Greatness

Christian Greatness (Luke 22:24-27)) Assignment: Write down the name or names of someone you consider to be “great” and why you consider them as such? To a certain extent we are all concerned about our public image. We all want the acclaim and approval of those around us. It is a very normal, human thing to dream of greatness, to want to be admired and respected. It could be argued that the desire for greatness is God-given! God wants us to aspire to greatness! In God’s eyes, as in any parents’ eyes, we are all greatness waiting to happen. The question is, what constitutes greatness in God’s eyes? Greatness in God’s Eyes A little boy attended church with his Grandfather one Sunday. Grandpa's church had beautiful stainedglass windows. Grandpa told his grandson that the windows contained pictures of Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, Saint John, Saint Paul, and whole lot of other saints. When he got home, the boy told Mom and Dad all about it. Dad, wanting to be funny and curious about what his son had learned, asked, "What is a saint?" The boy thought for a minute And then replied, "A saint is a somebody the light shines through." Great Christians are Christ-like “He that says that he abide in Christ ought himself also to walk even as Christ walked” (John 2:6) "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness and being found in human form. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross." (Phil. 2:6-8) Greatness: The difference between being ordinary and being extraordinary is in doing or giving that little “extra”. Great Christians Love More "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35) Our Lord then placed a child in front of them and said, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for he who is least among you, this is the one who is great." (Luke 9:47-48, see also Matt. 18:1-6 & Mark 9:36-37) Jesus uses the image of a child here to represent people who are considered unimportant, powerless and insignificant in the world’s eyes. These are the people we are called to love and care for. Great Christians Persevere in Seeking God Longer Seek God longer, more often and more fervently in prayer (Matt. 7:7-8) Great Christians Give More Humble Service

God measures success on the basis of an attitude and lifestyle of service and sacrifice To serve is to labor for the benefit of another or others William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army wanted to send a message of encouragement to his coworkers through out the world. A lengthy message was prohibitive so he chose a message of one word, and that word was “others”. But Jesus, after calling them to him, said to them: “You know that those who appear to be ruling the nations lord it over them and their great ones wield authority over them. This is not the way among you: but whoever wants to become great among you must be your minister and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many.” (Mark 10:42-45, see also Matt. 20:2528 and Luke 22:25-27) To minister is to provide for the needs of others, to be helpful "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all." (Mark 9:35) "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me ’Teacher’ and ’Lord’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:3-5 & 13:12-17) Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father--the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matt. 23:1-12) Today, Jesus is not asking us to die for Him, He is simply asking us to LIVE for Him. God doesn’t want “cop outs”, “hold outs” or “drop outs”, He wants “all outs!”