1. The Way Up Is Down
(Mark 9:30-37)

2. The Example of a Servant
30 From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. 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.” 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him. (Mark 9:30-32)

3. Arguing over Rank
33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. (Mark 9:33-34)

4. The First Will Be Last
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.” (Mark 9:35)
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor… (Romans 12:10)

5. The First Will Be Last
“For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” (Luke 22:27)

6. The First Will Be Last
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
“If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

7. Receiving a Child
36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 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.” (Mark 9:36-37)

8. Receiving a Child
“When Jesus used a child as an illustration, what is so surprising or shocking is that children were the lowest of the low in the ancient world. That might be hard for us to imagine since children today have TV shows and movies and video games and amusement parks and toys and cell phone and even restaurants designed for their pleasure and in their honor. That is the world we live in, but that was not the world in which Jesus lived. Some scholars are convinced that this is the first and only time in ancient Jewish literature (perhaps all ancient literature) where a child is used as a positive example. What Jesus does here is original and radical.” – Douglas O’Donnell, Matthew in the Preaching the Word Commentary Series

9. Receiving a Child
36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 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.” (Mark 9:36-37)

10. Rewards
“For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41)

11. The Suffering Servant
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

12. Serve One Another
For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)
“If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

13. Action Steps
1. Develop a servant’s mindset 2. Serve in a ministry

14. Action Steps
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

15. Action Steps
1. Develop a servant’s mindset 2. Serve in a ministry 3. Serve someone outside of the church 4. Look for one way to serve your husband or wife this week 5. Parents, teach your children about being a servant

16. The Way Up Is Down
(Mark 9:30-37)