A Humble Community.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] I pray all this in Jesus’ name, amen. [0:03] All right, go ahead and have a seat. [0:05] Welcome to Village Church. [0:06] If this is your first time here, my name’s Steve. [0:08] I’m one of the pastors here at Village Church. [0:10] And as always, I’m thankful and grateful

[0:12] to see each and every one of you. [0:14] If you have your Bibles this morning, [0:16] go ahead and open them up to Mark chapter 10. [0:18] We’re gonna be starting there in verse 35 this morning. [0:22] And as always, we will be in other places [0:25] of scripture as well.

[0:26] But this is week six of our series [0:29] on the gospel-centered community. [0:32] And so what we are seeking to do is to define community [0:36] by God’s standards rather than our own standards. [0:40] And so the question that we have to deal with [0:43] when we’re talking about something like community

[0:45] is how does the transforming work of Jesus [0:50] shape the relationships in our lives? [0:53] And that’s a very difficult thing [0:55] to kind of wrap our minds around [0:57] because we have a default mode [0:59] for how we measure relationships,

[1:02] for how we deal with relationships, [1:04] and how we kind of assign value [1:06] within the relationships that we have in our lives. [1:08] But what the gospel of Jesus comes in [1:11] is faith in him redefines for us [1:14] how we view not just a few things about our lives

[1:17] or a few things in our lives, [1:19] but everything then becomes redefineable [1:23] by the gospel of Jesus and everything [1:25] that must be seen through the lens of the truth [1:29] of the good news that Jesus has come [1:31] to save us out of our sin.

[1:34] You know, faith in Jesus, when it redeems us from sin, [1:37] it sets us on a trajectory to restore our lives [1:41] to God’s design rather than our own. [1:44] And that is a very humbling thing, a very difficult thing, [1:48] something that only God’s power [1:50] can truly accomplish in our lives.

[1:52] And so in reconciling our relationship with God, [1:56] we must also see the lives and the relationships [2:00] in our lives redefined and reconciled [2:04] through the love that God alone gives us. [2:07] And so last week was kind of a transition week [2:10] in this series, and what we saw last week

[2:13] was a transition into looking at, [2:16] rather than the foundation of a gospel-centered community, [2:19] we started building some walls. [2:21] We started defining what are characteristics [2:25] of gospel-centered community. [2:27] Once we’ve established the base,

[2:29] how can we begin to look at the health of our community [2:32] by key traits? [2:33] We’re looking at the nuts and the bolts of our community. [2:37] And so last week we began by looking at that [2:39] we need to be marked by a joyful community, [2:43] that the joy that Jesus gives us is different

[2:46] than anything else in this world [2:48] where happiness is concerned or joy is concerned. [2:51] It is instead an eternally secure joy [2:54] because Jesus himself has bought it for us. [2:57] He has purchased that joy. [2:59] It can never go away.

[3:01] Regardless of whatever I am enduring in my life, [3:04] I can have the eternal joy of Jesus true in every day [3:08] and in every situation of my life. [3:11] And today we’re gonna talk about a humble community. [3:15] Now I think we would all admit that selfishness is more, [3:19] excuse me, selflessness is more attractive

[3:22] than selfishness. [3:24] I don’t think anybody looks at it and says, [3:26] you know what I think is really attractive in a person?

[3:30] Complete selfishness. [3:31] You know, when we’re looking for a spouse, [3:33] we’re like, what do I want? [3:33] I want someone that never cares about me. [3:37] You know, that’s the most attractive thing [3:38] is that they’re completely self-absorbed,

[3:40] completely self-centered. [3:42] I mean, some of us end up with someone like that, [3:44] but that’s not what we were aiming for. [3:48] So selflessness is more attractive than selfishness. [3:51] Yet it is one of those things [3:53] that we do not like to see in other people,

[3:57] but all of us struggle with day in and day out. [4:02] A community marked though by selfishness [4:06] will be completely dysfunctional at best. [4:10] And this is the struggle of relationship. [4:14] This is the struggle that all of us have [4:15] every single day of our lives

[4:17] as we seek in faith in the gospel [4:20] to be less and less selfish, [4:24] more and more God-centered, [4:26] and more and more able to love God [4:29] and love others selflessly. [4:33] Yet it is very difficult,

[4:34] and it is something that all of us [4:36] are going to struggle with for the rest of our lives. [4:39] So to grow in humility, [4:42] what we’re going to need to do [4:43] is we’re going to need to identify [4:45] the ways that pride manifests itself in our lives.

