Its Not Rocket Science - Involvement

When you think about the word involvement what does that make you think of?

Involvement is an act or instance of being included, or of including someone or something, in an action, process, group etc...

It also means, an act or instance of having one’s interest, emotions, or commitment engaged by someone or something.

Involvement’s synonyms include: engagement, relationship, responsibility, preoccupation, reflection, and study.

So, If I was to say that I am involved in your life what I am saying is that I not only have a relationship with you at some level, but I am preoccupied in getting to know you more though acts that hold your interest, emotions, or commitment.

In essence I am serving you. There is a term used in the Bible, a cultural term appropriate for the time in which the Bible was written describing this kind of service.

The word is slave. The Greek word used for slave is “doo-la-o”. This word means to enslave, bring into bondage, or to become a servant.

Today in “churchy” language we love using the word servant. Even in the business world bosses are being taught how to be servant leaders, but if the word servant in scripture is the same as slave why are we so bothered by the word slave? Why are we so hesitant to identify as a slave?

Being a slave literally means total subordination or a lack of freedom, but in reality if we thought about it, we are all slaves to something? Whether we are slaves to money, success, debt, addictions, or even positive things like family, friends, and the church. We find ourselves constantly serving something or someone with our lives.

Knowing this to be true, God wants us to be servants, slaves, of His glory.

But how do we do that? How do we get involved?

Paul speaks clearly about this concept in 1 Corinthians 9, where it says… [slide]

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 NIV

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Paul says that he made himself into a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. Win them to what? Win them away from sin and for the glory of God and the good news.

To be accepted and to be able to share Christ’s message with other Jews he became like a Jew. To those who didn’t have the law he became like one not having the law. (What do you think he means when he says this?)

When he was with the weak he became weak.

Have you ever through about serving someone so much that you were willing to meet them where they were? Paul made himself a slave, someone who served another without reservation or freedom so that he could meet them where they were.

But do not get confused Paul was not a push over… [slide]

Galatians 2:11–14 NIV

11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

Paul here is calling out Peter (yes, ear cutting Peter). The same many who stood up in Acts 2 and declared the wonders of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and thousands came to Christ, that Peter, why?

Because in this instance Peter, that man of incredible faith, was afraid of what some Jews would think about him because he would often eat with (hang out with) Gentiles. These Jews came from James, the brother of Jesus and the head of the church in Jerusalem.

So let me ask you a question, what is the difference between Paul’s saying before about becoming all things to all men and Peter’s actions?

Jesus also talks about being a slave/servant.

Mark 10:35–45 NIV

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 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. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 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.”

Jesus came to the world to serve. He laid down his life for the good of others. That puts Jesus in the position of being a servant to each of us. God served us.

But so many people are more like James and John wanting to be glorified and blessed more than serve.

Sometime people in the church act the same way. They want to be served, fed, and filled and not serve.

What is the point of being served, fed, and filled without service. I’ve seen so many people leave perfectly good churches under the leadership of perfectly good leaders, because the people felt they were not being fed enough.

If you sat around and was fed all the time and didn’t do anything you would get fat on the word and useless for the work of the kingdom. So get up.

What can I do?

This is always the biggest question. I don’t know what I can do.

Well, let’s start with what you are doing now. - Is what you are doing now in your life something you can transform to do for God’s glory and just just your own?

Next, work in your spiritual gifts.

Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? I’m going to put something up on the screen now. Everyone who has a smart phone get ready for a qr code. This code will take you to a website where you can fill out a survey that will help you to discover your spiritual gifts.

Once you’ve completed your survey I encourage you to email it to yourself and to the church ([e-mail]).

Doing this means that I can help you discover your spiritual gifts and help you to find and achieve you callings.

That is my calling. Maybe the calling you have is in the church, maybe it is outside the church. Remember, the church is not about staying inside these four walls. It is about getting out to where the people are and reaching them for Jesus.