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ServantQuestion: What does the world say greatnesslooks like? More importantly, what does Jesus saygreatness looks like?

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A SERV FOR CHRIST? It is intentional and takes a choice. [John 10:17-18] It is not just an action but an attitude. It takes humility. [Philippians 2:3]

BEING GREAT AS A

The cost of true greatness is humble, sel ess,sacri cial service. The Christian who desiresto be great and rst in the kingdom is the onewho is willing to serve in the hard place, theuncomfortable place, the lonely place, thedemanding place, the place where he is notappreciated and may even be persecuted.Knowing that time is short and eternity islong, he is willing to spend and be spent.He is willing to work for excellence withoutbecoming proud, to withstand criticismwithout becoming bitter, to be misjudgedwithout becoming defensive, and to withstandsuffering without succumbing to self pity.

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A servant of God but has one Master. It ill becomes the servantto seek the rich, and great, and honored in that world where hisLord was poor, and mean, and despised.

GEORGE MUELLERGEORGE MUELLER GEORGE MUELLER

Mark 10:35-45 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said tohim, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And hesaid to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him,"Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."

Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are youable to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism withwhich I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesussaid to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptismwith which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my righthand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it hasbeen prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant atJames and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "Youknow that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it overthem, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall notbe so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be yourservant, and whoever would be rst among you must be slave of all. Foreven the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give hislife as a ransom for many."

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WHAT IS THE HEART BEHIND BIBLICAL SERVANTHOOD? Letting Jesus serve us. [Philippians 2:5-11] Responding to the grace we've been given and the mercy

we've been shown. Consider the idea of a bondservant.

Allowing the gospel to be portrayed through our actions,namely serving unconditionally.

WHO DO I SERVE?

Serve the Lord. [Romans 12:9-11] Serve fellow Christians . [Romans 12:13]

John 13:12-17When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumedhis place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? Youcall me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lordand Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another'sfeet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have doneto you. Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor isa messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things,blessed are you if you do them."

Serve the lost . [1 Corinthians 9]

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER Is serving part of my walk with Christ? Am I willing to serve even if not paid or recognized? Am I serving for the glory of God and the good of others,

or for my own glory? Do I have a worldly or a godly idea of greatness and which

am I pursuing?

1 Corinthians 9:19-23For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that Imight win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to winJews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though notbeing myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To thoseoutside of the law I became as one outside of the law (not being outside of the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outsideof the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I havebecome all things to all people, that by all means I might asve some. I doit all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Romans 12:9-13Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love oneanother with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Donot be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope,be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs ofthe saints and seek to show hospitality.

Philippians 2:3-11Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more signi cantthan yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but alsoto the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yoursin Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not countequality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, takingthe form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being foundin human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him andbestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the nameof Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under theearth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory ofGod the Father.

John 10:17-18"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that Imay take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my ownaccord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it upagain. This charge I have received from my Father."