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-But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched - where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched - where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire - where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' -For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it-- Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another- -Mark 9-42-50-.

Jesus is teaching us here what it means to be unified in Him. He calls us to pursue Jesus-focused unity. But how-- --We need to realize that the focus in on Jesus, not us. It is He Who needs to be followed. The disciples had been unable to cast out a demon, but they stopped one who was doing just that because he wasn't a part of their group. This man could do this because he had faith in Christ, Whose power did not stop with the 12 disciples. There is power in Jesus' name, but only for those who believe in Him. --How do we forge a unity with one another-- In an army, there is a uniform, a flag, and an anthem. What is our anthem-- Is it the glory of the Lamb-- --But we must beware of a false unity or an ecumenicalism where everyone is tolerant of anything and no one stands up for the truth. We live in an age where people invent a God of their own making. We ought to love Jesus and be united with each other, but we need to know who is actually on Jesus' side. --We don't necessarily have to lock-step with everyone- but we do need to realize that there are some who are indeed Christians, even though they may not be part of our denomination. We should be on the lookout for fellow believers to show love to - not for their own sake, but for the sake of the Master whom we both serve.

There is a vast difference between authority and authoritarianism. We tend to have an allergic reation to authority these days, and it's largely due to bad experiences with authoritarian leadership. --Jesus calls us to a better way- leading by service. --The disciples had been arguing about which of them would hold the highest rank among the others. And Jesus took that opportunity to teach them the paradox of leadership. The key to leadership is that a true leader must be a servant. --Jesus illustrated this concept with a little child, turning the world's idea of leadership on its head. -Do you want to be the greatest in the Kingdom--- He was asking. -Then go and love a little child.- That is a picture of true selfless service. --The Bible itself gives examples of leaders who were authoritarians and cared more for their own pleasure than for the glory of God and the people whom they ought to have served and cared for. --If you want to be a true leader in God's Kingdom, it doesn't start with you. It starts with those around you - your wife, your children, your church family, your employees, etc. --But Jesus wasn't just content to say what a leader should be. He actually showed it. He illustrated true servant leadership by humbling Himself, serving others, and dying for His people. --What kind of leader are you-- Service takes sacrifice, but the Holy Spirit will enable you to do it-