WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.560 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:38.640 Welcome to those who are joining us online. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:41.920 We're absolutely thrilled to have you join us today. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:51.200 And I am reminded, as Ryan brought up, that the scripture tells us, commands us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:57.679 And I don't like it as a DOS Cowboys fan, but I do mourn with you 49ers fans. 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:03.439 Wow, we got some Seahawks fans, so we will rejoice with you as well. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:09.040 And for those who don't care, that was my last football thing, I'd say. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:26.959 What if God, in this new year, in 2026, what if he wants to awaken you to a bigger, truer vision for your life? 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:33.200 You know, every year we have a theme, at least the last several years for us as a church. 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:34.719 Last year was biblical literacy. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:36.400 We taught through the book of Genesis. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:41.200 This year, uh, it's one singular word, it's the word pursue. 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:51.359 I think it's always good when you begin a year to wrestle with what am I pursuing, what am I running after, what has my attention, uh, my energy? 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:58.480 And here's what we're inviting, asking, dreaming together. 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:12.560 What would it look like to passionately pursue the heart of God in your life, in your marriage, at your workplace, on your campus, with your roommates? 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:21.520 And then secondly, what does a church, what does a church look like that passionately pursues the heart of God? 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:43.599 What if we as a church, as a body, awakening, just said, this year, 2026, if we're gonna get after anything, if we're gonna run hard after anything, we're gonna run hard together to figure out what it looks like to passionately pursue the very heart of God. 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:48.080 In the series, we started this way, week one, with what is most important? 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:49.439 You have to ask that. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:51.439 What is most important? 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:54.879 And when Jesus was asked this, he didn't hesitate in any way. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:03:01.360 He said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:05.039 And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:19.439 There's there's no greater, no more important commandment, no nothing more important to orient your life around or to direct your life is to love God with all that you have and love others. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:21.919 Uh, we're doing something that's pretty fun. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:23.360 It's a memory verse, yeah? 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:24.639 You do you with me? 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:25.520 We started this. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:30.000 Uh, I've asked if you haven't tried it yet, put it as the lock screen on your phone. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:30.719 I have it right here. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:31.599 It's awesome. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:32.240 I love it. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:37.599 Every time I open my phone, I'm reminded, like multiple times throughout the day. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:39.360 So can we just say this together? 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:40.719 This is our memory verse this week. 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:44.639 I'm gonna give you a new one for the week coming up, but can we say this together? 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:45.199 You ready? 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:46.560 One, two, three. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:02.719 Amazing. 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:04.080 Very good, very good. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:05.039 Well done. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:10.400 Um, I'd encourage you just whatever you focus on is forming you. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:18.240 Allow God's word to start to have the first word and the last word of your day. 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:20.480 Last week we talked about one life. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:21.680 Uh, one life. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:25.279 What might God want to do with my one life? 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:27.519 Did you take time to answer that? 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:28.560 We heard from Shadi. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:30.560 It was so powerful, so good. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:41.680 In fact, uh, I'm gonna, if you didn't hear it, go back and listen to it, watch it on YouTube or Spotify or our podcast, and while you're there, go ahead, like, subscribe, and share, okay? 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:47.600 Because it just gets the word out, and by her, like what she shared was awesome. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:48.800 It was so good. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:52.000 And if you missed it, go listen to it. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:57.920 Uh, today the title, as we continue this awakening vision, is um true greatness. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.120 Would you say that with me? 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.079 True greatness. 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:01.759 True greatness. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:05.439 What is it? 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:08.480 Uh what is true greatness? 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:09.279 Here's what I love. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:12.560 Silicon Valley, we do not settle for average, do we? 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:18.240 We live in a place obsessed with greatness, achievement, influence, innovation, impact. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:22.879 It's the home of startups, high-tech, build your brand, overnight success stories. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:33.279 This is a world that pure pushes us to pursue greatness at all costs, but have we actually wrestled with stop to ask and answer? 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:35.680 What is true greatness? 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:40.160 Brian just asked us about the greatest of all time. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:41.600 I'm curious how it went. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:43.199 LeBron or Jordan? 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:44.000 Anyone? 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:44.560 Yeah. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:46.879 Dave says LeBron and he's wrong. 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:47.759 It's Jordan. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.240 And I'm biased, I think, is Steph Curry. 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:52.160 Is it the 96 Chicago Bulls? 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.120 Is it the 2016 Golden State Warriors? 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:58.000 Is it Michael Jackson or is it Prince? 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:01.600 Is it Whitney or Beyoncé, Jay-Z or Drake? 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:04.639 Is it Serena or Federer? 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:21.199 We love to talk about the greatest of all time, and the reason we wrestle with this, and it's a debate, is we can't agree on the definition for what makes them the greatest of all time. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:24.000 Here's what's fascinating, though. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:32.720 What's fascinating is if you step back and ask, who is the greatest of all time in history? 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:35.839 It's not even close. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:41.920 The answer is pretty much unanimous. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:51.120 Whether you're a theist, atheist, believer, non-believer, the answer is this penniless preacher, as one historian called him, H. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:51.279 G. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:07:04.639 Wells said, he's like, I am not a believer, I am a historian, but it is undeniable that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is at the very center of history. 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:08.000 That's from someone who doesn't even believe in him. 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:11.120 Think about this. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:27.439 This Rabbi turned carpenter who lived in an obscure part of the Roman Empire, who never wrote a book, we have no images made of him, who is executed upon a Roman cross at the power of the day. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:30.560 His very life divided history. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:35.439 We live in the year 2026, ano Domini, the year of our Lord. 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:49.120 His teachings have shaped Western culture and how we understand what is to be great when it comes to humility, love, equality, service, all these other things. 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:58.480 I mean, just right now, a third of the world believes in this man that he was more than a rabbi, he was Lord, and worship him. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:02.399 2.4 billion people on the planet. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:04.079 Who? 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:12.720 And that's 2,000 years after the crucifixion and resurrection. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:16.319 He stands alone as the greatest of all time. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:21.439 In fact, the people that we would say are indeed incredible are great. 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:31.040 Look back on history, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and whose we like honor as a country and as a nation this very weekend, Dr. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:41.919 Martin Luther King, all point back to Jesus as foundational, influential in how they live their lives. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.399 So as we ask this question, what is true greatness? 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:52.559 We maybe want to ask, stop and ask, how does the greatest of all time define greatness? 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:55.519 How does Jesus define it? 00:08:55.759 --> 00:09:00.320 To do that, if you got your Bibles, would you open up to Matthew chapter 20? 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:04.320 Matthew chapter 20, verse 20. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:14.720 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and kneeling down asked a favor of him. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:22.159 Let me give you a little context in the messiness of this, because as we start on that opening sentence, this could be ripped out of today. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:25.360 The sons of Zebedee, this is James and John. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:28.559 These are two of Jesus' disciples. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:34.879 Now, the messiness of this, one, they have their mom coming to ask Jesus for a request for them. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:43.440 Not that we have that today, that parents are going to bosses or trying to get special favors at their colleges or admissions. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:45.360 That doesn't ever happen today. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:54.799 Most scholars believe that the mother of James and John is Simone. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:56.480 Or no, sorry. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:58.240 Help me out. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:00.320 Why did I just go blank? 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:01.039 Salome. 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:02.320 Salome, thank you. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:03.039 Salome. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:03.679 Yeah. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:09.279 And she is the sister of Mary, Jesus' mom. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:12.480 And James and John are Jesus' cousins. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:20.159 So this is both a request from a mom and her boys, and it's familial. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:23.759 It's like, hey, we're family. 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:28.960 This is like insider stuff. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:31.440 And I love Jesus' response. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:33.919 What is it you want? 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:35.039 He asked. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:43.440 She said, Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:11:00.240 Now, when the ancient Jewish people thought of the Messiah, they primarily thought of one who would come, who was a king, who would conquer Rome, defeat them, expel them, and institute the kingdom of Israel. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:10.720 So when Jesus showed up and they're looking at him, they're looking at him as a political leader who's going to overthrow Rome and institute a new kingdom of Israel. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:14.480 He will be the most powerful person in the area. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:20.159 And she's like, I want my boys to sit at your right hand and at your left hand. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.000 I want them in the seat of power. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:23.919 I want them near greatness. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:27.679 I want them the second in command and the third in command. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:32.000 I want them right there with you. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:37.039 And Jesus says, Well, you don't know what you're asking. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:41.039 Jesus said, Can you drink the cup I'm going to drink? 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:45.919 And the cup is this allusion to your destiny or your calling. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:58.879 And in the Old Testament, it signified suffering or even the very wrath of God, which is all combined with Jesus as we know that his destiny and his calling ultimately ended in suffering for the sake of humanity. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.480 And they said, We can. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.120 They had no idea what that meant. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:09.360 Jesus said to them, Well, you will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:14.879 These places belong to those whom they have been prepared by my Father. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:19.200 Now, you can only imagine the stir this sent with the rest of the disciples. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:32.639 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant, enraged, P.O.'d with the two brothers, probably because they didn't get or think to ask first. 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:46.559 Jesus called them together and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them, and that their high officials exercise authority over them. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:56.080 In the ancient world, as this is uh Middle East, especially shame honor culture, there's a limited amount of honor, and so to go up you must push others down. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:01.279 And so the Romans, especially, lord over. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:03.120 It was to be served. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.039 How many people report to you? 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:06.720 How many people do you control? 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.440 How much power do you have? 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:13.120 And do you wield it for your own self? 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:19.759 And then Jesus says this great line, and I want you to say it with me. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:22.080 Not so with you. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:23.279 Say it again. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.519 Not so with you. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:38.159 There is a definition of greatness, there is a vision of greatness that has permeated the world and the culture, and everyone is running after it and pursuing it. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:42.879 And what I want to let you know is this is not the way of Jesus. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:48.799 This is not the way of the kingdom of heaven, not so with you. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.639 I took off my glasses. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:51.759 I'm gonna have to read up here. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:52.960 Oh, there they are. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:59.679 Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your what? 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:03.279 And whoever wants to be first must be your. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:05.519 Why? 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:22.480 Jesus, God incarnate, the God man, all power, all authority, the creator of the universe, who stepped into time, space, history, into humanity, took on the flesh. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:29.679 So just as the Son of Man, speaking of himself, did not come to be served, which would be totally acceptable. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:32.240 His right. 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:38.000 It just says he came not to be served, but to serve. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:49.360 Like the reason Jesus stepped into our world wasn't to be served by you, though he is God and deserves it. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:56.240 He came to serve you and to give his life a ransom for many. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.279 What is true greatness? 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:05.519 How does the greatest of all time define it? 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:09.919 First thing I want you to notice, I want you to see is simply this. 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:14.799 Jesus doesn't rebuke the desire for greatness. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.320 Did you notice that in the text as we're going along? 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:24.399 He doesn't go to James, John, his mom. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:28.720 How could you ask? 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.360 Wrong question. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:34.080 What's wrong with you? 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:36.000 He doesn't shame him. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.919 He doesn't rebuke the desire to be great. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:43.919 In fact, notice what he asked. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:47.360 What is it that you want? 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.360 What is it that you want? 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:57.519 He actually asks that question quite a few times when you read the gospels. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:08.399 In fact, a few verses later, there's going to be two blind men calling out to Jesus, and eventually he turns to them as the crowd's trying to quiet them, and he says, What do you want from me? 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:11.519 Think about this. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:16.399 You have a God that looks at you and he asks you, What? 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:19.200 What do you really want? 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:29.679 I don't think a lot of us have answered that question well. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:35.200 Maybe in the church we try to answer it, but we feel bad. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:40.320 Like there's some, we got this uneasy relationship with desire, like it's bad, it's wrong. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.000 Like to even desire greatness. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:50.240 Jesus looks at you and says, What do you want? 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:56.320 Some of us are so disconnected, so busy, we don't know what we want anymore. