Why We Serve: Redefining Greatness at the Start of a New Year

A new year always invites reflection. We think about priorities, goals, and the direction our lives are headed. But before we ask what we want to do in the coming year, Jesus presses a more searching question: Why do we do what we do?

In Mark 10:42–45, Jesus confronts a way of thinking that feels natural to all of us. The world defines greatness by power, position, and control—by how high someone rises and how many people answer to them. That mindset was common in the first century, and it’s just as common today. What makes this passage so uncomfortable is that Jesus addresses it not in outsiders, but in His own disciples.

With a single, decisive statement—“It is not so among you”—Jesus draws a clear line between the values of the world and the values of His kingdom. In God’s kingdom, greatness is not measured by status, visibility, or recognition. It is measured by service. Jesus does not eliminate the desire to matter or make a difference; He redirects it. True greatness, He says, is found in becoming a servant and even a slave to others.

The heart of the passage comes in verse 45, where Jesus grounds this call to service in the gospel itself. The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Christian service is not driven by guilt, pressure, or the need to prove ourselves. It flows from grace. We serve because we have been served first—at the cross.

This Sunday’s sermon, “Why We Serve,” launches our January focus on Equipping for Service. Before we talk about how God equips His people, we must first understand the heart behind service. Following Jesus reshapes our definition of greatness and gives our lives a new direction—outward, humble, and purposeful.

If you’ve ever felt tired, overlooked, or unsure why service matters, this lesson speaks directly to that struggle. It invites us to lay down the world’s way of measuring importance and rediscover the joy of living in the footsteps of a Savior who gave everything for us.

Join us as we begin the year by listening again to Jesus—and allowing Him to redefine what it truly means to live a great life.

1. What definition of greatness do we most often see in the world, and how does Jesus’ definition in Mark 10:42–45 challenge it?
2.  Why do you think Jesus said, “It is not so among you”? What happens when the church adopts the world’s view of power and importance?
3.  Jesus does not eliminate the desire to be great—He redirects it. What does pursuing greatness through service look like in everyday life?
4.  How does Jesus giving His life “as a ransom for many” shape our motivation for serving others? How is grace-driven service different from guilt-driven service?
5.  What attitudes or obstacles (such as pride, comfort, or self-protection) can quietly keep us from serving as Jesus describes, and how can we begin to address them?

Those Serving
CALL TO WORSHIP/PRAYER
Luke Powell
SONG LEADER
Jason Schofield
LEAD LORD'S SUPPER
Russ Robins
 ASSIST LORD’S SUPPER
Brayden Grushon
Josh Childers
Gary Stewart
Reggie Johnson
SCRIPTURE READING
Colby Grushon
Mark 10:42-45
PREACHING
Matthew Allen
CLOSING PRAYER
George Wacks
CLOSING COMMENTS
Mark Ringle
WELCOME CENTER
Judy Hickey // Kathy Downey
USHERS
Paul Braden // Justin Spargo
COMMUNION PREP
Sadonna Schofield
CLOSING THE BUILDING
James Passmore