[4:49] And we need to put pride to death [4:52] by looking to Jesus as our example [4:55] and experience his grace on a very personal level. [5:00] Because it is very easy [5:01] to identify selfishness in other people. [5:05] You are all very good at it.

[5:07] I would imagine that every week at group you do it. [5:11] You sit there, you look at the other people, [5:13] and you can diagnose where they all are struggling. [5:16] You’re like, you know what, [5:17] if they would just listen to me.

[5:20] You know, if they would just ask me [5:22] for a complete life plan, [5:24] if I could just be their life coach. [5:28] So what I’m going to ask you to do [5:30] is I’m going to ask you to take that hat off today. [5:34] This is not for someone else.

[5:38] This is not for the person that you wish was here. [5:43] This is not for the person that you think needs [5:46] to apply it to their lives more than you do. [5:49] Because if that is all that you do in your life [5:52] is diagnose the problems that other people have, [5:55] this message is especially for you this morning

[5:57] because you are a completely selfish person. [6:00] When you spend more time seeking to convict [6:04] other people of sin rather than being convicted [6:06] of your own sin, that is selfishness. [6:11] That is self-absorption. [6:13] That is pride.

[6:15] The chief repenter in your life must be you. [6:19] The key to having a gospel-centered community [6:23] that is marked by humility is not in seeking [6:28] the repentance of other people, [6:30] but rather it is by living a repentant life yourself [6:34] and seeking to form in yourself the humility

[6:38] that God wants us to have in each and every one [6:41] of our lives. [6:42] As a point number one, I just want to get right into it. [6:44] A humble community is marked by selflessness. [6:48] A humble community is marked by selflessness.

[6:52] Now, it’s sort of understood in most of our lives [6:57] that humility is sort of a self-deprecating posture. [7:02] It is kind of this posture where you don’t think [7:05] very well of yourself, you never talk about [7:08] any success in your life, you paint a picture [7:11] of yourself, oh, I am a complete failure,

[7:14] what was me, I walk around sackclothin asses. [7:16] That’s not humility. [7:18] That’s just goofiness.

[7:21] Humility is marked by an emptying of self [7:25] so that you can serve other people in the name of Jesus, [7:30] and that in the name of Jesus part is very important. [7:33] In the name of Jesus to where you expect [7:38] nothing in return, you expect absolutely nothing in return. [7:42] Why?

[7:43] Because Jesus has done so much for you [7:47] that you were completely not in need [7:51] of anyone else determining your worth for you. [7:54] Look at Mark chapter 10. [7:57] In Mark 10, starting in verse 35, [7:58] we have a great narrative of an experience

[8:01] that a couple of the disciples went through with Jesus [8:03] where they completely got it wrong. [8:06] They didn’t understand what humility was about, [8:08] they didn’t understand what worship was about. [8:10] Here’s the story. [8:12] And James and John, the sons of Zebedee,

[8:14] came up to him, Jesus, and said to him, [8:17] teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you. [8:21] Now you might say, how audacious. [8:24] I would say that’s probably 90% of your prayer life. [8:28] And he said to them, what do you want me for me to do for you? [8:32] And they said to him, grant us to sit,

[8:36] one at your right hand, one at your left, [8:40] in your glory. [8:42] Jesus said to them, you do not know what you are asking. [8:45] Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, [8:48] or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? [8:51] And they said to him, we are able.

[8:53] And Jesus said to them, the cup that I drink [8:57] you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, [9:00] you will be baptized. [9:01] But to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, [9:05] but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. [9:09] And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant

[9:12] at James and John. [9:14] And Jesus called them to him and said to them, [9:17] you know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them [9:21] and their great ones exercise authority over them. [9:24] But it shall not be so among you. [9:27] But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.

[9:32] And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. [9:38] And even the son of man came not to be served, [9:42] but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. [9:48] Pray with me.

[9:52] Father.

[9:55] Lord, you desire for all of us to submit to your reign above absolutely everything else. [10:02] Lord, in these next few moments, my prayer is that you would help us [10:06] to take a posture of humility. [10:09] Lord, not just right now, but in our lives. [10:13] Or what is the most difficult command that I think that you’ve given us? [10:17] Lord, you can empower us to obey.

