The Life Of A Leading Disciple Series

B. Is built on God’s sovereignty and sufficiency (v. 40, 45)

1. Jesus explains to James and John that his “cup” and his “baptism” were a unique thing for him, and that they didn’t understand the kind of kingdom he was kicking off. And he taught them that greatness in the kingdom comes through suffering and sorrow. And he said that theirs would come, but not yet. And he told them that who got to sit on the right and on the left (which by the way were 1 and 2 respectively) had already been ordained and it wasn’t for him to decide who got that. Jesus is a man under authority. However, in his last statement Jesus implies his absolute self-sufficiency. He came not be served, but to serve others. He has need of nothing.

2. Acts 17:26,

3. Illustration: “Our God does not need our service, nor is He glorified by recruits who want to help Him out. Our God is so full and so self-sufficient and so overflowing in power and life and joy, that he glorifies Himself by serving us.”

4. The life of a disciple today must still be built on the fact of God’s absolute sovereignty. God’s will for our lives often comes through suffering. And knowing that God is allowing and ordaining suffering for our good and his glory will help us to endure by His grace. It will also help us to be content with His will, knowing that there are some things he chooses for us (that we may or may not enjoy), but that are good. Secondly, Jesus lets us know that he came not to be served, but to serve. So don’t serve God as though he needed anything. Serve him out of love and obedience, knowing that He can do anything that he wants without you help. Thirdly, consider the fact that God came to serve us. Think about the reality that Jesus came to serve man. He came to serve you. He still serves the church, His bride.

C. Is built on service and example (v. 42-45)

1. Now Jesus gives us one of the most paradoxical statements of the Christian life. He says that we don’t act like the world, and use our authority heavy-handedly, but as believers in Jesus, we follow Jesus example and become a servant of all men. The two words used are diakonos and doulos. So he covers all the bases.

2. Matt 11:11, 1 John 2:2, Php 2:3-4

3. Illustration: talk about Larry Jackson at Promise Keepers, he and his wife trying to outserve each other, we had a discussion about these things in SS the other week, and we decided that we are all pretty self-centered, and rarely spend any time thinking about how we might make the other class members’ lives easier through service to them, it was a theme that they kept using at the conference this week, the book Instruments in the Hand of the Redeemer,

4. Our lives, methods, means, attitudes should look radically different from that of the world. The world desperately needs to see godly submission rather than ruthless authoritarianism and selfishness within the church. And if our perspective is that we are laying up treasure in heaven, this will be easier to actualize in our lives. We are tools in the Master’s hands. So if you want to be great in the kingdom, outserve everybody! And Jesus lives out the primary example. Lay down your life as a sacrifice for many. Don’t be about your own things, your own agenda, but about how you may serve others. Think about your free time as others time; your money as others money; your ministry and everything that you do as an act of service to others.