WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:01.600 It's great to be here. 00:00:01.840 --> 00:00:04.000 Um, thank you for having me as well. 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:08.160 Um, starting at verse 30, Mark chapter 9, verse 30. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:21.039 They went on from there and passed through Galilee, and he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:24.960 And when he is killed, after three days he will rise. 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:29.920 But they did not understand the saying and were afraid to ask him. 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:37.679 And they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house, he asked them, What were you discussing on the way? 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:44.000 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:50.799 And he sat down and called the twelve, and he said to them, If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:01:03.920 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives not me, but him who sent me. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:12.239 John said to him, Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:19.519 But Jesus said, Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:22.079 For the one who is not against us is for us. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:29.680 For truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:39.599 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:42.400 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:48.959 It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:51.439 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:56.319 It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:59.200 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:08.319 It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:10.560 For everyone will be salted with fire. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:16.000 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:20.879 Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:22.960 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:25.599 Started off as a great passage, didn't it? 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:27.439 And it ended kind of scary. 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:30.560 It's a little confronting there. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.120 So how about we pray and ask God to help us understand this word? 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:38.080 Heavenly Father, thank you for this word. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:41.680 We do believe and trust in the power of your word. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:56.159 We know that it is life-giving, we know that it is uplifting, we know that it is inspiring, and so we pray, oh God, that indeed your word will be like that for us this morning. 00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:05.360 Help us to understand, help us to believe, and help us to respond and act in Jesus' name. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:06.240 Amen. 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:07.120 Amen. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:09.680 Yes, well, again, thank you for having me. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:13.680 You know, it is always very exciting for me to be here with you guys. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:16.479 Um, Stanford, by the way, sends their greetings. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:19.360 They and they're they're always praying for you guys. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:29.120 It's exciting for me to be here with you guys because it reminds me of our days when we were trying to get started in in Stanford. 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:37.520 It was it was an exciting time, it was a scary time, and it was busy and filled with a lot of anticipation. 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:44.000 There was an energy that we had, and I think I see it in you guys as well. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:49.599 An energy where it's like you want to build, you want to get involved. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:57.120 And I want to just point that out for you in different ways through the word and encourage you in that to keep going. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:57.680 Okay? 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:10.800 Because you guys are in a similar place as the disciples were with Jesus, full of anticipation and pride and honor for being with the Lord, following him. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:17.920 And for the disciples, you know, we started to get into their journey and how they were walking with him. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:26.240 And I wonder if you could imagine the privilege that they had of being able to walk with the Lord Jesus, right? 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:36.160 I don't want that to be lost on you guys because I want you guys to be able to see what you guys have and what you're doing and be strengthened in that. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:47.279 The disciples, though, with for all their excitement, um, they needed it to be harnessed and channeled more directly and appropriately. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:50.959 And that way they'd be better prepared for mission. 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:59.279 What were they going to learn so that all that energy that they had would now become kinetic, you know? 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.240 That they would start to put it into practice. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:07.439 Well, this passage addresses that, and hopefully we'll see it and be inspired by it. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:12.959 It's like, how will Jesus prepare his disciples for the mission that they are on? 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:18.800 And he's going to give the disciples the first major lesson. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:21.920 Okay, I have three points for us. 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:29.199 Um, valuing service as greatness is the first point of how Jesus is preparing his disciples for the mission. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:42.639 In verse 30, you know, if you notice that Jesus, he they it goes, they went on from there and passed through Galilee, and he did not want anyone to know, verse 31, for he was teaching his disciples. 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:46.319 Like this is like specific teaching for the disciples. 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:48.480 And what does Jesus teach them? 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:56.800 The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, they will kill him, and when he is killed, after three days he will rise. