For years Michael Jordan was the league’s best scorer, yet his team kept falling short of a championship, until a new coach introduced a system in which the star was no longer the most important player. From this basketball story John Crozier moves on to the ‘game plan’ Jesus repeated three times to his disciples on the road to Jerusalem: whoever wants to be first must be the servant of all (Mark 8-10). The sermon shows that life is truly won only in the perspective of eternity, by giving it away, not by grasping. Listen and ask yourself whose game plan your life is built on.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- In Mark 8, 9 and 10 Jesus predicts His death and resurrection three times, and each time the disciples respond in their own way: Peter takes Him aside, others argue about who is the greatest, and two ask for seats at His right and left. What do these reactions reveal about what the disciples expected from Jesus?
- How do you understand Jesus' words in Mark 10:42-45 about the rulers of this world and the Son of Man who came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many? What might have surprised the first listeners?
- The sermon compares Jesus' plan to the triangle offense, where the best player stopped being the only focus and the team started winning. What about Jesus' game plan, where the way up is the way down, feels most counterintuitive to you?
- Jesus says that whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses it for Him and for the gospel will save it. How does an eternal perspective change the way you look at what you gain or lose here?
- The speaker tells of a Confederate secretary of war who celebrated Passover every year while owning slaves himself. In which areas of your life is it easiest to forget Jesus' words, even though you agree with them in principle?
- Who can you deliberately put ahead of yourself this week, at home, at work or in your church community, and what could serving that person look like?