[10:20] Lord, may we begin to empty our minds [10:22] and may we begin to empty ourselves of self concern. [10:25] May we begin to empty ourselves of selfishness, [10:29] empty ourselves of pride and empty ourselves of our default mission, [10:34] which is to take your glory and give it to ourselves. [10:39] Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.

[10:41] In the name of Jesus, I pray. [10:43] Amen.

[10:45] Markable thing about that story is that they disobey the great commandment in two places, [10:50] the great commandment being to love the Lord your God with all your heart, [10:53] with all your soul, with all your might. [10:55] And the second is like it. [10:56] Love your neighbor as yourself. [10:58] Because what James and John do not understand is that their posture

[11:02] towards God and towards man is completely off. [11:06] The first posture that they get wrong is their posture towards God. [11:11] It is not about you.

[11:15] Rick Warren said that in the purpose driven life, [11:17] and it’s probably the greatest advice I’ve ever seen given to anyone about any situation. [11:23] Because if you can enter into situations in your life with that as a core value of your life, [11:30] that I am not the basis of what is going on here. [11:34] I am not the point. [11:35] I am not the mission.

[11:37] I am not the glorious one. [11:40] When you can do that, you will begin to experience health first in your relationship with God. [11:48] You are not the chief concern of God.

[11:55] And that is a glorious thing. [11:59] Trusting the gospel requires a posture of humility. [12:04] Faith in Jesus requires that you understand your position in God’s kingdom. [12:12] And if he is God and my sin is about robbing him of glory to attempt to make life about myself, [12:21] then faith requires me to humble myself before him. [12:26] Selfishness is the opposite of submitting to God.

[12:31] Selfishness requires pride. [12:34] And in this narrative of Mark 10, what you see is that James and John look at the glory of God. [12:40] They see his glory. [12:43] They see Jesus as glorious. [12:45] What they are defining Jesus properly, but what they are not doing is defining themselves properly. [12:52] There is a way of seeing the glory of God and missing the point.

[12:59] So because it wasn’t that James and John didn’t see the glory of God, they saw the glory of God, [13:03] but they saw it and then said, that’s what I want.

[13:07] That’s where I need to be. [13:08] That’s what I need to capture for my life. [13:13] Every reaction that people have towards what James and John are doing in this passage [13:20] shows us just how ugly their posture is. [13:24] They want to share the glory rather than submit to the glory. [13:29] They want to get the glory rather than worshiping God because he is so glorious.

[13:35] To have gospel-centered community requires a renewed relationship with God. [13:41] And that replaces my desire and ambition to be the head of the table [13:48] and submits to finding joy in God, being the sole recipient of glory. [13:56] What if giving God glory meant that nothing you ever did for the rest of your life was noticed by anyone?

[14:03] What if God getting ultimate glory out of your life meant you labor for his will in absolute obscurity [14:13] and no one ever looked at you and said, aren’t you wonderful?

[14:19] Aren’t you great? [14:21] Don’t you deserve accolades? [14:24] See, most of us would love to say, oh, well, of course, that’s wonderful. I want to give God glory. [14:30] Try doing it for five minutes.

[14:34] It’s difficult because deep down, all of us want to be noticed. [14:39] All of us want to be praised. [14:41] All of us want to be thanked. [14:43] All of us want some type of promotion. [14:46] All of us want to be looked at and said, you know what? You’ve done a wonderful job here. [14:49] Let me give you more responsibility.

[14:50] Let me give you more power. [14:51] Let me give you more authority. [14:53] Let me give you more fame so that everybody knows what you’ve done. [14:58] And see, when we flirt with that, what’s happening is, is we’re starting to see sin manifest. [15:07] We’re starting to see selfishness manifest. [15:09] We’re starting to see the pride of life.

[15:12] We’re starting to see that Jesus doesn’t always get the centerpiece of glory in our lives, but rather we want, [15:19] and we’ll just say, oh, but I just, is it wrong to just want a little bit? [15:24] Is it wrong that I do just a couple of things so that people will look at me and say, aren’t you wonderful? [15:32] Yes. [15:34] Yes. [15:35] Because what Jesus is doing, his response to them is that you will experience the baptism that I’m experiencing.

