MATTHEW 22:37-40 | SERVE OTHERS, REACH PEOPLE
Love God. Serve Others. Reach People • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 53:44
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MATTHEW 22:37-40 | SERVE OTHERS, REACH PEOPLE
MATTHEW 22:37-40 | SERVE OTHERS, REACH PEOPLE
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever tried to learn to do something that didn’t come naturally?
Learning to talk to people
To some people this comes naturally.
My mom has never met a stranger...
I determined that I wanted to grow in this area and I became very intentional about it.
I read books:
“How to make people like you in 90 seconds or less”
“How to win friends and influence people”
“Everyone communicates, few connect”
“25 Ways to win with people”
I’m just getting started… the list could go on.
I listened to podcasts, watched videos, PRAYED!
It’s still a weak spot for me… it doesn’t come natural.
But Tressa regularly encourages me that I did a good job and that helps!
EXPLANATION: Last week, we talked about God’s desire to simplify the Christian life!
I hope you determined in your life that above anything else, you are going to love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind!
Allow Him to capture your heart!
Now, I don’t want to put too much on you, but that wasn’t the end of what Jesus had to say.
When Jesus was speaking to that lawyer in the midst of the crowd he went a step further.
He answered a question the lawyer hadn’t asked.
The lawyer wanted to know the greatest commandment, and Jesus was giving him a two for one!
In v.39 Jesus said, Matthew 22:39
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The second command in all actuality may be harder than the first.
When we think of all that God has done for us, it should move us to love Him.
When we consider the grace He has shown us in sending His Son to die and pay for our sins.
When we think of all the sins we have commited and realize that He says He will remember them no more!
When we look at the blessings that God has poured into our life.
It should bring us to a place of the Psalmist in Psalm 8:3-4
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?
God has been so good to us!
And when we think of all that He has done for us, our natural response should be to love Him and live for Him!
So that first commandment that Jesus gives is fitting and makes sense.
To LOVE GOD with all of our heart, soul, and mind.
But the second commandment… well that’s a whole different story.
We are to love our neighbor as we love ourself.
It carries with it the undertone of the Golden Rule from Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Love others how you want to be loved.
We could simplify our mission and or theme ever further because of goal should be to Love God and Love People.
And as we’ve talked in weeks past, the word love is an action word.
Simply saying we love someone will never be enough.
We must put action to those words.
And two of those actions are found in the theme for our church: Serve Other… Reach People.
If we are going to be a church that does more than just say words… we must learn to do these important actions.
It may not come naturally at first, but, for the cause of Christ and the Gospel, we must strive to learn something new!
I. SERVE OTHERS
I. SERVE OTHERS
EXPLANATION: At the heart of loving others is the action of serving them
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Paul says the freedom that we have been given in Christ as a Christian should cause us to serve one another.
In 1 Corinthians, he says it again, but includes with it the goal behind his service
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
The purpose of Paul’s service was not for praise or recognition.
It was so he could point someone else to Christ!
We don’t serve for the applause and approval of man… we serve for the glory of God!
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
God sees your service, every act!
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
So often we use that verse to scare people away from sin… and it certainly should…
But it should also encourage us to always seek to do good… to serve… no matter who is watching.
Because God sees your motive behind your service… and not just the service itself.
ILLUSTRATION: I had the blessing of preaching a teen retreat and at the meeting I preached a message about being a servant.
It’s an important subject for every age.
After the service a young lady came up to me with an interesting question…
She asked, “Can you every serve without sacrificing something.”
I had to pause and thing for a moment… serving without sacrifice.
I finally asked her, can you give me an example of a time you would serve where it wouldn’t require some form of sacrifice.
After a good deal of time thinking and talking through it… it became clear to both of us that serving always requires some form of sacrifice.
Whether monetary or time… it always requires us to give something.
But then she said something else… “I guess there are sometimes it just doesn’t feel like a sacrifice.”
APPLICATION: Friend, when we are serving from the right heart… realizing who it is we are serving… it really doesn’t feel like a sacrifice.
It feels a whole lot more like a privilege.
Far too often, we have the wrong view of service… it’s only a sacrifice.
But the Psalmist gave a beautiful picture of his perspective of service, Psalm 84:10
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
What a privilege to serve Jesus.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
When you hold that door open… you aren’t just serving that person walking through… you’re serving God
When you bring someone a cup of coffee… Not me, but someone else… you aren’t just serving them… you’re serving God
When you make a dinner for someone that just went through something… you aren’t just serving that person… you’re serving God
When you send that encouraging text message, write that encouraging letter, or just let someone know you are praying for them… you aren’t just serving them… you’re serving God.
When you choose to forgive that person that hurt you… you aren’t just sacrificing for that person… you’re serving God.
When you give grace to someone that doesn’t deserve it… you aren’t just sacrificing for that person… you’re serving God.
When you serve anonymously and that person isn’t going to know… you aren’t just serving that person… you’re serving God.
And while you serve Him, you point them to Christ as well through it.
Friend, it is your calling and command from God to love people.
And while you can serve without loving… you cannot love without serving!
SERVE OTHERS
II. REACH PEOPLE
II. REACH PEOPLE
EXPLANATION: You know, the ultimate form of love is sharing with someone the greatest act of love ever shown… when Christ died on the cross for your sins and mine.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
APPLICATION: Almost every week from this pulpit the Gospel is preached and an invitation is given for people to come to Christ as Savior.
Today is no different… if you don’t know Christ, I invite you to receive Him as your Savior this morning!
Admit that you are a sinner… and according the word of God, you cannot get to heaven on your own.
