Services | A Lesson not Learned

Bulletin

Hymn # 162 “Are You Washed in the Blood”

SCRIPTURE READING – Ephesians 1:7 - 12
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate

Praise and Worship
“Battle Belongs”
“Who You Say I Am”
“How Great IS Your Love”

Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“A Lesson not Learned”

PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection

“At the Cross (Love Ran Red)”



Sermon Notes
Mark 10:32 – 34 Jesus repeats His prediction of His betrayal, treatment, death and resurrection
Mark 10:35 James and John ask Jesus for a favor without saying what it is
Mark 10:36 Jesus asks what they want Him to do
Mark 10:37 They want to sit on His right and left in His glory
Mark 10:38 – 40 Jesus says that they don’t know what they are asking for and they respond they can handle it. Jesus says who will sit beside Him has already been determined
Mark 10:41 Other disciples are upset with the two
Mark 10:42 – 45 Jesus says that the way the world operates is not how we are to operate and repeats His teaching that the first is to be a slave to all

---

Scritpures

---

Transcript of Service

There are times when we're learning something that we don't get. It on the first. Lesson it may be because we weren't paying attention or the concept is particularly difficult, or it doesn't match with our view of the world. The disciples were the same way Jesus had taught them something, but they didn't quite seem to grasp it, so Jesus was required to teach them again. See what the disciples like to understand, and probably. We as well. A lot of times in the middle of my sermon, and I will tell you that while you may be thinking that I'm pointing a finger at you, that three fingers are pointing back at me. In today's sermon, I'm going to be highly critical of the disciples. But I want you to remember that as I .1 finger at the disciples I'm painting pointing 3 fingers back at me, and my hope is that you will from this message. Think about. What fingers are pointing back at you? Stopping it. And so if you have your Bibles and you should turn to the gospel of Mark, and we're going to start with chapter 10, verse 32. Jesus.

And his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem. For the Passover. And. When the. Scriptures talk about going up to Jerusalem. We tend to think of well that means going north going up, but in fact they're going South, but now they're pretty much going West. Going up to Jerusalem means that Jerusalem is on a mount, and so it is a change in. Level. So they're having to travel up the road to get to Jerusalem. So it says this. They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them. And they were amazed. And those who followed were fearful. So we have this, that that those who are following Jesus his. Disciples other than the 12 seemed to be in some fear because of what might happen. And as you probably are aware, fear can be contagious. And so Jesus is going to take his 12 disciples aside to prevent that fear from spreading. And so he says this. And again, he took the 12 aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. So he is going to predict what is going to be happening in a few days in Jerusalem so that they would not be fearful, but understand. And saying, behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and the son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him as fit on him and scourge him and kill him. And three days later he will rise again. So Jesus, to prevent them from being fearful, especially what is going to happen soon, he tells them exactly what's going to happen. Now, unfortunately, we're going to see in a moment that the disciples are going to change the topic. They've done that. The first well the first time. That the Gospel of Mark talks about when.

Peter tells rebukes Jesus for this and. Jesus turns right around and rebukes Peter for having the interests of man and not the interests of God, and then later on Jesus gives them the same prediction of his. Arrest and trial and murder and killing. And they changed the subject and they're going to change the subject to similar to what they changed the subject this time. Now it may be for the following reasons. It may be because they have been taught. That the Messiah will not die. And so it may conflict with their worldview. What they've been taught about what would happen to the Messiah. Much like there are various doctrines that go into church today that people just follow, because that's what everybody else teaches, rather than examining the scriptures. I would think and this wrongly be critical. What the disciple should have said was wait a minute. Master. Wait a minute. Rabbi. We have been taught that the Messiah wouldn't die. And you even now and on other occasions have said that you are the son of man. We believe that you are the Messiah, but you're talking about dying. Show us in the scriptures. Where this is true? But they don't. They changed the subject and again there are times when we are faced with difficult questions. That we should examine the scriptures. Rather than just. And again, when it comes to various beliefs, there are those who are just cynical. They don't believe anything. So just doesn't matter what you say. They just don't believe it. There are those. Who? Don't know what they believe and are convinced on whatever argument happens, and then change their mind again. Then there are those. Who, because of a famous pastor or a person, their parent or grandparent or somebody they respected or highly looked up to, had a position, and that was their position.