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:02.560 But they didn't understand what they were, what he was saying, and they were afraid to ask him. 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:06.800 Now, Jesus, we're in the central portion of Mark's gospel. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:11.279 This is the middle but central portion, and this is where Jesus predicts his death. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:20.879 And he does it three times, and each time he's going to teach the disciples a lesson based on how they react to him dying, the news of him dying. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:29.439 See, the disciples, at right now, they don't understand what's going on, why Jesus is saying that he's going to die and then rise again. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:43.600 And because they don't understand it, Jesus uses this opportunity as a teaching moment, a ministry training moment, preparing the disciples for what will be primary and necessary for them to learn. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:46.399 And that is the character of the heart. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:51.439 The disciples need to have the character of their hearts formed. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:55.199 Look how Jesus opens the lesson, verse 33. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:07:01.040 And they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house, he asked them, What were you discussing on the way? 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:07.439 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:11.680 Remember, Jesus has just said he's going to die. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:15.040 Three days later, he's going to rise. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:17.680 He's going to be delivered into the hands of men. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:25.199 And the disciples, they're behind him and they're arguing with one another about who is the greatest. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.279 I wonder if that seems a little weird for you. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:35.839 One is talking about willing to sacrifice, he's willing to sacrifice his life for others. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:39.279 The others are fighting over who is better. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:42.879 Isn't that a little strange? 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:49.519 It's like, you know, church, church folks getting excited about going on an overseas missions trip. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:57.600 Let's say this overseas missions trip is, you know, you're going to go to Thailand and you're going to hit different cities and you're going to work with the church there. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:10.879 And one person in the mission team, they're all excited about being able to go and work and reach the poor and the needy in the slums of Chiang Mai and Bangkok and all the different cities in Thailand. 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:22.240 Whereas another person on the team is like excited to go to Thailand because they can't wait to go on this foodie tour of eating all different kinds of foods. 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:24.720 It's a strange thing. 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:28.560 Two parties are thinking in two very different ways. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:34.799 And from that, that sets up the lesson that Jesus has for the disciples. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.240 What's the lesson? 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:37.759 Verse 35. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:48.399 And he sat down and called the twelve, and he said to them, If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:51.279 You like how Jesus makes a point? 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:55.279 Like he really pushes the envelope, doesn't he? 00:08:55.600 --> 00:09:01.120 He overstates the point to get our attention that things need to change. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:14.720 If you want to be first, if you want to be like the greatest, which is simply, I want to be first and before anyone else, even in my own life, I want what I want first. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:25.279 It's what my heart dreams about, what I desire, what I my my drive is all about, what I'm planning, everything is going to be about me first. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:30.080 Jesus is saying, fight that instinct. 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:40.399 It is such a strong instinct that we will always think of ourselves first, that Jesus has to say, be willing to be last. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:51.039 Now, when Jesus says, I want you to be last of all and servant of all, he isn't promoting mediocrity. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:55.200 He isn't saying, you know, don't strive hard. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:56.960 Be an underachiever. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:58.720 He's not saying that, right? 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:04.480 Because even underachievers, they're just thinking about themselves first, aren't they? 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:07.039 I'm gonna go the easy way out. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:13.519 And underachievers, they just don't have enough reason to think outside of their comfort zone yet, right? 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:15.840 Jesus isn't saying things like that. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:18.159 He isn't saying you deserve to be last. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.919 Jesus says, be last of all and servant of all. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.080 See, there's a purpose of thinking of yourself less. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:31.360 It's to be a servant of others. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:34.799 These are two very different ways of thinking, aren't they? 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:44.559 You're either the master of yourself, even if you're just master of one, versus thinking of yourself as a servant of all. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:56.960 See, of all the virtues, the characteristic that Jesus is teaching his disciples about first and foremost is about servanthood. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:03.919 And that's a result of him saying that he is going to his own death. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:09.360 He is demonstrating what it means to be servant of all. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:15.600 Get this this is the greatest thing, according to Jesus. 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:19.600 He thinks being a servant is the greatest thing. 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:22.480 And that you get that from the of all. