Servant leadership… vs. 1-4

• 1^st – The Greatest… vs. 1
  • Silent argument…
    • At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying: Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
    • At the same TIME [ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ] – having just been given an exhaustive lesson on FAITH…
    • The DISCIPLES began to debate [imperfect] along the road WHO was the GREATEST…
    • Jesus knowing what they were discussing – asked them about their argument…
    • At FIRST they were SILENT – because they KNEW it was NOT right – Mark 9:33
    • But they finally asked – who is [present] the GREATEST [μέγας] in the kingdom…
    • Meaning which one of THEM was going to be FIRST after Jesus!
    • The DISCIPLES were still expecting Jesus to set Himself up as the KING…
    • And they all expected to RULE alongside Jesus in His Kingdom…
    • They completely missed the CROSS – because they were only focused on THEMSELVES!
    • We cannot look at TWO things at once – Matthew 6:24
    • If we are focusing on OURSELVES – then we are NOT looking to Jesus…
    • If we are NOT looking to Jesus – it makes it very challenging to FOLLOW Him!
  • Least of all…
    • Mark 9:34 – “If anyone desires to be first – he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
    • The KEY to being the FIRST [πρῶτος] – is to be the LAST [ἔσχατος]
    • The GREATEST in the Kingdom – is the one who is the SERVANT of all [πᾶς]
    • SERVANT [διάκονος] – those who care for the needs of others – Acts 6:2
    • GREATNESS in the world is like a PYRAMID – with the most powerful on TOP…
    • But GREATNESS to God – flips the PYRAMID upside down!
    • We do NOT relate a servant with GREATNESS – we still think like the WORLD…
    • GREATNESS to us is MONEY – and POWER – telling others what to do…
    • But God calls the person who empties the trash – cleans the bathroom – the GREATEST…
    • The question is do we want to be GREAT in the world – or in God!
  • Repeated lesson…
    • This is a LESSON that the disciples would NOT learn easily…
    • After the Last Supper – with the CROSS just hours away – they would debate this AGAIN!
    • Luke 22:24 – “There was also a dispute… which of them should be considered the greatest.”
    • God is VERY patient with us – He is willing to REPEAT lessons [as many times as needed]
    • But there is WISDOM in paying attention to what God is trying to teach us…
    • Because we will NOT grow – until we grasp the lesson the Lord is trying to give to us!
• 2^nd – Little Child… vs. 2-5
  • Turn around… vs. 2-3
    • Then Jesus called a little child to Him – set him in the midst of them and said:
    • Assuredly I say to you – unless you are converted and become as little children…
    • You will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven!
    • Jesus saw the DISCIPLES were NOT getting the message…
    • So He took a little CHILD [παιδίον] – and set him in the midst of the DISCIPLES…
    • AMEN [ἀμήν] – unless they TURNED [passive] away from the WORLDLY view of GREATNESS…
    • And became like CHILDREN [παιδίον] – they would NEVER [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] enter heaven!
    • A CHILD does NOT have ambition – they do NOT long for power or authority…
    • A CHILD does NOT tell others what to do – they are the ones to OBEY – Ephesians 6:1
    • They are NOT the BOSS – they are the SERVANTS of all!
    • Becoming like a CHILD is NOT just what makes us GREAT…
    • It is the ONLY way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven – the ONLY way to be saved…
    • The question – how to TURN [passive] away from WORLDLY ideas and become like a CHILD!
  • Humility… vs. 4
    • Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven!
    • HUMBLE [ταπεινόω] – to choose [active] to be lowly [close to the ground]
    • The KEY to being SAVED – becoming GREAT [μέγας] in the kingdom – is HUMILITY…
    • Jesus was teaching the APOSTLES the need for SERVANT leadership!
    • I Corinthians 4:1 – “Let a man so consider us as MINSTERS of Christ.”
    • MINISTER [ὑπηρέτης] – a slave on a Roman ship who rowed under the deck…
    • No one would ever see and under rower – it was a HUMBLE position!
    • Sad to say the church has lost sight of that today – PASTOR [minister] has become a title…
    • Rather than SERVING the people – it describes someone who TELLS others what to do…
    • A HUMBLE pastor picks up the trash – mops the floor – he SERVES the people!
    • I Peter 5:3 – “[Do not] lord over those entrusted to you!”
  • Greatest of all… vs. 5
    • Matthew 20:28 – “The Son of Man did not come to be served – but to serve – and to give His life a ransom for many.”
