HOFC Sermon Archive

The House of Faith Church establishes and oversees places of worship, conducts the work of evangelism worldwide, supports missionary activities, and licenses ministers as instructed in Matthew 28. The House of Faith Ministries is an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) & 170(b)(1)(A)(i)—tax ID:35-2206435. Please consider supporting this ministry. #houseoffaithministries #houseoffaithchurch #worship #godheals #newtestament #jesuslovesyou #churchfamily #godsword #loveoneanother #holy #godislove #church #jesus #god #bible #christian #love #faith #jesuschrist #gospel #prayer #christ #christianity #pray #holyspirit #godisgood #hope #blessed #fruitofthespirit #armorofgod #spiritualgifts #servingthelord

SERMON TIMELINE

10. Jesus Cleanses the Leper

11. Jesus Heals the Paralytic

12. Jesus and the Tax Collector

13. Jesus Questioned About Fasting

14. Of Wine and Wineskins

15. Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath & Resurrection Sunday 2025

16. Hard Hearts and Hard Thoughts

17. Three Responses to Jesus

18. Jesus Appoints the Apostles

19. The Family of Jesus

20. The Unforgivable Sin

21. The True Family of Jesus

22. Parable of the Four Soils

23. How Well Do You Listen

24. Parable of the Growing Seed

25. Parable of the Mustard Seed

26. Benefits of Private Teaching

27. Jesus Calms the Storm

28. Who is Afraid of Jesus?

29. The Touch of Jesus

30. When Familiarity Breeds Contempt

31. Principles of Evangelism

32. Weakness in the Seat of Power

33. The Need for Rest

34. Feeding 5000

35. Jesus Walks on Water

36. Healings at Gennesaret

37. The Danger of Traditions

38. The Source of True Defilement

39. Gentile Blessed for Her Faith

40. He Has Done All Things Well

41. Jesus Feeds 4000

42. Jesus Sighs

43. Beware of Leaven

44. The Blind Man at Bethsaida

45. Who Do You Say That Jesus Is?

46. Mindful of the Things of God

47. The Cost of Discipleship

48. The Value of a Soul

49. Ashamed of Jesus and His Word

50. The Transfiguration

51. The Disciples ask Questions

52. The Unclean Spirit

53. The Way to Greatness

54. Principles of Discipleship

55. God Hates Divorce

56. Jesus Blesses Children

57. The Problem with Wealth

58. The Cost and Reward of Discipleship

59. A Couple Days Before Palm Sunday

60. The Cup and Baptism

61. Greatness in the Kingdom Comes from Serving

INTRODUCTION

Last week, we read about James and John asking Jesus for status, allowing them to sit on either side of Him when His Kingdom arrives.

This is a continuation of the running theme over the last few chapters of the disciples jockeying for position with Jesus and within the Kingdom. It was not that many verses ago when they argued over which of them was the greatest, and now, James and John tried securing their position with Jesus to lay claim to being the greatest among the disciples.

Jesus responded to their request, talking about the cup and baptism He must endure that was for Him, but they too would have their own; they would have to endure as His faithful followers.

He also stated that the seats were not His to give, but His Father’s.

Obviously, upon hearing the request of James and John to sit on the throne with Jesus, the other disciples were upset. Jesus takes this opportunity, as He does so many times with the disciples, to give them a lesson on what is truly important.

To be great in the Kingdom, one must serve, even as the Son of Man came to serve.

This is the lesson every Christian needs to remember, and it goes against what the world would have us believe. This message encourages us to be willing to serve and remember our place in the Kingdom because if you are not a servant, then Jesus is not your Lord.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Mark 10:41-45

“And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. ⁴²And calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. ⁴³But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; ⁴⁴and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. ⁴⁵For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

I. WE HAVE BEEN SERVED BY GREATNESS

a. We have been served by Jesus Himself.

Mark 10:45 “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

i. Jesus came to serve, not be served.

ii. To many proclaiming Christians want to be served, honored, exalted, respected; they want to be served by others in the world.

iii. Being a Christian to them means walking around with the attitude screaming, “Do you know who I am, I am the child of the most high!”

iv. The Word of God answers this attitude with two verses.