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:26.720 He says, be last of all, be servant of all. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:34.639 Last of all means you are like the bottom, the last, the ultimate, the whatever it is, out of everybody. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:37.360 You are the end, the fullest. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:39.759 Servant of all. 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:45.120 Be the absolutely best, greatest servant. 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:45.679 Right? 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:47.840 He's saying this is the greatness. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:53.759 This is what greatness is and what he wants, what Jesus wants for his disciples. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:12:03.840 Now, I don't know if you've listened to any interviews with like CEOs of companies where they're asked about how they became so successful. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:11.120 Sometimes you'll hear CEOs of companies say things like, you know, you have to be humble. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:17.120 You have to think of like the customers and the people who you're serving. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:22.639 This is like something that like the previous CEO of Starbucks, what's his name? 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:23.840 Howard Schultz. 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:25.279 That's what he said. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:27.679 You know, he grew up on food stamps. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:31.360 He climbed his all, he climbed all the way to the top spot. 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:38.559 And so he's very sensitive to like the frontline workers, and he says we need to listen to the little guys. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:42.480 You have to have humility to be able to listen to them. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.440 I'm sure we've heard interviews like that, right? 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:55.200 Whether it's a story or a management lesson, how you can succeed as a leader by having humility or being service-oriented. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:13:11.759 Now, honestly, if you're like me, if you hear these kind of things from like these corporate CEOs, like what drives them to succeed, you have to take things like what they say, like uh be humble and be curious. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:14.159 You have to take that with a grain of salt, right? 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:19.120 Like, really, is that how you got to where you are at the top spot? 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:21.039 Ah, I don't believe them. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:22.879 I really don't. 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:25.360 There's got to be other things involved. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:31.600 Like, you know, you have to be cutthroat, you have to be tenacious, you have to be focused, all those kinds of things. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:36.799 I don't know about humility, curiosity, being servant-hearted. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:45.200 But the way that Jesus taught his disciples, you gotta believe him. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:47.360 You gotta believe what he's saying. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:50.799 You gotta at least understand it, even if you don't believe it. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:58.480 He is saying being last of all and servant of all is the greatest way to live. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:05.440 But I think I need to believe it. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:08.159 Do you guys when he says this? 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:18.799 You know, the rest of the passage is just driving this point home that Jesus is going to have a supernatural community of disciples. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:29.600 And the characteristic thing that marks these disciples and this community apart is that they will all have a servant-like attitude, and that is how they're gonna carry out their mission. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:36.799 How do you how you serve has to do with how you view people? 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:43.039 That's one of the first lessons after Jesus tells us what the principle is. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:46.559 How you serve has to do with how you view people. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:53.039 A servant's heart, it doesn't pick and choose based on how useful someone can be to me. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:54.000 Right? 00:14:54.240 --> 00:15:06.159 And Jesus gives us this visual of the child, and it's to help the disciples to see what he really means about serving and receiving people. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.840 Verse 36. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:22.799 He took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking his arm, taking him in his arms, he said to them, Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives not me, but him who sent me. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:31.200 See, the greatest of servants will receive all kinds of people, even those who don't seem like they are worth it. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.559 Like children. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:45.120 Now, the shock value of what Jesus says might be lost on us because in modern times we view children as princes and princesses, right? 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:51.360 But in the ancient times, children were considered second-class citizens. 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:58.559 They were like property, they were possessions that could easily be discarded. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:08.559 And so for Jesus to say, receive one of these little children like me, he's asking, are you prepared to care for people? 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:10.559 Serve them. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:19.279 Even if they are insignificant in the eyes of the world, even if they don't seem to be worth your time. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:33.679 For us, the shock value would be like me saying, if you see a grubby homeless man that you can smell from 30 feet away, and they come up to you, will you give them a hug? 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.759 I'm not sure if I could do that. 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:44.879 Now, thankfully, Jesus is not saying we have to do that. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:48.879 Nor is he saying that we have to serve people who are unpleasant. