Pastor Scott Andrews | April 27, 2025
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Luke 9:49-56
Some of you may remember the story of US Army Specialist Pat Tillman. Tillman had played football as a linebacker at Arizona State University from 1994 to ‘97 where he was a first team All American. That All American moniker ended up being the story of his life in a few short years. You see, he was drafted in 1998 by the Arizona Cardinals, where he was moved to safety, and earned further honors. But in 2001, September 11 changed the trajectory of his life. He finished his contract that year with the Cardinals, but then turned down a $3.6 million offer for a three-year extension. He left the NFL and enlisted in the US Army where he became a Ranger. Deployed to Afghanistan, he was on patrol on April 22, 2004 – 21 years ago last week – when he was KIA, killed in action. At first, it was reported that he died in an enemy ambush, but the truth came out a few weeks later that he was accidentally killed by friendly fire. In other words – he was mistakenly killed by other US soldiers – Rangers. He was posthumously promoted to Corporal and awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
While only 5’11”, he was a mountain of a man. He left his All-American defensive linebacker heritage, the lucrative NFL career to become a soldier, an All American, fighting to defend now, not a goal line, but freedom. His friendly fire death shocked the special forces community and the people of the US. The truth is, friendly fire is an all-too-often tragedy in the haze and horror of war. Google wartime friendly fire deaths and you will find different lists of hundreds of such tragedies.
Unfortunately, friendly fire is not confined to war. Well, physical wars with real bullets and bombs. It can sometimes, all-too-often, be found in familiar arenas – the workplace, school, families, even church. Spiritual arenas. I’m not talking about the Crusades or the Inquisition. I’m not even talking about literal battles lines drawn in Catholic and Protestant wars. No, I’m talking about battles in the church of Jesus Christ. Yes, it is true there is a war raging between the forces of God and the forces of evil. But Paul reminds us our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the forces of evil in heavenly places – against the devil and his demons. We don’t fight unbelievers – they’re held captive by the enemy – and we certainly don’t fight other believers, right?
But, we sometimes forget that and turn our attacks on one another. As it has sometimes been suggested – the church is too often the place where we shoot our own wounded; where we form our firing squads in a circle. A friend often reminds me, there’s no hurt like church hurt. As shocked as we are by such events, do you suppose God is pleased with friendly fire? Now, maybe we don’t bear literal firearms – but our attacks can at times be just as vicious. Did you know, for example, it is estimated there are currently 45,000 Christian denominations in the world? Is that not embarrassing? There was, some suggest the first one, in 1054 – the Great Schism when the Eastern and Western churches divided – over important things like beards and marriage and the date of Easter. Well, there were some truly important things like who heads the church – the pope in the west or the patriarch in the East.
Now, I’m not suggesting there is not time or place when churches should separate – we did two years ago over significant doctrinal issues. But 45,000 – really? Are there even that many doctrinal differences – or do we just divide over silly things. Besides the normal things like carpet color and worship styles, Thom Rainer, former Baptist pastor and seminary professor, founder of churchanswers.net provided some interesting stories of actual church splits. Consider, a church split as the result of:
- First, an argument over the length of the worship pastor’s beard. If you hear Hunter and I are arguing over beard length, know that it’s simply prompted by my jealousy – I can’t grow one.
- An actual church split over whether to build a children’s playground or church cemetery. It seems to me the church cemetery won on that one.
- An argument over whether to remove a clock in the church’s worship center. If you hear Hunter and I are arguing over that – know that it’s because I vote yes – remove it – who even looks at the clock?
- A dispute over which picture of Jesus to hang in the church foyer. You do realize, we don’t actually have pictures of Jesus.
- An argument over whether the worship pastor should wear shoes – what is all this fighting with worship pastors? Again, if you hear Hunter and I arguing over that, know that he must wear shoes.
- Another, on whether a church should have deviled eggs in the church potluck. Clearly, only if you also have angel food cake.
- Finally, an argument broke out as to whether the dusty fake plants should be removed from the platform. It was like the tinder that caused the fire that split the church.
Thankfully, our elders don’t have discussions over those kinds of things. We can divide over such silly things that we harm the cause of Christ. Because we don’t like each other. Because we’re jealous of each other. Because, let’s admit it, sometimes we’re just proud. Undoubtedly, pride has done more damage to the church than anything else. Let me say that again…
The last words of Jesus two weeks ago were these, as the disciples were arguing about which one of them was greatest, Jesus took a child and set him by His side, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.” We found Jesus was not necessarily talking just about children, although He certainly included them. No, the child was an object lesson – representing every less-than-important person.
