Bring the question to Jesus first and ask him for his view

Compare yourself with others until you can tell where you stand

Keep the question to yourself and wait for status to sort itself out

Ask the people around you to tell you who matters most

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned, chased my own importance, and lived for my own way. I need your mercy and your leadership. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sin and trust you as my Savior and Lord. Teach me to come to you with a humble heart. Amen.

Come to Jesus in Humility

Lord, revive your Church where we have learned to compete instead of come to you. Turn our eyes from status to your kingdom, and teach us to bring honest questions to Jesus with humility. Wake us up to desire what is truly great in your sight, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Revive Us from Comparison

Father, when I want to be seen as greater, slow me down and give me a teachable spirit. Free me from comparing myself with others, and help me bring my questions to Jesus first. Shape my heart to value your kingdom more than recognition, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

A Teachable Heart

Name one place where you feel the urge to rank yourself. Bring that concern to Jesus in a few honest sentences, then pause and listen for what his kingdom values.

Pray Before You Compare

Give thanks that the disciples could come to Jesus with a serious question, and thank him that you can do the same. Praise God for a Savior who receives honest questions and guides his people with patience.

Grateful for Access to Jesus

Pray for students, leaders, and whole churches to stop chasing rank and to come to Jesus with humility. Ask God to replace rivalry with teachability and to make his people eager to learn what truly matters.

Pray for Leaders and Learners

Ἐν{en###ehn###At} ἐκείνῃ{e-KEE-nee###eh-KEE-nee###that} τῇ{TEE###TEE###(the)} ὥρᾳ{HO-ra###HOH-rah###hour} προσῆλθον{pro-SEEL-thon###proh-SEEL-thohn###(they) came} οἱ{HEE###HEE###the} μαθηταὶ{ma-thee-TE###mah-thee-TEH###disciples} τῷ{TO###TOH###to (the)} Ἰησοῦ{ee-ee-SOO###ee-ee-SOO###Jesus} λέγοντες·{LE-gon-tes###LEH-gohn-tehs###saying} Τίς{TEES###TEES###Who} ἄρα{A-ra###AH-rah###then} μείζων{MEE-zon###MEE-zohn###greatest} ἐστὶν{es-TEEN###ehs-TEEN###is} ἐν{en###ehn###in} τῇ{TEE###TEE###the} βασιλείᾳ{va-see-LEE-a###vah-see-LEE-ah###kingdom of} τῶν{TON###TOHN###the} οὐρανῶν;{oo-ra-NON###oo-rah-NOHN###heavens}

Matthew 18:1 — FormalTAB

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