Greatness That God Favors
While the world often praises the powerful, wealthy, brilliant, and famous, God celebrates those who humbly dedicate themselves to serving others. This Sunday, Rev. Mike Cariño reminds us that God defines greatness by our desire to learn, our drive to serve, and our decision to embrace the least and the lowly.
Read Today’s Scripture Passage
Mark 9:30-37
Life Group Discussion Guide
1. Start with a prayer
2. Engage one another (15-30 mins)
– Share a time you misunderstood something important because you weren’t ready to listen or learn. What did that experience teach you?
3. Engage the mind (15-20 mins)
– Read the passage. What does Jesus’ act of welcoming a child reveal about God’s perspective on status and value?
– What is the difference between worldly greatness and the greatness that God favors? How do we see this in today’s society?
4. Engage the heart (15-20 mins)
– When it comes to learning from Christ, do you find yourself more teachable or more resistant to correction? What encourages and hinders you from having a humble, learning heart?
– When was the last time you served someone without expecting anything in return? What did you discover about yourself and about God through that experience?
5. Engage the hands (15-20 mins)
– Who are the “least” or “lowly” people in your daily life that you often overlook or avoid? How do you think Jesus would want you to respond to them in a concrete way this week?
– What motivates you to serve others? Is it recognition, obligation, or love? How can you make service a regular part of your lifestyle rather than just an occasional act?
6. Engage with God in prayer (20-30 mins)
– Praise the Lord for redefining greatness through the example of Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself to serve and give His life for others. Thank Him for showing us that true greatness is found not in power, fame, or status, but in humility, teachability, and love. Rejoice that He invites us to learn from Him—the gentle and humble in heart—and that His Spirit enables us to grow in Christlike greatness that blesses others and glorifies God.
– Repent for the times you have sought worldly greatness—craving recognition, position, or applause—while neglecting to learn from and serve like Christ. Ask for forgiveness for pride that keeps you from being teachable, or indifference that keeps you from serving those in need. Pray that God will give you a renewed heart that hungers to learn, serves with joy, and embraces the overlooked and forgotten in Jesus’ name.
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