FOUNDATIONS OF THE KINGDOM LESSON #3: THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM

Transcription

1 FOUNDATIONS OF THE KINGDOM LESSON #3: THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM Intro. We ve already talked about The Message of the Kingdom and The Seed of the Kingdom. 1. Tonight we re going to look at the Greatest in the Kingdom a. It s not the self promoter but the servant Matthew 23:11 (NKJV) 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. I. THE GREATEST IS THE A. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE REALLY 1. We can be really selfish and self-absorbed If we re going to be great in the kingdom of heaven we re going to have to learn to do something B. WE RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO THINK ABOUT 1. This is what Jesus is doing at the Last Supper John 13:1-5 (NKJV) 1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 1

2 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. ex. Jesus is just getting ready to go to the Garden of Gethsemane and Judas is going to betray him. He s going to be beaten, mocked, and crucified. Jesus is about to experience the worst time of His life. He s about to suffer more than anyone has ever suffered before! And what does He do? He takes a towel and a bowl with water and washes His friends feet! He is going through the worst time of His life and He s thinking about others He serves them and wants to teach them a lesson THIS IS HOW TO BE GREAT Not by self confidence, self promotion, or taking advantage of people, but by thinking about and serving others II. A DARE TO BE Matthew 23:11 (NKJV) 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. A. ONE OF THE MARKS OF A SERVANT IS Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV) 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, Philippians 2:4 (NIV) 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 1. Marriages would be happier, more peaceful, and more fulfilled if couples would think about each other; serve a. Our marriages will be a lot happier if we consider each other Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 2

3 ex. There are lots of believers who wonder, Where can I serve, how can I help; kids ministry, youth, women s ministry, usher, etc. It s not just about being involved in a specific ministry. It s as simple as thinking about others. Be friendly, smile, encourage somebody; notice them; think about them! We need to consider each other; give ourselves B. WE VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO BE TO SERVE 1. We can have an attitude about serving We can be overly careful of guarding our personal esteem 2. We can learn to be big enough to serve ex. That s what Jesus was doing when He washed the disciples feet. He was showing them, This isn t beneath my dignity. And He was the Son of God! John 13:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. a. Jesus was secure enough in Himself to do what was considered one of the lowest forms of service- wash dirty feet John 13:1 (NKJV) 1 when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. The reason He washed their feet is because He loved them He gave Himself Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 3

4 That s what love does; it gives itself C. WE NEED TO LEARN THE VALUE OF SERVING THOSE WHO 1. Jesus and the writers of the NT emphasized helping the truly needy Matthew 25:31-40 (NKJV) 31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' ex. In Matthew 25, Jesus talked about feeding the hungry, helping the poor, visiting sick people and those in prison and said, You did it to me. James wrote about pure religion James 1:27 (NKJV) 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 4

5 orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. We are great Christians when we help the truly needy 2. Oftentimes we dismiss our own service to others as trivial a. We need to know that nothing we do to help others is considered trivial to God Matthew 10:42 (KJV) And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. b. Jesus said even a cup of water given isn t considered trivial We shouldn t dismiss our service to others as trivial because God never does We become great when we learn to serve and give to those who really need it and who can t do anything to benefit us in return It s what makes us Christians; Christ-like PRAYER AND CONFESSION: Jesus, forgive me for my selfishness. Help me to think about the needs of others and to help them. I want to be a great Christian but I can only do it with Your help and grace. I won t think of what I do in service for You as trivial, in Jesus name, Amen. FILL IN THE BLANKS FROM LESSON #3 I. THE GREATEST IS THE _(SERVANT OF ALL) A. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE REALLY _(BELIEVE THIS) B. WE RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO THINK ABOUT _(OTHERS) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 5

6 II. A DARE TO BE _(GREAT) A. ONE OF THE MARKS OF A SERVANT IS (CONSIDERING OTHERS) B. WE VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO BE _(BIG ENOUGH) TO SERVE C. WE NEED TO LEARN THE VALUE OF SERVING THOSE WHO (NEED IT MOST) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 6