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.159 How would you fill this in? 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.000 I want. 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.880 How would you finish that sentence? 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.359 Be honest. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:15.039 Not the churchy answer that you know, like, oh, I should want this. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:18.799 How would you really answer it? 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:21.839 See, because I think we stop short. 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:27.920 Desire is actually the starting point of discipleship with Jesus. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:31.279 He begins with you and he starts with your very desires. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.559 What is it that you want? 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:41.039 I want to help you understand that your desires are ultimately pointing you to your biggest divine need, your longing. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.359 Because here's what happens when we answer this question well. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:47.119 When we ask it, we sit with it. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:53.119 We don't just answer it quickly, which we often do in our day, but we really wrestle with what is it do you want? 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:57.680 It it begins to bubble up our surface desires. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:05.519 And as you sit with your surface desires, what it will eventually move you is to the significant desires. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:12.559 I've sat with people, um, heard this, I want to be rich. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:15.839 Ryan, I want to be rich by 30. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.960 I want to retire. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.599 I want to make lots and lots of money. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:21.440 I want to be beautiful. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:27.519 Because beautiful people have so much like people treat beautiful people differently. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.799 I want to be wanted. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:32.799 I want to be married. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:35.599 I want a boyfriend. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.720 I want a girlfriend. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.559 I just want a friend. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:41.920 I want to be successful. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:48.400 I want to launch a tech company and be the unicorn. 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.920 I want to be happy. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:55.359 I want power. 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:57.599 I'm tired of eeking my way. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:00.319 Everyone telling me what to do, what when to do it, how to do it. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:02.240 I want to have some power. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:12.400 And those surface desires move us to those significant desires. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:15.759 Underneath, I would sit with those. 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:21.279 Underneath those, you'll find like the deep desire soul is like, I what I really want is I want to hope. 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.039 I want future. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:25.200 I want to be loved. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.880 I want belonging. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:28.079 I want to be known. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.000 I want this sense of wholeness. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:35.839 I want acceptance and purpose and meaning and peace. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:41.440 I need, I want safety and security. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:48.880 Jesus looks at you in this moment and he does not rebuke the desire to be great. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:51.279 He's looking at you and going, what do you really want? 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:54.799 Would you answer it well? 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:11.279 Would you sit with it and would you allow it to move from those surface things that point to the deeper things, the significant things, the longings of your soul, which those surface things can never satisfy, and that's why Jesus came. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:17.920 Jesus doesn't rebuke the desire for greatness, but listen, this is what he does. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.440 He redefines greatness. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:23.200 He redefines greatness. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:31.279 In the Roman world, greatness was power, prestige, and honor. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:38.240 Fundamentally, how many people served you? 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:55.680 I have the ability, I have the power, and I will push you down so that I can stand up on your backs. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:11.599 Self-sovereignty. 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.759 Self-sovereignty. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:20.799 I get to decide, I get to do what I want, and no one gets to tell me no. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:24.640 Those are the truly great people that made it. 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:27.839 They get to decide, they get to do what they want, and no one gets to tell them no. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.720 They can do what they want when they want, whenever they want. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:34.400 The job's not hindering them, money's not hindering them. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.839 It shows up in power in power. 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:40.079 I get to make the decisions, I have control. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:41.519 Who answers to you? 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:45.440 Do you have control over your time, your calendar, your outcomes? 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.920 It shows up in affluence. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:50.640 I can afford the life I really want. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.799 This is an area of security. 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:55.039 I mean, where do you live? 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:58.000 Where do you vacation? 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.759 What do you drive? 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:03.279 Who do you wear? 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.319 Influence. 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.839 I matter. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.599 It's an issue of significance. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.599 Do people listen to you when you speak? 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.440 How many followers do you have? 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.480 Education. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.960 I know more than you. 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:22.640 And that's, I mean, like, we have so much of that in the silicon. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:26.000 We're such a highly educated area. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:30.480 This legitimacy that, like, this makes me, I finally arrived. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:33.519 How many letters are before or after your name? 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.599 What school did you go to? 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.880 Autonomy. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:42.799 I get to live life on my terms. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:50.960 Silicon Valley, when we look around, it's like, we're running after that. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:53.839 It's a picture of greatness. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:23:11.599 It's the self-made woman or man that lives in that house, driving that car, wearing those kinds of things with that kind of jewelry or watch, that gets to travel wherever they want. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:22.640 And then you get to that level and you realize, oh, there's another level of greatness that I didn't realize that actually has private jets, not just first class seats. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:30.720 And then you get to the private jet area, and then you realize there's other people that have bigger jets and they have an island. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:32.640 And we won't get into that anymore. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.200 Okay. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:41.119 Where does your picture of greatness lead you to? 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:52.319 Jesus' definition of greatness, not self-sovereignty. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:57.680 Sacrificial service. 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:11.519 True greatness, according to Jesus, is defined not by how many people serve you, but how many people you serve. 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:19.759 True greatness, and by the way, that list that I just listed, you must be very careful. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:24.079 Those aren't inherently bad things. 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:34.799 Jesus, God, the most powerful person on the planet. 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:38.400 Make no mistake of that. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:48.799 At any point, he could have called down angels and obliterated from the cross every enemy, vanquished every enemy. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:51.119 Instead, he stayed there for the sake of love. 00:24:52.960 --> 00:25:00.000 True greatness is leveraging your power, your effluence, your influence, your education for the good of others. 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:06.559 True greatness is not how much you can get, but how much you can give. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.880 Notice that Jesus. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.839 Jesus used two words for this. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:16.079 He used servant and then he used slave. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:18.000 He actually built these in intensity. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:25.359 Servant, the word diaconus, it later became an official role within the church deacon. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:32.559 Servant means one who works for the service of others. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.799 This is your job description. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:45.200 If you are a follower of Jesus, I just want to let you know your job description is servants. 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:59.039 I don't care what position you hold, whether it's the lowest in your company or if it's at the top, my number one job description is here to serve. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:03.680 And then he takes it one step further and he says, slave. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.920 The Greek word doulos. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:08.799 It means exactly what you think it means. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:13.279 Exist for the service of others. 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:27.519 My job description is to serve, and I exist, my identity, my purpose, my calling, my cup is to serve. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:34.160 Greatness is sacrificial service. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:37.920 My first job, you guys got handed this. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.359 Go ahead and grab that. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:45.359 My first job in the church, I was 16. 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:48.400 I was hired as a janitor. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:53.119 Janitor World is awesome, you know. 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:56.240 We get this cart. 00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:01.519 Get these keys on the belt that is zipped out, you know, big old thing. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:06.480 Pushing this cart and it's got cleaning supplies, trash bags. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:21.519 Um showed up on Sunday mornings, the first one there unlocking everything, making sure it's ready during the week, cleaning, buffing the floors, vacuuming, setting up chairs, cleaning the bathrooms, which I learned uh the women's bathrooms, a whole nother mama. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:27.680 I said, Wow, whoa, that was a lot for a 17-year-old to take in. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:34.480 And he had towels. 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:39.519 As a janitor, we never go without a towel because you're always ready. 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:43.839 You never know what you're gonna use it to wipe up some, clean something up. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:47.359 You might need to offer it to somebody who spilled something on themselves. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:49.759 It's just one of the tools of being a janitor. 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:52.720 I learned so many important lessons in that season. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:28:02.000 One one was simply this: that uh the true test of servanthood is when someone treats you like a servant, how you respond. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:20.000 Like it's not just the action of serving, and we can, you know, um virtue signal online and try to get all this adulation and praise, but it's like when you're actually overlooked, when you're just treated like a servant and you just do you respond with indignation like the disciples. 