But Jesus calls. This child into the room.
Somebody who in the? Eyes of the Reco Roman.
Culture If you have a Bible, go ahead
and get that. Open to Mark Chapter 9 we're
looking at. One story this morning verses.
30 through 36 man our. Our church, we've been through a
lot of seasons and we've had a lot of experiences where we've
got. Really, really empty.
Rooms, right? We planted this church seven or
eight years. Ago we went through COVID.
Together and so anytime like. I'm.
There's a Sunday. Where there's a lower attendance
like today, By the way, thanks for showing up.
Today, it's good to see you guys.
But anytime there's just a. Little bit of a smaller.
Room, My expectation has kind of shifted from like, oh, there's
not. As many.
People here, as usual, it's. Shifted from that expectation
more to. I wonder what I wonder.
What God is up to? Like there's just something
different. Not.
Better not. Worse.
But I I feel like there's always something.
Different that God wants to accomplish on mornings when
there's just. Fewer people.
In the room and so. I would just say, hey, let's
play some heads. Up ball this morning it's.
It's we got a lot of snow outside.
We got, you know, 5060% of our church at.
Home watching on the live. Stream hey.
Guys, we're psyched that you're watching.
If that's working, is it working?
It's working OK. Great.
Thanks for. Joining in guys, but.
Even though you know we've got a a.
Smaller morning It's snowy. Outside, I'm still just.
Going to preach my butt. Off OK.
I'm going to do that. For theological.
Reasons right. One of the reasons why we preach
is to. Benefit the Church of God.
But another reason we preach. Is because it glorifies God.
And so I'm going to get up here. I'm going to throw.
Fastballs still just. Because I don't.
Want to be bored? When I'm preaching and you don't
want to be bored while you're. Listening.
So I'm still going to go 100. Miles an hour, and today's
sermon is probably going to be one of those sermons of mine.
That's a little bit nerdier. And feels a little bit.
More like a lecture. Than a pregame speech and the
reason why is because this. Is one of those.
Stories in. The gospel that works at.
Two different. Levels not there's not 2.
Different meanings, right? There's one.
Meaning but it. Works at two different levels.
It's one of those stories that. You've read it.
You've studied it. You've.
Heard it in Sunday school and it works at that top level where
it's like, man, that's a. Great story and wouldn't.
That be a nice. Way to live.
There's there's also this. Other level underneath.
It where where you. Get to that.
Level you begin to see. Just.
How? Radical.
Jesus was and is and. I don't like just.
Preaching. At that.
Top level I also like. Getting at that.
Bottom level of the text, so we're going to get it at the
bottom level of that text. And that means that.
We're going to have to. Put on our academic.
Cap for a couple minutes during the sermon, but.
Over the. Next 35 minutes.
Here's where we're going. This is your.
Road map in 30. 5 minutes we are.
I'm going to talk about Greco Roman.
History. We're going to talk about
ancient Pagan Bale. Worship.
We're going to talk. About the.
Writing of Ernest Hemingway and. By the end of the sermon, I
hope. That all of this believe.
It or not helps you become the. Greatest that you can be.
In God's way, so let me. Pray and we'll jump in the.
Greatest you can be. Comma in God's way, Heavenly
Father I. I've just been so convicted.
By this story this week. And so I pray that.
It would bleed out of your Bible this.
Morning. And that we would.
Feel it, hear it, see it, Experience.
It encounter this story. Maybe in a different?
Way than we ever have before. And if we're.
Going to experience your. Word that way you.
Must be present among. Us walking in between the pews,
whispering in our ears, convicting those who need to be
convicted, encouraging those who need to be encouraged, and
pointing us back to. You so Lord, I just.
Pray. That you would do that.
For me. And that you would do.
That for for, for everybody and as a result of gosh.
All. The plowing.
And snow blowing and shoveling. Oh gosh.
All the shoveling. Pray that as a result.
Of all of that, one person in this room might experience
deeper joy in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in that case, the
sore shoulders and the sore forearms.
Would be totally worth it. And I would be happy to shovel
for another 8 hours this. Next week, please, No.
But. If it needs to be.
So then in the name. Of Jesus we pray.
Amen. I think one of the strangest
things about making the transition from small town Iowa.
To the big. City of Des Moines.
