Lesson Twelve: The Greatest in the Kingdom
For 2019, our theme is “Take it Home”. The last Wednesday of every month we cancel service and encourage every family to have a Family Bible Study night. Here’s the Bible study we provide for each family.
FOCUS VERSE
Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
BEGINNING TOPIC
Every one of us have a competitive side. That is why Americans spend over $100 billion on sports annually. Why do we find so much joy in watching a group of athletes break bones to drag a ball from one place to the other? It’s the romance of one person or team showing the courage and talent it takes to beat the other. That’s why in almost every movie, tv show, novel, etc. there is a winner and a loser. The desire to come in first is in our nature.
Competitiveness can be just as much spiritually beneficial as it is carnally. The issue is not in the competitiveness, but in the methods used to win. The football player may win by being able to throw the ball the farthest. The bully may win by mocking others or making them feel bad. But to win in the kingdom of God requires no feet of strength or show of intelligence, it is as simple as becoming a servant to all who are around us.
HISTORICAL SETTING
On the road to Capernaum, the disciples could be heard arguing. They weren’t arguing about doctrine, or their plans for that day. They were bickering over which one of them would become the greatest in the kingdom of God.
Maybe Andrew claimed to be the greatest, because he was the first of the disciples to be called by Jesus. Peter may have argued that Jesus gave him the keys of the kingdom, so of course he was the greatest. Perhaps John gracefully announced “I’m the disciple whom Jesus loves! You guys have nothing on me.” One after the other they gave their reasons why they deserved to be #1 in the kingdom.
Certainly, they never intended on anyone hearing their argument. When Jesus confronted them about it, the disciples went quiet. How could Jesus have known? They were so careful! Jesus seemed to know a lot of things that the disciples never intended on Him knowing.
Jesus called for the disciples to sit next to Him. He began to disclose the true nature of competitiveness in the kingdom of God with a simple idea: the first shall be last. In other words, if you desire to be great in the kingdom of God, then you must put yourself (including your needs, wants etc.) last. Carnal competitiveness is about domination, whereas spiritual competitiveness is about submission. Jesus never said the desire to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven was wrong. He only explained the way to get there required us to humble ourselves rather than exalt ourselves.
VERSES TO CONSIDER
Out of everyone who ever lived, Jesus deserved the most to be served as a king. Yet, He did not come to be served, but to serve us and die for us. Jesus proved that if you want to be great, then you must serve others. (Matthew 20:25-28)
Not only is the last greater than the first, but to give is greater than to receive. The best way to humble ourselves and serve others is to consider their needs greater than our own. (Acts 20:35)
What if they don’t deserve to be served? Then we must remember who we’re really doing it for. It doesn’t matter if they are ungrateful, undeserving, or unkind, you’re not serving them. You are serving Jesus Christ. (Colossians 3:23-4)
When we try to exalt ourselves in the eyes of men, the Bible is very clear that we will be abased or brought lower. But if we humble ourselves and serve others, then God will exalt us in the right time. (Matthew 23:8-12)
CONCLUSION
The greatest in the kingdom of God is not based on who can preach the loudest, sing the softest, or teach the wisest. But it is based on who is willing to humble themselves the most and serve other people.