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:26.160 I learned that there's no job beneath a follower of Jesus. 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:32.720 I learned that I'll never ask anyone to do what I won't do. 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:40.880 Some of these just foundational core messages. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:48.319 I'm gonna ask you to actually just take this rag with you. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.200 Put it in your car. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:54.160 Um you can keep it in your pocket. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.759 Maybe we could start something like this. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:57.200 Is a whole style trend. 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.079 Like, what do you wear? 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.359 Well, I wear a rag. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:02.319 It's pretty cool, right? 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:03.279 Yeah, I wear a rag. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:04.240 What's up, bro? 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:05.519 Um, you know? 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:11.599 Because Jesus took this as the sign of greatness. 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:22.880 And on the night he was betrayed, he took off his cloak, wrapped his towel around his waist, and took on the very nature of a servant and washed his disciples' feet. 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:26.480 Yes, the one who betrayed him, he washed even his feet. 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:31.839 So do not tell me there's somebody you can't serve when Jesus is washing Judas' feet. 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:34.319 And that's greatness. 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:43.279 And where we as a church would go, what does true greatness look like? 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:46.480 It's not a platform, it's a posture. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:54.880 It's not the size of this church, it's the service of this church. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:01.759 Oh, what God would want to do through a people like that. 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:11.440 How a watching world desperately needs followers of Jesus like that. 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:16.240 We have this thing called the discipleship pathway. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:27.440 It's what we're trying to help us form and grow together as a church, to come to know Jesus, like to learn to love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:35.440 Grow as a disciple, that we're not just like watching and attending, but we're apprentices of Jesus. 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:43.759 Following in the way, like he is our leader and Lord and master, and whatever he does, we do. 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:45.519 And so as a result, what do we do? 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:48.720 We serve in the name of Jesus. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:57.279 Let me tell you about some really great people at Awakening. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:06.000 Guy named Kevin, works in tech, been around since the very beginning of Awakening. 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:11.200 In fact, every Sunday he helps tear down whether he's on or not. 00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:24.480 And Thursdays, when we have our um our food pantry in the back parking lot, he organizes his work week. 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:33.039 So whether he's signed up to serve or not, Brian, who just gave the announcement, he knows, man, there's a handful of people. 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:39.119 They are so faithful, they show up every single time, and that's greatness. 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:53.119 I think of a family in our church that stepped into the foster care system and began to love one particular child. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:32:01.359 That child had siblings they adopted and wanted to make sure they kept the siblings all together. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:05.599 Their family continues to grow and grow. 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:09.440 They had to change the size of their cars, the way that they live. 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:12.240 And they did that to love these kids. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.920 That's greatness. 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:23.039 And yeah, we keep looking at all these people on Instagram. 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:26.880 Yeah, I don't know what that was either. 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:30.319 Like there ain't even a guitar right there playing. 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:44.000 This church is filled with great people, by the way. 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:48.240 Think about this. 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:52.240 The chairs you're sitting in, somebody set up in advance. 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:56.000 There's people that greeted you and welcomed you right now. 00:32:56.079 --> 00:33:16.160 If you have kids, there are people that are creating a safe, loving, fun environment for your kids to know Jesus and for you to encounter his presence right here, sacrificing their weekend so that those who show up might encounter the risen Savior. 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:18.079 That's greatness. 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:29.839 Jesus doesn't rebuke the desire for greatness. 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:32.079 He redefines it. 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:34.079 Now notice this. 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:36.720 And this is where we want to end. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:42.559 Jesus is the revelation of greatness. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:50.160 Like, you know how we use that word revelation? 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.119 You ever use it? 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:56.240 Like, wow, the way she wore that dress, she was a revelation, right? 00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:59.519 Like that restaurant, the steak. 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:01.920 Ryan, let me tell you, that steak. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:05.119 Whoa, that was a revelation. 00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.519 That performance. 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:10.960 Oh my goodness, that performance, a revelation. 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:21.599 It helps us see something we never saw before, experience something we didn't think was even possible, like take in something new that you can't see it a different way. 00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:29.519 It's like you, once you see it, you can't unsee it, and it changes the way you live, the way you think, the way you act. 