Sermon 41 in Series Luke 9:46-50

[46] An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. [47] But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side [48] and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

[49] John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” [50] But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions 1. Why do you think Luke ends the Galilean Ministry with this emphasis on the disciples’ frailty? What does this imply for us? 2. How does the immediate context of Jesus’ passion prediction highlight the folly of the disciples’ argument? How does their thinking contrast with Jesus’ mindset? 3. How do vv. 46-48 help explain why the disciples misunderstood in the previous passage? How does our self-centeredness and pursuit of earthly glory smother our understanding of God’s truth? 4. What is Jesus illustrating with the child, and how does this reorient the disciples? What does the Lord use to reorient us as we get distracted with our own “greatness”? 5. What is greatness according to Jesus? How is this so different from our culture and the desires of our own flesh? 6. How does the theme of pride connect these two paragraphs (vv. 46-48 and vv. 49-50)? What do these passages teach us about humility? 7. What sinful tendency is Jesus addressing in v. 50? What does it practically look like to heed these words in light of other biblical teaching?

References: Matthew 20:17-28 (corporate reading); 18:1-5; Mark 9:33-41; 1 Peter 5:5; Luke 14:11; Philippians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 3:3; Luke 22:24-27; 9:54; 6:13; Titus 1:10-11.