Free to Serve

Galatians 5:1 NLT

1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Freedom from law

Galatians 5:13 NLT

13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Freedom to serve, not just because the Law/the Bible says

Ephesians 4:31–32 NLT

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. 32Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

…just as Jesus…

Why?

Why get rid of all those bad emotions, why be kind and forgiving when we don’t always receive it in return, why give generously, serve diligently?

Just as…

The law commands? The church mission mandates? The Bible says?

Just as in Christ God forgave you… was kind to you, served you, is generous toward you…

Do for others what God through Christ has done for us.

Do unto others as Christ has already done unto you

Ephesians 5:1–2 NLT

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Ephesians 5:1–2 NLT

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

1Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

NIVUK 1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Live a life of love, just as… Christ loved us…

The way of love ie. The way of freedom is patterned on Jesus’ love for us

Ephesians 5:8–10 NLT

8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

What would a forgiven child of the light do? Simples! So clear, so freeing. Live as children of light. Embrace the way of love.

Basis for Christian behaviour. The Bible? No. The sacrificial love of Jesus. We don’t love because the Bible says. WE love because God first loved us through Jesus.

Jesus’ servant-leadership style

John 13:1–5 NLT

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

Jesus had a moment of full clarity of who he was, and in that moment, he lovingly served and set an example to His followers.

Jesus – free to be humble, not needing to exalt Himself by lording over others, free to serve and let God exalt/reward

We too are free to serve, just as Jesus…serve one another in love.

We are More than Volunteers

Volunteer – not a NT word - borrowed, secular, doesn’t fit Christian usage

We can’t volunteer as believers because everyone is called, chosen and expected to serve

Chosen & appointed to go and bear fruit

John 15:16 NLT

16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit…

I can’t volunteer my gifts, talents, resources – they’re not my own!

Not owners

Psalm 24:1 NLT

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NLT

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

19Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body.

More than volunteers

1.We are “parts” of His body

1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT

27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

v.7

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

We are parts used to bless the whole

1 Corinthians 12:15 NLT

15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.

1 Cor 12:1v.15

v.15

If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.

We all belong

1 Corinthians 12:21–22 NLT

21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

1 cor 12:21-22

21The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

We’re all needed

1 Corinthians 12:25–26 NLT

25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

1 cor 12:25-26

25This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad

We should all share concern for one another

No sense of being volunteers. If we don’t do our part, we disable the body

2.We are “members” of His family

Hebrews 2:10–11 NLT

10 God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. 11 So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

10God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

Romans 8:16 NLT

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

11So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

No volunteers in family

3.We are “citizens” of His Kingdom

Colossians 1:13 NLT

13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

Ephesians 2:19 NLT

19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

All employed in His service

4.We are “stewards” of His ‘resources’

1 Peter 4:10 NLT

10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

5.We are “ministers” in His service

Ephesians 4:11–13 NLT

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Ambassadors with a ministry of reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 NLT

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

It’s out of freedom, not obligation, nor deserving/earning that we serve in love

Body needs YOU

Family needs YOU

Kingdom needs YOU

World needs YOU

…just as Jesus…

Best effort

Colossians 3:23–24 NLT

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

Serve with joy

Colossians 3:17 NLT

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Serve wherever Holy Spirit wills

1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT

11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

11It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Spirit of excellence vs. excellent spirit

Daniel 6:3 NLT

3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

Daniel

Daniel 6:3 NIV

3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

3Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

extraordinary spirit – AMP; exceptional qualities - NIV

One is task focused and the outcome is the most important thing

The other is about the person themselves, being the right person, more than meeting every expected outcome