That was the message. You see, somewhere along the way, the disciples had forgotten a very basic truth of Christianity – Jesus came to save undeserving sinners – not those who deserve it. His very first recorded full-length sermon is called the Sermon on the Mount. Wanting to make sure the disciples and the crowds understood the kingdom He came to bring, He introduced the sermon with those well-known Beatitudes. Blessed are the rich and famous, well-known, the celebrities, the gifted, the religious, those who have it all together, the performers, the high-profile members of society, the ones who show up at church to the amazement of people.
No, that’s not what He said. First words out of His mouth, Blessed are the poor in spirit – the destitute, the spiritually bankrupt. Blessed are the broken – because theirs, and theirs alone, is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who would never be noticed, let alone take the stage in most churches. My point is well-known people who are Christians are no more important than, well, you.
I’ve mentioned before how excited the Christian community gets when even the whiff of a rumor makes the rounds of some well-known celebrity becoming a Christian. We get so excited when we hear this quarterback or that point guard is a Christian and mentions Jesus after some important victory. Again, when some rumor spreads about a celebrity becoming a Christian, it travels on social media like wildfire – whether it’s true or not. We tend to think, wow, what an impact the gospel could have if that person actually became a Christian – as if the gospel needs important people to succeed. You see, important people somehow make the gospel more acceptable – validates us. We’re not as unimportant as we thought. Let me be clear, the gospel actually needed only one important person to succeed – His name was Jesus.
Blessed are those the disciples, and even we, may shun, intentionally or unintentionally overlook. Jesus had communicated that truth by both His teaching and example; those He chose – the broken people of society. The outcasts, the sick, the demon-possessed, the lepers, the prostitutes, the sinners. The religious and political leaders of society – the who’s who on everyone’s Hanukkah list? Well, they were the ones opposing Jesus.
So now, Jesus and the disciples are about to embark on a journey to Jerusalem. We will see that in just a moment. The time is short – six months or less. Jesus has begun clearly telling them, beginning up in Caesarea Philippi, I must go to Jerusalem, suffer at the hands of the chief priests, scribes and elders, be killed, and raised again the third day. The disciples were confused when they heard that news, but quickly dismissed it.
Why do I say quickly? Well, on their way to Jerusalem from Philippi, they stopped by Capernaum, perhaps one last time. And on the way there, Jesus told them again, I will be handed over and killed. And so, quite understandably, an argument broke out between the disciples as to which one of them was the greatest. Are you kidding me, Jesus was giving up His life, they were promoting theirs.
Remember, Jesus asked them, “what were you discussing on the way?” and after a moment of embarrassed silence, knowing they were talking about who was greatest, Jesus said in Mark, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and the servant of all.” This is a critical characteristic of the kingdom. The last will be first, the first, last. Remember, He’s been saying all kinds of shocking things: if you want to live, you must die. If you want to save your life, you must lose it. If you want to be great, you must suffer. If you want to be first, you must be last. If you want to be great, you must serve.
Shocking. You’re fighting about greatness, position, status, power? He gathered a little child, perhaps a toddler, in His arms, set him before them. Then, very firmly, perhaps quietly, maybe with an edge of disappointment, He said, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me.” His disciples would have been stunned. At that time, children were the lowest on the food chain – they wouldn’t have even noticed the kid. A child, great in the kingdom?
In Matthew, He told them, this little child is great because he’s humble. He’s too young to be concerned about prestige and power and greatness – all the things you were arguing about – all the things you were putting forward to display your greatness. This little one – he’s humble – not only that, he’s dependent – not self-dependent, not independent – totally dependent. His existence is dependent on others for survival which brings humility. This, Jesus says, is greatness. When you come to the end of yourselves, when you stop worrying about greatness and performance, when you start depending totally on Jesus as your source of life – depending even on others – that is greatness in the kingdom.
That brings us finally to our text today, which is a continuation from two weeks ago. It’s important we keep the context before us. Jesus is getting ready to return to His Father, to leave the kingdom in the hands of the disciples, and they still don’t get it. Remember, the big three had just been on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus – they saw Him talking to Moses and Elijah – talking about His soon departure – His exodus. These two ancient heroes were encouraging Jesus. It should have been clear – His time was coming near. The disciples had been with Him for up to three years now. They’d seen Him care for the least in society. And yet, they’re arguing about who’s greatest. Not only that, we find today they think only their little band matters. If you’re not in our group – our band of disciples, you don’t matter.
