Becoming a Bigshot in the Kingdom: Christ's Radical Requirements for Leaders - Nathan Rages

 

Matthew 20:20-28 records the story of James and John's audacious attempt to get themselves appointed to the top two positions in Christ's Kingdom. This causes indignation from the other ten apostles and leads to Jesus teaching about the topic of pursuing leadership positions in the church -- showing how radically His Kingdom differs from the World.

The Wrong Way to pursue leadership:
1. Using personal influence to gain advantage (v20-21).
2. Pursuing roles that are not understood (v22).
3. Inciting discord among brethren (v24).
4. Copying worldly power structures (v25-26).

The Right Way to pursue leadership:
1. Accepting the cup of suffering (v22-23).
2. Submitting to God’s plans (v23).
3. Excelling at sacrificial service (v26-27).
4. Following Jesus’ perfect example (v28).

What Was Wrong With the Disciples? - Nathan Rages

In Luke 18:31-34, Jesus gives His disciples the most clearly detailed prediction of His eminent sufferings and resurrection. The disciples, however, completely fail to understand His meaning. Why was this? Why were they so clueless?

We explore the passage following this simple outline:
1. Completed prophecies (v31).
Ps. 22:1-18,34:20,69:21, Isa. 50:6,53:1-12, Dan. 9:26,
Zech. 11:12-13,12:10,13:7.

2. Comprehensive sufferings (v32-33).
Gentile involvement, mocked, mistreated, spit upon, scourged, and killed.

3. Certain resurrection (v33).
Proving atonement success, truthfulness of His claims, and our future rising.

4. Confused disciples (v34).
So be humble, teachable, and grateful for the Holy Spirit.

Living in a Grace-Centered Economy - Nathan Rages

In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard who are hired at different times, work different amounts of time, and yet are all paid the same wage.  The parable teaches these four spiritual principles:

1. Believers do different amounts of Kingdom work but receive the same salvation (v1-10).

2. Our motivation for Kingdom service is not earning wages (v10).  

3. God chooses to give greater grace to some folks than others (v14-15).

4. We dare not grumble or envy when others receive more blessings than we do (v11,15).