[15:43] You’ll be emptied. [15:46] You will experience the cup that I’m going to drink. [15:48] You will be persecuted. [15:51] You will experience what I’m going to experience. [15:53] You will be emptied of every ounce of self-ambition you have, and it will be replaced with repentance towards the glory of God. [16:02] If you have faith in him.

[16:05] Of course, we know James and John went on to love the Lord. [16:09] They went on to serve the Lord. [16:10] They went on to be absolutely emptied of ambition. [16:13] They went on to be, years later, we’re still talking about them, and both of them were killed.

[16:20] See, friends, serving Jesus is not about you. [16:23] Serving Jesus is always about Jesus. [16:27] If you want a community marked by selflessness, you have to start by examining your own relationship with God. [16:39] Is your relationship with God about his glory alone? [16:41] Or is it much? [16:44] There’s much of what you do for God about getting your seat at the table, getting noticed, advancing.

[16:52] You may think there’s of God. [16:54] I want you to be Lord.

[16:57] And then on the back end of that, I hope that that involves me being in charge.

[17:03] I hope that involves me advancing. [17:06] You see, it’s not that advancing is bad. [17:09] It’s about the motivation for advancing that you have to continuously take inventory in your life of. [17:18] It is a motivation of pride that changes everything where your relationship with God is concerned. [17:26] Is it about his glory or is it about your glory? [17:30] And that goes whether you do much or that goes with whether you do nothing,

[17:34] because some of the reason that people do nothing is because, well, no one ever notices.

[17:40] Is that what it’s about? [17:43] See, it’s about your relationship with God, but it’s also about your relationship with others. [17:47] When your posture with God is appropriate, your posture with people changes. [17:52] In this specific text, you can see that James and John want to have precedent over the other disciples. [18:00] They want to be first. [18:03] They want to be ahead in line in front of all the other disciples.

[18:09] They do not want anyone having anything over on them. [18:13] They do not want to be left out. [18:16] They have fallen for the trap of comparison. [18:22] They have fallen for the trap of competition. [18:26] How’s that working for you? [18:29] Are other people your competition?

[18:33] Do you feel a need to be more important than other people? [18:40] Do you need to be noticed? [18:43] I mean, it can even, as an example, it can go all the way to, if you have children, [18:47] do your children have to excel where you feel like you have failed because it makes you look better?

[18:56] Do you compare yourself to other people? [18:59] Do you feel bad when you don’t get noticed? [19:03] Do you view other people as an obstacle to your success? [19:07] Is it impossible for you to celebrate someone else’s success without being jealous?

[19:19] You see, friends, these are the real issues of pride.

[19:24] That’s where pride hits every single one of us, right in our lives.

[19:33] See, you can be self-deprecating all day.

[19:37] You can show up and do everything under the sun that looks good. [19:41] But what’s going on right inside of your life? [19:43] What’s going on in your motivation? [19:45] What is the reason behind your work? [19:49] See, when it’s competition, when it’s comparison, when it’s fear,

[19:56] we begin to see that our relationship with God and our relationship with others [20:01] is going to require us to repent of much, much sin. [20:06] See, number two this morning, the essence of pride is self-concern. [20:11] The essence of pride is self-concern. [20:14] So you know, consumerism is rooted in a lack of faith. [20:20] Philippians 2, 4 through 5 reminds us that through faith,

[20:25] we can look to the interests of others. Why? [20:28] Jesus, here’s what Paul says. [20:29] He says, let each of you look not only to his own interest, [20:33] but also to the interests of others. [20:35] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. [20:40] And I will not go the rest of the way through that part of scripture.

[20:43] What he says is, is consider Jesus who emptied himself completely [20:48] to come to this earth, live amongst his creation, die, [20:52] and not just die, but die a sinner’s death so that you could be redeemed. [20:58] And think about the humbling that was required of the God [21:04] who could speak worlds into existence to do that. [21:07] And he said, that, that is the attitude that you should have in your life.

[21:17] You see, Jesus has given us everything. [21:20] There’s nothing that he’s left out of our lives. [21:23] Because of Jesus, we have full acceptance by God. [21:27] Because of Jesus, we have been blessed with every blessing in the heavenly places. [21:31] Because of Jesus, our inheritance is secure in heaven. [21:34] Because of Jesus, we have the greatest gift that could ever be attained.

