Things about Christianity that really don't make much sense.

− Driving in Haiti
Aspects that almost guarantee it's origin being from God instead of − Kids do what we do … no matter what we say
man.
Hard things, but in the end, good things. Jesus didn't come to be served but to serve
− Things that make it feel more God-like − this is the drink we get to share
Jesus said crazy things that made people leave − Our lives should be marked by service
− must have been frustrating to his disciples − Counter to our natural mind
− Everything in our life is about increasing our leisure & comfort
Paradox − NOT CHRISTIANITY
− lose your life to save it − * Any preacher who tells you different is lying to you
− the last will be first − * Paul, John the Baptist, Jesus, every disciple
− the greatest will be a servant
And to give his live as a ransom for many
Greatness Redefined
− Read Mark 10:32-45 Ransom – maybe more understood here than in other places
− What James & John got right … vs 37 … “in your glory” − a payment for someone's freedom
− They knew Jesus was destined for glory Jesus's death FREES us to SERVE
− WE MUST START THERE
− Stock price example SO WHAT DID HE FREE US FROM? … from ourselves
− Strong building example
− Jesus's story ends with him reigning in glory His death pays the ransom so we can be free from the selfish pursuit of sin
− KNOW THAT
We were slaves to our sin – Romans 6:16-18
− Jesus never corrects their desire to be great in the kingdom of
God Jesus's sacrifice is our EXAMPLE and our POWER.
− He simply redirects their efforts − He demonstrates service – Luke 9:23-24)
− Drink my drink − He empowers our service – Romans 6:18
− Let me give you a taste of what I'm doing
Why we can't just have a “how-to” seminar
− My kids always want a drink of my drink
This doesn't happen the way you think … PARADOX − without the power, we have no hope
− building without power
God helps those who __HUMBLE__ themselves
− not those who help themselves Our Greatest Enemy – Read James 4:5-6
− Pride – The enemy of Christian service
An Example to Follow − We put ourselves on the throne and in the place of God
− We value ourselves too highly
Didn't just tell us what to do … he showed us how to do it − We idolize ourselves
− learn best from an example − Scripture speaks strongly about idolatry
 − Exodus 20:4-6
− We are our biggest idol
Cultivating Humility
• Going to stay on the positive side
• must replace negative with something
◦ Take off … put on
• If we do this, the negative will be obvious
◦ Counterfeit money
• Christianity is not about the “do nots”
We can grow in humility
• Paul as an example
• 1 Corinthians 15:9 – least of all apostles
• Ephesians 3:8 – least of all saints
• 1 Timothy 1:15 – chief of all sinners
− Focus on Christ (not on self)
− Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, its thinking of
ourselves less
− Can't think of my greatness at the grand canyon
− Psalm 8:1-4
− Psalm 77:11-14
− Psalm 34:1-3 - READ TOGETHER
− Ways we can see & focus on God – PSALM 19
− Nature … the world
− The Bible … must be in the word
− Pray regularly (instead of rely on self)
− “We can have no power from Christ unless we live in the
persuasion that we have none of our own.”
− 1 Thessalonians 5:17
− with humility – Luke 18:9-14
− READ 1 TIM 2:1-4 – who we should pray for
− Being submissive (even when you don't have to)
− 1 Timothy 2:1-4
− Romans 13:1-2
− Romans 12:10
− Be thankful (what you have instead of what you “deserve”)
− Don't covet
− Hard because of all the things I don't have - commercials
− easier to say in American than in Haiti, but we are all more
blessed than we deserve to be
− 1 Thessalonians 5:18
− Colossians 2:6-7
− Philippians 4:11-13 … being content
− Welcome correction (because you know you're prone to flaws)
− We usually want to retaliate … point out other's flaws
− Proverbs 12:15; 19:20
− We know our sinfulness – 1 John 1:8
− Make repentance a regular part of your life
− 1 John 1:9
− 2 Chronicles 7:14
− Pride keeps us from being broken over EVERY sin
− Serve (instead of wanting to be served)
− Galatians 5:13-14
− 2 Corinthians 4:5
− Ephesians 5:21 – (special application to husbands and wives)
3 ARENAS … home – work – church
− home: wife, kids, parents, family
− work: boss, coworker, be a hard worker (Daniel)
− church: outside after this meeting
Isaiah 66:2 – God looks on the humble
− That's the reward … not riches, health, power
− Matt 25:21 – Dad says “Well Done”
Getting this changes us
James & John's request … were changed…
− they became the first and last to die for Jesus