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:41.119 This is the Apostle Paul in Philippians chapter 2. 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:48.800 His words to you and to me, speaking of Jesus. 00:34:50.320 --> 00:35:13.840 Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in the spirit, and of one mind. 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:16.639 Good night, we need that today. 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:21.519 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:24.719 Well, I want to do some things, Ryan. 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:28.159 I mean, it's about, I gotta make sure I get mine. 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:32.000 I gotta make sure I take care of my needs. 00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:38.159 Someone wrote on our uh wedding day in our little kind of wedding book. 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:42.400 Compete to be selfless. 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:47.039 Some of the best marriage advice we ever got. 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:53.119 Because the first thing we realized, the greatest learning in our first year of marriage, was just how selfish we were. 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:58.960 And then we had kids, and we realized that the selfishness went even deeper than we realized. 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:03.760 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:07.360 Rather, in humility, value others above yourself. 00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:16.480 This is a radically different vision than Silicon Valley, the American way, and our culture gives us. 00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:20.239 This is the Jesus way. 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:31.199 Rather, in humility, value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interest of the other. 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:45.760 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:54.639 Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man. 00:36:54.719 --> 00:37:00.239 He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. 00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:16.320 Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:22.559 That's true. 00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:25.119 Greatness. 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:34.800 See, greatness is actually found in cross-shaped decisions. 00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:45.360 As we close, I just want you to wrestle with like what is the cross-shaped decision? 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:49.920 Jesus laid down his life for the good of others. 00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:51.920 In fact, I love my dad's definition of love. 00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:58.639 Love is giving the other person what they need the most when they deserve it the least at great personal cost. 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.880 That's sacrificial service. 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:07.920 Love is giving the other person what they need the most when they deserve it the least at great personal cost. 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:11.199 I don't know. 00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:19.039 Um I actually I don't think that this tau is the universal sign for us janitors. 00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:34.320 But I do know across time, across cultures, the universal sign for humility is bowing, is kneeling. 00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:45.280 Declaring our dependence, declaring our desperation, declaring humility before the one who is greater. 00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:58.000 And I want to invite us, just as a church, in a posture, if you're willing, if you're able physically to do it, that we would just, before we head into a time of worship, kneel. 00:38:58.800 --> 00:39:00.800 That we get on our knees. 00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:08.880 And we kneel before our Heavenly Father. 00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:15.280 And I want you just to identify where have I bought into Silicon Valley's greatness? 00:39:16.719 --> 00:39:19.519 And then just who can I serve today? 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:22.800 Imagine if we just asked that question, who can I serve? 00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:24.480 Who can I take up the Tao? 00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:28.400 Who can I love the way Jesus loved me? 00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:30.400 Would you do that with me? 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:32.480 Would you get it on your knees? 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:38.880 I like how Dr. 00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:40.239 King said it. 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:44.719 He said, everybody can be great. 00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:47.760 Because anybody can serve. 00:39:50.800 --> 00:39:52.480 Everybody can be great. 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:54.960 Because anybody can serve. 00:39:55.039 --> 00:39:57.280 You don't have to have a college degree to serve. 00:39:57.360 --> 00:40:00.800 You don't have to make your sub chicken verb agree to serve. 00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:05.519 You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love. 00:40:05.760 --> 00:40:09.840 Would you ask your Heavenly Father to do that in you? 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.760 What is it that you want? 00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:28.000 Allow that to drive you to the deeper needs and desires of your heart that only Jesus can fulfill. 00:40:57.440 --> 00:41:04.960 And to give his life a ransom for the saving of ours. 00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:10.880 And so we fix our eyes on you, Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. 00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:34.960 God, I just confess it's so easy in our world to get caught up in keeping up with the Joneses, the rat race, the Silicon Valley hustle, the feeling like I need to be bigger, faster, more beautiful, and feeling behind. 00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:46.000 Would you remind us? 00:41:49.360 --> 00:41:50.800 Reorient us. 00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:10.800 That looks at the other in love and compassion. 00:42:11.760 --> 00:42:16.880 Because we have been looked by our Heavenly Father with love and compassion. 00:42:17.119 --> 00:42:28.639 And move towards our friend, our neighbor, and our enemy with love and compassion because you have moved towards us with love and compassion. 00:42:32.239 --> 00:42:40.639 That we might be your hands and feet to a hurting and broken world. 00:42:42.559 --> 00:42:44.320 In Jesus' name. 00:42:45.039 --> 00:42:45.679 Amen. 00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:47.840 Let's worship. 00:42:58.079 --> 00:43:02.559 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:04.800 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:10.880 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at AwakeningChurch.com slash card.