One of the one of the strangest things about that transition.
It's. Been adjusting and making that
adjustment. To the homeless population.
When you grow up in a small town like like I did, right in a town
of 3500 people, 4000 people, there's not a large homeless
population in my hometown. There was really just kind of
like one homeless guy. And if there were more, I didn't
really know about them or encounter them or.
Experience them. And so he he was.
The homeless guy. Right.
We. We had a name.
For him, growing up as kids, we. Called him the Can Man, He.
He had his cart that he pushed. Around town, his big bag he
collected. Cans turned him into the
deposit. And because there was this.
One homeless man, right? And and and it was the only.
One we knew right He He had a name.
The can. Man and we of.
Course as kids created a back. Story and a mythology that
wasn't true for him about. Why he was really poor.
And what what? What was?
Really underneath the cart? And all the silly.
Things that. Boys talk about.
When they can just make a. Person into a character.
Like that and that's. What we did, he was.
Kind of a a a. Nameless, faceless character
that we imported a mythology. To and it's kind of weird.
Because when you transition. From Small Town to Des.
Moines. There's a much larger homeless.
Population and the opposite thing kind of happens where.
Since there's so much homelessness and you're not
really used to it. And it's on most busy.
Corners when you pull up. On the road.
You just kind of blur people out, right?
They just. Kind of.
Become nameless, faceless nuisances that you have to
drive. Through drive past and
sometimes. You feel kind of a.
Pinch for. It And so that's been a weird
transition is like learning. Well, Oh my gosh, what's it look
like to? Live in a city and all the
sudden homeless people. No longer having names.
And faces and so that's. Been a weird transition for me.
But I did. Have this moment.
A while ago I. Think it was about a.
Year ago I was. Walking to my coffee shop.
And as I was walking to my coffee shop, I walked past a
homeless. Person and for the first.
Time in a long time, I don't. Think this was a mystical?
Experience or anything like that.
But for the first time in a long time as I was.
Walking past this homeless man. I stopped and did a double take.
It's not one of those experiences.
Where I think I was. Encountering an Angel or
anything. Like that, although I wouldn't.
Always write that off, right? But I stopped.
And I did a double take. And the reason why I stopped.
And did a double take was because of the face.
Of the homeless man. It.
Stopped. Me dead in my tracks.
Because. As I was walking by and saw his.
Face, I swear to you. This.
Homeless man, eerily, strangely, and almost identically had the
exact. Same face as me.
And all of a sudden. It was as though I could.
See. I don't know, like the homeless
version of myself. And all of a sudden, he wasn't a
Nameless. And.
Faceless person all the all. All of a.
Sudden, this empathy broke. Out inside of me and.
I could see how I. Could be.
That same person in. Different circumstances I could.
See how easily that could? Have been me.
All all of a sudden, I could see my.
Face in the. Face of a homeless person, I
could see our common and shared humanity.
And this isn't primarily a text. And this isn't?
Primarily A sermon about the. Homeless.
But it is a text. About the least of these.
And when you see your. Face in the face.
Of the least of these, it stops. You dead in your tracks.
And. It rocks.
You. And it's what Jesus?
Wants to do for his. Disciples in this text.
And May God. Do it for us this morning.
So let's stand for the reading of God's Word.
In this. Story It's not a homeless
person. But in this story, it's somebody
in the category of the least of these.
Verse 30 They went on from there and there.
We'll get into. Where they're coming from,
because it plays an important part in the story they went on
from. There and passed through
Galilee, and he didn't want anybody to know.
Because he was focused. On teaching his disciples,
saying to them, hey guys, the Son of man is going to be
delivered into the hands of man and they will kill.
Him and when he is. Killed after three days.
He will rise I. Don't know if that's actually
the tone, he. Used.
I imagine it that way. But they didn't understand.
The saying and they were. Afraid to ask him.
And so they came to Caperdum. And when he was in the house, he
asked them, what were you? Guys talking about.
On the way, what were you? Discussing on the way.
But they kept silent for on the. Way, they had argued.
There's that word again, argued with one another.
About who was the greatest? And he sat down and.
Called the 12. Guys, come here.
And he said to them, look, if anyone would be. 1st.
He must be last of. All, and servant of all.