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:55.519 You might, you might be able to, and that's great, but this is not an across-the-board rule that Jesus is making. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:00.240 What he is saying is, will we change the way that we view people? 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:06.640 Will we change our thinking and what our hearts are like? 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.440 Because that's what really matters more. 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:12.799 Just as a real basic example. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:15.920 How do you view the janitor at the workplace? 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:16.640 Who knows? 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:19.839 Maybe one of you are janitors, so you understand. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:25.039 How do you view the lowest, the people that are like lowest on the totem pole? 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:28.160 No time for them, no respect for them. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:30.079 Do you even notice that? 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:34.559 The right way to see people. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.640 That's what Jesus is getting at here. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.640 What he's trying to teach his disciples. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:43.359 And the right way to see people is from the biblical perspective, the way that God sees them. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:55.359 That they are his creatures, they're made in his image, they deserve dignity because they need to be open to hearing the message to be saved. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.559 How does Jesus put it? 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:01.200 Seeing people like just like God, verse 37. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:10.720 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives not me, but him who sent me. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:17.440 When you have a heart like God, then you will receive people according to what God wants. 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:29.920 Can I say, I think that this is one of the most exciting things for you guys who are involved in these early days of the church. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:41.440 Brandon, Pastor Brandon has um he shared with us the next year's vision plan because I'm part of like the session, the temporary session that looks after him. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.480 You guys are one, a little over a year in. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.799 It's amazing that you guys are here. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:51.200 And you guys are all on board with the vision, aren't you? 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:56.000 And this vision that is from God, that you guys are going to be involved in his work. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:59.839 You're playing your part like with servant-like attitudes. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:04.880 I can tell that you are all open and welcoming. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:07.119 You're excited to receive people. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:13.759 Receive people that walk through the doors because you want them to hear about Jesus. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:17.759 I mean, I hope you guys all feel that and sense that, right? 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:23.200 That not only are we waiting for people, but you what your hearts are like. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:31.039 Do you notice how you see how you yourselves see others? 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:34.480 How that's being changed as you're part of this church plan. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:47.119 I hope you can see that, that it's probably being softened, it's probably being pushed and extended, maybe a little uncomfortable, but you're willing to put yourselves out there for others. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.319 It's exciting. 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:53.599 You should notice that and thank God for the way that He's changing your hearts. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.480 That's our first point. 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:00.799 Um, secondly, valuing God's servants. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:04.000 We want to see service as greatness. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:07.200 We also want to value God's servants. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:12.720 Jesus is going to give another lesson in reaction to the disciples' attitudes. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.240 Verse 38. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:21.200 Jesus said to him, Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we try to stop him because he was not following us. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:28.319 But Jesus said, Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:31.759 For the one who is not against us is for us. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:56.319 Now, as we work out this lesson, if we can try to envision the kind of people that is going to make up a supernatural community, that's what we want to keep in mind as we work through this passage, because it's easy to read this passage and draw all kinds of conclusions. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:00.000 Like we shouldn't be an exclusive church. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:05.759 We shouldn't be exclusive of one another or other denominations, but we ought to be inclusive. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:14.720 We might be able to draw some implications like that, but what is Jesus really getting at when he gives this kind of lesson? 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:18.480 It's about what the disciples' hearts are going to be like. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:21.200 What's the situation? 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:30.160 Someone is casting out demons in Jesus' name, and John, the disciple, he says, Who's this guy? 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:32.079 He's not one of us. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.680 Right? 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:35.279 Just consider the moment. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:40.480 This is a unique point in salvation history where Jesus has come to earth. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:47.119 He is walking on earth, declaring war on all the evil spiritual forces that are out there. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:52.640 Only he can take them on, but he actually brings in the disciples to help him. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:59.680 Remember, the disciples were sent out by Jesus on a mission to go out to by. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.519 Too carry nothing, right? 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:10.480 And they were doing powerful things, but now they see someone else doing what they're doing, and they were like, wait, we don't recognize him. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.519 Young people will know this line, they're not like us, right? 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.720 Where is that from? 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:20.000 Uh anyway, I don't know, but it's from a song, right? 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:21.119 I know that much. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:24.079 But that's the attitude that the disciples had. 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:38.000 And Jesus is here trying to gently tell the disciples now is not the time to be petty or territorial, because that's not how you're going to form this community of God's people. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:42.319 If they are not against us, they are for us. 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:51.680 This is a teaching from Jesus: having a heart that recognizes God's servants before judging God's servants. 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.480 Recognize God's servants before you judge them. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:57.359 And it's part of the grander picture of salvation. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:04.000 There's going to be a whole new community of people, and they're going to live by a whole new pattern of relationships. 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:07.680 It's where there's going to be no strife in the community. 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:11.200 Because we're not sizing each other up. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.359 We're not criticizing each other. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:16.960 We're not pushing people down so we can make ourselves look better. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:28.880 That's the perspective that we ought to have as we read this verse and what follows, because what follows doesn't seem to connect, but it's all about having this kind of community. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:40.319 Verse 41, Jesus says, For truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:46.880 Read a verse like that, and you're thinking, what does that have to do with being exclusive or being inclusive? 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:53.759 But Jesus is giving us a little taste of that community, that ecosystem that he is building. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:58.960 For the sake of time, let me just tell you what this verse is not saying and what this verse is saying. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:06.160 This verse is not saying, let us be open to all and generous and give everyone a cup of water. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:13.599 It's not about, all right, be inspired to go and provide clean water for different people. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:16.480 That's not what this verse is saying. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:21.440 What this verse is saying, let me read it in a way that may help explain it. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:32.480 Whoever gives you, disciple, a cup of water to drink, because you, disciple, belong to Christ, they will by no means lose their reward. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.079 Okay? 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:36.319 The disciple isn't the one giving the water. 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:42.559 It's someone who is being received by the mission that the disciples are on, and they give the disciples water. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:50.640 They will recognize you, disciple, who are on mission and support you because they are thinking like you. 00:24:51.440 --> 00:25:02.559 God's going to have a people who understand the promises and the hopes of the Messiah, that they have a right heart, and they're going to recognize the disciples on mission. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:10.720 People will receive you, disciples, and serve you with help because they have the right heart disposition. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:17.119 And so Jesus is making sure, disciples, you have the right heart disposition as well. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:20.640 How is that going to happen? 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:25.599 When you, disciple, see yourself as a servant first. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:32.319 Imagine you go on a work trip to the Middle East. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:36.720 You're there for a month, you're in a Muslim country, and you feel it. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:42.960 You know where you belong and where you don't belong, and it's kind of uncomfortable, it's kind of scary. 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:52.000 And then at the store, you have an interaction with a gentleman, and as you talk with him, you kind of sense, oh, this guy's alright. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.440 I trust this guy. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:59.359 And then you find out he's a Christian, and you think, yes, I felt that connection. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.319 Right? 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:11.279 There's a sense of relief of meeting a fellow brother in a world where the spiritual forces are all against you, and it is so welcoming. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:18.319 You would feel that common faith, but sometimes even with fellow Christians, you're not sure about them. 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:27.279 But when you feel the common faith and you've sensed the servant's heart, that's when you know you are safe and you are welcomed. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:33.759 It's the heart of faith, a heart of service that gets recognized. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:47.200 Again, this is something that I think you as a church, being a part of the church plant in these early days, you know, and I hope that you are committed to. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:50.400 You guys are all on the same page. 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:56.559 You have the heart attitude of, I want to learn what it means to be a church member. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:27:02.880 I know I'm here on mission and I'm thankful to do it with others, and I want to serve Jesus together. 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:05.680 You know it's all hands on deck. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:16.079 And it's with open and generous hearts that you have, that you guys all have, that you are more mindful of others than yourself. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:17.759 How good is that? 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:24.799 I hope you can be reassured that you guys are all thinking the same thing and working together in unison. 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:29.200 I hope you can recognize that in one another, the servant's heart. 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:37.519 Because what you're experiencing is the power of the gospel to deal with sin, evil, all the kind of brokenness. 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:41.279 And it's starting in you, in each one of you. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:44.799 And it's the story that you all share, isn't it? 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:52.960 And you just want others to hear about the goodness of the work that God has done in you, that He can do in others as well. 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:57.200 Isn't that what you guys want as a church, as a church plant? 00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:09.359 Know that this is the focus and the direction that your hearts are unified in this way, and keep going forward, keep pressing forward. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.680 Brings us to our final point. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:19.839 Not only do we want to have hearts of service, value God's servants, we want to value this community. 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:21.599 Value God's community. 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:25.599 Now we come to this last section, which is a shocker to hear. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:32.640 It's confronting and it can intimidate people, but it's not what this, what it seems like on the surface. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:38.160 And I want you to be willing to hear this, my explanation, if you would. 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:44.880 And because if you do, you might actually welcome what Jesus has to say here. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:50.400 Let's see again if we can envision what Jesus is concerned about. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:53.759 It's the kind of community that he is going to form. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.839 Verse 42. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:06.400 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:10.640 Jesus is now giving a warning, a warning, a stern warning. 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:22.240 And it's against the person who causes a servant-hearted disciple to stumble, to harm them, to cause them to sin. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:33.359 See, Jesus is really going to have a kingdom where his people they will all coexist in fellowship because everyone wants to be servant-hearted. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:48.160 The concern here is that when we are all trying to be servant-hearted and someone else comes in, the people who are servant-hearted, they're making themselves vulnerable to others, aren't they? 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:51.119 And that could be a risky thing. 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:57.839 It could risk opening one up to other people's mistreatment. 00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:03.039 And because of that, Jesus has this searing word of warning. 00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:15.599 You mess with any of my children, these little ones, it'd be better if you got whacked by the mob, rolled up in a body bag, and dumped out at sea. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:23.519 I mean, that's the kind of protection that Jesus is trying to establish for this community. 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:35.119 All sin is serious, but the sin that Jesus is talking about is when you take advantage of another disciple who is trying to seek and serve you. 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:51.759 And if you're thinking about church sex scandals, you know, cover-ups of pedophilia, if you're thinking about harsh, abusive leaders, those are the kinds of sins that Jesus is warning against. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:54.880 Perpetrators might think they're going to get away with it. 00:30:55.279 --> 00:31:04.640 Some might think that they've dodged a bullet on earth, but they are not safe from the Lord in heaven because he will have a final accounting. 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:08.240 Jesus is trying to protect his people. 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:10.400 That's why he has to give this word. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:18.000 And it's with that perspective, maybe we could try to understand this next section, which is a little more gruesome and serious. 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:19.279 Verse 43. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:22.240 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:28.160 It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:49.759 Because servants' hearts, we're going to truly care for one another, and it can open us up and expose us. 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:52.160 We want the best for others. 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:57.119 We're trying to be careful for others, but others may not be careful with us. 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:01.759 And that can be very discouraging. 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:09.440 That can be debilitating, in fact, if you get mistreated by someone in church. 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:18.000 And so he's saying, be very careful, be very sensitive for others, and even be willing to sacrifice. 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:27.920 Maybe it'll be just as handy to clarify what Jesus is not saying from this passage with this warning. 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:32.960 Because I know passages like this can feel oppressive sometimes. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:42.480 And again, all sin is serious, but Jesus is not talking about if you commit any kind of sin, then just cut off your hand, cut off your lips. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:44.880 He's not promoting self-mutilation. 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:45.440 Okay? 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:50.960 Heaven is not going to be filled with amputees and people that are neuter. 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:53.519 That is not the vision we ought to have. 00:32:55.279 --> 00:33:00.720 We're talking about specific sins that are harmful to others that deserve greater punishment. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:04.640 Other good news for you, maybe? 