Rather than looking at Scripture to see if it's consistent with that, they just follow it because that's what they said. Then there are some who hold positions because they hope so. There are things that I hope to be true. But I cannot show you in the scriptures that they are or not. And so I won't tell you that it's true. I just go. I hope so. And there's even a couple of positions I hold doctrinally that other people hold that I. Kind of hope that they're right. But I don't think so based on my view of the scriptures. And then there are those. Who may hold the position? Subject to change upon what the word of God says. And hopefully that's what what the disciples would have done. They said, wait a minute, you're you're the good teacher. As we saw. You're the one who's come from God. You're the one who has done the amazing teaching. Teach us now. And look at it this way. If they would have asked those questions. If they would have understood what Jesus. Taught right here. When they saw Jesus arrested. They'd rejoice. When they saw him locked. There was that we heard about that. Three days is coming. When they scourged him. In their agony, they would have said this is God's will. When they saw him die on a cross, they would have said. Sunday's coming. But instead they were miserable and lost and afraid because they did not listen to the teaching of their rabbi, of the son of God the Messiah. So they went through a lot of pain needlessly. They went through fear needlessly. They went through uncertainty needlessly. That's us. There are a lot of times when we don't listen to the word of God. We go through all those same things needlessly. So ask the questions, understand? So that you may be convinced of your faith. But the disciples do what the disciples do, and oftentimes what we do when we don't understand something, we change the topic. So James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came to up to Jesus saying teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. Now find this interesting. They're trying to be coy with Jesus and say we have a favor. We're not going to tell you what the favor is, but we want you to do it before we tell you what it is. They don't know who they're talking to. Jesus understands the intentions and thoughts of men that he already knows what they're. Planning to ask? So even though they're very coy and they're whatever, they in essence have changed the topic. We want you to do something fun and notice.

It seems that every time Jesus has talked about his arrested death and burial and resurrection. In essence, they're change of topic is well, what about us? Peter said wait a minute. That's that's not right. And he rebuked him because he had. His plan, what God was going to do, and it wasn't what God was going to do. Jesus had taught this very same thing, and they argued amongst themselves, who was the greatest in the Kingdom. Now they're changing the topic again. What about us and James and John specifically, which is interesting because John is the one that refers to himself in the Gospel of John as the one Jesus loved. So even the one who we think is closest to Jesus. Still has his own opinion and his own desire and his own agenda. And he said to them, what do? You want me to do for you? Again, so I want. I want you to tell me what it is because I already know, but I want you to say it. And they said to him, Grant that we may sit one on your right and one on your left. In your glory. We want to be. Some of the leaders and rulers in your Kingdom. We want to sit. Wanna. And they're not saying. Well, you know James, because he's the oldest, gets to sit on the right and John the younger, he gets to sit on the left. It's whichever 1 you choose because John kinda is your favorite. It seems so. Maybe he's going to be on the right and then James can be on the left and we want this because we want to be able to rule with you. And the king? Doesn't matter how the Kingdom is going to get initiated, it's we want to rule over people. But Jesus said to them, you do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink of the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? He just told them what he is going to go through. In a few days. Instead of dwelling on that, they're dwelling on. Their power. So it says. Can you undergo what I'm going to undergo? And they're being foolish, said.

They said to him we are able. Yeah, we can do it. It's amazing how confident people can be. When they don't know what's ahead of them. That's why. There are times I will here talk about well, if this happens, my faith will see me through and I agree. My faith will see me through. When God grants me the grace to see it through. But if I'm seeing it through on my own efforts. I'm Maher. And so they're going. Ohh yeah. Whatever it is, we can, we can handle it. And Jesus said to them. The cup that I drink, you shall drink. And you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. Little do they know. That James is going to be one of the first martyrs. The church he won't see very long because he's going to be martyred. John. It's going to be beaten and imprisoned and eventually sent into exile on an lonely island. Doesn't sound like either one of them on this world is going to be ruling and reigning. Instead, they're going to be dead. And exiled. But to sit on my right or on my left, this is not mine to give. She says I can't answer your request. Even if I wanted to. But it is for those for whom it has been prepared. Notice this had prepared. Which means God has already got a plan set in place for what's going to happen. He doesn't make it up as it goes along. Before he ever said let there be light, God knew what was going to happen and designated it. So he goes. It's not mine, so I can't give it to you, but you're going to undergo the same baptism that I'm undergoing. That part you get right. And hearing this, the 10 began to feel indignant with James and John part of it.

I'm sure it's because. How dare them try to be placed above us? I'm sure part of it is. Why didn't we think of it first? You know, we we should have been there asking to be rulers and reign over people. Isn't that cool? And so they're upset because James and John have set themselves above the other 10. And calling them to himself, Jesus said to them. You know that those who were recognized as rulers of the Gentiles loaded over them and their great men exercise authority over them. He says the way the world works is this. People obtain power, they may obtain power through riches or being a social influencer, or being voted into an office and and whatever, and they they seek power to rule over people and the way you get power is to exercise power, and some people will say the best way. Is to make people fear you and other people say no, you need to get people to love you and there's the back and forth and and how you ought to rule and reign. And that's all arguing over political science and whatever, how to best to be. The ruler. But she says that's not the way you do. You don't get it by becoming wealthy, don't comment by having millions of likes. Or or having being paid by being a social influencer or getting elected to an office that you can never get voted out of. That's not how it works here. So he's going to now teach them again what they fail to understand. The last time he talked about his death, burial, resurrection. What? By saying this is how you succeed at being a disciple. This is how you become, if you will, a ruler being a disciple. So he's going to give them understanding and teaching again. How it is? The. I'm going to be intentionally vague. So I'm going to say the a few days ago. I saw this lady, for lack of a better word, enter into a building and she had a T-shirt on. This T-shirt was written and I think it was written in, in rhinestones or glitter or something that says you are witnessing greatness. Well, after seeing her for the for the period of time that I saw her. I never witnessed her do anything right. I never witnessed her say anything great. I never saw her comport herself. Great. So I never witnessed greatness. As she thought she was. As her T-shirt said so. And a lot of times, that's what. We Christians kind of thing, oh, I'm the pastor of a Church of exercise. Therefore I'm great.

Or I have a worldwide ministry and therefore I'm great. And you are in the presence of greatness. This is 1 where I don't have to worry about being permanent. I understand. That if our ministry, my ministry. Hinged on. My greatness. We be in moral world of heart. Than you realize. But your ministry and my ministry does not depend on how. Great, we are. How great he is. And he's going to teach us how to be great. And the awesome thing here is. It doesn't matter. How old you are? You see, if I wanted to be a great. Athlete. Father Time has already defeated me. But let's say I. Started out as a young person and I was. A great athlete. I would only be a great athlete because God gave me certain. Gifts and talents. And then I use those gifts and talents to work really hard to be great. To be acknowledged, to be the goat, the greatest of all time. But even those that we call the grace of all time, whether it's basketball, football or whatever. They're not playing the sport now. Because they're too old. There are those who think well, if I just get enough power and get an elected office over and over that I have this power. And you may have power. Until you die. It's not eternal. But Jesus is going to give us a teaching. Doesn't matter. How brilliant you are. You may look at the scriptures. Go like the Ethiopian eunuch. Is he Speaking of himself or somebody else? I don't understand. I need somebody to teach me. Maybe you're that who?

The Scriptures seem to be a bit more complicated than you can understand. Your greatness according to Jesus is independent on that. It isn't dependent on the fact that hundreds or thousands or 10s of thousands of people hang on every single word that you say and how wise you are. Are foolish.
Yes.
It doesn't matter. Like I said, even how old you are cause he's going to show that even if you can't get on your knees. Can sit in the chair and bring people's feet up. So this is how Jesus says to be an awesome great disciple. To be one who is a leader of disciples, to be one who is counted great and again. We have this false sense of humility. We want people to notice us, we want people to like us, we want to have friends, we want to have. Millions of likes on whatever social media you're on, and we think somehow that makes this impressive important. And if we care about what other people think. Well, what about thinking, caring about what God thinks? My. Past family, Crest says. With God, everything without God nothing. And that's true. Is without God. Doesn't matter what you have. It won't last. So Jesus says this, but it is not this way among you says stop looking at the way the world operates to acquire. Strength and power. And ruling. And significance. But whoever wishes to become great. Do you want to become great? As a disciple. Whoever wishes to become it doesn't only only these 12 get to be great or only no. It says whoever wishes to be whoever wishes come, whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant. Or slave. Well, wait a minute. This this is right? That doesn't match what our worldview, our worldview, is to be. Great people serve you. She says no, no, that's not how it operates. That may be how it. Operates in the world. But that's not how it operates here. How it operates here is you are to be a servant and no wonder the disciples didn't get it the first time.

