This week in our series Party Pooper, we are looking at a dinner party that Jesus had with His disciples. This was no ordinary party. It was His very last dinner He would have with His disciples before His death on the cross. It was during this dinner party that Jesus demonstrated that true greatness is not about making a name for ourselves, like the religious leaders, the New Testament party poopers, believed greatness was. It is about serving those around us.
What comes to mind when you think of the word “greatness?” Why?
1. Who is someone you would describe as “great?” Why?
2. Read John 13:1-11. What was shocking about Jesus’ actions in this passage of Scripture?
John 13:1-11
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on Earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” 10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
3. Read John 13:12-17. Why did Jesus wash His disciples’ feet?
John 13:12-17
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
4. Summarize Jesus' teaching to His disciples in this passage of Scripture.
1. How did Jesus redefine greatness?
2. What holds people back from serving in the way Jesus did?
3. How can we today serve in the way that Jesus served while He was on Earth?
How can you follow Jesus’ model of service this week? Maybe you can take someone a meal who is in need or sign up to serve at Sagebrush at sagebrush.church/serve. Whatever you decide, share that with your group. This week, take that step and begin serving. Tell your group how your time serving was when you come back together next week.
If we want to develop a heart of service, we have to change our hearts. After all, we are not going to serve others unless God works in our hearts so that we are moved to serve those around us. Specifically, we must grow in love, compassion for others, and willingness to sacrifice. For the next few minutes, let's look at how we can grow in these three areas.
At the root of service is a deep love for people. After all, when we love people, we are motivated to serve them, even when that service costs us. If we want to follow Jesus’ example and serve the people around us, we must grow in our love for them.
1. Read John 15:12-14.
John 15:12-14
12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
2. How did Jesus love His disciples (and the rest of humanity)?
3. What does it look like to love others in the same way that Jesus loved?
4. How does love motivate us to serve?
If we want to serve others well, we must be willing to sacrifice. Service always requires us to sacrifice something, whether the sacrifice is large or small. If we are not willing to sacrifice, we will not be willing to serve. In order for us to serve well, we need God to work in our hearts and develop in us a willingness to sacrifice for the sake of serving others and His kingdom.
1. Read Matthew 16:24-26.
Matthew 16:24-26
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
2. Summarize Jesus’ teaching in this passage of Scripture.
3. How does service require us to sacrifice?
4. How did Jesus’ service lead to sacrifice?
5. How does a willingness to sacrifice motivate us to serve?
The final characteristic we must demonstrate if we are going to serve others is compassion. Compassion motivates us to help and serve others in need. If we lack compassion, we will not be motivated to serve others in the way that Christ calls us to. On the other hand, if we have compassion, service will naturally flow from us.
1. Read Matthew 9:36-38.
Matthew 9:36-38
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
2. What was Jesus’ response to the crowd of people He saw?
3, How did Jesus call His disciples to respond out of the compassion He felt?
4. How does compassion motivate us to serve?
Which of the areas we studied today- love, sacrifice, or compassion- would you like to grow in? How can you grow in that area beginning this week? Share that with your group. When everyone has shared, pray together and ask God to work in your hearts as you seek to grow in love, sacrifice, and compassion in order to become more like Him.
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