[21:40] And God has done every bit of that for us. [21:46] Therefore, the attitude of Jesus, the sacrifice, the servanthood, the care, the love, [21:55] it’s all ours. [21:57] We are free to care about the interests of others, [22:01] because life is not about what I have to gain from others. [22:08] Because I have nothing to gain from others.

[22:12] Jesus has given all to me. [22:14] And when I look at others as to what can I get out of you rather than what can I serve you for, [22:23] it’s unbelief in the gospel. [22:25] Because you’re believing that you have more to gain than what Jesus has offered. [22:30] Well, friend, that’s unbelief. [22:33] You see, faith is a very humbling thing.

[22:36] It requires great humility to have faith in Jesus Christ. [22:40] Because it admits that our posture is off. [22:42] It admits that self-interest is wrong. [22:44] It admits that self-centeredness is not the path that we were designed to have. [22:51] You see, because of faith, we can take a look at the what’s in it for me attitude [22:56] versus the how can I serve others attitude.

[23:00] You see, when I view my life through the lens of Jesus’ righteousness, [23:05] I have the freedom to stop asking what’s in it for me. [23:10] When Jesus said these words in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, verse 33, [23:14] he says, [23:15] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, [23:19] and all these things will be added to you.

[23:25] He’s speaking into the very self-concern that all of us have for our lives, [23:31] where we hold back the riskiness of faith. [23:36] We hold back on giving over to the Lord, [23:40] because we’re concerned that we will not gain enough out of it. [23:44] We’re concerned that we will lose too much over it. [23:49] That is self-concern.

[23:51] When you view your life through what you can get from others, [23:55] and what you can get from whatever activity you are a part of, [23:59] it is because you don’t believe the gospel. [24:02] At least in that moment you don’t. [24:06] You see, friends, the gospel creates a community attitude of how can I serve others? [24:11] Why?

[24:12] Because Jesus has already served me. [24:17] And because of that, I’m free to serve you. [24:20] I don’t have to look at what I have to gain from you, [24:24] because I have already gained so much from Jesus.

[24:30] Now, let me qualify this. [24:32] If you are sitting there arguing with me in your head, [24:37] and you’re thinking something along the lines of, [24:39] Well, you need to look at what you have to gain in certain situations. [24:45] Stop.

[24:47] Stop. [24:49] You are not believing the gospel.

[24:53] You personally, you need to repent of your prideful self-concern, [24:58] and you need to serve others selflessly. [25:03] Because what’s going on in your head right now is not the work of the Holy Spirit.

[25:10] Do you think the Holy Spirit is telling you, [25:13] You know, you need to be a little more concerned with yourself than you are others sometimes.

[25:24] Can you really defend that position from the Word of God? [25:30] Can you really defend that attitude from the Scriptures?

[25:35] I’m not saying you’re perfect. I’m not saying I’m perfect. [25:38] What I’m saying is, is your argument is deeply flawed.

[25:46] Because it’s not a gospel-centered argument. [25:49] What is it? [25:50] I think anyone would have to admit, that’s called a self-centered argument. [25:54] And that’s exactly what we’re trying to root out right now.

[25:59] Selfishness. Self-concern. [26:01] You see, friends, there’s this attitude. [26:03] It’s using others versus empowering others that we have to see in our lives. [26:10] Because of Jesus, I am completely free from using you, and you are completely free from using me. [26:17] And we can actually seek to empower one another to serve the Lord with our lives. [26:23] Why?

[26:24] Look in Matthew chapter 6 verse 6. [26:26] Just a few verses previous to Jesus’ statement about His Kingdom. [26:30] He says, when you pray, go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. [26:37] And your Father who sees in secret, He will reward you. [26:43] You say, what does that have to do with this? [26:47] It has everything to do with this.

[26:49] Because no one notices the greatest prayers that have ever been prayed.

[26:55] You see, I love church history, and I love the church fathers, I love the Reformation. [26:59] I love reading the prayers of mighty men of faith like Charles Spurgeon. [27:04] And they inspire me so much. [27:07] But I am convinced that the greatest prayers ever prayed were done in secret. [27:10] And no one will know about them except for that person and the Lord.