Because that's not what they wanted. They wanted to be on his right and his left. Then it, and they wanted to do it by appointment. And she says no. There's a task. For you to do to become great. Be a servant. And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be a slave of all. So there's this sense of. We are not. Limited to well, I will serve this group of people. Or I will serve these people because they like me or love me or or or don't make being a servant all that difficult. To not to be a servant of all, we're to start, if you will, with our family, which you would think would be the easiest it oftentimes it's the hardest.

Because sometimes our family just. Want to make it difficult for us? And then our church and our friends. If we can't be servants. In our family and in our church. How you going to be a servant? To everyone else. One of the awesome things about this church. So if you want to serve God. There's almost no restriction. If you need money, you probably got to give it yourself, but you know, whatever God has called on your heart. Go for it. And if you do something a little different. Maybe you like music's a little different than other people. And maybe it's not the music that that most of the people like. Our people love you anyway. Yeah, well, that's no. That person likes that music, so it's OK because I love him or her. It's cool.
No.
We're welcoming of, of, of being a little. Different in the way we worship or think or whatever, it's it's OK. So being a Sir, if you can't be a servant here. Heaven help you. Then it says to be a slave. You have no rights as a slave. You do what the master tells you to do. Now you can be a slave or a servant in two different mindsets. You can see well, this is what I was ordered to do, and therefore I'm going to do it. And you can do it. And you can be obedient. And you can be miserable. It's nobody's approach now. I did a really great job. They didn't even say thank you, you know, whatever. So you can do it that way. Or you can do it. I love God. And I saw that he. Came here. And was abused. Beloved us anyway. He was misunderstood. Beloved us anyway. That he was. Mocked. Discouraged. And arrested. And placed on a cross. And died. And Jesus will later tell them.

A slave is not above his master. They treated Jesus that way. Then guess what, guys, they're going to treat us that very same way. But Jesus says that's how you become great. Doesn't matter how physically fit you are, doesn't matter how old you are. Doesn't matter how brilliant you are. Doesn't matter how much money you have, doesn't matter how much influence you have. Simply being a servant or a slave to everyone is a way to become great. And if we desire, let's be honest, if we desire greatness here on this earth, it is that a limited period of time. Why not seek to be great for eternity? Why not during the millennial Kingdom to be an equivalent of Malibu or whatever rich place that there is on the ocean, which is great as opposed to a shock somewhere. Because we're not satisfied with that in the present life, let's let's. Go for the guts. So let's let's be great. As a disciple. And then he's going to give in his example for even the son of man, even Jesus. Did not come to be served. If there was anyone in the history of this world, whoever was entitled to be served. Every moment of every day there was Jesus. But that's not why he came. So if there was somebody who was deserved to be honored and glorified and served every moment of every day that I didn't come here for that. Then how is it that we can say well? I'm too awesome. How can you expect me to get my hands dirty? How can you expect me to get down on my knees and wash people's feet? As Jesus did. And you're not above him. He did not come to be served, but to serve. Anne. To. His life a ransom for many. He's going to take his life and exchange it for those who believe.

And I've said this before and I'll say it and. I continue to believe it. If every single person. From Adam and Eve to when Jesus comes again. Were to be a believer. It still wouldn't be worth the cost. Of what he gave. To redeem us. To ransom us. To take us out of being sinners and to be children of God. Bound for hell. To being in his home. He came to make that exchange. And if he can do that? Why can't I? Set aside my preferences. My goals, my desires. And say. I'm going to say first, the Kingdom of God. And everything else. We'll handle itself. We're going to sing. At the cross. The blood ran red. Jesus gave his life for us. The problem with us, Jesus told us to. Pick up our cross and follow him. But we keep wanting to resurrect ourselves. So that's why we need to die daily. And we need to set aside that. Person. Who wants what he wants or she wants and says Lord.
What you want I want.

And all God's people said.