OK, what's that look like? Verse 36.
And so he took a child, and put him in the midst of them, and
taking him in his. Arms.
He said to the disciples. Whoever receives one such.
Child in my name receives me and whoever receives me.
Receives not me, but him who. Sent me Isn't Jesus just so
gosh? Darn.
Nice. You guys can have a seat.
OK. So you've heard the story?
Probably, the story begins. With Jesus on the way.
He's walking with disciples and. He's giving his disciples a
prediction. About his death and
resurrection. By the way, this is the second
of. 3 total times in the book of Mark.
That Jesus gives his. Disciples A prediction of his
death and resurrection. And on the way.
He he lays. Out his death and resurrection.
In the way that he. Does.
That the way that he. Explains the gospel to them.
Is by all accounts crystal. Clear.
Right. How?
Clear is it?
Look at verse 31. I don't know how you can get any
more clear than this bro. 31 He's teaching his disciples, and
he says to them. Here's how.
It's going to go down. The Son of Man.
Is going to be delivered into the hands of men and they.
Will kill. Him and when he's killed.
After three days he will. Rise.
That's pretty clear, right? That's just basic.
Gospel Truth. How did?
How do you not? Get that?
How do you walk with? Jesus for a couple years.
And not. Understand him when he says.
The most basic things about his impending.
Death. How do you miss it?
And I think further inspection into the text is actually quite
revealing. Because it goes on to say that
the disciples. Did not understand that's.
Verse 32 just. Look at that real quickly.
Look at that phrase. Did not understand.
Like. In what way did they not
understand? Was.
It like intellectually over their.
Head. In what way?
Did they not get it? And some translators interpret
the words did not understand which I.
Think is a great translation, but sometimes.
When you look at different. Translations which are equally
good. You can kind of round.
Out the translation. And see a.
Different way to phrase it and. And some some translators
interpret the words. Did not understand as they.
Were ignorant of and so. I think that's helpful because.
I think that's a. Clue.
So it it, it might, it might be. That the disciples couldn't
understand. Jesus, despite their best.
Intellectual efforts to grasp his prediction.
That seems unlikely to me, it seems.
More likely that they didn't. Grasp Jesus's predictions
because. They were ignorant.
Of what he was saying. Like they just had something.
More important. On their minds, right?
Something more worthy of thinking about.
So they were just kind of ignorant.
Of what he was saying cause bro. They've got something.
Important to talk about more important, which of course
raises the question. Well.
What? Could be so important.
That to us. It makes the death of.
Jesus, Just a secondary consideration, what could be
more important to? Us than the Gospel?
Of Jesus Christ. Verse 33 you.
Ready for this? Verse 33.
And they came to. Capernaum, And when he was in
the house, he asked them. OK, So what were you talking
about on the way? But they kept silent.
What are you guys talking about on the way you know, when I was
talking? About my death and resurrection.
They're quiet, They're like. Looking at each other.
They kept silent. Why?
Because on the way. What they were preoccupied with,
what they were arguing about. Was who was the greatest?
Oh. OK.
See where I'm going with? This that.
That that's why. They couldn't pick up what?
Jesus was laying down. They were too preoccupied with.
Something more important to them.
Arguing. About who was the greatest?
Among them. Isn't this like the most?
Awkward conversation. Ever.
What were you guys talking about just like?
Right. Luke's like, don't.
Say it, don't say it. Right.
John's like this is that was such a.
Stupid thing to argue about. I'm not even going to put.
It in my gospel, which he doesn't or they're.
Quiet, they're silent. They know why.
Jesus piercing question reveals the folly.
Of these conversations that preoccupy.
Our minds take note. Of that, but Jesus.
Being rich in mercy and. Grace verse 35.
Doesn't stop there. And said he's like, all right
guys, let's. Like a good coach, he's like,
OK, let's gather up, puddle up, let's work.
Through this together, he sat down and he called.
The 12. And he said to them, if anyone.
Would be first. You want to be.
Awesome in the Kingdom of. God you.
Want to be a? Bomb in the Kingdom of God.
If anyone would be. 1st. He must be last of.
All. And servant of.
All. So this is magnificent, Matthew.
In his gospel relays the same story, the same conversation,
but with a. Twist on the language and.
