September 30-October 4

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. - Mark 9:30-32 ESV

Obedience – An Example of True Greatness
Imagine a world leader being briefed on a major decision, knowing it could bring hardship to their people but ultimately lead to peace. Winston Churchill, during WWII, had to make such difficult decisions. He knew the path ahead would be filled with suffering, but he obeyed the call to stand firm against evil. He became famous for the words, “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” His obedience led to victory for his nation.

Like Churchill, Jesus knew His path included suffering, but He obeyed the Father’s will because He saw the greater victory ahead—our salvation. In Mark 9:30-32, Jesus shares with His disciples that He must suffer, die, and rise again. Despite knowing the pain ahead, Jesus walked in obedience to the Father’s plan. True greatness is not found in avoiding difficulty but in obeying God, even when the road is hard. Jesus' obedience paved the way for our redemption. Sometimes, like the disciples, we may not fully understand what God is doing, but obedience is a mark of greatness in God’s eyes.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where is God calling you to walk in obedience, even if it’s difficult?
2. How can Jesus' example of obedience encourage you to trust God’s plan?

Suggested Prayer:
"Lord, help me to follow Your will, even when I don’t fully understand it. Teach me to trust in Your plan as Jesus did, knowing that true greatness comes from obeying You. Amen."

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” - Mark 9:33-35 ESV

Pride – The Enemy of True Greatness
In 1912, the Titanic set sail as the "unsinkable ship." The builders even boasted that God could not sink it. There was so much pride in its engineering that safety measures, like having enough lifeboats, were ignored. We all know what happened—the ship sank, and many lives were lost. Pride made the Titanic’s builders blind to danger, just like pride blinds us to the true path of greatness.

In Mark 9:33-37, Jesus' disciples were arguing about who among them was the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, corrected them by teaching that true greatness comes from humility. He uses the example of a child—innocent, dependent, and lowly in status—to show that serving others with humility is what makes someone great in the kingdom of God. Pride is the enemy of true greatness because it shifts the focus from God to ourselves.

Reflection Questions:
1. In what areas of your life have you allowed pride to sneak in?
2. How can you practice humility in your relationships and daily life?

Suggested Prayer:
"God, help me to recognize where pride has taken root in my heart. Give me the strength to walk in humility and serve others, following Jesus’ example of true greatness. Amen."

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us.” -  Mark 9:38-40 ESV

Unity – The Evidence of True Greatness
During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, there was a memorable moment when two high jumpers, Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi, decided to share the gold medal instead of competing in a jump-off. They recognized each other's talent and decided to celebrate their joint success. This moment of unity displayed true greatness, as they chose to uplift one another instead of letting pride or competition divide them.

In Mark 9:38-41, the disciples tried to stop someone from casting out demons in Jesus’ name because he wasn’t part of their group. Jesus corrected their attitude, reminding them that anyone not against them is for them. Unity, not division, is a hallmark of true greatness in the kingdom of God. When our Second Church family unites under the name of Christ, we show the world what it means to serve a higher purpose together.

Reflection Questions:
1. How can you promote unity in your relationships with others, especially those who may not belong to your “group”?
2. Are there areas where competition has divided churches in our Warner Robins community?

Suggested Prayer:
"Lord, help me to pursue unity in my relationships. Break down any barriers of pride or competition, and let us work together for Your kingdom. Amen."

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us.” - Mark 9:38-40 ESV

Pride Creates Division
In the spring of 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play a routine baseball game. But what happened that day was anything but routine. The Orioles’ John McGraw got into a fight with the Boston third baseman. Within minutes all the players from both teams had joined in the brawl. The warfare quickly spread to the grandstands. Among the fans, the conflict went from bad to worse. Someone set fire to the stands and the entire ballpark burned to the ground. Not only that, but the fire spread to 107 other Boston buildings as well.

Pastor Jim shared from Mark 9:38-40, that the disciples were quick to exclude someone who was doing good in Jesus' name simply because he wasn’t part of their inner circle. Jesus had to remind them that the kingdom of God isn’t exclusive to a few. When we let pride get in the way, we create divisions that hurt the body of Christ. True greatness is found in embracing others and celebrating the good they do in Jesus’ name, even if they aren’t in our “circle.”

Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever let pride cause division between you and someone else? How can you reconcile?
2. How can you learn to celebrate the work of others, even if it’s different from your own?

Suggested Prayer:
"Lord, forgive me for allowing pride to create division in my heart and relationships. Help me to see others through Your eyes and to celebrate the good they do for Your kingdom. Amen."

For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. - Mark 9:41 ESV

Humility Brings Reward
In 1995, a group of Australian firefighters volunteered to help at a local charity event by serving breakfast to raise money. But it didn’t go as planned. These brave heroes who were used to battling blazes were completely out of their element when it came to pancakes and scrambled eggs! They accidentally set off the fire alarm—not because of a fire, but because one of them burned the toast. The irony of firefighters causing a fire alarm made everyone burst out laughing. Despite the hiccup, they raised a lot of money and left everyone with a good story to tell. This story shows that service isn’t about perfection—it’s about the heart behind it. Even when we fumble, our willingness to serve makes a difference!

In Mark 9:41, Jesus teaches that even the smallest act of service, like giving a cup of water, will not go unrewarded. Humility brings eternal reward. Often, the world overlooks small acts of service, but God sees them all. True greatness is found not in being seen by others, but in serving others with humility, trusting that God sees and rewards every act of kindness done in His name.

Reflection Questions:
1. What small act of service can you offer this week to reflect Christ’s love?
2. How does this passage challenge you to seek God’s reward rather than human recognition?

Suggested Prayer:
"Lord, remind me that You see every act of service, no matter how small. Help me to serve others with humility, knowing that my reward is in You alone. Amen."