Our Response

Introduction

Our theme for this term is how do we work out our salvation. In Philippians 2:12 Paul says that we should work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Now what does this mean? Does this mean that we have to add to our faith works in order to be saved. No, what this means is that our response to what Jesus has done for us and our faith in Him must be works. The outworking of our faith is works i.e. serving. And this serving is not out of a place of obligation first and foremost. Although in some sense it is our duty to serve as Christians. But rather our motivation for serving is out of love for God and others and a gratitude for what God has done for us through Jesus. Remember we learnt last year that whatever is not done in love is done in vain.

But do we have a model for serving? Whats our example for serving? Jesus Himself iss our example!

The Son of Man came to serve and not be served

Matthew 20:20–28 (ESV)

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, 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 by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 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 your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

(Give a summary of this story)

So, here we see Jesus saying that He Himself came to earth not to be served but rather to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

If Jesus, the Son of God, the One in whom all things were created, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings and the Lord of lords, the Creator God of the universe came to serve, how much more should we serve?

If Jesus Came To Serve How much more should we?

Ephesians 4:1–3 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

We will be looking a little deeper into the book of Epehesians in the next couple of weeks.

These verses in Ephesians, again shows us our response to what our call is, our call being that we are children of God. We are to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, with again Jesus being our example as the Son of God and now as our brother and the one with whom we are fellow heirs with.

We are to walk in humility, patience, unity, gentleness and most of all love! In the end only whats done in love for Christ will last.

This again does not mean you will not go to heaven if you dont walk in this way, since Christ paid the cost for your sins in full on the cross and eternal salvation is a free gift you’ve been given by God, but what it does amount too is what inheritance you will have in heaven?

Just thinking back to our youth camp and the testimonys that were given, so powerful and so wondeful!

In revelation 12:11 John speaks about the Saints overcoming their enemies in this world by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimoney. So, dont think your testimoneys dont have power because they do! And I encourage you to make more testimoneys by doing great and amazing things for God!

I think when we’re in heaven one day, there will be a lot of feasts we’ll be invited too! And just think about the stories going around that table! David speaking about how he slayed Goliath, Paul speaking about how he survived shipwrecks and the bites of a venemous groups, former terrorists speaking about how they were saved through the people they had been persecuting, victims of persecution speaking about how they were bold for Christ. Now, just think about this, what will your story be?

What Jesus as done and our response to it

Ephesians 5:1–4 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”

Questions

What are some areas you would like to serve in at church or just in general?

What are some ways that we can serve you better?

What are some ways that our youth can serve better?