Seeing the way. That Matthew records this can
again kind of help us round out exactly.
What Jesus is saying. Here's the way that.
Matthew records this conversation.
But whoever would be great, that's the corollary with if.
Anyone would be. 1st. But whoever would be great.
Among you must be your. Servant.
And I'm pushing into this. I want to see this because I
have something. For you at the bottom of this.
Yes, Jesus is rebuking. The disciples for their desire
to be. Great in a worldly way.
Don't take. This text to mean OK.
So. Christians should strive for
mediocrity as the. That's the most.
Christian thing, if I were. Really spiritual.
I. Wouldn't care about being great.
That's not what's happening here.
Jesus. Is rebuking.
The disciples for their desire to be great in a.
Worldly way. But he's not rebuking them.
For their desire to be great, that desire.
Is built into every human heart my.
Guess is that it's. In your heart too.
Because I think that God. Put it there.
Your desire for. Significance and greatness is a.
Good. Desire and I don't.
Think it's actually the result of the fall or a result of sin.
Because Jesus, he actually. Affirms their desire to be.
Great. He doesn't say stop.
Trying. For excellence, right?
He actually plays into it. He says.
If you want to be great, if you want to be first, these are good
desires. So long as they're done in.
God's way and not. The world's way.
Here's I want to keep. Pushing at this for.
Just a second more, here's the way.
That my good friend. Who doesn't know I exist?
John Piper. Here's the way Piper
articulates. It quote their.
Desire the disciples desire to live.
A fulfilling life of excellence. Is at its.
Root a good. Desire.
But this desire has been corrupted and subverted.
By the world. In two particular ways.
First, it has been corrupted into a longing not to.
Be great, but to be? Known as great.
People pleasing. At the praise.
Of man and. Secondly, it has been corrupted.
Into a longing not to. Be great, but to be?
Greater than somebody else, Piper goes on to say.
At no. Point Does the way of Jesus so
sharply diverge? From the way of the world than
on the question of greatness. See.
Jesus does not repudiate greatness, but redefines
greatness doesn't. Repudiate it he.
Redefines it. And so the challenge is to be
great at the things that matter most to God.
And of course, nothing is greater to God.
And we see this in the. Text than serving End Quote.
So in other words. What's Jesus doing in this
story? He's redefining.
Greatness. And he's showing us how to be
great in the Kingdom of God, how to be great.
In God's way. And you do.
That by first. Becoming last and second by
becoming the servant of all. Actually those are the same.
Thing. So that those are two.
Separate points. Those are one point by becoming
last and by becoming the servant of all.
And what's that look like? And as my professors at you and
I. Would say there are some.
Lessons that are better. Caught than taught so.
Jesus being a good. Teacher he.
Doesn't just tell he also. Shows.
So Jesus acts out the lesson, doesn't he?
OK. OK, so what's that look like?
How do I? How do I do that?
And so. 1st 36 There's this nameless, faceless character.
In some other room. Right, Because they're.
Pushed out to the fringes. Of society, that Jesus.
Calls into the room verse 30. Six and he took a child.
Come here. And put him in the.
Midst of them. Look at this.
And taking. The child in his arms, he said.
Guys, look at me. Whoever receives one such.
Child in my name receives. Me and whoever receives me.
Receives. Not me, but him who?
Sent me and that's. So nice.
Here we go, baby. Why did Jesus?
Pick a child in order to act. Out this lesson, Yes.
Because in Greco Roman culture, children were literally.
The least of these? That's.
Absolutely. 100% true, yes. And church and public
gatherings. Children in the Greco Roman
world were. Always to come in last.
And they were to be. Ostracized and seated.
In the back, yes, in the culture.
That Jesus is in civilization. Saw them as a secondary figure.
And they did not build. Their institutions.
And culture around children. Those are all.
True. Points many of.
Which you've probably heard if you've heard this story taught
before. All true.
But if we stop there, we misinterpret Jesus.
As just saying something nice. And Jesus is, He is.
Kind, incredibly kind. But he's not just nice.
He's not just being nice. Right here.
He's being savior right here. And so let's go deeper into
this, OK? It's not just.
That the ancient. World didn't care about kids.
That's true. But it's actually.
Far, far far. Darker than that.
