Mark 10:32-44

"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to [Jesus]. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do us a favor." "What is your..."

"So Jesus called [the disciples] together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their..."

""What is your request?" [Jesus] asked. [James and John] replied, "When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to...."

Jesus’ disciples were clueless. Even worse, they were unwilling to accept that the role of exaltation for Jesus and his followers involved the cross of Golgotha! Phil Ware continues his series on the Cruciformed disciple, focusing this week on the power of the small.

"... Then Jesus told [James and John], "You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. But I have no right to....."

""Listen," [Jesus] said, "we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law....."

"But Jesus said to [James and John], "... Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with...."

Why are we put into positions of opportunity and service? Being in positions of leadership and authority doesn't give us the right to be above the law, but instead should give us the opportunity to serve in love.

"When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked [about being given places of honor], they were indignant."

"[Jesus and the disciples] were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people..."

What is the heart of real ministry? Ministry is basically two things: giving and serving!

Dear God in heaven, we’d sure like to have a little bit of power to alter our irrelevance, lighten the burdens of others, and heal the wounds of the broken and despairing. Phil Ware writes out of the context of recent disasters and the loss of a mother and child to remind us that being a servant, offering ourselves in sacrificial love, is never a waste!

I will miss him! Some people make an indelible memory on your heart because they are servants.

Is your thinking stuck in a rut? Tom Norvell reflects on Apple founder Steve Job's retirement and reminds us to think differently.

The description of the Good Shepherd in John 10 aligns beautifully with Jesus' definition of serving and giving himself to bless us in Mark 10. Phil Ware continues his thoughts on becoming JesuShaped disciples, this week focusing on the horrors of the litany of spiritual abuse cases in the news and how different they are from Jesus’ definition of a JesuShaped leader and godly shepherd.

Jesus emphasized that the greatest in the Kingdom of God is a servant, and then defined his personal mission as serving those who are lost. Phil Ware continues his reflections on his gospel studies and shares how we can become JesuShaped by becoming servants like John the Baptizer and four friends.

"Dear Follower, The Father's role for Me when I came to earth as the Son of God shocked many people. They expected a warrior or kingly ruler who would..."

Come on, Jesus wouldn't want us to lay down our life like this, would he? While we don't like the thought of being a doormat, the example of Jesus teaches us some things about our need to serve others.

There's a lot the disciples missed about Jesus, I wonder what I am not getting? Phil Ware thinks about the disciples not getting Jesus' repeated statements about going to Jerusalem, being rejected, being crucified, and being raised from the dead.

We must learn to be much more selfless and much less self-serving in our marriage relationships.

As much as we don't want to admit it, we often miss the way of the upside down Messiah as badly as his first disciples. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us in word and video how upside down Jesus' values are to the way we often do things in our world and in our churches.

Can there be more than recipes in those cookbooks? Our offers of love and friendship enrich us and bless others.

Jesus' trials focused on his true identity. James Nored and Phil Ware share in word and video the meaning of Jesus' trials before Pilate, Herod, and the Jewish Ruling Council.

Jesus' trials focused on his true identity, although those who tried him didn't really want to know the truth. James Nored and Phil Ware share in word and video the meaning of Jesus' trials before Pilate, Herod, and the Jewish Ruling Council and how they helped define the way of Jesus through the cross to the empty tomb.

Jesus' trials focused on his true identity. James Nored and Phil Ware share in word and video the meaning of Jesus' trials before Pilate, Herod, and the Jewish Ruling Council.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, James Nored and Phil Ware share the significance of Jesus' Triumphal Entry as they begin a special Holy Week series.