Serving in Action

Welcome

Release kids to class

Welcome online extended family

Oh wow…last week was such a great week for so many people. It’s truly amazing to see how God moved last week! Can we just celebrate that for a moment? Over 27 of you committed to sharing the Gospel in one way or another! As we go and share the Gospel, we’re also reminded that sharing goes hand in hand with serving. They’re two sides of the same coin. That’s why today we’re going to explore how our freedom in Christ leads us to serve one another, and how we serve each other out of our love for our church together.

That’s what we’ve been talking about over the course of the last couple of months. We have been talking about loving our church. We are in this series called I Love My Church and we looked at Acts 2 and talked about how the early church was devoted to certain things. Specifically they were devoted to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and generosity—things that strengthened them as a community and as followers of Christ. See they needed to be strengthened together because they would soon be persecuted in some very real ways. So we have begun to explore what it meant to be devoted to these things. But none of that would be complete without a commitment to serve. Just like they strengthened each other through service, today we’ll see how we can find freedom in serving others.

Different people have different ideas about what it means to serve. Should we only serve those inside the church, or should we reach out to those outside too? Should we serve people who can help themselves, or only those who need us? What about those who dislike us, or even oppose us—should we serve them too? I can answer all of these questions for you right now…YES! Yes, you should serve every one of those catagories that I just pointed out, and even more…But ultimately, my opinions don’t matter. What matters is what God says in His Word. Let’s see how Scripture answers these questions, because that’s where we find real truth. The Apostle John offers us a clear picture of what serving others should look like, and it all comes down to love. So let’s turn to 1 John 3:16-18, where John teaches us the heart of service.

Now this is one of those days that we will have a few different Scripture that we will look out throughout the morning, but we need to start somewhere, so I want to start with some words from the Apostle John. John wrote to remind the early Christians in Asia Minor about the foundational truths of the Gospel, especially in the face of false teachings. One of those key truths is that our love for others must reflect the love of Christ—a love that’s not just in words, but in actions. Here’s what John says…

1 John 3:16–18 (ESV)

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

You see, John’s challenge wasn’t just for those early believers—it’s for us too. Have we ever been guilty of talking about serving but not following through in action? Sound familiar? Now, I know some of you might be thinking, ‘Uh-oh, I wish we were back in Genesis,’ and don’t worry—we’ll get there! But right now, we’re focusing on what it looks like to be the church right here in Leaf River, in the place where God has planted us.

The question is, how do we do that? How do we serve in action the way John encourages the first century beleivers to serve? So, how do we serve in action, just like John encouraged those first-century believers? This morning, I want to lay out four key aspects of serving others, and what it looks like in the life of our church. And listen—if you feel inadequate or unsure about serving, you’re in good company. That’s the point! We can’t serve in our own strength; we need God’s power working through us. So, let’s see what serving looks like when we rely on Him. Alright, let’s dig in together. The first thing we see is that we have…

Freedom Found in Serving

What does that mean? Well, let’s take a look together at

Galatians 5:13 (ESV)

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.

As believers, each and every one of us has a certain level of Christian freedom. This means we’ve been freed from the burden of the law and the guilt of sin, much like a bird released from a cage—no longer bound but free to soar. However, we should not view that freedom as a license to sin. Instead, it’s a freedom that compels us to live in obedience to God. Our freedom is not to be viewed as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through the lens of having the opportunity to serve others, especially each other. That is what this passage tells us.

Paul puts this command to serve in love in direct contrast to indulging the sinful nature. Our sinful nature causes us to be slaves to our own selfish desires, but love expresses itself in service to the needs of others. In other words, freedom in Christ doesn’t say, “What can I get away with?” but instead asks, “How can I best serve others?” It’s about a heart change that reflects the heart of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.

You see, our freedom in Christ is best expressed in loving service towards others, both in and out of the church, reflecting Christ's ultimate sacrificial service on the cross. However, I know that sometimes we feel unsure about how to serve or even what we’re called to do. That’s okay! We’re going to explore that together, but first, let’s look at the…

Gifts Given to Serve

Yes, we have already been blessed with the gifts we need in order to serve others in our lives today. We’ve talked about what Paul says about spiritual gifts before, but let’s see what Peter has to say. Peter, the guy who once took his sword to fight off Jesus' arrest, had his fair share of mistakes. Yet, he later wrote letters to Christians experiencing severe persecution—persecution that made them feel as if they were being canceled from life itself, not just social media. In this context, Peter shares some incredibly important words about where their strength, especially in serving one another, truly comes from.

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Peter reminds the dispersed Christians that they have been given gifts by God to serve one another. He emphasizes that they should use these gifts first within the body of Christ. Your church is important! Unfortunately, in today’s culture, we often overlook the significance of church service and our duty to one another, something the early church understood well.

To use your gifts effectively, you first need to understand what they are. However, it’s crucial to recognize that our perception of our gifts may not provide a complete picture. That’s why it’s essential to listen to those around you and have a heart to serve. Having that heart is the key, isn’t it?

Every person here today has been given gifts that are vital for LRBC to flourish into the Kingdom-glorifying center God intends us to be. What do I mean by that? I mean we have individuals gifted to join the worship team who haven’t yet stepped forward. We have people who could serve the children in this community but haven’t yet found their place. Some are gifted in building management or have a spirit ready to serve the broken but aren’t doing so.

These gifts are meant to be used to serve others within the church first and then extend outward to reach the lost. This understanding used to resonate deeply in the hearts of Christians, but it seems to have faded. Nowadays, churches are grateful if you offer a few minutes of service a week, with some saying, “I work full-time, so I can’t serve the way God has called me.” But maybe our priorities are a little off, aren’t they? Yes, I just said that.