[27:15] Because what Jesus is saying here is that your prayer life is something that no one else is a part of. [27:24] That it reveals where your concern really is. [27:31] The secret life of prayer is the one that shows what your faith is actually in. [27:37] And what your belief is actually about. [27:40] Because when it is just you, pleading to the Lord. [27:45] When it is just you, praising the Lord.

[27:49] When it is just you, thanking the Lord.

[27:56] That is faith, because that says, I believe there is a work that God does for me. [28:04] In me. [28:06] That no one else will ever see.

[28:09] No one else will ever be a part of. [28:11] And Jesus is telling us, the Lord rewards that. [28:17] The Lord rewards it. [28:19] You see, it is about me and God. [28:22] You see friends, I believe that God will use the service of prayer and my life of servanthood to bless his kingdom. [28:30] Because that is the focus.

[28:31] Therefore, it is not just that I shouldn’t use others. [28:35] It is that faith makes it ridiculous. [28:39] To try to use others. [28:43] God is using me and filling me and blessing me. [28:47] Therefore, my need of someone else to work for me.

[28:54] My need for someone else to see me. [28:58] My need for someone else to elevate me. [29:02] My need for someone else to give me an identity worth having.

[29:11] Well, that doesn’t take any faith at all.

[29:15] But in faith, you begin to think about that kind of attitude. [29:21] That kind of perspective. [29:22] And you just, you have to admit that if my faith is in the Lord, my hope is in the Lord, my desires for the Lord, my requests are from the Lord. [29:31] Well, it really makes a lot of what I do and what I try to get from other people really ridiculous looking.

[29:40] And it shows a profound lack of faith.

[29:46] Because when you trust God, other people then have the freedom to matter in the right way. [29:56] In 1 Corinthians chapter 30, excuse me, chapter 1 verse 30, the apostle Paul says this. [30:03] Speaking of the gospel, he says, because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. [30:15] He kind of just sums up the whole of it right there.

[30:18] So that, as it is written, let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. [30:26] If you read that verse and don’t really kind of take a whole gospel view of what he’s talking about, that sounds like the toughest thing in the world. [30:40] If I boast, boast in the Lord, well, I guess I can’t boast about fantasy football. [30:46] I guess I can’t boast about my team. [30:48] I guess I can’t boast about, you know, my personal record. [30:51] I guess I can’t boast about those things.

[30:53] And you’re not wrong, by the way.

[30:58] But you’re also missing so much of what that verse is telling us. [31:03] What he’s saying is, look at what Jesus has done for me.

[31:09] Look at the amount in verse 30 that is ascribed to Jesus. [31:14] Look at the totality of what Jesus has done for the apostle Paul. [31:19] And what he’s saying is, he’s actually building upon something. [31:22] He’s not trying to take away from you your fantasy football trophy from last year.

[31:29] What he’s trying to do is to tell you just how large the scope of the gospel needs to be in your life. [31:37] That when you view the work of Jesus on your behalf, for your righteousness, for your sanctification, for your redemption, [31:46] you must in faith look at everything else and say, it’s not even worth mentioning.

[31:56] I don’t have anything to boast for outside of this, because this is the glory. [32:04] This is the wonder. [32:06] This is everything. [32:09] And so when I sit there and I begin to think about my little piddly trinkets of life, [32:14] I think about my car, I think about my house, I think about how wonderful my yard’s going to look in April and May. [32:20] I think about those things, and I just have to admit they are nothing in eternity.

[32:28] That is not gain.

[32:33] Gain is Jesus.

[32:37] And so some of you are sitting there and you’re hearing, so Steve, you’re not going to mow your grass?

[32:45] Oh Lord, yes, and my yard’s going to look better than yours.

[32:55] Don’t boast.

[32:59] Don’t miss the glory, is what Paul is saying. [33:07] Don’t let your pride of life be in those things, be in those abilities, be in those possessions, be in those activities. [33:19] If I have anything to boast in, and it’s my yard, tragedy.

[33:29] Tragedy.

[33:31] If I boast about anything, may it be the cross of Jesus Christ and the cross of Jesus Christ alone. [33:38] Because when I boast in that, I begin to empty myself of self-concern, [33:46] and I begin to live a life in which I apply the gospel to every situation and every person. [33:55] That is what he’s talking about. [33:57] See, if I compare myself to others, I am looking to boast somewhere else. [34:03] Faith in Jesus empties me of pride and self-concern because I am sufficient in Jesus.

