Series: Kingdom Life

Message Outline

Series Message 4:
Greatness in the Kingdom

Text: Matthew 20:20-28; Phil. 2:1-11

Series theme verse: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here....Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 4:17b, 11:30, The Message)

Kingdom Life series goals:

• Learn to think, act and be like Jesus - Matthew 5:48
• Live His radical love for God and for people - Matthew 22:37-39
• Going beyond the elementary teachings about Jesus - Hebrews 6:1
• Be like The Rabbi - spread his “yoke”, live his rhythm - Matthew 11:28-30
• Moving to maturity, by His confidence & His power - Acts 1:8
• Becoming the chosen royal priesthood - 1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 3:20-21
• Ushering in the fullness of the Kingdom - Matthew 6:10
  Remember: Jesus believes we can become like him!

Remember: Jesus believes we can become like him!
 
Today's introduction & theme:
Who is the greatest? Our quest for significance. Loving vs. Judging.

Our defining quality is not how hard we work for God or how much we love God, but how much He loves us and wants us to seek and receive everything in the Kingdom Life from Him! Significance is not in our achievement for Him, but in His achievement for us.
 
Focus Passage - Matthew 20:20-28

Context: Jesus has just finished talking about the suffering he is going to have to go through when they get to Jerusalem (20:17-19). Earlier, the disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the Kingdom (18:1), and he gave several answers throughout that chapter. Jesus also told the disciples that in the Kingdom, they would reign with him, sitting on thrones as judges of Israel. (19:28) They were also told that the first will be last and the last will be first (20:16) Despite all this teaching, today's passage reveals the extent of their continued misunderstanding, and opens our minds to the reality that we have the same problem today!

1. The pushy parent and their influence (vs. 20-21)

2. Seeking glory without understanding the price (vs. 22-23)

3. The mind-set of human leaders: "Lord it over" (vs. 24-25)
 
4. The mind-set of the Messiah: humility (vs. 26-28)
 
The amazing "downward mobility" of Jesus: Philippians 2:1-11

Mother Theresa - "Small things done with great love will change the world".

What is humility? What does it look like?

Kingdom Experiment
Choose a difficult, and/or unpleasant task that someone else normally does and do it for them this week. Discuss the experience with the person who normally does it. Share findings with your small group. 

Application questions for reflection and sharing in small groups:

1. Have you ever asked your parents or spouse or work colleague to give you a reward for something you felt you had done really well? Perhaps it was asking for a raise, or for a new privilege, or for recognition. What was the reaction?

2. How do you feel when someone makes a demand for recognition of you?
 
3. What is your number one source of significance in life right now?
 
4. Have you ever been passed over or asked to do something you felt was beneath you at home or work? How did you respond? Discuss this in light of Philippians 2:1-11.
 
5. Who is the best "boss" you ever had? What made them different? What kind of boss are you?
 
6. What does Jesus mean by "the first will be last and the last will be first"? (See Matthew 20:16)

For parents:

1. Have you ever been "pushy" for your children? What separates a healthy from unhealthy intervention? Give the group an example of each and discuss where you think the "line" is.
 
2. We have all been to the science fairs where the grade 4 student's project was a professional piece of perfection. Have you ever helped your children with something and later realized that you were too involved? Please share an example.
 
3. What are your expectations with your kids on serving around the house? How do they learn them?

Memory Verse for this Week:

Matthew 5:19  Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. NIV

Resource for further study:

The Irresistible Revolution, by Shane Claiborne - the story of a young man who decided to live as much like Jesus as possible - calling himself an "ordinary radical". His adventures (including a summer visit to serve with Mother Theresa in Calcutta) are very specific and practical ways to live out the Kingdom Life - albeit with a very challenging implications for many of us.

Preview reading for next week's message:

Ephesians 4:11-16
Matthew 26: 6-13
Matthew 13:11-12