We were blessed to have Marc and Casie Neppl in the morning service. They gave an update on the church plant in Portsmouth VA. They asked for prayers always and financial support as we could and thanked the church for support over the years.
Brother Marc brought a message from Mark 10 and gave us a challenge to serve choosing a significant life more than a successful one.
32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Jesus walked as he ministered teaching us there are no shortcuts in ministry. Jesus said this to his disciples. The mood had to get somber as he talked. The disciples were afraid and we find out there was reason for that. Jesus told them he would go to Jerusalem, die, and rise again the third day. It went right over their heads. Jesus had just told them he would die and the very next verse James and John asked something for themselves. They wanted to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus in his glory. Jesus told them they didn’t know what they were asking. Could they die as he was about to die? They told him they could. Little did they know they would. Before we think badly of them for asking, think about this. They were in a culture where being successful was better. We’re in such a culture. Be the best you can in life, your job, in sports, in every avenue. That’s a normal process for humans. Jesus turned their thinking upside down. Whosoever would be the greatest would be the one who serves. Success is here today and gone tomorrow. Somebody better gets the job. Someone comes along with better ideas and all of a sudden you’re not on top anymore. A life of significance cannot be taken away. Nothing is wrong with being successful but the choice to be significant in someone’s life is the road to success. Jesus kept it broad. He didn’t make the list of how to serve limited. He said a cup of water in his name would be remembered.
Who do we serve? First, those who served us now deserve to be served. Someone took care of us. Maybe now they need some care. Next we need to serve those around us. It may be our neighbor, our coworker, a friend of our kids. What makes Christianity different from religion is the love that is at the root of it. That cannot be defeated no matter how many times through history it has been tried. Persecution causes the church to grow not go down. Those behind us need our services. Not just our grandkids but friends of our grandkids.
Will you take the challenge to serve, the challenge to be significant in someone’s life?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 