00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:07.599 Let's say you do commit one sin against another. 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.400 Is that it? 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:11.279 Is this like there's only a one-strike policy? 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:13.920 Now we can lop off your hand, one and done? 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.480 No. 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:18.400 It's not one sin and then you get your arm hacked off. 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:18.799 No. 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:24.480 There is always hope for restoration when one makes confession with repentance. 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:30.880 And it's because true repentance will not persist in sinning against others. 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:35.119 It's where you recognize you've done wrong and you want to change. 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:41.440 And so there's hope for true pardon so that you can lead to true transformation. 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:50.079 But the warning has to be stated: go to great lengths to not sin against one another. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:54.720 This is what Jesus is really getting at. 00:33:54.960 --> 00:34:02.720 And I want us to see the high concern and the high honor for others that this is the kind of community that Jesus will have. 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:04.799 Because look at how he ends his teaching. 00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:06.240 Verse 49. 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:08.559 Everyone will be salted with fire. 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:13.920 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.280 Have salt in yourselves. 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.400 And what does he say? 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:19.360 And be at peace with one another. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.760 Peace with one another. 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:23.679 This is the community. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:33.840 These are the conditions that Jesus is establishing so that people can live out this supernatural community with one another. 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:38.159 It will be delicate, this community. 00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:41.679 And it's going to involve servants' hearts. 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:51.199 And servants' hearts that recognize that we're caring for one another, but also we're careful with one another. 00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:54.559 I hope you can envision that kind of community. 00:34:55.519 --> 00:35:01.119 Because that's what this whole passage is about, as Jesus is preparing his disciples for mission. 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:04.559 This is what, this is the work that you guys are going to be involved in. 00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:08.480 This is the kind of community that you're going to be establishing, the church. 00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:11.840 Do you want to be part of a community like this? 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:23.519 You might even have trouble wanting this kind of community. 00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:24.400 Why? 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:28.079 Maybe you're still turned off by this word. 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:30.559 It just seems a little too harsh. 00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:40.159 Or maybe from the get-go, you've just been a little uncomfortable with the way that all this is sounding. 00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:42.400 It's not sounding appealing. 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:45.360 Be last of all, servant of all, right? 00:35:48.239 --> 00:36:04.159 Why do we have to think that way when I'm sure all of us we think that we're decent, good people, we're respectful of others, we're just all trying to figure out life, but now we're told to be servant-hearted. 00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:11.280 It almost sounds like we have to like diminish ourselves, weaken ourselves. 00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:18.000 Like we're opening ourselves up for disrespect when all our lives we've been learning how to protect ourselves. 00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:27.199 Maybe you've heard this, it sounds like you've heard us or God saying, Jesus saying, be slaves of all. 00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:31.599 And you're like, no way, I'm not gonna be a slave of anybody. 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:39.519 Well, Jesus is saying, he's not saying be a slave. 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:46.239 What he is saying is he's gonna have people who are characteristically different. 00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:51.199 Characteristically different. 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:56.320 And it's not about starting with action, it's about starting with the heart. 00:36:56.800 --> 00:37:01.360 And that's what the salt is about in this final passage. 00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:07.679 Salt, Jesus talks about salt, salt brings out distinctness and flavor, right? 00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:18.800 We'll all go through fiery tests of relational tensions and challenges, but will we have that distinct salt flavoring? 00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:27.599 Will we remain servant-hearted even when we're struggling with one another and it's hard? 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:34.639 Will we strive for peace in the community, being careful of our own sin? 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:44.880 It also so happens that salt was used to convey the uniqueness of the covenant that God had with his people. 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:58.719 And we know that Jesus would be the fulfiller of that covenant in a way that no other God or no other religion could ever imagine. 00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:04.719 Because the truth is being servant-hearted is not easy, nor is it desirable. 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:10.880 No other God, no other deity would ever try to teach to live this kind of life. 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:31.199 The only way that one would ever dare to consider taking serious Jesus' words of being last of all and servant of all, is when we would see for ourselves Jesus' heart of service for us. 00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:43.599 You know, he would take care of our sin so much that he would take the punishment that we deserved for it. 00:38:43.840 --> 00:38:52.239