Habits of Grace, Part 9

What if the path to true greatness isn’t power or recognition—but service? In this message, Pastor Tyler challenges us to rethink what it means to be “great” in the kingdom of God. Drawing from Mark 9, he explores how Jesus redefined power, influence, and love through the posture of a servant. Whether serving feels natural or difficult (“downstream” or “upstream”), this practice shapes us into people of love who reflect the heart of Jesus.

This is Our God
Phil Wickham

Son Of Suffering
Bethel Music

What A Beautiful Name
Hillsong Worship

I Don’t Have Much
Mission House

Downstream
Practices that come to us easily or intuitively. They take time, energy, and motivation, but they are experienced joyfully.

–

Upstream
Practices that come to us with difficulty or confusion. They take time, energy, and motivation, and we feel it almost every time.

–

Downstream practices – Because they feel easy, they tend to be life-giving.
Upstream practices – Because they feel difficult, they tend to be life-altering.

–

Service is the spiritual practice of expressing Christlike love through meeting the practical needs of another, especially those most in need of help.

–

Matthew 20:28
…The son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many…”

–

Mark 9:14-37
The four of them made their way back to the other disciples. There they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and legal experts arguing with them. As soon as the crowd saw Jesus they were astounded, and they all ran up to greet him.

“What’s all the fuss about?” he asked. “Teacher,” said someone from the crowd, “I brought my son to you. He’s got a spirit that stops him speaking. Whenever it takes hold of him it throws him on the ground; he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and goes rigid. I spoke to your disciples about casting it out, but they couldn’t.”

“You unbelieving generation!” replied Jesus. “How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” They brought him to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. “How long has it been like this with him?” asked Jesus. “Since childhood,” replied the man. “Often it even throws him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything . . . please, please help us! Have pity on us!”

“What d’you mean, ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible to someone who believes.” At this the father gave a great shout. “I do believe!” he roared. “Help me in my unbelief!” Jesus saw that the crowd was getting bigger by the minute. He scolded the unclean spirit: “Speechless and deaf spirit,” he said, “I command you—come out of him, and never go back again!” The spirit yelled, gave the boy a huge convulsion, and came out.

The boy seemed to be dead; in fact, several people did say, “He’s dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” asked his disciples, once they were back in the house by themselves. “This sort,” replied Jesus, “can only be cast out by prayer.”

They went away from there and were traveling through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know, because he was teaching his disciples. “The ‘son of man,’ he was saying, “is to be given over into human hands. They will kill him; and, when he’s been killed, after three days he will rise again.” They didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
They came to Capernaum. When they got into the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” They said nothing, because on the road they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. Jesus sat down and called the Twelve. “If you want to be first,” he said, “you must be last of all, and servant of all.” He took a small child, and stood it in the middle of them. Then he hugged the child, and said to them, “If anyone welcomes one child like this in my name, they welcome me. And if anyone welcomes me, it isn’t me they welcome, but the one who sent me.”

–

Mark 9:35
the one who wants to be first, must become last, a servant of all.”

–

Mark 9:37
“If anyone welcomes one child like this in my name, they welcome me. And if anyone welcomes me, it isn’t me they welcome, but the one who sent me.”

–

Matthew 25:40
Then the king will answer them: ‘I’m telling you the truth: when you did it to one of the least significant of my brothers and sisters here, you did it to me.”

–

John 13:14-17
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. ….. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

–