Romans 12:3 “… I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think;”

Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

v. Jesus served by giving His life as a ransom, dying on the cross for our sins.

vi. He serves us, even now, as our High Priest who intercedes for us

Hebrews 7:24-25 “…He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

b. Served by the prophets

i. The prophets spent their lives in service for our benefit

1 Peter 1:10-12 “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, made careful searches and inquiries, ¹¹seeking to know what time or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He was predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. ¹²It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been declared to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”

1. We have been served by men like Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, and many other men of faith through the centuries.

c. Served by the Holy Spirit

i. The Holy Spirit served us by inspiring the prophets

ii. The Holy Spirit also served us by inspiring the apostles to reveal the gospel

1. We read about this when Jesus told the disciples;

John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

d. Served by the Apostles

i. They are the ones who preached the gospel which we have heard!

ii. Through them, we have come to believe in Jesus

John 17:20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their (the apostles) word;”

iii. We have been served by great men like Peter, James, John, and Paul, all of whom suffered greatly in their ministry to us!

1. 1 Corinthians 4:9-13

2. 2 Corinthians 11:24-29

e. Served by Angels

i. 1 Peter 1:12 tells us they are very interested in the things being revealed.

ii. They also have their roles and responsibilities, which we can see clearly in the books of Daniel and Revelation

1. Daniel 8

2. Daniel 9

3. Luke 1:11-19

4. Luke 1:26-38

iii. They, too, have served and ministered to us

Hebrews 1:13-14 “But to which of the angels has He ever said,

“Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies
As a footstool for Your feet”?

¹⁴Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

f. And served by other Christians.

i. If a Christian is acting as a real Christian, they are serving others

ii. Someone taught you the gospel

iii. Someone continues to teach you and help you learn

iv. Someone made it possible for us to assemble here

v. Some continue to make it possible for us to be here through serving and tithing

vi. Many have prayed for others.

With so many truly serving, and how we are served in so many ways, do you take it for granted? We show gratitude and appreciation by emulating those who have served us over the years.

II. WE MUST SERVE TO BE GREAT IN THE KINGDOM

a. We serve in evangelism

i. Someone led you to Christ, why don’t you do the same and lead another to Him?

1. John 1:35-46

ii. We also serve in evangelism by being hospitable, offering acts of kindness, and providing service.

iii. At the very least, invite someone to service, offer someone a bible.

iv. Hone your skills at personal evangelism, seek to improve your ability to share the gospel with others, as the Lord calls us to do

b. We serve in edification

i. Many have contributed to your spiritual growth, so help others to grow!

1. Ephesians 4:16

ii. We serve in edification by being present at services, greeting everyone present.

iii. Taking special interest in those who are new…encourage them!

iv. Offer to help the church in some way!

v. Volunteer in the work and worship of the church

c. We serve in benevolence.

i. Has anyone shown you kindness? Be kind to others!

1. Ephesians 4:32

ii. Visit those who are sick, in homes or hospitals.

iii. Render services to help them, such as cleaning, transportation, errands, etc.

iv. Minister to the poor, hungry, or those in need

d. We serve the Lord by supporting the local church and its work

i. Have you reached millions of people with the Word of God?

ii. If you support this church, you have reached countless millions through our work here from around the world!

iii. When God commands you to give to your local church, it is not so the pastor can have cars and houses, fancy suits and expensive watches, to live like a king on earth!

iv. It’s to support the pastor and the local meeting place and the work that is accomplished there.

Over the years we have done many things here to serve the Lord, and the truth is, there are many times we have accomplished more than churches 10-times our size!

Let us not forget that all the websites, servers, web addresses, materials for preaching, teaching classes and seminary, maintenance on the building, our bills here, etc…require support from those who attend, so we may continue accomplishing these things and serve the Lord.

In Revelation when Jesus sends letters to the seven churches, I want our letter to be praise for our service, not rebuke because we are not keeping all He commanded.

CONCLUSION

The important thing is that we be people of service!

People who serve others, not just benefiting from the work and service of others.

People who are producers, givers, not just consumers, or takers.

Serving is not just the path to greatness in the Kingdom, but also the path to true happiness!

FINAL THOUGHT

John 13:15-17 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. ¹⁶Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

Want to learn more about Salvation?

CLICK HERE!

Support The House of Faith Church in Sharing the Gospel Worldwide

Over 20+ years in ministry | Nearly 2 Million Sermons Downloaded by Ministers Worldwide. Nearly 1,000 sermons available online | Over 280 Countries Reached with the Gospel

To give, please visit: https://www.ps127.org/tithes-offerings

To give through PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/AARR79FG22QN8

Give to Support this Ministry

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Gospel of Mark Part 61: Greatness in the Kingdom Comes from Serving