Grace, peace, and mercy to you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Recap and Introduction

We’ve been looking forward to this Sunday for a while. Today the Sunday School teachers get to take a break and be an object lesson to help us answer the question: What does it take to be great?

I’m going to run through a series during these contemporary services. This series is called: The Challenge to Serve. For the next six times we meet, we are going to dig into what it means to serve like Jesus. This isn’t just another sermon series. This is a journey we will take together to grow in our faith, and as we do we’ll watch our church grow as God gives the increase. So today, let’s start with a question: What does it take to be great?

The GOAT Debate

Now, I’m not exactly a basketball expert, I’d probably rather hold a fishing pole than a basketball, my son and I sometimes joke I am the worst basketball player in the universe. So when I make a shot on him I get bragging rights for a month.

Anyway, you’ve probably heard of the GOAT debate the Greatest Of All Time. So who is it? Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

Show of hands: Michael? LeBron?

While we’re at it, Coke or Pepsi?

Batman or Wonder Woman?

We love these debates because deep down, we all wonder what it takes, or what it’s like, to be truly great. If we’re honest, that question doesn’t stay on the basketball court. It touches every part of our life: our work, our families, our church. We want our lives to matter, to make a difference.

What if I told you Jesus answers that very question? You can find it in the Bible in Matthew 20. His answer flips the world’s definition of greatness utterly upside down.

Law: Our Struggle with Greatness

Here’s the problem: The world says greatness comes from status, power, and recognition, and we buy into it. We want to be noticed. We want control. Sometimes even in church we fall into that trap of wanting our way, and wanting the credit.

So when we chase greatness the world’s way, we end up empty. Our pride leads us away from God and toward our-self, but you know you. You know you’re messed up just like all the rest of us. Looking to yourself for the answer is a bad answer.

The truth is looking to yourself is the very same sin Adam and Eve pull. That is sin. That is the mess, the brokenness in all of us. Try as you might you just can’t shake it, no matter how hard you try. It is breaking the First Commandment, which Luther explains in the Small Catechism: “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.”

Gospel: Jesus Redefines Greatness

Jesus steps in with a better way. In Matthew 20, He says:

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.¹

Jesus is speaking to a couple guys who though so much of themselves they asked for the 3^rd and 4^th highest positions in all of Heaven. Jesus doesn’t scold them for wanting greatness. Wanting greatness is how God wired you. How you find it is the part Satan has messed up. He redirects them.

True greatness isn’t about lifting yourself up, it’s about lowering yourself for others. It’s about never looking down on anyone unless you’re going to pick them up. Jesus didn’t just say that. He lived that. He left the throne of heaven for the cross, for you. He gave up His awesome life so that messed up people like you could be great, forgiven and eternal. To see Jesus at His greatest we need to see Jesus on the cross.

In the Bible there is something called: The Christ Hymn. It is found in [Philippians 2:5-11]. These are words they would sing in church as a creed especially as a creed and statement of faith before God’s Holy Word was read. Also during Holy Absolution (forgiveness) Holy Baptisms and Holy Communion as part of their liturgy. At the most important parts of the service: Word and Sacrament.²

Humility

Although He was in the form of God and equal with God, He did not take advantage of this equality. Instead, He emptied Himself by taking on the form of a servant,by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross.

Exaltation

This is why God has given Him an exceptional honor, the name honored above all other names, so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will kneel and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus humbled Himself, became obedient to death, on a cross. Because He did that for you God the Father lifted Him to the highest place. Because you are Baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection. You too are lifted up. Greatness in God’s kingdom goes down before it goes up.

Five Marks of Serving Like Jesus

So, how do we follow Jesus down that road up to heaven? What does that really look like in real life? Over the next five messages, we’ll look at five ways of serving like Jesus. They all come right out of Philippians 2, the “Christ Hymn.”

1. Attitude: Have this mind among yourselves…” Serving starts with the right mindset: love, humility, and grace.

2. Availability: Jesus made Himself nothing, to become available for us. We’ll talk about creating healthy place in our lives to serve others.

3. Action: Serving isn’t theory, it’s steps of courage in real life.

4. Ability: God has uniquely gifted each of you. Let’s explore how to use those gifts for His glory and your greatness in His kingdom.

5. Ambition: The ultimate goal of serving is not our fame but God’s glory. It is in humbleness before God that God give you fame.

These five A’s will guide us on this journey. Through it all, the cross of Christ will remain our central focus, because our serving flows, is empowered, and finds its true purpose from His service to us.

Illustration: The GOAT and the Greatest Servant

Back to the GOAT debate. People argue about LeBron and Michael. Here’s something fascinating you need to know: When LeBron joins a team, they win more games. When he leaves, they collapse. His presence changes everything.

Now think about Jesus. He didn’t just improve a team. He took us, dead in our mess, and made us alive in His perfect. He didn’t just change the game He rewrote the rules. In the Old Game³ Death was permanent. It was that final defeat from which no one could come back. In the New Game⁴ Jesus conquered death. He gave up His greatness so we could share in His glory. The Bible tells us it is because of Jesus was can say:

Death is turned into victory!

Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?⁵

If greatness is elevating others, then Jesus is the GOAT, the Greatest of All Time. There is just no contest!

Call to Action

So here’s the invitation: Let’s walk this road together. Not to earn God’s love, we already have that and nothing we do, no matter how awesome or perfect you are, can improve it. God already loves you perfectly. To live out His love, to take the gifts He has given and serve in His name is how we become truly great, how we live as children of God.

I pray you will join us each month as we walk this road to greatness. I pray you will step into a life where greatness means lifting others up? You need it. All of us do. The world needs it. Our community needs it. By God’s grace, we can do it together working together. Being here today is your first step. Continuing to come is part of that workout that will make you strong.

Cliffhanger

Next month, we’ll look at the first mark of greatness: Attitude. What does the mindset of Christ look like in real life? How does it shape the way we serve others? You’ll have to come and see…

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for serving us even to death on the cross. Shape our hearts to serve others as You have served us. Give us courage to step forward in this challenge, not for our glory, but for Yours. Amen.

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NOTES

1Matthew 20:26-28