Building the Kingdom: The Path to Greatness Through Service
Pastor Hunter Bingham
October 20, 2024
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Main Topics Discussed
Introduction
Greeting and setting the tone for the sermon series on "Building the Kingdom"
Question for reflection: "What do you want to be great at?"
Explanation of greatness: being considerably better than average, standing out, being passionate about something.
Ambition and greatness in different areas of life (career, family, hobbies).
Unifying question for disciples: "Do you want to be great at following Jesus and building the kingdom?"
The Calling of Disciples
Recap of the series on being disciple missionaries.
Our shared calling: to follow Jesus, represent Him, and partner with God in building His kingdom on earth.
Defining the kingdom: A world ruled by Jesus, starting in hearts and moving to communities and societies.
Do we have the desire to be great in God's kingdom? Is it wrong to want greatness in following Jesus?
The Disciples' Dispute About Greatness (Luke 22:24-30)
Context: Jesus’ disciples argue about who will be the greatest as Jesus nears the culmination of His ministry.
Imagining their discussion: comparing theological knowledge, work ethic, and ministry success.
Human nature and the desire for significance and honor.
Jesus' Response: A Radical Redefinition of Greatness
Jesus doesn’t dismiss their desire for greatness.
Key point: Jesus doesn’t say ambition is wrong, but He challenges their understanding of greatness.
The world's version of greatness: power, authority, and privilege, with leaders called benefactors (often self-serving).
Jesus' counter-cultural call: greatness in the kingdom comes through becoming like the youngest and serving others.
Example: Jesus, the King of Kings, comes as one who serves.
Jesus’ Servant Leadership
Jesus turns conventional wisdom on its head.
Who is greater at the table, the one reclining or the one serving?
Jesus' example: The greatest human, yet He serves.
True greatness is found in humility and service, not power and privilege.
Implications for Disciples Today
Greatness in the kingdom is about giving up glory and privileges for others.
Serving in ordinary, unseen ways that honor God.
Jesus challenges us to empty ourselves to serve others—this is what greatness looks like in God’s kingdom.
Practical Applications for the Church
Embrace the desire for greatness, but let Jesus transform it into a desire to serve others.
Examples of service: mentoring, teaching, generosity, and listening.
Use whatever God has given us (resources, time, wisdom) for the good of others.
Jesus' Example and Invitation to Us
Philippians 2:3-11: Jesus, though in the form of God, emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant.
Jesus’ ultimate act of service: laying down His life for humanity.
In response, God exalted Him above every name, demonstrating that true greatness is tied to sacrificial love.
Living Out This Call in Our Church Community
Romans 12:10: Compete in outdoing one another in showing honor.
Build a culture where we seek to serve and honor others above ourselves.
How can we actively honor and serve one another in our families, workplaces, and church?
Conclusion
Jesus doesn’t call us to stuff down ambition, but to channel it toward humble service.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus: the perfect example of servant leadership and greatness.
Invitation to respond: Worship through singing, reflecting, praying, and asking God to realign our ambition to His way.
Call to outdo one another in honor, serve sacrificially, and be transformed by the Spirit in building God’s kingdom.
Biblical References
Luke 22:24-30
“A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’”
Philippians 2:3-11
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
1 Corinthians 6:2
“Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?”
Romans 12:10-11
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Reflection Questions
What areas of your life do you feel a deep desire to be great at, and how does that align with your calling as a follower of Jesus?
Reflect on your ambitions and passions, and consider how they can be transformed to align with kingdom-building.
How do you currently define greatness in your personal or professional life? How does this definition compare to Jesus' call to serve others in humility?
Consider if your current pursuits of greatness reflect the model of servant leadership demonstrated by Jesus.
In what ways can you adopt a mindset of serving others, even in situations where you hold authority or privilege?
Reflect on practical ways to lead by serving, whether at work, in your family, or in your community.
Do you struggle with ambition in your spiritual life? How can you balance the desire to do great things for God with the humility of serving others?
Think about any tension between ambition and humility in your walk with Christ and how you can channel that desire into kingdom-building.
How can you outdo others in showing honor in your relationships, both within the church and in the world around you?
Reflect on ways to actively honor and serve those around you, and how you can make this a regular practice in your life.
Daily Activities
Service Challenge:
Activity: Identify one person in your life who could use help with something small but significant (e.g., a neighbor needing help with yard work or a coworker needing assistance on a project).
Application: Offer to serve them in a humble and quiet way, expecting nothing in return, just as Jesus served his disciples.
Daily Reflection on Ambition:
Activity: At the end of each day for the next week, reflect on moments where you felt ambitious or competitive.
Application: Ask yourself, "Did I pursue greatness for my own glory or did I seek to serve others?" Journal your thoughts and pray for opportunities to align your ambitions with Jesus' example of servant leadership.
Outdo Others in Honor:
Activity: Challenge yourself to "outdo others in showing honor" (Romans 12:10) by choosing at least one person each day to honor through words of encouragement, a public acknowledgment, or an act of kindness.
Application: Seek ways to intentionally lift others up, modeling Jesus’ teaching to honor others above yourself.
Sacrifice for Others:
Activity: Plan a day where you intentionally sacrifice your time or comfort for the benefit of someone else (e.g., volunteering, babysitting, or running errands).
Application: Reflect on how this act mirrors Jesus' sacrificial service and ask God to reveal how you can make serving others a more regular part of your life.
Kingdom-Building Conversations:
Activity: Have a conversation with someone about the concept of building God's kingdom, discussing what it looks like in everyday life.
Application: Encourage each other to pursue greatness by serving others and living out Jesus' definition of greatness through humility and servant leadership.
