04-22-12 - Don't be a Yertle

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1. Yertle the Turtle wanted to be the greatest in his kingdom. And the disciples wanted to be considered the greatest in God’s Kingdom.

2. Yertle didn’t care about the other turtles… they weren’t as important as he. And each of the disciples cared less for the others than they do for themselves, for they were more important (in their own eyes) than the others.

Luke 9:46-48 46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all–he is the greatest.

Matthew 23:11 “The greatest among you will be your servant.”

1st –Yertle’s biggest problem was that he didn’t think anybody should be higher than he was.

HE WAS THE KING… and this was HIS kingdom.
Nothing, and no one, else was allowed to impose on his authority and power.

2nd He felt that what he had was his because he deserved it.

He was king by virtue of his own ability and strength of character.
He was king because he deserved to be.

Matthew 18:1-4 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

When we’re willing to humble ourselves and come before God with the gentle openness of a little child … then God can use us.

Jesus said: “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:11

A Humble Servant …
1. Acknowledges their Gifts and abilities are from God.
2. Knows it’s God’s ministry, not theirs.
3. Realizes God’s gifts are to be used for the kingdom, not for personal fulfillment.
4. Gives God and others praise for the victories that was won.
5. Doesn’t feel jealous or threatened when someone else receives the recognition instead of themselves.

Let’s see a Video of someone who needs a humble servant’s heart. Video: A Servant’s Heart / Discussion (?)

So, who are some of the people we can be servants to? We can be……

• Servants to people who can’t contribute anything to make the church strong & influential.
• Servants to children who are too young to fix things, or teach, or lead singing
• Servants to widows who are too poor to contribute to the church budget
• Servants to anyone who is weak, crippled, or handicapped, and is unable to repay our kindnesses.

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can“. -John Wesley’s

VOLUNTEERS AND SERVANTS


Volunteers raise their hand to be called on.
Servants are CALLED by the HAND OF GOD.

Volunteers do work for God.
Servants do WORK WITH GOD.

Volunteers get tired of the work.
Servants are tired IN the work.

Volunteers pray their work will succeed.
Servants SUCCEED as they PRAY for their work.

Volunteers serve from their commitment.
Servants SERVE in their SURRENDER.

Volunteers come and go as they please.
Servants are PLEASED to COME and STAY.

Volunteers are faced with ministry problems.
Servants are faced with MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES.

Volunteers teach the Bible Story to others.
Servants ARE the LIVING BIBLE STORY to others.

Volunteers want to be led in ministry.
Servants LEAD in ministry.

Volunteers love the ministry.
Servants LOVE the JESUS in the ministry.

Volunteers serve under their supervisor.
Servants SERVE GOD ALONE.

Volunteers see their ministry as small.
Servants see the WORLD as their ministry.

Volunteers are excited when they succeed.
Servants are excited to MAKE OTHERS SUCCEED.

Philippians 2:3-11 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father