So, Jesus continues correcting and teaching. He’s concerned, with their eyes only on themselves, they may have developed a spirit of ungodly competition, looking down on others who serve. Can you imagine that? I know it’s shocking to think Christians could actually be jealous of one another in a spirit of competition, but Jesus addresses it anyway. Because sometimes in our petty, competitive jealousies, we may prevent others from serving, or worse, we may even cause others to stumble. Read the text with me, Luke 9:49-56.
This is a challenging, convicting text. Remember, the disciples had just been arguing about greatness in the kingdom, and Jesus told them how to measure greatness. Did they get it? Sure doesn’t seem like it. They go on trying to promote themselves, while Jesus is setting His face – determined to go to Jerusalem. The disciples still had much to learn. So do we. Let me give you the outline of the text I just read, although we’ll only cover those first two verses:
- Greatness is not Found in Competition (49-50)
- True Greatness: Jesus Determines to go to Jerusalem (51)
- Greatness is not Found in Condemnation (52-56)
We’ll see it next week, but verse 51 is a key verse in Luke. It transitions us from the ministry in Galilee to the journey to Jerusalem. Again, they’re arguing about greatness. Having been corrected, John remembers they prevented the work of the kingdom in Jesus’ name. Jesus has set His heart on Jerusalem, they’re only thinking of themselves. Well, let’s look at that first story, verses 49-50, where we’ll see greatness is not found in competition. It’s not found in promoting yourself. It’s not found in rank or position or any way we count greatness. Big things, small things done in My name – it’s all good. Listen, ministry is not a competition. There’s not much worse than friendly fire. Those who are followers of Christ are all on the same team – my goodness, we’re all in the same family. I suppose that’s why it is true – there’s no hurt like church hurt.
As Jesus mentioned receiving little ones in His name, it seemed to spark John’s memory. He says, “Um, Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, but hey, he wasn’t following us, so we told him to stop.” That’s interesting – a few verses earlier, Jesus said, disciples, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me. Meaning, the Christian faith is found in following Jesus. John? Well, he’s concerned someone is not following us.
No doubt, at some point, this guy had witnessed either Jesus or the disciples casting out demons. Please notice, John’s concern was not that the guy was casting out demons. And don’t forget, the disciples had recently been unable to do that very thing. Remember – Jesus and the three came off the mountain to be faced with the disciples’ inability to deliver a little boy from a demon. Maybe the story John now recounts was right before or right after that. Luke seems to record it as right after. Whenever, it seems there was a spirit of competition going on here. And their exorcism failure simply added to the angst. We were the ones given authority to cast out demons – we’re in a special group. But having just come through a significant failure, they see this guy, and he seemed to be succeeding. Can’t have that. We told him to stop. The tense of the verb seems to be, we kept on telling him, tried over and over to prevent him.
Notice again, John’s concern was not that the guy was casting out demons, nor that he was casting them out in Jesus’ name. His concern was that he was not following us. Notice the little word, us. Not, not following You, Jesus. He apparently was – he was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. John was concerned he’s not following us – he’s not one of our merry little band of important disciples. He’s not one of the Twelve. He’s not one of the big guys. Who does he think he is? Don’t miss, John’s concern still seems to be his inflated self-importance. Remember the context – that’s why Luke put it here. Who’s the greatest – it’s got to be one of us. Not this guy – we don’t even know his name. We told him to stop.
We should be deeply challenged, even convicted by the story. The disciples were trying to prevent ministry in Jesus’ name because they weren’t the ones doing it. They weren’t in the limelight, they were not, in fact, as successful as he – and they didn’t like it.
So Jesus, in a few words, teaches another critical lesson. Earlier, whoever receives a little one in My name receives Me. Greatness in the kingdom is not found in the world’s standards of greatness – prestige, power, status, rank, position. The least are actually great.
This time, in terms of serving, only one thing matters – do they carry the name of Christ? He was doing it in My name. Not, are they part of our little band – our group. Our church, our denomination. If they rightly name the name of Christ, then what they are doing in My name is good, Jesus says. In Mark, Jesus went on to say, they can’t perform a miracle, they can’t do a work in My name, and then speak evil of Me. Leave them alone – whoever is not against you is for you. Even if they aren’t part of your particular band or brand.
