"We're #1!"

Stand & Read - Luke 22:24-30

“And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. [25] And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ’Benefactors.’ [26] "But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. [27] "For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. [28] "And you are those who have stood by Me in My trials; [29] and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you [30] that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

“We’re #1”

PRAYER…

INTRODUCTION:

I think that we would all agree…

There is nothing like the experience of being able to say that you are #1…

-Every kid on every team longs to be able to boast that their team is #1…

-Every sports fan longs to be able to boast of their favorite sports team that they are #1…

-Each and every person in this world wants to be a part of something that they may be able to boast of how they are the best…or at least, a part of the best…

ILLUSTRATION:

I know for me…and in my town…

The Caribou Vikings were always vying for the #1 spot in the State for Varsity Basket Ball.

-And they often won!!

Then they would parade through town on their way back in and the whole town would celebrate!!!

-It was awesome to say that you were #1!!!

Well…that heart abides in each of us too…we want to be THE BEST!

-We want to be number 1 and we want to be known as such!!!

But…we come to understand that things are different within the Kingdom of God! As we will come to realize.

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Well…the disciples fell prey to the temptation to be counted among THE BEST of the BEST…

-They fell into the category of those who wanted to be #1…

-After all, who doesn’t want to be number one!!! ???

But, for the disciples…this aspiration grew to something bigger than just hopes…

IN FACT…the Bible says that there was a dispute that fell out among the brethren…

These disciples were in a quarrel about who was the best disciple!!!

-Can you believe it!

What is worse, is that these guys begin to fight…just after Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper!!!

I mean…it is one thing to get in a quarrel…but then to fight after the Lord had just instituted one of the Ordinances of the Church is quite another!!!

-But…isn’t that how it works sometimes…

-Oh…how we have to watch ourselves…our hearts…and our motives.

It’s funny…they went from wondering who would be the bum that would deny Jesus to arguing who would be the best…

-From the flunkie…

-To the favorite…

*How quickly we go from one thing to the next…

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I can’t help but think how quickly we fight!

Yes…even us brothers and sisters…we fight and quarrel…(tsk, tsk)

-And sadly, even amidst the greatness of God…

-Even during great services and times with the Lord…

*Which reveals to me just how out of focus we can be…

Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

Friends…God has intended for us to dwell in peace and unity with one another…

-Not to be sharks who swarm at the first taste of blood to get ours…

Nonetheless…this is the kind of situation that the disciples often got into…

ILLUSTRATION:

They wanted to define a “Pecking Order” within their group…

Chickens find a pecking order…

-Ten Chickens…pecking order till there is the last being pecked, but with no one to peck!

And Jesus is against that…and always will be!

-For there is none better than the other…

-None more important than the other…

If you recall…we have been likened unto a BODY, not a corporate Banking Office with a CEO and Vice Presidents!

-For who can do without any body part…each is important and serves his purpose!

They were often caught in these types of arguments…

Luke 9 and Mark 9 record these same conflicts with these same guys…

ILLUSTRATION:

Mention the Pope and his death…in comparison with greatness…

But yet, he is not the greatest…

-Out of focus…

Without a doubt…there is a pecking order going on right now with those who will take over now…

-Who is the greatest????

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But thankfully…and as always…Jesus steps in here and brings balance to this “feeding frenzy”…