Which makes Jesus's. Teachings here shine even more.
Brightly. So I'm talking.
Already for a couple minutes more.
Just so you can. See how much more?
Jesus is. Teaching.
Shines bright and is radical in a dark Roman world.
OK, so this conversation happened on the way.
From Caesarea Philippi. Where Jesus was.
Transfigured on top of mount. Hermon through Galilee and
Capernaum, so before. This before.
They were in this house. They were at Caesarea Philippi.
And if you could. See a.
Picture of Caesarea Philippi. There would be a big.
Prominent rock mountain standing behind them called Mount.
Hermon. It was one of the most.
Prominent geographical, standout things.
About that location was this big.
Mountain called Mount Hermon behind.
Caesarea Philippi, so they just. Saw this.
I don't know how long this travel.
Took. Maybe it was a couple.
Days ago. Maybe it was a week ago, but
here's why this. Is significant.
It's significant. Because.
You want to know what mount Hermon?
Was known as in. Jesus Day.
It's called the Gates. Of hell.
And it was known as the Gates of Hell.
Because that's. Where the Pagan God Baal.
Was worshipped. And do you want to know how they
worshipped? Baal one of the.
Ways that they worshipped. Baal is the cult followers would
take their. Children to that mountain and
commit child sacrifices in order to please.
Baal, they just walked by this. Mountain.
Right, this is what the world does.
It creates a hierarchy. Of who's important and who's not
on the. Basis of.
A ton of different reasons. And it discards the important.
People and in Jesus day. That meant literally killing
children on that mountain. At the gates of hell.
As an offering to Baal. But it.
Wasn't just a religious. Practice in the Greco Roman
world. It was a legal.
Right that Roman citizens had. So Greek philosopher Plutarch.
He's a. He's a.
Historian so you can actually. Go back and read his.
Writings he lived. Around the day and age.
Of Jesus, not a. Christian so he's not.
Giving you, you know, biased history or anything like that,
but. In Plutarch's writings, and this
comes from. Around the year 100.
AD. So about 70 years after.
Jesus said this. Plutarch recounts how the
ancient Spartans. Submitted.
Newborn babies to A. Council of Elders.
For what they called inspection. And take the babies right.
Hold them up and inspect. Them Why?
Plutarch goes on to say. Quote fit.
And strong babies survived, but those found to be.
Low born or deformed. Were left outside to die.
On the grounds that it is neither better for themselves
nor. For the city to live.
Their natural life poorly. Equipped.
All right. Yeah.
You want this one? That's horrifying, right?
Why do you find it horrifying now in their day?
It was common sense. So to phrase the question.
Differently, why do you? Find what they called.
Common sense Horrifying to. Phrase it a different way.
How did history change? How does something like
infanticide? Change from a citizen's.
Right to a legal prohibition. On what?
Basis do you make the? Argument that every human being.
Is of equal worth. And value despite their
differences. In how much they?
Contribute to society despite. Their differing.
Appearances, abilities, deformities, or otherwise.
And you don't make the. Case on common sense.
Because. Common sense in Rome affirmed
infanticide. It was a legal.
Right that Roman citizens have, so you don't overcome it with
common sense. Of course you don't.
Make the. Case on a Darwinian worldview,
of course. Nobody in Rome.
Thought that way then right? But you don't make that.
Case. Because you can't make that.
Case. So on what?
Basis do you? Affirm that every individual
life, whether they're in the middle.
Of society or on the? Fringes of society on what?
Basis do you make the? Case that everybody has.
Equal, rights equal, Worth equal.
Value. And here's the basis.
On which? Infanticide changed from a
right. That everybody could do if they
wanted to. To a prohibition, Here's my.
Deep. Argument for us this morning,
Jesus, Jesus is the. Reason you hear about the.
Practice. Of inspection and find it
horrifying. Otherwise it would have
continued. As common sense.
The least of these are not to be thrown into the gates of.
Hell. Or pushed into the fringes.
Of society because they are, in Jesus's words, to be.
Served and received on the. Basis that they.
Bear the image of the. Father.
Jesus changed this. And you'd be like, OK, cool,
that's just. Preacher talk.
Does that hold up to history? It does.
Historically, Jesus changed. This does this.
Argument. Hold up historically well.
