Not through success, but through service.

Not through success, but through service.

 

Mark 9:30-37

□ Praise and Sharing

 [New Hymn] Chapter 220 In front of our beloved Lord

How did you spend last week?

 

 Jesus foretells his suffering and death, but the disciples do not understand what he is saying at all. Rather, they fight over who has the upper hand. Jesus cannot be seen in the eyes of people whose minds are entirely focused on measuring the size of their own success by comparing themselves to others. This is because the path Jesus walked was not the path of success, but the path of service.

 

□ Words and Sharing

1. Jesus announces his death and resurrection to his disciples (verses 30-32).

1) What did Jesus say to his disciples? (verse 31)

For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later."

Jesus says that he will be handed over to people to be killed and that he will be raised from the dead three days later.

 

2) What was the reaction of the disciples who heard the message? (verse 32)

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

The disciples did not understand this and were afraid to ask.

 

<Sharing 1> The disciples did not realize the suffering and death that Jesus was talking about. Strictly speaking, because they were full of desire for elevation, they could not accept the discipleship of humiliation. Let's talk about what prevents us from hearing and following Jesus' teachings.

The worldly ambition to be first and be served prevents us from hearing and following the teachings of Jesus.

 

2. Jesus teaches the duties of a disciple (verses 33-37).

1) What did the disciples argue about on the road? (verse 34)

But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.

They argued with each other about who was greater.

2) What does Jesus teach that one must do to be first? (verse 35)

Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

If you want to be first, you must be the last of all and the servant of all.

3) How does Jesus evaluate welcoming a child in his name? (verse 37)

"Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me."

 

<Sharing 2> Disciples must follow the path of service, not success. Because that is the path Jesus took. If you have an experience where you have stood at the crossroads between success and service, please share. Let’s talk about how our service should be embodied in detail.

We, as parents, serve the positive and negative aspects of our eldest son's driving a car, giving him the courage to become independent and encourage him to handle not only driving, but also graduate school studies, part-time work, and employment.

 

<Sharing 3> To receive a child in the name of Christ is to receive Christ. When I look around me now, who do I think are the people I should welcome in the name of Christ?

 

I hope to build a community that cherishes even one person like the child who participated in online Korean and Bible study with people in India.

 

□ Let's pray together

Lord, help me to let go of my desire to be exalted and become a true disciple who only walks the path of service!

Let us welcome our weak, childlike members in Your name!

 

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