GSCC Small Group
Study Material Week of
Purpose of study: To realize what true greatness is.
Intro Q: Share about a person who you think has achieved some kind of greatness.
Dwight L. Moody once said, “The measure of a man is not how many servants
he has, but how many men he serves.”
Read Mark 10:35-45
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us
whatever we ask." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he
asked. 37 They replied, "Let one of
us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 38 "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?"
39 "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, 40 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."
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and
John. 42 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. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to
become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first
must be slave of all. 45 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."
1. What were James and
John asking?
2. What does Jesus mean
in verse 38-39 by his “cup” and “baptism”?
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Cup and Baptism are metaphors for suffering and death; see Matt. 26:39, and
Romans 6:3-4.
3. In verse 43, how can
one be great and be servant at the same time?
Read Philippians 2:5-11. Who ultimately
defines greatness?
5 Your attitude should be the same
as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider
equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being
made in human likeness. 8 And being
found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to
death— even death on a cross! 9
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is
above every name, 10 that at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
4. Share how this
passage may change your concept and attitude for greatness and servanthood? What opportunity for greatness do you have at
home, at work, or in church?