Church of the City New York Advent 2025: He Shall Be | Great - Jon Tyson
Dec 9, 2025
Pastor Jon explores the true meaning of greatness through Jesus' teachings. He contrasts modern culture's obsession with success against the humble, self-giving nature of Christ. By examining historical views of greatness, he highlights Jesus' descent from glory as the ultimate act of humility. The discussion challenges listeners to embrace childlike dependence and serve others without fear, while warning against spiritual pride. Overall, it’s a call to prioritize love and humility over recognition in today's competitive world.
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Greatness Reimagined
- Jesus' greatness challenges cultural definitions of achievement, status, and recognition.
- Jon Tyson contrasts Roman and Jewish visions of greatness to frame Jesus' countercultural claim to greatness.
Herod As The Worldly Great
- Jon Tyson describes Herod the Great's building projects, brutality, and political maneuvering.
- He uses Herod as a historical foil to show worldly greatness built on violence and spectacle.
Childlike Dependency Equals Greatness
- Jesus teaches that true greatness looks like the lowly dependence of a child.
- Welcoming the overlooked (a child) is equated with welcoming Christ himself.
