High Voltage Outline - Nov 19, 2006

Weekend Overview:
Attendance: Average
Lesson Topic: Week 6 - Ordinary Heroes... James and John struggling with selfishness.
'Fun Factor': Above Average
Volunteer Involvement: Above Average
Music: N/A
Student Involvement in Music: N/A
Lesson Quality: below average
Length of Lesson: 30 minutes
Student Response: average
Overall Night Rating (scale of 1(not good) to 10(awesome)): 5

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Here's tonight's outline about James and John and their selfish request to Jesus:

Ordinary Heroes
Week 6 – James and John
High Voltage – November 19, 2006 – Jim Clark
He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:14-15

One important question to ask:
Who’s most important in your life?
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matt 22:37-39

James and John’s priorities were messed up.
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. Mark 10:35-36
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 3:34

They made a request that was selfish and self-centered.
They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." Mark 10:37-40

This request hurt their relationship with the other disciples.
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Mark 10:41

Jesus showed the true way to life.
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45

The True Path to life:
Serving
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. Ephesians 6:7

Humility
I (Jesus) tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13
Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among great men; it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman. Proverbs 25:6-7

Others First Attitude
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10

Action Steps:
1. Access who is central in your life.

2. Make the commitment to putting others first.

3. Recognize the concerns that are all around you.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:11
The Bottom Line: We can lift ourselves up… which will give short-term glory…
Or God can lift us up… that will give us eternal glory.

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Discussion Questions:
1. Who/What is central and most important in your life?
2. Is that a path that you want to pursue in your life or do you want to go in a different direction? Explain your answer.
3. What is one way that you could begin to put others first?
4. What would be the hardest thing about putting others first?
5. Is it worth it? Why or why not?

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Tonight was a little off... it might have just been me... but the game was awesome!! And really funny.


JC