[34:11] I have enough, and when I am sufficient in Jesus, I can live humbly serving and trusting that the Lord will work. [34:21] You see, community is ultimately about dying to self. [34:24] I’m convinced you cannot have community unless you are continuously dying to self. [34:29] It is the death of pride. [34:32] To be in gospel-centered community is about repenting of self-centeredness every single day. [34:38] When we don’t do this, we don’t get gospel-centered community.

[34:42] We come looking to consume for our own needs rather than to give into the lives of others. [34:50] When you are not repenting of self-concern, that’s what you’re doing. [34:55] You’re overly critical of everybody else. [34:58] Nobody else is meeting your standards.

[35:01] You don’t have anything positive to say. [35:05] All you’re doing is like, oh, well, you know, we don’t have gospel-centered community because you people are so awful.

[35:12] They’re thinking the exact same thing about you, by the way.

[35:18] Friends, it is so easy to blame others rather than boasting in Jesus so that you can repent. [35:27] Gospel-centered community is not about fixing other people.

[35:32] Gospel-centered community is about Jesus fixing you. [35:36] Why? [35:37] Number three, Jesus transforms the selfish into servants. [35:41] Jesus transforms the selfish into servants. [35:44] You know, just standing here, I come into my mind, just something that’s been coming into my mind all week. [35:51] It’s Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.

[35:55] All right. [35:56] That’s an awful thing. [35:57] I hate feet. [35:59] All right. [35:59] Your feet are disgusting. [36:02] All right.

[36:02] And I’m not talking to anybody person. [36:04] It’s all of you. [36:04] Like, they’re gross. [36:06] All right. [36:06] You walk on them. [36:07] They sweat.

[36:08] They stink. [36:09] All right. [36:10] I don’t like them. [36:11] I don’t want to see them. [36:12] By God’s grace, I will never have to touch them. [36:15] All right.

[36:17] But Jesus, he washes the feet of his disciples. [36:20] And they were worse back then because nobody had invented polycotton blend socks. [36:25] All right. [36:26] Under Armour hadn’t come out yet with dry wick. [36:30] And so they’ve got these sandals and there’s animals everywhere. [36:33] Do the math.

[36:36] And so Jesus comes to his disciples, gets on his hands and knees, and he begins to wash the feet. [36:42] And of course, Peter, I give him a hard time, but my reaction would have been, you, the son of God, you don’t have to wash my feet. [36:52] I would feel terrible. [36:54] And Jesus’s response to him is, if I don’t do this, you will not have any part of me. [37:01] And that’s so audacious to me. [37:03] What is he saying there?

[37:05] What Jesus is saying there is that if you want any part of the attitude of Jesus Christ, if you want any part of the posture of Jesus Christ, [37:13] and you don’t serve other people at a detriment to yourself, you’re missing it. [37:26] Why? [37:27] First, because Jesus gives us the victory to serve. [37:32] He gives us the victory to serve. [37:35] And you may be sitting there and you may be thinking, I am filled with self-concern.

[37:40] If that’s you this morning, I want you to know that it is because you are an honest person that you are thinking that. [37:47] All right? [37:47] So be encouraged by your honesty. [37:50] That is how I have felt all week writing this sermon. [37:54] I have so much to repent of. [37:56] In Mark chapter 10, verse 45, Jesus actually says, the son of man came not to be served, but to serve.

[38:08] What an amazing statement. [38:10] I mean, think about that. [38:11] If anyone deserves to be served, it is Jesus. [38:17] But he emptied himself of that right. [38:20] And he served me.

[38:24] And so if you are sitting there despairing over your pride because of your honesty, then find your hope in that text for two reasons. [38:35] First, Jesus has served you. [38:40] Be encouraged by that. [38:42] Jesus transforms selfish sinners into saintly servants through grace. [38:47] He served us in so many ways while he was on this earth, but notably on the cross. [38:54] That pride that is messing with you.

[38:57] Jesus died under the penalty of that pride. [39:00] He took it. [39:02] He paid the cost. [39:03] He rose from the dead. [39:05] He was victorious and still is. [39:08] And through faith, he will give that victory to you.

[39:14] Jesus is the victory. [39:17] He is the victor for you.