When was infanticide? Outlawed in Rome?
When was inspection outlawed in Rome?
We can look back at history and find out the.
Answer to that. It was outlawed by.
Emperor Constantine, whatever you think about.
Him around 3:13. AD closely following his
conversion. To Christianity, So it was.
Jesus. Who?
Recreated a world where? Everybody is loved.
And it's Jesus who continues. To recreate the world into a
place. Where everybody is loved.
And like I know. It's not comfortable.
On a Sunday. Morning to come to church and
think about child. Sacrifice and the gates of.
Hell. But I'm pressing into this.
Because the. Bible's not comfortable, but I'm
pressing into this. To show you just how radical.
Jesus and his teachings are. This story.
Is often interpreted as, isn't. Jesus so nice, which is like
holy understatement. Right that.
That's what one scholar called damning with faint.
Praise. It's not that, it's.
Wrong. But the praise is so faint.
That it doesn't adequately. Capture at all what Jesus?
Is doing this is. Radical.
That's to call. Jesus.
Nice, because he takes this. Child into his arms is like
saying that Ernest Hemingway was an adequate.
Writer. OK, so if.
You've never read Hemingway Hemingway's style?
Of writing changed the face of writing in the West.
And basically created a new genre so that without Hemingway
there would be no. Such thing as American
literature and no classes called American lit.
And you know deep down that the. World would be a worse.
Place without your American lit. Classes from high school, right?
He. Created American Lit.
You look back at Hemingway writing now.
And you think? Wow, this is so simple and like
so many. American authors that.
Followed Hemingway and that's because.
Hemingway style was a bombshell. Right.
It was a bombshell. It was so excruciatingly and
painstakingly stripped down and simplified that nobody in
Hemingway's time had really read anything like it.
And so every American author since Hemingway has copied
Hemingway to some degree. He totally changed the game.
And this is what? Jesus did for the least.
Of these, right? He's dropping.
A bombshell. We live in a culture.
That's much better about. Valuing children.
We still. Have a long ways to go.
And so we look back at this and we're like, yeah, man, we should
treat children well. But what we don't understand is
that without. Jesus, we wouldn't think like
this at all. Jesus is dropping a bombshell so
that. Virtually every.
Civilization after him ends up copying him, copying his.
Love for the least. Of these.
Copying the way he dignifies every.
Individual life. Our culture still has a long.
Ways to go, We still. Practice.
Inspection, but we do that. At a different point in their
development, right? But don't miss what I'm saying
here. Too it was Jesus who.
Pioneered human dignity for all, including those on the fringes.
And then he acts. It out.
Right, there's this. Little child present, probably.
In a in a backroom. Maybe the child's in the room.
We don't. Know if it was a.
Boy, we don't know if it was a girl.
We don't know what color the child's eyes were.
It's a nameless, faceless child to us.
Right, so picture this child however you want.
But Jesus calls. This child into the room.
Somebody who in the? Eyes of the Reco Roman.
Culture comes last. They have to sit in the back.
Of the temple. They have to sit in the back of
the. Village gatherings.
To the world, this child. Is a nobody.
But who is he to? God.
Jesus opens up, his arms wide, and he says come here.
Come here. No line, no qualifications.
Come here. This would have been earth
shattering for the disciples. What the disciples are?
Experiencing in this moment. Honestly, it's the same thing
that I. Experienced to a greater degree.
When I saw my face in the face of a homeless.
Man on the sidewalk. See this child, This child.
Was nothing more than a. Nameless, faceless nuisance.
And Jesus is challenging them. To see themselves in the.
Face of this child. And then?
Jesus takes it one step. Further, he wants them not only
to see themselves. In the face of this child.
He wants them. To see the face of God in the
face of this child, because what does he say?
It's. It's.
Breathtaking to read, he says. Quote Whoever receives one such
child in my name receives. Me.
And whoever receives me receives.
Not just me. But the Father?
And so. That should.
Make us do a double. Take.
Stop us dead in our tracks and rock us and recognize.
That this is the. Pathway to becoming the
greatest? In God's way.
To serve the least of these. To serve people.
Who don't have dignity and value in the world because somehow,
and I can't. This is.
Theological math I can't quite do, but somehow.
This is how Jesus. Receives you into his.