But Jesus Christ died and paid the payment for your sins so that you can have access to eternal life with God.
But God wont force anyone to accept Him… you have to receive Him as your savior.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
That message is shared almost every week here at WBC… and reason is because there is no great demonstration of love than to point people to the One Who can do something about their most dire condition.
Your most dire need isn’t financial, or physical, or emotional… your most dire need is spiritual.
And sharing the great news of the Gospel is the greatest thing that we can do for anyone.
In fact, it was the final command that Jesus gave before he ascended into heaven.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
And here at WBC, it is our goal not just to make the Gospel and important part of our church…
It is the funnel through which we want to filter every action we do as a church!
Our purpose is the fulfill the great commandments, by doing the great commission!
To Love God, Serve Other, and Reach People.
Now, as we finish our service this morning, I want to share some of the ways we are seeking to do that practically in 2026.
Because we don’t just want to talk about it… we want to get busy actually doing it.
And we want to make sure that the things we are doing this year are clearly understood why we are doing them!
February 20-21 : Marriage Retreat
If our marriages aren’t strong, we will have weak families.
And weak families make for weak Christians.
And weak Christians aren’t bold for Christ.
Don’t miss this opportunity to intentionally strengthen your marriage and your family.
March 27 : Outdoorsman Night
Over the past 4 years, we have preached the Gospel to over 1000 people just at this event.
We’ve raised over $30,000 for our Volunteer Fire Department, Foster Montana, and our Veterans
We’ve seen souls saved and we’ve seen lives changed from this event.
And we look forward to what God is going to do in year 5!
April 5 : Resurrection Sunday
Few times of the year that it is easier to invite people to church!
May 23-24 : Revival Refocus Weekend with Morris Gleiser
This is an incredible opportunity to refocus our hearts on God and get stirred up to go into the world and serve Him.
It’s vital to make sure our tank is filled so we have something to give!
July 9-11 : Church Family Camp
Another opportunity to pause in the midst of summer and grow spiritual and grow together as a church family.
July 26 : Cowboy Church
Over the past 3 years, God has used this special Sunday as an opportunity for us to preach the Gospel to crowds of close to 200 people right in the middle of our town.
As long as God keeps that door open, we want to continue to walk through it!
October 10-11 : Science and Faith weekend with Tobi England
This is a great opportunity to grow deeper in our faith individually… but also to bring along those who have questions about how science and faith work together.
To see how the Bible has so clearly paved the way for scientific discoveries when science finally catches up.
This will be a helpful and encouraging weekend, that I want to ask you to mark your calendars to be at.
October 18 - Community Sunday
An opportunity for us to open our arms and roll out the red carpet on a special day to welcome those in the community to WBC.
For so much of the year, we will spend investing our in the community in different ways… and this is one of the special Sundays we invite them to come in to our church and experience what a service is like.
It’s one of my favorite Sundays of the year, and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do.
There are many more events on the calendar, but those are just a few I wanted to draw attention to.
In addition to those major events, there will be monthly connection groups to encourage relational growth within the church, so look for opportunities to plug into those each month.
And finally, as we continue to Reach People for the cause of Christ, we are asking God to do miracles for our church.
We praise God for the entry way renovation that is nearly complete
There are a few final touches I’m excited to wrap up that will continue to help our church reach people
There will be a coffee bar area in the foyer where guests will feel welcomed and encouraged to build relationships
And there will be a decision station, where those who have made a decision for Christ or maybe just filled out one of those connection cards will be able to go and meet a friendly face and share the decision they have made.
We had close to 200 people pass through the doors of our church last year, and our goal is to make sure in the future, every person that comes to WBC gets connected and people don’t slip through the cracks.
And then I want to ask you to pray with me for what will be one of the greatest miracles in the history of WBC.
We need to see God open the door on more property.
I don’t have to tell you that we are running out of room.
We don’t do this to build a crowd… but I also recognize that “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
I praise God for what He has done here in this building.
It’s been amazing to see Him work
But may we not place God into a box that limits what He wants to do!
My prayer when I became pastor of WBC, was that He would allow us to attempt something so great for God, that unless He intervenes, we are bound to fail.
To truly walk by faith, and watch God do exceeding, abundantly, above all we can ask or think.
So what is that vision?
I am asking God to open the door for a property within or very close to the city limits.
We want to be relatively close to our town to make it easy for people to attend and for people to drive by and see our church.
I’m asking God for a property where we can have some parking
I’m asking God for a property that we might be able to use to bless our families
To have space for a playground for our kids
To have space where we could do archery clubs and activities without running into the street
I’m asking God for a property where we can build an activity center big enough to host of fellowships and activities during the cold months of the year.
I’m asking God for a property big enough to expand when we need to if one day we wanted to start a Christian school or needed to build more facilities.
I’m asking God for a property that we can build a sanctuary that can fit all the people who want to come to WBC without having to feel crowded or sit on someone else’s lap.
A place where we can preach the Gospel… like we do today
A place where people will get saved, baptized, and discipled
A place that people will look back on in awe of the power of God!
Because it is my passion and it is God’s calling that we as a church would Reach People.
CONCLUSION:
So church, there is it… our mission statement for our church… our theme for the year:
Love God
Serve Others
Reach People
Now, would you take time this morning to work in greater ways than we’ve ever seen Him work before.
To open doors we never could have dreamed of
To see people saved by the droves
To help you fulfill the great commandment, by obeying the great commission.
Let’s purpose today to keep things simple in 2026:
Love God
Serve Others
Reach People!
