How the World Measures Greatness
and How Jesus Does
The world has a very clear definition of greatness.
Be successful.
Be influential.
Climb higher.
Gain recognition.
Build your reputation.
But when Jesus talked about greatness, He turned those ideas upside down.
When His disciples argued about who among them was the greatest, Jesus didn’t encourage competition.
He pointed them toward humility.
He said that whoever wanted to become great must become a servant.
That isn’t the message we usually hear.
Yet it’s at the heart of Christian discipleship.
A disciple doesn’t spend life asking,
“How can I get ahead?”
Instead, a disciple asks,
“How can I serve?”
That attitude begins to change everything.
It changes the way we treat our families, coworkers, church, and neighbors.
Jesus also taught that disciples obey Him, even when His words are difficult.
There were people who walked away because His teaching demanded too much.
The Twelve stayed.
Peter’s words still speak to us today:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Every disciple eventually reaches that same crossroads.
Will we follow Jesus only when life is comfortable, or will we trust Him even when obedience is costly?
Finally, Jesus gave His disciples one unmistakable mark that would identify them to the world.
Love.
The same selfless, sacrificial love that He demonstrated throughout His earthly ministry.
The kind of love that reflects Christ.
And that’s what authentic discipleship looks like.
🎥 Watch This Week’s Teaching
This week’s episode of the Foundational U Podcast explores these three characteristics of a true disciple in greater depth.
Watch the teaching below and consider how Jesus is inviting you to become more like Him.
📖 Continue Reading
I’ve also written a companion article that explores this teaching in more detail, including practical ways we can grow as disciples of Jesus Christ every day.
👉 Read the full article here:
How Should Christians Live? 3 Marks of a True Disciple
https://fdeanhackett.com/how-should-christians-live-3-marks-of-a-true-disciple/
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Which of these three characteristics challenges you the most right now—serving, obeying, or loving like Jesus?