The Mother of Two Sons

Christ Speaks to the Problem of Misguided Ambition

Pray

Pray together for the group meeting, and any pressing needs within the group.

Mission Talk

Each week you’ll spend some time sharing about the previous week’s mission. What was your mission, what were your results, and what did you learn from it?

Watch

Watch the following discussion-starter video. It’ll set the topic of discussion for the group.

Read Matthew 20:20-28

1. One person will first read the scripture selection in the King James Version.
2. Next, another person will read the same passages in a modern language or amplified version for more clarity such as the New Living Translation (NLT), Message Bible (MSG), New English Translation (NET), Amplified Bible (AMP), etc. We recommend using the YouVersion Bible app.

Retell

1. One person will begin retelling the scripture passage in their own words (a new person to start each week is great!) Then…
2. As a group, work together to fill in gaps and build the story. This will help us internalize and own it. Be sure everyone participates.

Discuss

Together, share around the group how the topic and scripture setting applies to your life personally. Here are some thoughts to consider for discussion… don’t let the discussion stop here, though… what questions can you ask that will help uncover God’s message?

High Ambition – verses 20-21

• Who was the woman that requested from Jesus, and why might she feel the liberty to do so?
• What was her request?
• What was her motivation for asking this?
• Does this request deserve criticism or praise from people who read this story?
• How old might her sons have been at this time?
• In what manner or attitude did she approach Jesus, and what is significant about that?
• Did their mother have her best interest for them in mind or God’s best interest for them?
• How might a parent’s desire for their children be different than God’s desire for them? Have you ever felt this?
• What does her request tell us about what she expected Jesus’ future success to be?
• How might the rest of society’s view of Jesus been different than hers?
• Who were her sons, these sons of Zebedee? (The answer is in Mark 10:35)
• Often the different disciples would argue about who would be “greatest in the kingdom”. What does this tell us about the ambition of the other disciples as well as these two?
• How often might Christians underestimate the cost of following Jesus, and overestimate their own importance?
• Were the disciples hoping for a place of service in the Kingdom, or a place of power? Do Christians today have this same struggle? Give an example.

High Cost – verses 22-23

• Does Jesus deny that he has a kingdom that’s coming?
• Does Jesus deny that there will be seats of honor?
• Does Jesus rebuke or correct them for their question? What does this tell us?
• What is Jesus’ first statement to them, and what is significant about it?
• Why did Jesus ask them if they were able to “drink from the cup” that he was going to drink from? What did this mean?
• Why was it important for Jesus to ask this of them?
• What does their answer tell us about their confidence? Their ambition? Their knowledge of what might happen to them?
• When we forget our personal limitations, what does this do to our perspective?
• Have you ever felt overly confident at a time when you should have used more caution? Give an example.
• James and John thought their suffering was over and their work was done. But they were wrong. Their suffering was still ahead and their work was just starting. Let’s ask ourselves this same question that Jesus asked; Are we prepared to suffer and work for Jesus’ mission? Discuss what this means for us.
• Could you share an example of a time you suffered or paid a cost to follow Jesus?
• We find in Acts 12 that John was the first Apostle to die… put to death by Herod. His brother John was the last to die, in prison on the island of Patmos. It’s as if Jesus was rewarding their bravery by making them bookends for the apostles. In what ways does God reward us for our sufferings?

High Standard – verses 24-28

• How did the other apostles handle this encounter with Jesus?
• What was their motivation for the anger they felt?
• Did they feel any jealousy?
• What dangers might jealousy have in the church?
• What dangers might ambition have for a church, and for Christians?
• Does Jesus condemn the disciples for their conflict?
• We see Jesus channeling their ambition in a new direction. What does this tell us about the role ambition should play in the Kingdom of God and church?
• Jesus explained that the Gentile princes ruled over their people, but contrasted that with how the disciples should interact. What did he tell them “those who want to be first” should do?
• Did he tell them it was wrong to want to be a leader?
• In what ways could we practice Biblical leadership in the church? What could you personally do within the church family to be a servant?
• In what way did Jesus model his brand of ambition for the disciples?
• In what ways is Jesus a servant to us today?
• Put yourself in the roles of each character in this story… In what ways has your life been like:
  • The mother who came to Jesus?
  • The sons James and John?
  • The other disciples?
  • The rulers of the Gentiles?
  • Jesus?
• Here are the pointed questions we should ask ourselves from this story…

  • Are you able to drink the cup of suffering?

  • Are you able to follow Jesus to the cross?

  • Are you willing to follow God’s plan for your life no matter what it takes and no matter where it leads?

  • Are you willing to serve instead of rule?

  • Are you willing to serve before you rule?

  • Are you willing to serve as you rule?

Mission

In light of what we now know about this passage, what is God calling you to do this week? As a group, take just a couple of minutes to silently pray to God asking, “Lord, what do you want me to do this week because of what I’ve seen today?” Briefly write this down as a personal mission statement for the week,

“Lord, this week, I will __________________________.”

Some possible suggestions:

• Lord, this week I will sign up for a serving opportunity in the church.
• Lord, this week I will commit to praying a little longer.
• Lord, this week I will find ways to serve my church family.
• Even better, write your own!

Next Group’s Scriptures

The Lawyer Who Wanted a Loophole: Christ Speaks to the Problem of Religious Hypocrisy – Luke 10:25-37