Hi Decky,
(RSV) Mar 10:42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
v. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your
servant,
What it appears to me that Jesus is saying is that people in the world want to have authority and "lord it over" or order people around. But He is saying among the believers this is not the way it should be. Jesus does not want us to be seeking power and authority over each other, as James and John had just ask for this type thing.
Mark 10:37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory."
Jesus then explains that believers should be concerned with, as He had set the example for us of serving.
Mark 10:44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
v. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Though as some have been given a better understanding of the truth and should be respected in that, but those are to still remain humble and serve one another.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Rom 12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.
We should desire to become united as one in spirit with God, as He is above all. So being united as one is to be equal with one another.
Eph 4:3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
v. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
v. 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
v. 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
v. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Here is an excerpt from the article 'Gehenna Fire Judgment.'
http://bible-truths.com/lake16-D4.htm -------------------
ADMONITION: "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you [practice in front of you] in the Lord, and admonish you" (I Thes. 5:12). Strong's #3560, "noutheteo to put in mind, to caution or reprove gently: admonish, warn." Teachers are not "over" the congregation as the Church practices it, but rather are to be "practicing examples of what they preach." Paul said to "...be ye followers of me" (I Cor. 4:16). And of course, when we are not following correctly, we need to make CHANGES. The whole Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures were written and preserved for "our admonition" (I Cor. 10:11). For our caution against making the same mistakes and sins, and gentle reproving to correct areas of deficiency.
-------------------------------------------------
mercy, peace and love
Kat