THE SERVANT PREPARES HIS FOLLOWERS

Mark 9:33-35 • Lesson Seven

Due to the time restraint some huddles have for bible study, here is an abridged study that you can print out along with a more complete bible study that you can download at the end of this lesson.

Read and discuss:

Mark 9:33-35

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.”

Discuss this statement on servanthood by Pastor John MacArthur.

“The cost of true greatness is humble, selfless, sacrificial service. The Christian who desires to be great and first in the kingdom is the one who is willing to serve in the hard place, the uncomfortable place, the lonely place, the demanding place, the place where he is not appreciated and may even be persecuted. Knowing that time is short and eternity long, he is willing to spend and be spent. He is willing to work for excellence without becoming proud, to withstand criticism without becoming bitter, to be misjudged without becoming defensive, and to withstand suffering without succumbing to self-pity.” — John MacArthur

Why do you think Christ’s teaching of the “first shall be last; last shall be first” is so hard to swallow for most athletes and coaches?

You can download the entire lesson here which includes chapter 9 and 10 of the Book of Mark.