To Serve Or To Be Served

Matthew 20:17-28

by Josh Head

“The task of the Church is to serve as the best example of what God can do with human community.” – Stanley Hauerwas

I. The Temptation: We want glory without suffering.

“The flesh ever seeks to be glorified before it is crucified.” – Martin Luther

Romans 8:1 ESV 

Matthew 27:38 ESV

Isaiah 52:13 ESV

1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV

1 Peter 4:13 ESV

Mark 8:33-34 ESV

II. The Kingdom: Greatness in the Kingdom is serving others.

“The standard of the world, and the standard of the Lord Jesus, are widely different. They are more than different: they are flatly contradictory one to the other. Among the children of this world he is thought the greatest man who has most land, most money, most servants, most rank, and most earthly power: among the children of God he is reckoned the greatest who does most to promote the spiritual and temporal happiness of his fellow-creature. True greatness consists, not in receiving, but in giving.”

– JC Ryle

III. The Ransom: Jesus served us by giving us Himself.

Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV

1 John 2:6 ESV

Philippians 1:6 ESV

IV. Our Response: Behold Jesus and become like him.

Luke 22:21 ESV

John 13:15-17 ESV