Let me share a quick story that I found encouraging this week. W.A. Criswell, a longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, TX, once visited Chicago to preach at North Shore Baptist Church. He stayed with a deacon named James L. Kraft, Kraft was the superintendent of the Sunday School, as well as the founder of this small company called Kraft foods. Kraft told Criswell this story about how as a young man he had a desire to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman of cheese in the world. He planned on becoming rich and famous by making and selling cheese. He began as a young man with a little wagon pulled by a pony named Paddy. After making his cheese, the young man would load his wagon and he and Paddy would drive down the streets of Chicago to sell the cheese. As the months passed the young Kraft began to despair because he was not making money, in spite of his long hours and hard work.

One day he pulled his pony to a stop and began to talk to him. He said, “Paddy, there is something wrong. We are not doing it right. I am afraid we have things turned around and our priorities are not where they ought to be. Maybe we ought to serve God and place him first in our lives.” Kraft then drove home and made a covenant that for the rest of his life he would first serve God and then would work as God directed.

Well, later on Criswell would share how when he was a young man, he was in DC and heard Kraft speak on the radio as the founder of the famous Kraft brand cheese. Here is what Kraft said after he had this realization of his heart motivation that day with Paddy. “I would rather be a layman in the North Shore Baptist Church than to head the greatest corporation in America. My first job is serving Jesus.”

Kraft understood what many have forgotten or never learned: serving within the church is not just helpful or an act of obedience to God. It’s a reflection of God’s amazing grace, leading to a stronger, more vibrant, and unified church body. And having a heart to serve is what we’re talking about this morning.

Let’s take a look at the heart of…

Humility in Serving Others

This is a crucial heart attitude we need to understand. What is the heart of humility, and how does it truly apply to serving others? Let’s see what the Apostle Paul tells the church in Philippi:

Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV)

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Previously, Paul encouraged them to “be of one mind,” meaning they should focus together on the same things. If this is true, then selfish ambition should be eliminated from each person’s focus.

Humility is a uniquely Christian virtue that stands in stark contrast to the values of our world. In many circles today, humility is seen not as a strength but as a weakness to overcome. The culture might suggest that humility stems from past trauma or an abusive relationship. However, humility has always challenged societal norms—both in Paul’s time and now—because biblical truth often conflicts with the world’s values.

We’re taught to prioritize self-care and to look out for “number one.” But the Gospel teaches us to put others first, to count them as more significant than ourselves, and to consider their interests alongside our own.

So what does humble service within the church look like? It means putting the interests of others ahead of our own, rather than constantly seeking to have our own needs met.

If we live our Christian freedom best while serving, and we have been given gifts to serve, and we are called to humble service… then who are we supposed to serve? The simple answer is everyone. But let’s delve into what Jesus did to set an example for us in serving.

Following the Servant King

Let me set the stage for you about who the Servant King really is. There was a moment when Jesus met privately with his apostles on the night he would be arrested, tortured, and crucified for the sin of the world. As they sat together for what would be the Last Supper, something extraordinary happened. Picture the scene: all twelve disciples around the table, engaged in conversation. Then Jesus rises, and instead of taking his place of honor, he begins to wash their feet—an act typically reserved for the lowest servant.

John 13:14–15 (ESV)

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.

Jesus isn’t merely instructing them to wash feet; He’s demonstrating a radical way of serving. He embodies humility, choosing to serve rather than exert authority. In doing so, He illustrates that true leadership in the Kingdom of God is marked by a servant's heart.

When Jesus picked up that cloth and water, there was not a trace of pride—only the heart and mind of a servant. This is the Servant King we are called to follow, setting the standard for our service to one another.

"As we wrap up today, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for those who have recently stepped into areas of serving that they never thought they would. It's truly inspiring to see individuals like Brian Moritz embrace opportunities with hearts ready to serve, even when they felt unqualified. I would like to briefly read these thoughts from Brian this morning, and you can grab one of these sheets from the back table.

Now, reflect on your own heart this morning. Are you serving because you see it as a privilege? I encourage you to consider how you’re supporting your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Go ahead and grab your commitment cards and write down how you’re willing to serve. Your willingness is essential in building the body of Christ here at LRBC.

Here are just a few opportunities for you to consider, but remember, there may be other ways the Lord is leading you. There’s no wrong way to serve the Lord and others if your heart is first postured toward Him. So, here are some options:

Welcome Team: we need to really build out a more robust welcome team as we are continuing to grow as a church

Kids Ministry: we need like 6 more volunteers just to maintain status quo, that doesn’t even really include the growth that we are seeing back there

Church Ministries: there’s other places to serve on Sunday morning or through the week and we would love to help get you plugged to a ministry that the Lord has gifted you to serve in

40th Set up: Saturday the 28th we are gathering together to set up for the 40th anniversary shindig that we are hosting next week

Trunk-or-Treat: this is the next outreach opportunity that we have coming up here on Oct. 28th from 2pm-5pm…You’ll hear more later, but mark down if you can be a part of that outreach

Farm Ministry: we have some meetings and a pretty big lunch coming up pretty soon for the farm ministry

Your gifts are needed, and together, we can make a difference, not just here within LRBC, but we can make a difference in Leaf River!

Let's take a moment to pray as we transition into this time of worship. May our hearts be open to serving in ways that glorify God and strengthen our community."

Let’s pray: pray that God would give the passion to be able to serve as Christ served