Harms, and it's also how. You end up receiving God.
Into your own arms. And.
This text isn't. It's not just about.
Serving kids. That's part of it.
For sure, so sign up for roots. Or you don't love Jesus.
I'm kidding. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Let me back pedal that if you feel like you're it would be
something. Fun for you to do.
Sign up for Roots. I mean, I've only done it once
in the. Last eight years.
So who am I to bully? Anybody, right?
But this text. Isn't it's not just about.
Serving kids. The child.
In this story is an analogy. It's.
The child's a Really. Powerful analogy, but the child.
'S an analogy. Because it's about serving who.
It's about serving in Jesus. Words becoming.
Quote a servant of all. So.
If being great in God's way. Means being a servant of all
that. Means that the.
Opportunities for what this looks.
Like in your own life are limitless because it involves.
Serving anybody and everybody so.
I'm actually less interested in telling you exactly how to do.
This so sorry for peer. Pressuring you into roots?
My bad. That's not in my notes.
But I'm more interested in giving you some examples of.
How the? People around you are already.
Doing this because if you look around this room right here.
Our church is like we. Are 100% crowdfunded.
Baby like this church exists because these people love Jesus.
And are. Serving everybody.
And so there's. We just got a ton of.
People who are already living. This out.
So what I'm going to do is something I don't usually do.
I'm going to name some names and this is nowhere close to a
complete. List, so don't get bummed.
If I leave. Your name out.
But here's some people in our church who are.
Just the greatest. In God's way, OK, we've got a
ton. Let me start.
Liz. Todd Emily Meyer Caitlin Sims.
Week in and Week. Out help lead our kids.
Ministry in the basement. Nobody in our church is.
Better at welcoming children like.
Jesus than these three that. Is being the.
Greatest God's way. Casey Canoe literally does this.
By taking a genuine interest in the things that.
My kids are interested in. A year or two ago.
At the height of. Russell's Godzilla Obsession,
Casey. Showed up at the front step of
my house with his. Old Godzilla toys and gave them
to Russell. That's being the greatest in
God's way. Dylan and Mariah Bradshaw,
without being asked, call a friend a plower parking lot this
week and paid for it out of pocket.
That's being the greatest in God's way.
Van Gorp, Talon, Meyer, Depau, Carl Maxwell carry hundreds and
hundreds of pounds of administrative responsibilities
everywhere. Every week for the church.
That most of you don't. See whether that's the finance.
Team or recording audio and video, or leading the building,
team or organizing projects to help move.
Them forward, they do a. Ton that you don't.
See, but you get to. Experience.
That's being the greatest God's way.
Alex Pasquer every. Sunday Pasquer is here early,
leading people in prayer. So that when you stumble into
the doorway half hazardly and look for a place to sit, you're
actually entering into an environment saturated.
And infused by prayer, whether or not you know.
It That's being the greatest God's way.
Andrew Johnson. Is here almost every Sunday when
the sun rises. To do work alongside Joseph that
you. Don't see at 7:00 AM, but you
experience. It at 10:00 AM and that's not
even beginning to. Count the hours he.
Put into. Building out our trailer and.
Loading it and unloading it every Sunday morning at 6:00.
AM while. Most of the world was.
Sleeping in back when we were a mobile church.
That's being the greatest in God's way.
Judy Maxwell is here in the middle of the week making.
This place beautiful and clean. So that you get to.
Walk into a space that. Reminds you.
Of the glory of God. Every Sunday that's being.
The greatest in God's way. And there's.
Countless. People I didn't tell you about.
Unnamed people in this church who every Sunday show up and
aren't. Primarily preoccupied with
questions like. Do I like this and?
Do I like that and it's not wrong?
To have preferences, they just. Belong in a hierarchy, right?
It belongs underneath. Some.
Other stuff, but they don't. Walk in a lot of our members,
they don't walk in being like. Do I like the way?
That song sounds. Do I like the way?
That liturgy leader read that. Line they don't.
Show up with those questions on their minds.
They show up on Sundays. Preoccupied with questions like.
Who looks sad? Who?
Needs me. Who needs encouragement?
Who? Who needs prayer?
Who does Jesus? Want me to receive in the name
of the. Father.
Because. I just want to be honest.