[39:22] But the second reason that is so hopeful is because Jesus is also your example. [39:30] So he gives us the victory, but he also gives us this amazing example. [39:35] If we stand in his victory, then we are free to look to Jesus as the example of amazing servanthood. [39:45] He who deserved so much.

[39:52] Jesus healed the sick. [39:54] He fed the hungry. [39:55] He washed the dirty feet of the disciples. [39:59] He blessed their communion. [40:03] He took the beating.

[40:06] He endured the ridicule. [40:11] Then he died my death. [40:16] You see friend, through the example of Jesus, I can see that the glory of God is found in servanthood.

[40:30] Ultimately we must understand that Jesus frees us to consider and he frees us to serve others.

[40:42] In 1 Timothy chapter 1 verses 15 and 16, here’s what the apostle Paul says about himself. [40:50] He says, The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost. [41:02] But I received mercy for this reason that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

[41:26] Friend, there is so much in that text that you can parse every single word and there is a heap full of glory in all of them.

[41:41] What Paul is saying is that he was a sinner and God had mercy on him. [41:48] He was prideful and the Lord saved him out of that pride. [41:55] His posture while living in that reality was to never forget the mercy and grace of the Lord. [42:06] This apostle that I personally feel deserves so much honor for the life that he lived for the gospel. [42:14] Paul said that the Lord displayed perfect patience through him. [42:24] That’s how you speak about a child.

[42:27] You want a lesson in patience? Be a parent.

[42:33] Paul is not saying the Lord displayed perfect patience in me to make me look so wonderful. [42:37] What the apostle Paul is saying is I am the foremost of sinners in this life and because of that I have needed the grace of God every step of the way. [42:46] I am such a clutz where the gospel is concerned. [42:51] I just fumble it all the time. [42:53] I am so imperfect where following Jesus is concerned that the Lord has had to display the only words for it is perfect patience to use me.

[43:06] Think about that self view.

[43:10] Think about that perspective.

[43:14] And then consider the fact that the Holy Spirit wrote this.

[43:20] See Paul understood something that each and every one of us need to understand. [43:24] Paul’s point was that the Lord was working on him. [43:29] The Lord was still being gracious to him. [43:32] Paul was imperfect but through his imperfection the victory and example of Jesus were seen by others. [43:43] See that is how you grow as a servant. [43:45] That is the perspective that you need to have.

[43:48] That’s the perspective you need in your home. [43:51] That’s the perspective that you need in the local church. [43:55] That’s the perspective you need in the workplace. [43:57] That’s the perspective you need every single day. [44:00] And everything that you are doing is understanding your position in the glory of the Lord is that every moment of it is grace. [44:09] Every moment of it is mercy.

[44:11] So I ask you are you growing in servanthood?

[44:15] Do you know the mercy and grace that the Lord has shown you and still shows you every single day? [44:22] See we must live that reality. [44:25] The reality that we have been saved from sin for the work of God in our lives to be for the sake of others. [44:36] Because when we do not have that posture we will not have a humble community.

[44:45] All we will be concerned of is what we can get from one another. [44:49] What we can consume from one another. [44:54] But friend because of the grace of God we can be a humble community.

[44:59] As the band comes up, humility is said it’s a hard path. [45:06] Because we are so naturally prideful. [45:09] In positive ways and in negative ways. [45:12] But always in unhelpful ways.

[45:16] When we eat and drink the Lord’s Supper. [45:18] That is a moment where our posture is defined for us. [45:22] Because we don’t deserve to be at that table.

[45:25] See it’s only through faith in Jesus that we are allowed at his table. [45:30] That he looks to us and he himself has to say you come. [45:37] The broken body of Jesus is represented in the plate. [45:41] And the shed blood of Jesus is represented in the cup. [45:44] And when we eat and when we drink it is because Jesus has paid our admission to eat of his body. [45:53] To drink of his life’s blood.

[45:56] That picture of the sacrifice of Christ. [46:00] When we eat and drink and we say the only thing that is good in me in this moment. [46:04] Is that I have the life of Jesus in my life. [46:09] When you begin to meditate on that perspective. [46:14] You begin to live a life of humility. [46:18] And friend I tell you if you have faith in Jesus.

[46:21] He has invited you to his table. [46:24] Come, eat, drink, remember the death of our King.