To Serve, Not be Served

Intro

Open with story of serving during a church camp fundraiser at Southland and talking to my cousin

There is something important about serving others; and doing it together

Something for Fellowship Groups to think about as we get ready to reconvene after a summer break

Why is it important? Because it is a tangible reflection of the upside down kingdom of heaven

Something the disciples (and at least one mother) needed to learn in Matthew 20.

Outline context and read Matthew 20:25–28 “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.””

Large and In Charge

Jesus isn’t speaking against authority and leadership

It would be an easy (and short) sermon if he abolished all sense of authority and leadership… to bad for you!

In the kingdom (and church), just do away with all types of structures and do everything by consensus!

It has been tried (to varying degrees of success), but even in a place of equality and service there is authority

First, Jesus still holds all authority

As we will see, He is the example of how authority and leadership works in the kingdom

If Jesus still exercises authority, it is not abolished in the kingdom

Second, leadership and authority were prescribed for the first church

Read through Acts and the letters in the NT and you will see apostles, deacons and deaconesses, elders, overseers and many other leadership roles

Cf. Titus 2:15 “Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

Ha! I get to exhort and rebuke with all authority… get ready!

Jesus is speaking out against abuses of authority and leadership

Jesus is speaking into a world that is steeped in heirarchy

The Roman Empire was incredibly top-down, with definitive social structures… you knew where you stood

Judaism had also become top heavy, with the Sanhedrin (ruling religious council) exercising incredible authority over the people

Taking aim at the Roman empire, Jesus points out negative motivations and actions by those in leadership

Re-read Matthew 25:25 “so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’”

Rulers “lord it over” the people

They were domineering; reveled in their good position, and made others feel small in comparison

Exiling or killing of political rivals to maintain power; Nero ended up persecuting Christians

This type of leadership thinks more about self than about those they are leading

The conclusion of Jesus is straightforward: It shall not be so among you!

When James, John (and their mother) sought places of prominence, they displayed the worldly priorities of authority

And the heart of abuse it leads to

The kingdom of God is different, because Jesus is different

Share story of NLC prayer walk conflict; voting members vs. appointed leader

On a personal and local level, our church needs to reflect the kingdom of heaven and Jesus who rules and reigns

To Serve, Not to be Served

Instead, Christians are called to serve one another

Re-read Matthew 20:26–27 “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,”

In servant leadership (keeping in mind ideas of authority in context)

Cf. 1 Peter 5:1–3 “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”

Confirmation of what we have learned so far:

Called to “exercise” oversight (church doesn’t abolish authority)

Not domineering (same word Jesus uses to warn against “lording” over someone)

Adding positive details to how we are to exercise servant leadership in the church:

Do so eagerly (desire to serve)

Be an example to the flock (Imitate me as I imitate Christ)

Leadership than becomes a journey that we do together

Share about importance of being a fellow journeyer; transparency

Not limited just to leadership; called to serve in life and all relationships

Cf. Galatians 5:13–15 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”

Just as leaders are not to use authority for selfish gain, we are not to use our freedom in Christ for selfish gain, either

Reminder that biblical freedom is NOT complete personal autonomy

Instead, the call of the upside-down kingdom of God is to choose to use our freedom to serve one another

Language in Galatians is same as in Matthew: to serve is to be a slave!

Serving in the church is great (part of the DNA of SBF)

But this call goes deeper; are we willing to serve one another when it costs us something? Are we willing to use our Christian freedom to be like a slave to others out of love for them?

Shout out to Neil and Judy (I can officiate your funeral)

In this we follow the greatest example of Jesus

Re-read Matthew 20:28 “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

As God in flesh (worthy of all authority) he chose to serve (v. 28a)

Son of Man = one of Jesus’ favourite names to describe Himself

Found in the book of Daniel = claim to divinity

Jesus is fully God! He is fully worthy of all praise, honour and glory. He is fully able to exercise all authority on heaven and on earth

All of this “worthiness,” and Jesus chose to use it to serve

Cf. John 13:12–17 “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

Jesus makes it crystal clear: we are to follow His example in serving others

Footwashing was a symbol of humility and service (gross dirty sandals)

Not an ordinance (as has been held in the past)

Instead, an example of service that we can apply in all areas of life

How can you serve your spouse? Your kids? Your friends? Your church? Your enemies? There is no end to creativity here

Jesus served to the point of laying down His own life (v. 28b)

There were no boundaries or limits to the service of Jesus

When he said “slave,” he meant it

I still believe we can have boundaries; but within those boundaries we are called to lay down our lives for one another

Have fun talking about running with Zoe at the lake and imagining “volunteering her as tribute” in the case of running into a bear (as opposed to my kids)

There are not many instances in which we will be called to lay down our physical lives like Jesus

Instead, we are left with opportunities to put ourselves second and serve others around us

Conclusion

For those that have been put in a position of authority (especially in the church)

What is your motivation in leadership?

To push yourself up or serve those you lead?

What are your actions in leadership?

To do things “your way” or to benefit others around you?

For everyone who seeks to live in the truth of the upside-down kingdom of heaven:

How are you choosing to exercise the freedom Christ has given you?

To do what you like for self satisfaction, or to serve others in love?

How are you following the self-sacrificing example of Jesus?

Do you find creative ways to lay down your life for others; are you putting yourself second?

How we answer these questions will have a significant impact in our spiritual family

When SBF is a place that we seek to serve instead of be served, it will always be a place that people encounter the love of Jesus

Pray