Reflection Questions: LUKE 22:24-30

For the message, Greatness Redefined given by Pastor John Ferguson

at New City Church of Calgary on February 26, 2017

These discussion questions are designed primarily to help you apply the message from the Scriptures
by helping you think through application to your personal life, your church life, and your citys life.
You can use these by yourself for reflection, or with your family or small group for discussion.
To review the sermon, go to NewCityChurch.ca/sermons

INTRODUCTION

Pray. Take a moment to pray asking God to guide you in reflecting upon the Scripture text.

Read the Scripture text: Luke 22:24-30

A summary of the sermon: Jesus is sharing his Last Supper with his first disciples just hours before his death. He tells
them that one of them is going to betray him, and then an argument breaks out among the disciples as to which of them is
the greatest. Jesus uses this as a teaching moment to tell them that others use use power to lord it over others, but it is
not to be the case with them. Instead, they are to follow the example of Jesus who is among them as one who serves.
True greatness is redefined by Jesus as becoming a servant.

Key Points:

Like the disciples, we want other people to think about how great we are (social media, #humblebrag)

Mark 10:43-45, Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you
must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many.

Philippians 2:3-8, Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than
yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind
among your-selves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with
God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And
being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross.

John 13:13-16, Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so
I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one anothers feet. For I have
given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not
greater than his master.

Key Quotes

CJ Mahaney, The real issue here is not if pride exists in your heart; its where pride exists and how pride is being
expressed in your life.

Bren Brown, We spend too much precious time and energy managing perception and creating carefully edited
versions of ourselves to show to the world.

John Stott, At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the
greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend.

CS Lewis, Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

Bottom Line:

If you want to know how to define greatness, look no further than Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords
who for us and for our salvation became the Servant of servants.
QUESTIONS

1. How does this text speak to your life?

The first disciples of Jesus constantly battled pride in arguing about who was the greatest. How do you see pride
rearing its ugly head in your life (work? family? social media? sports?)

Jesus clearly redefined greatness as taking the position of a servant. Why is this so hard for us to swallow?

In light of this parable, how would you answer the question, What kind of me is God calling me to be?

Have you had times where you have stepped out to intentionally serve others and found actual joy in doing so?

2. How does this text speak to us as a church community?

What would it look like for us a church community if we are to live out this text in our city?

What would we need to change? What would we need to repent of?

3. How does this text speak to our city?

How would Calgary look radically different if everybody did what Jesus describes in this passage?

What kind of new life / future in Christ is this text calling our city to experience?

What do you think is the connection between service and mission to our city? to our communities? to our families?

CONCLUSION QUESTION

What is the one thing you want to take away from this study to remember or to make a change in your life?

PRAYER

What are some ways you can turn what you are learning into prayer? List them as bullet points.

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