The Good Fight of Serving

Bridgepoint Church
Oct 27
4 min read

Pastor: Jeff Love

Introduction: When Following Jesus Doesn’t Go as Expected

As Jesus and His disciples travel toward Jerusalem for the final time in Mark 10, their journey is filled with moments of ministry — conversations with Pharisees, blessings for children, and even discussions about death.

But in the middle of all that, there’s an awkward and all-too-familiar interaction. The disciples are confused about what it means to follow Jesus. They’re thinking about power, position, and recognition — and Jesus has to redirect their priorities.

That confusion still lives in many of us today. We often have our own expectations for how God should work — the timing, the comfort, the rewards. When life doesn’t go the way we imagined, we start to ask:

“God, what are You doing? Why is this happening?”

Paul answers that question clearly in Romans 8:29 — God’s goal is to make us more like Jesus. Every circumstance, every person we encounter, is part of that process.

Here’s the spoiler:

My selfish ambition is not God’s priority.

God isn’t producing comfort or convenience in us — He’s shaping obedient followers and willing learners.

The Disciples’ Misguided Ambition

“Then James and John came to Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.’”— Mark 10:35

Two grown men with childlike thinking. After Jesus just finished describing His coming death, their first question is about their own position:

“Grant that we may sit, one at Your right hand and the other at Your left.” (v. 37)

It sounds selfish, but if we’re honest, we’ve all prayed similar prayers — asking God for what we think we deserve because of what we’ve sacrificed.

Following Jesus turns our nature upside down. He must increase; we must decrease.

The Price of Following Jesus

“You do not know what you ask. Can you drink the cup that I drink…?”— Mark 10:38

Jesus warns them — they have no idea what they’re asking for. The “cup” represents suffering.

Every follower of Jesus walks a path of faith that will test their limits. Following Him will always be harder than we imagine — but it’s also worth it.

James would later die by the sword. John endured the torture of being boiled in oil and then exiled. They both drank deeply from the same cup Jesus drank.

Greatness Redefined

“Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.”— Mark 10:43–44

When the other ten disciples hear what James and John asked, they’re furious — not because of humility, but because they wanted those seats too.

Jesus calls them together and completely redefines greatness. In God’s kingdom:

Greatness is not determined by how many people serve you,
but by how many people you serve.

He uses the word “slave” (doulos) — someone wholly surrendered to another’s will.

Greatness in God’s Kingdom is determined by walking unfamiliar paths — the path of humility, sacrifice, and service.

The 5/2 Principle: Obedience Over Results

When we serve, God multiplies what we offer — just like the boy with five loaves and two fish. Here’s the principle:

I am responsible for obedience. God is responsible for results.

You may never know the full impact of your service, but when you obey, God takes care of multiplying it in ways you can’t imagine.

The Example of Jesus

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

Jesus removes every excuse we could ever come up with for not serving.The One who was most worthy of being served — the Creator of the universe — humbled Himself to serve us.

This is the heart of the gospel: Substitutionary atonement — Jesus took our place, bore our punishment, and satisfied God’s justice. Because of that, we now serve others out of gratitude, not obligation.

The Practice: “What Can I Do for You?”

Following Jesus isn’t just about what we believe — it’s about who we become. Every morning we can start with this prayer:

“Lord, what can I do for You today?”

And that question guides us into every relationship:

I will serve God. This day belongs to Him. Every opportunity to serve is an act of worship.
I will serve the people I love. Sometimes the easiest to love are the hardest to serve. Start with your family.
I will serve the people I know. Friends, coworkers, church family — small acts of kindness and encouragement matter.
I will serve people who can’t serve themselves. The hurting, grieving, or forgotten. Compassion doesn’t wait to be asked.
I will serve people who won’t serve me. This is where true humility grows — expecting nothing in return, reflecting the heart of Christ.