Attitudes for Ministry

How many of you are Pride & Prejudice fans? If you like great drama and romance there are plenty of movie and mini-series versions and spin-offs out there of this classic Jane Austin novel - including Pride & Prejudice and Zombies a few years ago. If you want to save watching all of these movies or reading the 432 page book, I’ll give you the plot summary without ruining the story line. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

If you are going to be a follower of Jesus Christ - pride and prejudice have no place in your life. Jesus was the ultimate example of humility and compassion. That’s what he is calling his disciples to in our message today and that is what he calling you to.

Jesus Christ's service and sacrificial death are the examples for his disciples to follow. We don’t get to say, well that’s just not my personality. We are called to think, speak and act like Jesus and that means developing humility and compassion in our lives.

Series

As we continue our series: The Crown & The Cross sermon, Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message.

In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on Jesus as Messiah the King who deserved a crown. Now in the second half the focus is on Jesus preparing for His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross - and to rise from the dead.

Last week, Dan shared how the disciples could not cast out a demon without faith and prayer. Today, we see the disciples struggling with pride and learning from Jesus what the right attitudes for ministry really are.

Our parallel passages are in Matthew 18 and Luke 9 so you might want to put book marks there. You can turn to Mark 9, but let’s pray first.

PRAY

READ Mark 9:30-41

Messiah's Mission (vv. 30-32)

Jesus and the disciples were passing through Galilee, ultimately on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus wanted to talk privately to his close disciples and help prepare them for what lay ahead in Jerusalem, but also what they could expect in the future if they continued to follow Him.

Jesus told them again what his mission was. Calling himself the Son of Man, he said i will be delivered (literally betrayed) into the hands of men who will kill me. But after three days I will rise from the dead. Verse 32 tells us they don’t understand and were afraid to ask him to explain it. Maybe they didn’t want to be rebuked like Peter. Maybe they just didn’t want to believe it or even think about it. Matt 18:23 says they were greatly distressed and Luke 9:45 tells us they did not understand because it was concealed from them.

But Jesus clearly knew what He needed to do. The Son of Man must die for the sins of the world and he must rise again to defeat the power of sin and the grave to offer redemption and eternal life. That was God’s grand plan.

Who is Greatest? (vv. 33-37)

Matthew and Luke tell us that the disciples were discussing something very different from Jesus’ mission. They were talking about which one of them was the greatest disciple.

While Jesus was focused on his upcoming death the disciples were preoccupied with status. He knew rejection and suffering were coming and they worried about who would be the leaders and hold the highest positions. Jesus wanted them to understand that God’s kingdom would come through defeat not victory. The world’s values are turned upside down.

They arrived in Capernaum and went to the house. Most likely Peter’s home that served as their home base in the past. He sat down and called them to him. He is in rabbi mode with his learners seated around him to listen. And even though Jesus knew what was going on in their hearts, he poses the question” What were you talking about while we walked here?”

Matthew 18 says the disciples asked him who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. But Mark tells us when Jesus asked what they were talking about they all clammed up. They were probably ashamed. Jesus tells them “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Matt 18:3-4 adds a further depth to this statement.

Matthew 18:3–4 ESV

and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Entering God’s kingdom requires the humility of a child. No self-importance or demanding of respect and value. In Jesus’ day, children were the lowest on the social scale - under complete authority and care of others. They were often treated below servants.

Jesus then provides a living parable. He brings a child into the middle of the group, maybe one of Peter’s, and then scoops him up into a big warm hug. Imagine being hugged by Jesus? How amazing that would feel?

And then Jesus says in v. 37, “whoever receives a child in my name received me, and not just me, but the one who sent me (my Father in heaven).

Jesus disciples are called to welcome all new believers with open arms - embracing them and loving them as Jesus does. Is our church welcoming to new people? Are you? Do you go out of your way to make people feel loved and wanted? That is what we should be known for!

For Us or Against Us? (vv. 38-41)

But the disciples have more lessons to learn. John makes a statement that further reveals the closed hearts of the disciples. Read v. 38.

Jesus response in v. 39, is don’t stop him. If he is doing miracles in my name how could he then speak against me? If he is not against us, then he is for us.

The disciples were concerned that there were other disciples out there who weren’t part of their in-crowd. Today, that might look like other denominations who clearly preach the word of God and share the same Gospel, but they differ in some church practices from us. The reformed churches would be an example. They don’t follow what we believe is accurate biblical teaching on baptism, but they are clearly preaching the same Gospel of repentance and grace.

Jesus also said in v 41 that whoever gives you a cup of water will be rewarded. This is the least someone could do, right? He doesn’t say provide a meal or a place to stay, or money for your journey. He says even if someone simply gives you a cup of water because you are my disciple, he or she will be rewarded. Jesus wanted the disciples to humbly accept help no matter how small. And he wanted them to be grateful to the give and not judge the small gift.

Jesus’ teaching was to encourage a welcome openness to all followers of Jesus Christ. John was looking for an exclusive club of authorized disciples. As the rest of the New Testament has many warnings against false teachers, we know Jesus was not saying accept everyone and don’t have a clear doctrine. Paul said to the Galatians,

Galatians 1:6-8 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

I strongly believe the prosperity Gospel also known as the “Word of Faith” is one of those different gospel that claims that God rewards increases in faith with increases in health and/or wealth. They teach that the since the Atonement of Christ includes not just the removal of sin, but also the removal of sickness and poverty. That is a false gospel. And clearly we should separate from it and even warn people of it. The local Family Church is an example of this. Church doctrine is so important. We want you to know what you believe and why you believe it. God’s Word is our foundation for everything we do.

But Jesus was talking about other disciples serving faithfully in his name. We will still have different denominations and church associations based on secondary doctrine or church practices, but we can call them brothers and sisters and find common ground in the gospel. The conference I attended in the end of April was called Together for the Gospel, and that was an excellent example of joining with like-minded brothers and sisters. We need to be discerning in who we fellowship with and with whom we partner in ministry.

Summary

So what are some take aways from today’s passage? What was Jesus main message?

Jesus was teaching his disciples about the proper attitudes in ministry. Not just for their day but for us today. Instead of pride and prejudice, we should be people of humility and compassion.

Take Aways

Pride is at the core of our sinful hearts. The first temptation in the garden was to disobey God so that they could be like God and know all that he knows. Adam and Eve didn’t like the idea of being less than God. Isn’t that what we see played out today again and again, as people decide they should live any way they want without God saying they are wrong.

Salvation requires humility - In order to truly confess my sin and rely solely on Christ's atoning sacrifice - I need to see that in myself there is nothing righteous. I cannot save myself. My good deeds don’t cut it.

Humility and service are what Jesus showed as necessary to enter the kingdom of God.

Serving others is required to be successful (great) in God's kingdom

Without Jesus we lack humility, we want to be great, and we want to be exclusive or closed to others.

Need transforming work of the Holy Spirit. That happens when we yield our lives and our will to Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives and when we apply the Word to our hearts, minds, mouths, and actions.

Benediction

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s in his name I pray. Amen.

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