With you again, preferences are great.
I have. Way too many of them.
They're fine. They're fine have.
Preferences. It's great.
But I'm just saying that when you.
Approach church self focused. You get the American landscape.
Of church which is. To say that when you.
Approach Church Self focus. Church is.
Boring. I'm just honest like.
When I have that mentality, I'm like.
You know, I'd give it a two out of five this morning.
Blah. What a.
Boring way to approach church, Yawn.
But when you become God focused and others focused.
Church all of a sudden. Opens itself up to you and
becomes exhilarating at any any need at any moment from the.
Least of these. From a person.
Could arise and change the. Trajectory of your worship.
You might catch the name and face of somebody.
In prayer and know deep. Down that God wants you to
encourage them. Or know deep down that God wants
you to pray. For them and if you're you're
going to do that. That requires a substantial.
Amount of courage. And what this?
Makes is it. Makes church into a non-stop
thrilling adventure where every Sunday is a possibility to
become. The.
Greatest that you can be. In God's wire.
And so let me just let. Me make this hit.
At the end of the day, if you're.
Preoccupied. With being the greatest in the.
World's. Way.
You just won't understand the gospel.
Is that not? How the story starts with?
Jesus clearly articulating the gospel.
Hey, I'm going to die. I'll.
Be raised again. And they don't get it.
They don't understand it because they can't understand it.
Because you can't understand it. When you're too focused arguing
about who's the greatest. Among all of you and.
If you're always focused. On being the most popular, the
most powerful, the smartest, the most sought after, the person
who gets the applause of man, If you're always concerned about
being the greatest in the world's way, how could you?
Ever understand how the greatest?
Man to ever live. Died by.
Becoming the servant of all in the lowest possible way.
On the cross? How could you ever understand
the gospel if you're concerned? About being the greatest in.
The world's way. And this is about the gospel.
It is again. Jesus is not just being nice.
When he receives the child into his arms, in his world, a child
is something. To be.
Inspected and. If he is found inadequate, he's
something that can just be casted into the gates.
Of hell, so I want. You to see what Jesus is doing.
In this moment, he's not. Just being.
Nice. He's being savior.
He's. Snatching the least?
Of these from the gates of hell. He's rescuing those from the
margins and bringing. Them to the center.
Exactly. Yes, exactly.
Like what he did with. You that's when.
You get it, dude. That's when you really
understand the text. A lot of times we.
Read about the least of. These and we think about the
homeless. And the disabled?
The oppressed. Those on the margins of society
and you should think about them. But you don't get it until you
read about. The least of these?
And you see yourself. You see yourself, right?
In the hands of the world, you are nothing more than refuse to
be thrown into the gates of hell.
Nothing. More to be inspected and.
Evaluated and if found wanting. Pushed.
To the margins of society. You were not strong and powerful
and wise according to the ways of the.
World you were weak in. Spirit and small in stature and
spiritually malformed. And what did Jesus do?
He welcomed you into His Kingdom.
He received you on the basis of his own grace.
He snatched you? From the Gates of Hell.
And so if you. Feel unwanted.
By the world. Inadequate, right?
Not measuring up. If you're tired of the world.
Holding you like this, then I just want you to know the.
Gospel but. Jesus doesn't hold you like.
This right? It's right here.
And what he says to you this morning is.
Come here. And that's the gospel.
So let's pray. Heavenly Father, I pray that.
I mean, I. This this this.
Text is both true at a literal level we we should treat.
Children, this way we should. Treat the least of these.
This way it's also a. Sparkling, dazzling biblical
metaphor that ever since the 1st.
Book of the Bible God. 'S chosen people have always.
Been children. He's, He's.
Called his people children. Because.
We have not been wise. In the ways of the world and
we've not been powerful in the ways of the.
World, but God always takes. Small.
People. From the margins of society.
People cast it out and. Welcomes them in his arms on the
basis of grace, and so I. Pray that we would.
First receive that. Embrace from you and 2nd.
Seek to. Become the servant of all.
I personally know I've got a long.
Ways to go. In in that task.
Something in me feels as. Though that might be a lifelong
project for me and. So I pray.
That you would infuse. Me and empower me with.
That as you. Empower us as a church.
So it's in Jesus name that we pray.