Serving as A Spiritual Discipline

INTRO:

Thank you for having me.

Always an honor. So happy for Jonathan and Madeline.

Series Elements - what are the elements of a spiritual life?

ME:

Have you ever had someone put your needs above their own?

They served you in a powerful way? Aunt Charlotte was that for me — always serving — always loving — always putting others before herself.

WE: Tension

You’ve meet someone like before right? How did they make you feel? How did they look while caring/serving for you that way?

If you notice those people are always the happiest people. They are always the ones with smiles and they just always seem… fulfilled. It seems like they almost glow.

That’s because in putting your needs above theirs they are serving you.

Here’s the tragedy…

We live in a culture that celebrates being served more than serving.

Super Bowl — they zoomed in on Taylor Swift not the person carrying her bag.

The servant never gets the glory.

But what if we have it backwards? What if in order to be higher on the spiritual totem pole we need to make ourselves lower on the earthly one?

Story of Jesus and the boys from Mark 10 — tell it quickly to set the stage.

Mark 10:42–45 NIV

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If this is true then we all need to treat it like spiritual discipline. Serving should become a fundamental element of our spiritual walk and our physical existence.

Next question is how…Jesus models it for us so we would never be confused.

GOD: The Truth from John 13

Set up the scene.

John 13:1–5 NIV

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

What Jesus is doing is taking on the role of the servant of the house.

Roads in ancient Israel were dusty, dirty, and covered in everything from mud to animal waste.

People wore open-toed sandals, which meant their feet were constantly filthy.

When entering a home, it was customary to have a servant wash the guests’ feet.

Only non-Jewish (Gentile) slaves were expected to do this—it was considered too low for a Jewish servant.

This was not something the rabbi did. Peter knowing that instantly resists.

John 13:6–8 NIV

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Peter response is one of respect. He doesn’t want Jesus to wash his feet that’s beneath Jesus. Jesus responds by saying… “unless I do you will have no part with me.”

In other words, Peter I need to wash your feet, I need to do this for your benefit.

John 13:9–11 NIV

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

Peter is vigorous in his response to Jesus, understandable (that’s Peter) but Jesus says no you’ve already received the washing. In other words, you’ve already accepted my teaching — “I am the Messiah” — therefore I have need to wash your whole body again, instead Peter I need to teach you this Kingdom ethic.

John 13:12–17 NIV

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Here’s the thing you need to get out of all this…

Jesus wasn’t just teaching a lesson—He was modeling a lifestyle.

The lifestyle of serving is what Jesus demonstrates here and it’s what he expects from us.

3 Key Truths About Serving

Serving kills pride. 

Jesus changes his posture.

Jesus, the Son of God, got low. So should we.

Serving shapes our character. 

Your character is being shaped by something why not make it Jesus?

Serving makes us more like Jesus.

Serving leads to Blessing. "You will be blessed if you do them." Jesus didn’t just say, “Think about serving.” He said, “Do it.”

You heard that right, there is a blessing in serving. Notice Jesus didn’t promise what kind of blessing. He didn’t promise if you serve then he’ll give you a million dollars or that you wont have trouble.

Meaning if you follow this command you will have the favor of God. You will catch your Heavenly Fathers attention by the way you serve.

We don’t serve to get something, serve bc he first served us.

Like all the different aspects of the Xtian lifestyle, this one take intentionality. But let’s be honest, this one isn’t the same as reading your Bible or praying. This one is all about posture.

Notice something, Jesus could have just taught the lesson. Instead he decided to model it? Why? B/c…

Serving isn’t just something we do — it’s who we are.

Meaning you have to decide daily to be a person of service. You have to decide daily to take on the posture of the servant with the washcloth.

B/c like everything else we have talked about in this series, serving is a discipline.

YOU: Application

What if your next step in spiritual growth isn’t more knowledge, but more serving?

Believe me I feel the tension here.

“I’m too busy.” I have too much going on.

“Someone else will do it.” There’s always another person who can step in.

“I don’t feel qualified.” I don’t know enough, I don’t have the skills.

“I’ve been hurt before.” I’ve served before and it didn’t go well.

Let me lovingly pause and ask you which excuse do you use? (My grandaddy says something about excuses but it’s not church appropriate)

Serving isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.

Who will you serve this week?

In your home—your spouse, kids, parents?

In your workplace—a coworker, a boss, an employee?

In your church—not just where it’s convenient, but where it’s needed?

The greatest impact in your spiritual life might not come from learning something new but from doing something different.

WE: A Serving Church

Imagine if our church was known not for what we consume but for how we serve.

Imagine if every person in this room stepped up and said, “I’m here to serve.”

Imagine a church full of people on their knees with towels in their hands—washing feet, meeting needs, and reflecting Jesus.

Because serving isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are.

Prayer