Introduction

Good morning, family! Today, we're diving into the heart of Mark 10, verses 32-45, where Jesus teaches His disciples about service. This passage is all about the call, cost, and reward of service.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said: "The Church is the Church only when it exists for others...not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live for Christ, to exist for others." Friends, we are called to serve, and today, we're going to unpack what that means.

Let's read the passage together:

[Read passage]

Let's pray:

Dear Lord, as we delve into Your Word today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to truly understand what it means to serve. Help us to grasp the essence of service as You intended, and empower us to live out our calling to serve others as You served us. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Let’s get started!

The Call to Service

The call to service is not just a call to action, but a call to a new way of life, a new mindset, and a new understanding of greatness. The disciples, like many of us, were initially drawn to the idea of glory, power, and prestige. They wanted to sit at Jesus' right and left in His glory, symbolizing positions of honor and authority. However, Jesus quickly corrected their misunderstanding, emphasizing that true greatness in the kingdom of God is not about lording over others, but about serving them.

Its counter-cultural nature: In a world that often equates greatness with power, wealth, and status, Jesus presents a radically different perspective. He teaches that greatness in His kingdom is not about being served, but about serving others. This is a call to humility, to selflessness, and to love. It's a call to put others' needs before our own, to seek their good above our comfort, and to love them as Christ has loved us. This is a radical departure from the world's standards, and it challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and values.

A call to follow Jesus' example: Jesus Himself said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus, the King of Kings, came not to establish an earthly kingdom where He would be served, but to serve humanity by giving His life as a ransom. He washed His disciples' feet, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ultimately gave His life on the cross. His life was a testament to service, and He calls us to follow in His footsteps.

A call to sacrifice: Jesus asked James and John, "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" This was a reference to His impending suffering and death. He was essentially asking them if they were willing to share in His sufferings, to take up their cross and follow Him. This reminds us that service often involves sacrifice. It may require us to give up our time, resources, or even our comfort for the sake of others. But as followers of Christ, we are called to embrace this sacrifice, knowing that it is a reflection of Christ's love for us.

A call to a life of purpose and fulfillment: While the world may see service as demeaning or lowly, Jesus teaches us that it is a path to true greatness. It is through serving others that we find our purpose, fulfill our calling, and experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from living a life of love. It is through service that we become more like Christ, and it is through service that we can make a difference in the world.

A privilege and an opportunity: It's an opportunity to reflect Christ's love, to impact lives, and to experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from living a life of service. It's a call that challenges us, transforms us, and ultimately leads us to a deeper relationship with Christ.

The Cost of Service

The cost of service is not merely about giving up our time or resources, but it's about the willingness to lay down our lives for the sake of others ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO