Real Discipleship - The Radical Road to Greatness, Part 1

The late poet Robert Frost once said to Rhodes diverter. I took the one less traveled, and that made all the difference.

You know there's only one road, one path that leads to true contentment and happiness that there's only one road provides real purpose and roaming stay with me as we discover together. That road is welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping survival teacher for this daily discipleship program. Motivating Christians to live like Christians in the middle chip series will discipleship how Jesus chose to change the world before we dive in this series was recorded but the truth is to assure from the gospel of Marcus relevant to all of us. So if you're ready, let's join Chip for his message radical road to greatness.

We have an innate desire for our lives to count only impact in one sense of the word says the Lord. We all want to crank Jesus Christ to make you an offer you can't refuse the offer is that if you want to be great. It's attainable. The second part of the offer is is that it's not just for some people but as for everyone, even the great and every single person. If you're willing to be great.

According to his terms can be great if you follow the road. That is, tell us we need to follow but there's a real morning.

Most people don't like this road. Most people travel this road. This is a road really is less traveled here to guarantee the promise if you walk down this road with me.

I guarantee you'll be great. You have impact will be significant. People long after your dad and during your lifetime will say while on my glad he or she was on this planet for what they did in my life. If you open to Mark chapter 9 beginning at verse 30 he's going to explain this radical road to greatness. How can you become great in the best sense of the word and as you turn there would say that I don't think greatness is reserved just for individuals. I think God wants great churches. Churches of the impact of power. Churches that make a difference, but it causes and demands. Each of us to follow this really radical road now as we pick it up in verse 30 you remember that there was a great confession Peterson you are the Christ, and after that member of the Lord said is that hey guys I'm checking out the dying three days to rise from the dead, and he gave that strong call to discipleship deny yourself not your agenda, but follow my agenda and then after that he said not only is there great cost or sacrifice but man it's the greatest thing you ever tasting your life. Some of you here will taste the kingdom and power, and then they went up on the Mount of Transfiguration member that he revealed himself and they realized who it was they got to serve and they went down the valley and they had the struggles in the nine guys can cast out the demons and starting his second prediction publicly is third prediction counting the time he told the three verse 30 they left that place and it passed through Galilee to go out of that valley.

How that conflict. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were. Why because he was teaching his disciples the ministry and feeding the 5000 all that stuff all the big time convincing is now going to fade into the background and he's going to focus the lens of his attention on the 12 and prepare them for his death.

Private seminars private teaching that will sustain them later. So he said to them, here's what he thought the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men word means sold out.

They will kill him, and after three days he will rise. That was his teaching. Now notice the disciples response.

Verse 32 but they did not understand what he meant and they were afraid to ask you there scratching their heads and die. We sorted last time someone objected to this they got a pretty solid review, so maybe they're thinking you know after what Peter got a thing. Asking questions on this one just taken my faith. Can you imagine if you had a close friend for two and half years you've been out in the wilderness, even under pressure. Even in the midst of mere riots you seen them do miraculous things you see him feed people and heal the sick and become very close friends and when he understood it or not. He said I'm gonna die.

Can you imagine where you'd be at emotionally and avoid what we all had a friend who got cancer and we know that there six months or year three months and it just begins to shift your focus and can you imagine what the disciples must be feeling at this point of his agony.

Let's pick it up and and hear what these faithful sensitive followers of Christ, how they feel about the man. It's led verse 33 they came to Capernaum, and many scholars think probably to the house of Peter when he was in the house he asked them what were you arguing about on the road.

What what were you disputing often he would walk ahead of them, or walk behind them and but they kept quiet because all the way. They had argued about who was the greatest. This leader is saying here guys in there walking in groups of two and three. Talk about big shot is okay when he checks out his takeover, cheese, and you can almost hear yeah well we are when we went up on the mount with me and the reason you guys heading up on the mountain because he knew you needed extra attention. We were down doing the work. Yeah, I saw your work. We came down you can do anything, shut up Peter and Bill tell me to shut up. I was the first one to say who he really was, get off my back. Andrew arguing about this is ugly� This is jealousy of one another. This is a desire for prestige. This is a desire and pride.

This is a desire for position. This is a me first mindset they get any first classes like we do and what the best parking spots in the shortest lines in the nicest stuff and the best waitresses in the phone just perfect. We hate it when people cut in because it does me first mindset right in the midst Cali if it wasn't so much like us, we could be so critical of the right about here. Now let's hear how the Lord is going to respond. No, I want you to notice when he responds what he does say but also what he doesn't say verse 35 sitting down means of seriousness, the official position of a rabbi. When he taught his students sitting down Jesus called the 12 and said condition. If anyone wants to be first you know the big cheese would be great to be significant. Okay, here's the road.

The radical road to follow. He must be the very last and the servant of all. Where we get our word for deacon. The cost is also where we get for minister translated the New Testament he must be a minister or a servant to all.

Now notice what he didn't say did he say there was anything wrong with that.

In the desire to want to be great and significant have your life count. No key encourage their greatness. But he redefined how to get there. They wanted to be great, but they were going on this road, and he slams on the brakes to the spiritual cards as a if you want to be great. You go on this road you need to be last in the servant of all.

Greatness is encouraged redefined and basically the principal is, is the greatness is obtained by serving others is an act of worship. The father you really want to be great become a servant, take those glasses often have a me first mindset and put it down and then take sunglasses on and put them on and one when it's as a father first mindset and others before me mindset father first. What would you want to do the Lord others first. I'll go ahead Lance. Okay I mean it means a whole 2 1/2 seconds.

It's not my money is not my stuff is not my thing is father. What do you want father first mindset others before me.

Consider others is more important than yourself. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit right member clippings to have this to this way of thinking missing lifestyle in what yourselves.

That was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God. God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied or availed himself and took the form of what a bond servant, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, here's where the greatness comes in. See, Jesus came and is only one person on the planet I could say hey you know serve me God and what he do he took on the form of a servant. Therefore, God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name that is above every name that had his name every knee should bow and every tongue confess to the glory of God the way up humble yourself in the sight of God. What will happen such as not by what you drive is not by how we look, it's not how spiritual people think we are when were servants, it's when we put the needs of others and we see father what he wants to do that is the road to greatness and impact and illustratesverse 36. It took a little child. He had instead among them, taking them in his arms.

He said whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name for my sake. The idea welcomes me back. Here's the bonus and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me, every time you take off your me first mindset my way, my money, my stuff, my thing and you put on the father first, others first mindset and you do it not just for people who can pay you back, not just when people get a look. But when you do it for the least like to a child.

He says you are welcoming actually doing it for me and not only me but your welcoming the one who sent me. Why do you think he used the child as the couple observations about children. One, how many children you do something nice for them connected in a pay you back revisit really nice for child and they say that is my credit card for, they can't pay back. Secondly, the social status in their day. They were the lowest person on the total to get out and get out of the way, kids only a servant was less than a child in the day and the third observation about kids is they rarely understand how much sacrifice it takes to do for them what you do for today when advocate was the last time. Those of you have kids to walk and said mom dad or mom or dad or whatever Michael talked of inducing thinking you guys get up early.

My clothes are clean. There's food on the table.

I read an article that is good because you hundred and $50-$200,000 to get me from 0 to 18 alone.

There's been sacrifice is interrupted your relationship. I just want to know that you two are incredible and your smile.

Thanks, sink is built say they do that after you get the say hey how can we get this to write it out now as were laughing now listen very carefully why Jesus illustrated with the child he saying here's the test. The acid test of our servant hood.

Is the acid test of our servant hood is her motives to see if you're willing to serve a little child. If you're willing to serve people who can't pay you back who can't take out the lunch who can affirm you who can't give you a visible position who can't do something to let everyone know what a great servant. You are then you must be doing for one reason the phone as an act of worship for go go go back and look at nurseries and four and five-year-olds in elementary rooms and I wanted you find people that work there you something.

Those kids you know can imagine one's want to. Can't say I just want to tell you make a significant eternal impact my life. I really appreciate what they say and they learn and the people who work with children you what you what their motivation is Caligula recognition and visibility. I guess they're doing it. Father now just come if you have a spiritual seatbelt fastened it mildly because I think the scalpel of God's word. I'm going to just writing between some of your ribs into your heart. I wonder why there's always a great need for people to minister from the crib through sixth grade, junior high, and often even mostly the early great you know why there are no strokes to be found. There is little visibility mostly in gratitude and what requires ours a heart for God. It requires sacrifice requires taking off the me first mindset in the hassle and saying to the least of these.

I do it not for them only. But for you and the father will the Lord now shifts gears and after giving us acid test of what makes a great person and embed. Basically, the question is why we do what we do as was getting down to the mode of the heart and as we get there. He reminds us were not in competition with one another great comparison is always the root of carnality when trying to figure out with you Readmore give more or serve more and do more innocent than just carnal because I know God's agenda for you guys really doesn't want me to know is Jennifer you but he wants me that the father first others before me mindset and come to him and do what he wants me to do. You know the only reason the keeps us from sacrificial giving of time and talent and treasure what it is a me first mindset my schedule my stuff. My bills and often many of our bills are things that an impulse when you're feeling down, went out and bought that we didn't need and can't afford the payments up to her eyeballs sued for one and the Lord is cutting through this and saying there's a road to greatness, a radical road. Not a lot of people travel it you get on this road and take off that he first mindset and put a father first others before you mindset. You will be great. The second thing I was going to say is that this isn't just for the elite for the insiders. This is just for people been to seminary or Bible college or an insider leadership or close to Christ in some way I redefine that this is for everybody. Notice how John verse 38 now. Not sure whether this is a confession or whether a diversion conviction has occurred and he's got a spiritual dagger in his heart being gently twisted.