    • Jesus has every right to be SERVED [διάκονος] – He is God almighty…
    • But instead He humbled himself and SERVED others [διάκονος] – DIED as a RANSOM for us…
    • RANSOM [λύτρον] – price paid to set us free from the bondage of SIN – Romans 6:18
    • Which is why Jesus is the GREATEST in the kingdom!
    • And why anyone who wants to be GREAT – needs to be HUMBLE – and SERVE like Jesus!

• 2^nd – Do no Stumble… vs. 5-9
  • 1^st – Causing Sin… vs. 5-7
    • Child of God… vs. 5
      • Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me!
      • Anyone who believes in Jesus become a CHILD [παιδίον] of God – I John 3:1
      • Jesus wanted the DISCIPLES to be EXAMPLES of humility – to be SERVANT leaders…
      • Therefore – when any of His CHILDREN [παιδίον] came to them…
      • They were to receive [δέχομαι] them – SERVE them – as if they were receiving Jesus!
    • Wrong example… vs. 6
      • Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin!
      • If the DISCIPLES were NOT servants – it would cause the LEAST [μικρός] of these to SIN…
      • SIN [σκανδαλίζω] – better interpreted to STUMBLE!
      • Since HUMILITY is the key not just to GREATNESS – but also to HEAVEN…
      • Jesus wants to make sure LEADERS show that HUMILITY to His kids…
      • Because if what they are shown is the WRONG example – it will STUMBLE them!
    • Millstone… vs. 6
      • It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck…
      • And he were drowned in the depth of the sea!
      • God does NOT take it well when someone stumbles His kids…
      • The BETTER option for that person – is to tie a MILLSTONE [μύλος] around their neck…
      • MILLSTONE [μύλος] – a HUGE stone [200 kilos] used to crush grain…
      • And then be DROWNED in the deepest part of the SEA [where ships sail]!
      • We would do ANYTHING to protect our kids from harm…
      • How much more if someone was threatening their ETERNAL salvation!
      • A sobering THOUGHT – the EXAMPLE we give to others matters…
      • Pastors who do NOT want to serve – might need to get their NECK measured…
      • God does not play around when it comes to STUMBLING His children…
      • He is a VERY protective Father – and will deal with anyone who threatens His kids!
    • The warning… vs. 7
      • Woe to the world because of offenses! 
      • For offenses must come but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
      • The WRONG example of LEADERSHIP is going to come from the WORLD [κόσμος]
      • They are going [present] to try and STUMBLE [σκανδαλίζω] us…
      • The WORLD will try and convince us NOT to be HUMBLE – NOT to serve…
      • But WOE [οὐαί] to the MAN – the PASTOR – who STUMBLES [σκανδαλίζω] others!
      • The CHURCH should not look like the WORLD…
      • The leadership in the CHURCH should not follow the example of the WORLD…
      • We should come to CHURCH and see SERVANT leadership…
      • We should see people who can say – follow me as I follow Christ – I Corinthians 11:1
  • 2^nd – Casting out Sin… vs. 8-9
    • Hand or foot… vs. 8
      • If your hand or foot causes you to sin cut it off and cast it from you. 
      • It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed…
      • Rather than having two hands or two feet – to be cast into the everlasting fire!
      • If your HAND or FOOT causes you to STUMBLE [σκανδαλίζω]
      • CUT it off [imperative] – and CAST [imperative] it [singular] from you…
      • Because it is BETTER to go to HEAVEN [life] crippled [no foot] – or disabled [no hand]
      • Then to have BOTH hands and feet – but be CAST [passive] into HELL [eternal fire]!
      • When Paul described the CHURCH – he called the BODY of Christ – I Corinthians 12:12
      • Each person having a different purpose – a different part [hands and feet]
      • The idea here may well be – if there is a PASTOR who is NOT a servant…
      • Do NOT let him stick around – cast him out – and get rid of him…
      • Because it is better to that – then keep a BAD example around that would STUMBLE us!
    • Eyes… vs. 9
      • If your eye causes you to sin pluck it out and cast it from you. 
      • It is better for you to enter into life with one eye…
      • Rather than having two eyes – to be cast into hell fire!
      • Jesus repeats the POINT – this time with the EYES causing you to STUMBLE [σκανδαλίζω]
      • PLUCK it out [imperative] – and CAST [imperative] it [singular] from you…
      • Because it is BETTER to go to HEAVEN [life] with just ONE eye…
      • Then to have BOTH eyes – but be CAST [passive] into the LAKE of fire [γέεννα]!
      • When John wrote his THIRD letter – he warned about a PASTOR named Diotrephes…
      • Who LOVED [φίλος] to be FIRST [πρῶτος] in the church…
      • John told the CHURCH he would DEAL with this man – because he was EVIL!