Somewhere along the way, in our spirit of competition, in our attitudes of personal greatness, we’ve lost that truth. One commentator pointed out, this is an apostolic example of ministry intolerance and jealousy – arrogant exclusivism and narrowness – in the Body of Christ. You do understand, we are the body of Christ together – the church of Jesus Christ who just happen to meet in different places in what are called local churches. Do you think that jealousy, that competition can exist among Christian leaders today? Go with me to any pastors’ conference, and the question is eventually asked – so, what you running? Interpreted, how successful are you, compared to me?
This same thing happened in the Old Testament. In Numbers 11, a couple of guys named Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp of Israel. Who the heck were they? Never heard of them. Exactly – who do they think they are? So a young man ran to Moses and told him, these two no-names are prophesying in the camp. Joshua became incensed, and demanded Moses tell them to stop. Why, they can’t be prophesying – only certain people, important people, can prophesy. But Moses said to young Joshua, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”
Moses, the leader of the children of Israel, had his heart in the right place. This isn’t a competition between us – this isn’t even about us. This is about the Spirit of God resting on people so they do His work. It’s no wonder Moses was called the most humble man on the earth. Could that moniker rest on you – on me? I don’t think so – not on me. I find myself comparing way too often.
Well, the same kind of thing happened in the New Testament in John 3. John the Baptist had been quite popular – his had become a household name. Droves of people – all kinds of people – went out to him to be baptized by him at the Jordan. Luke gives us a great description of that in chapter 3 – crowds of people, tax collectors, soldiers. He was without doubt the spiritual leader in Israel. They even began wondering, is this the Christ? Well, not actually, but I am the forerunner.
One day, as John’s fame began to fade, his disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” You catch that – John, you were the star. Everyone was flocking to you. But now, this One to whom you testified, this Jesus, is baptizing more than you. What are you going to do about it? After all, this is about us, right? This is a competition, right?
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
28 “You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’
29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
It’s happening just like it’s supposed to. John the Baptist understood what the John the Apostle missed. This is not about us. This is about Jesus – and everything we do is to make Him increase. To make His great name known. Our stars must dim – His must increase. John – both Johns – this isn’t about you. The first John understood that, the second John missed it. All those who name the name of Christ matter – small and great, in our group or not. Can we say, this joy of mine as been made full when we hear of the ministry successes of Christ’s followers – even in other churches? When they are making Jesus known?
So, what does this look like for the church of Jesus Christ? Pastor Kent Hughes writes, “How do we feel when others ascend to positions of responsibility and we do not? Or when someone is honored where we would like to be honored? Even more telling, how do we feel when we become aware of such a person’s being humbled? Self-importance is a cancerous sin.”
I told you a couple weeks ago that we were honored as the Best of the Best church in Watauga County. And truly, we’re honored. And if by that award that means we’re a good church – wonderful. If it means we’re gospel-centered, Christ-exalting, built on the foundation of the Word, loving each other and the lost, serving each other and our community, a friendly church filled with joy – great.
But if that means we’re better than other churches, not so great. This isn’t a competition – it’s not like were competing against the church across the street or across town. We are all serving the same Christ. I think most of us would agree there is an unhealthy, ungodly competition in the church today. It may be as insidious as being jealous of the ministry success of others, or as blatant as actively opposing and criticizing the success of others in the church. Just as authentic believers welcome those of low social status, so also they don’t jealously guard their own personal authority and agendas, because we recognize the advancement of the church of Jesus Christ is more important than personal ambition.
The criteria for fellowship and ministry is not style or tradition or denomination, but the name of Jesus being exalted. As one said, we are all branch offices of the same business. Now again, this is not to say there is not a place for discernment and exposing doctrinal error. But when believers are following the same Jesus – teaching and believing the same things in the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, there must be mutual love, support and respect. This is not about us. This is about the Christ we serve whose name we bear. We are Christians – it’s all about Him.
Those who are not against us – whether they are part of our little group called Alliance – are for us. Jesus is here opposing that which we should oppose – partisanship, cliques, us four and no more mentalities, we’re the only ones doing it right, ungodly competition. We must not develop personal agendas and thereby neglect God’s kingdom purposes.
I had every intention of getting through verse 56, but I got on a roll. I’m going to save points two and three till next week – mainly because I have too much material left. But we need to hear this truth today. Now, I am not suggesting we should not commit wholeheartedly to a local church. I am suggesting we vigorously battle against pride, comparison and competition. The church of Jesus Christ is the church of Jesus Christ. It’s about making much of Him – not us.