. While this mumbling and complaining continued and increased. Patton waded out into the river with all of his gear. Made it to the other side, stared back at his men, got back in the water, and returned to his men, and asked them if they now thought it impossible to cross the river.
- That's the sort of leadership by example Jesus was calling for. All of us as Christians should be servants... yes... but the leaders of the church are to be the greatest servants of all. And if they are not, then they should not be leaders.
- Take Jesus' word for it... after he demonstrated what it meant to be a servant after he washed his disciples feet... listen to what he says to all of us, and especially to us leaders... John 13:14-15
- As leaders we must accept this call to serve. And all of us who are a part of this church should expect nothing less than true servant-leaders, because servant-leadership is exactly what the church needs.
