Young Adult Class
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class opened with a prayer before turning to Luke 22:14‑24, where the teacher read the institution of the Lord’s Supper and highlighted the disciples’ distractions and arguments about who would be the greatest. John McCarthy linked this scene to the earlier incident in Mark 10 where James and John requested places at Jesus’ right and left hand, and Jesus responded by teaching servant leadership, emphasizing that true greatness comes through serving others. The discussion then moved to Luke 22:25, reinforcing the same principle of humility and service. The group examined how servant leadership extends beyond the church into everyday life, especially in the workplace. References to Philippians 2:3 and James 3 were used to illustrate the need to reject selfish ambition and to count others as more significant than oneself. Participants shared practical examples of empowering team members and fostering trust, recognizing that Jesus’ example—especially the foot‑washing in John 13—provides a timeless model for both believers and secular leaders. The class concluded with a call to practice servant leadership in all contexts, keeping the focus on Christ during the Lord’s Supper and beyond.
Key Scriptures
I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of mine until the kingdom of God comes. When he took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, this is my body, which is given to you. Do this and remember to me. In the same way, he also took the cup after supper and said, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. So they begin to argue among themselves, which of them it could be who is going to do it. Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. Grant to us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory. Jesus said to them, you do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? They said to him, we are able. Jesus said to them, you will drink the cup that I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. And when the ten heard this, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him, and said to them, you know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, but it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
But Jesus said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, but it shall not be so among you. On the contrary, the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever among you wants to be first must be your servant.