CreatingCommunity is an email devotion to guide your preparation for worship next Sunday. Imagine how much more clear and relevant God's Word will be if you have had an opportunity to read, reflect, and dwell in the Word prior to worship. You may do this devotion alone, with others, as a family, or at the start of a committee meeting.

This devotion is to be done in preparation for Sunday, October 17, 2021.

Please follow these three steps:

1. Read through the text
2. Respond to the questions (select one of the sets of questions)
3. Offer a Prayer
Mark 10:35-45

35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
No Experience Necessary Questions:
  1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
  2. What delights me in this text?
  3. What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
  4. What is God up to in this text?
Family Questions:
  1. How ambitious are you? Is ambition a good thing or a bad thing? Explain.?
  2. According to Jesus how is greatness determined in the Kingdom of God? Are there times when you were "great"? Tell of a time.
  3. How often do you approach Jesus (in prayer) and say, “Lord, I want you to do for me whatever I ask.”? How might your prayers change after reading this story?
Advance Questions:
  1. What does it mean to sit at Jesus' right hand and at his left in his glory? Does it mean what James and John thought it meant? Explain.
  2. Once again what Jesus teaches is in sharp contrast, in opposition to what our culture teaches: power is achieved in self-giving service. List some other ways the Rule of God is different that the politics of humanity.
  3. How you might be empty this day with acts of service and sacrifice in the name of Jesus? Make a list. How did you do?
Click here to watch this week's CreatingCommunity song
“When love is found" with lyrics.
Meditate on the words as you reflect on this story.
Pray a Prayer of your own or this one.
Lord God, we struggle with humility. Each of us wants the recognition we deserve, the job we have earned, and the respect that is due. When such a craving distorts our relationship with you, return us to the words of Jesus, “I came not to be served but to serve.” Let us live the same. Amen.Amen.