Lessons on Service, Wednesday

0:00Hey kids, welcome to Junior Sprit Jesus. Go grab your Bibles. We're gonna be digging in and learning some really exciting stories. Let's get started. We're in a section this week entitled Lessons on Service. Jesus was probably the greatest example of what a true servant really is. It's one of his most endearing traits. This was the God of the universe who spoke the world into existence. And if anyone had a right to demand of humanity, absolute worship and authority, it was Jesus. And yet what we find in Jesus is a spirit of absolute humility. First to the Father's plan and then in how He served others. The greatest of them was the servant of all. This upside down type of thinking was the absolute opposite of the entitled culture of the religious leaders. Jesus used the same dinner party

1:02that we learned about yesterday in the home of one of these leaders to expose their proud attitudes and challenge the assumptions upon which they were being built. In that party, Jesus had healed a cripple man. Exposed the hypocritical arrogance of the religious leaders will talk about what Jesus said and the thinking behind it on today's podcast. But first, let's say the memory verse again together. It's from Matthew 10, 38 and 39. Jesus said, he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it. And he who loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10, 38 and 39. And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10, 38 and 39. Matthew 10, 38 and 39.

2:03When's the day? Seek to be humble. Luke 14, 7 through 14. After Jesus healed the sick man at the home of one of the rulers of the Pharisees, he gave the guest some great advice. That would show everyone that they were being highly honored. Jesus said that this wasn't wise because what if a guest took the best place but another guest that arrived later was more important? How embarrassing it would be to ask that man to move to a lesser important place? Jesus suggested taking the least important place first and then if the host should ask you to move to a place of honor, people would admire you. Wouldn't that be much better than being embarrassed because you're having to move to a more humble place because somebody more important than you showed up later? Jesus ended that wise advice to the guest with words that we should memorize.

3:03We need to remember that every time we find ourselves wanting others to notice and admire us, we should read what Jesus said in Luke 14, verse 11. For whoever exalts themselves will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Then Jesus gave the hosts some special advice as well. When you have a meal, he said, don't always invite only the people that you know will invite you back. Those should be people such as special guests, relatives, or rich neighbors. That's actually being selfish and you've only increased your own pride as well as the pride of your guest. Instead, work to invite people who are poor, handicapped, or have health problems. They aren't going to invite you back to their party. And so they will truly be grateful for the love and care that you show them. And when the incomes, each saved person will be rewarded with eternal life.

4:04No selfish people will receive that reward. Check it out for yourself in verses 12 through 14. Then he also said to him who invited him. When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, less, they also invite you back and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. Now let's apply this. You see, Jesus was speaking in a very kind way. But what he was saying was something that everyone in that Pharisees house needed to hear that day. And we also need to hear and do what he said that Sabbath as well. This podcast is brought to you by My Bible First. Visit us at MyBibleFirst.org to find other great resources for children, youth, and adults. All of our resources are geared to help you understand the Bible better.