      • III John 1:11 – “Do not imitate what is evil – but what is good.”
      • I was blessed to have a GREAT example as a PASTOR…
      • My pastor would be the first one to grab the broom and start sweeping…
      • If anyone else wanted to do it – they had to take it from his hand…
      • Because we are called to LEAD by EXAMPLE – be a GOOD example on how to FOLLOW Jesus!

• 3^rd – Saving the Lost… vs. 10-14
  • 1^st – Guardian Angels… vs. 10
    • Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones…
    • For I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven!
    • WATCH [imperative] so you do NOT look down [καταφρονέω] on these LITTLE ones [μικρός]
    • Because all [πᾶς] of their ANGELS see the FACE of the Father in HEAVEN!
    • When we see a motorcade of police leading a car through the streets…
    • We know it must be an important person [bigtime] – look at who is guarding them!
    • Psalm 91:11 – “He shall give His angels charge over you – to keep you in all your ways…”
    • EVERY person who comes to faith in Jesus is IMPORTANT…
    • We know how IMPORTANT they are – because of who is GUARDING them…
    • God has ANGELS that guard all of His Children – Angels that see the face of God…
    • Therefore – pastors should look upon the SAINTS in church with RESPECT…
    • They should treat them as the VIP [very important people] that God sees them as!
  • 2^nd – Heart of God… vs. 11
    • For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost!
    • The reason why God [Jesus] humbled himself and became a man [ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου]
    • Is because He came to SAVE [σῴζω] those that had [perfect] PERISHED [ἀπόλλυμι]!
    • The way to find out how valuable something is – how much would we pay for it…
    • If we were only willing to pay TEN pesos for a something – it is NOT worth very much…
    • If we are willing to pay TEN million pesos – then it is a VERY valuable!
    • How MUCH does God LOVE us – He was willing to become a MAN to save [σῴζω] us…
    • We were LOST [ἀπόλλυμι] in sin – and there was NO price too high for Him to pay…
    • The EVIDENCE of how much God LOVES us – is the CROSS!
  • 3^rd – Lost Sheep… vs. 12-14
    • Seeking… vs. 12
      • What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray…
      • Does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
      • If a SHEPHERD had one HUNDRED sheep – and ONE gets LOST…
      • LOST [πλανάω] – where we get the word PLANET – they wander into the WORLD…
      • The SHEPHERD will leave the rest – until He FINDS the LOST one – Luke 15:4
      • Jesus was telling His DISCIPLES – keep an eye out on the SHEEP!
      • Isaiah 53:6 – “All of us like sheep have strayed away…”
      • If someone does NOT come to church – it is time to make a phone call…
      • Now often times it is just a busy week – or someone gets sick…
      • But the heart of the SHEPHERD is to check up on the SHEEP – make sure they are NOT lost!
    • Finding… vs. 13
      • If he should find it – assuredly I say to you – he rejoices more over that sheep…
      • Than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray!
      • If [subjunctive] He finds the LOST sheep – AMEN [ἀμήν]
      • The SHEPHERD celebrates more than over the other sheep that did NOT get lost!
      • In the parable of the PRODIGAL son – when the LOST son came home…
      • The FATHER stood up and RAN to meet him – Luke 15:20
      • The only time in the whole Bible you ever see God running…
      • Is when one of His KIDS who was lost – coming home again!
    • Over the shoulder…
      • Luke 15:5 – “When he has found it – He lays it on his shoulders – rejoicing.”
• The practice of SHEPHERDS was to BREAK the legs of sheep that WANDERED…
• They would then take the SHEEP and CARRY them till the leg healed…
• The purpose was to TEACH the sheep to DEPEND on the SHEPHERD!
• When we get LOST in the WORLD – there are consequences – Galatians 6:7
• We may end up with a BROKEN leg – but that is when Jesus carries us…
• So that we learn always to TRUST in Him – stay CLOSE by His side!
  • Not even one… vs. 14
    • Even so it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish!
    • In the same way – it is NOT the will of the FATHER…
    • That even ONE of these LITTLE ones [μικρός] should be LOST [ἀπόλλυμι]!
    • God wants EVERYONE to be SAVED [σῴζω] – II Peter 3:9
    • That is why Jesus came to DIE – give His life so we would NOT perish [ἀπόλλυμι]
    • But the ONLY way for us [μικρός] to be SAVED is though HUMILITY…
    • We need to TURN away from the WORLD – and embrace the CROSS…
    • Therefore we need LEADERS who set that EXAMPLE for us…
    • Men who REJECT the world [pyramid] – and instead follow Jesus – live to SERVE!