Sunday’s Coming, March 15

Dear HBIC Family,

Growing up, I was routinely told that the Holy Spirit would call to mind Scriptures in my times of need. This is why it was important to read and sit with the Scriptures regularly; learning and meditating on the words of God would not only grow and form me, but they would also be a refuge and strength. This was also why it was important to memorize the Scriptures, because memorizing would help to have an answer ready and be able to recall clearly a promise or word from the Lord.

It is a gift that the Scriptures of my youth come to mind now. I’m grateful for all those faithful believers who encouraged me to study, sit with, and remember God’s word. What has been a pleasant surprise over the years, though, is how much the songs of my youth have stuck with me. I still sing Sunday School choruses from time to time. Songs from camps and VBS still come up from time to time. And, like Scripture, these songs (many of which were the words or teachings of Scripture), have been used by God to mold and form me, and to teach and grow me.

One of those choruses is Servant of All. The text of the entire song, through verses, bridge, and outro are all combinations of:

“If you wanna be great in God′s Kingdom
Learn to be the servant of all
If you wanna be great in God’s Kingdom
Learn to be the servant of all”

This week, we will be continuing our Lent: Following Jesus on the Way sermon series. So far, we have been guided through Mark’s gospel learning about prayer as turning toward God, living by the Holy Spirit as learning to follow God, and self-denial and sacrifice as surrendering to God. Now, we turn to a famous scene: James’ and John’s audacious request, Jesus’ redirection and teaching on power, authority, place and position, and then a final message to his disciples back then and today.

As you prepare for our time in worship together this week, I invite you to read and meditate on Mark 10:35-45. As you reflect, I would like you to focus on the following questions:

What is the biggest question you have asked Jesus? Why did you ask it?

Is it Jesus’ job to do what we want? Why or why not?

What does it mean for you to drink the cup Jesus drank or to be baptized how Jesus was?

When frustrated by other Christians, how do you make yourself available to hear from God?

How are you, as a leader, not lording power but being a servant of all?

How is Jesus’ service impacting you right now, where you are in life?

Years ago, a family friend and mentor, gave me a copy of Henri Nouwen’s In the Name of Jesus: Reflections of Christian Leadership. There was no way to know back then the significance that book would come to play in my life, how I look at leadership, and more importantly, how to lead the way Jesus led by living the way Jesus lived. Nouwen uses Jesus in the wilderness to remind us that as leaders, we will have temptations to be relevant, spectacular, and powerful. Like Jesus, Nouwen calls us to choose a humility that doesn’t puff up with pride but gets down to serve. Prayer, vulnerability, and serving others is the work. Being loved by God is not because of our goodness or accomplishments.

James and John walked with Jesus but still understood power and authority how the world sees it. They thought access to Jesus should mean a higher place and more privileges for them and for eternity. They wanted to be great in God’s kingdom, but on their terms. In many ways, on most of our days, we may tend to be like James and John. But praise God for grace and mercy. Praise the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment. And praise our Jesus for help and for modeling what it means to follow God.

May we all be great in God’s kingdom by gifting the grace and mercy we have received, sharing our wisdom and discernment with one another, and by being a servant of all – like Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

May the Lord continue to bless and keep you all.

Love in Christ,

Pastor Hank (Mark 10:42-45)