I think in and and is either confessing teacher. Oh gosh forced us to teach little children like this I can tell you can't believe what we did the other day we met some people and they work in our group and they were actually casting out demons in your name and doing ministry in your name successfully unlike us and the and so we told him the stop because they're not part of our group will run around with us in our church are not in our denomination or our nondenominational and so you know equally. Jesus now is going to teach that this jealousy of others. This exclusive attitude in competition with other people is to also be forbidden because it is rooted in a me first mindset, verse 38 teacher said John we saw man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop because he's not one of us answered. Do not stop and Jesus said, no one does a miracle in my name, and can in the next moment say anything bad about me. For whoever is not against us is for us. In fact, I tell you the truth I tell you the truth, not only people are doing ministry in big-time things like casting out demons, but I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name, a small teeny bitty bit of father. First, others first sacrifice.

Anybody who does a tiny little thing in my name and gives it because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose their reward. We are not in competition with other people and were not in competition with other works just listening to the first part of his message the radical road to greatness from a series real discipleship in recent times it seems like more and more Christians are falling into the traps of hypocrisy, scandal and corruption. So how can we change that in the series chirp reveals that it comes down to two words real disciples as he teachers through Mark chapter 6 through 10 ensures how we can authentically follow after Jesus and avoid the obstacles and distractions that so easily entangle us don't was how genuine disciples of Christ can radically change our world. For more information about our resources for this series go to LivingontheEdge.org or the chipping remap or call AAA 333-6003 will before we go any further or Bible teacher chip is jointly in studio now to talk about an issue that's been on his heart recently shipped while thanks so much Dave for months, the world has been witnessing the tragedy of the war in Ukraine. No sane person hopes for war, but when you're in one you want soldiers in the fight were both passionate and well trained for battle as Christians were in the spiritual war against the powers of darkness. Ephesians 6 details the importance of preparation and training and readiness for the fight the war in listen to what Paul says put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's evil schemes for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this darkness gets the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This is what were training for. We need warriors who equipped with the truth were able to speak light into this world Living on the Edge we are absolutely committed to helping people go deeper in the truth to put on the full armor of God, and to be men and women who are not passive, but entered the battle for the souls of their children for our country and for the future. Here's my question. Would you help us. Would you help us disciple people equip the next generation and help pastors in this battle that were in not against political issues not against cultural issues, but against the spiritual forces of darkness behind so much of the evil that we see would you pray with us and then would you consider making a financial contribution between now and July 7.

As every gift will be double dollar for dollar. I want you know that myself and our team are all in and we want to make a difference and we need your help. Thanks for doing whatever God chose you to do what a great challenge both you want to help us pursue our mission to teach God's word. Now's a great time for you to become a financial partner because right now, thanks to a small group of friends of the ministry. Every gift we received between now and July 7 will be doubled to make a donation. Just give us a call at AAA 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003, or if you prefer to give online visit LivingontheEdge.org hapless nurse just tap donate. Thank you for praying and doing whatever the Lord leads you to do will hear again is chip to share some final thoughts from today's message. Thanks Dave, you know, today we heard the disciples do something that if were honest, we all do it right. We kinda bicker and we talked and we compare and you know we get this idea that I'm better than you. You're better than me and I think for a lot of us. We don't really say it out loud at least for me, it's a lot in my mind find myself comparing myself with other people in us just face it, it's just human to want to be important to want to be significant to want to be number one. And yet Jesus taught those disciples that comparison always leads to carnality.

The fact of the matter is, is that God has a plan for you. He's got a plan for me, the God's given you gifts and abilities in the background. That's this like no one else in all the world what he wanted those disciples to see and what he wants us to see is that were tempted to measure ourselves by other people says there's a different measuring stick, and it's his.

It's counterintuitive it's it's the kingdom way instead of the human way and it's considering others is more important than ourselves.

In the words of Paul. It's doing nothing from selfishness or vainglory but with humility of mine. Considering the needs of others is more important than your own.

And so here's what I want you to do him to do a little test for me today.

Are you ready as you're driving today.

You only have to do it today, but just consider others as more important.

Let people in.

Don't get upset when someone pulls in front of you actually act like old there more important.

It's like some famous person is ahead of you.

Or how about that work may be you can't do until tomorrow, but pick up coffee or pickup bagels or pickup donuts or just do some baby step some small act that puts other people ahead of yourself, or if you want to get a little bit radical. Take a five or a $10 bill in when you get your coffee or when you see someone that's hurting just pause and walk over to him and put it in their hand and just say I just want you know God is thinking about you and Jesus loves you and then just walk away those tiny baby steps of putting others first will do something in your mind and your emotions, and here's what I'll tell you, you will have an experience where you'll say while I feel great.

That did may be more for me than it did for them because that's the Jesus way are you ready to try it, then let me know how goes as we close, I want you to know that as a staff we ask the Lord to help you take whatever your next faith step is and we'd love to hear about what's going would you take a minute to send us a note or give us a call either one is easy. Email us@chiplivingontheedge.org or give us a call at AAA 33360031. Glad you've been with us and until next time. This is saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge