Sold Out To Serve

Intro

Background of 19-Pharisees test Jesus with a question. Background of 20-Parable

Tonight, I want to talk about devoting ourselves to serving Christ, Church, and Community. Jesus really had this concept down! He knew that his life was to be given in FULL SERVICE to bring people back into a relationship with God. I think of the story we just read … It is almost as if the mother of James and John drags them in front of Jesus … and says, “My sons deserve this.” I have to believe that James and John were pretty embarrassed.They were probably saying, “Mom, no … I am not going to Jesus. This is ridiculous.” “Don’t you tell me what to do,” she may have replied, “I am your mother. You will understand some day when you’re a parent.” I could see them under their breath: “James, tell her to stop.” “No, you tell her.” “I will not tell her … stop her.” “Jesus is going to get really ticked.” “What if someone hears mom?” James and John’s mother did not really recognize what it meant to SERVE!

Richard Foster, in the Celebration of Discipline, wrote, “Self-righteous service comes through human effort. True service comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside. Self-righteous service is impressed with the "big deal." True service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service. Self-righteous service requires external rewards. True service rests contented in hiddenness. Self-righteous service is highly concerned about results. True service is free of the need to calculate results. Self-righteous service picks and chooses whom to serve. True service is indiscriminate in its ministry. Self-righteous service is affected by moods and whims. True service ministers simply and faithfully because there is a need. Self-righteous service is temporary. True service is a life-style. Self-righteous service is without sensitivity. It insists on meeting the need even when to do so would be destructive. True service can withhold the service as freely as perform it. Self-righteous service fractures community. True service, on the other hand, builds community.”

They were probably saying, “Mom, no … I am not going to Jesus. This is ridiculous.”

It is our hope to build a place of TRUE COMMUNITY! And that means we have to DEVOTE OUR LIVES TO SERVING! Let me give you 4 principles of serving.

“Don’t you tell me what to do,” she may have replied, “I am your mother. You will understand some day when you’re a parent.”

Don’t seek a position, seek God. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

And that means we have to DEVOTE OUR LIVES TO SERVING!

I could see them under their breath:

• “James, tell her to stop.”

Man, we try and find the approval of everyone. Have you ever noticed that? We want to please everyone!

• “No, you tell her.”

Listen to this … you will never make everyone happy!

• “I will not tell her … stop her.”

I read this the other day: “I really cannot give you the formula for success. But I can give you the formula for failure. It’s this: Try to please everyone.”

There is one person’s approval we must strive for … its God’s!

• “Jesus is going to get really ticked.”

Jesus fleshed this out … he really lived his life to please one person. The one thing that he knew was that God was pleased with him … before he did one miracle, listen to what God said about Jesus. : "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him” (NLT).

• “What if someone hears mom?”

God is fully pleased with you … he loves you … he may not approve of WHAT you do, but he will approve of WHO you are … you are His!!!

James and John’s mother did not really recognize what it meant to SERVE!

We belong to God. Serving starts with God.

Give an example of when you volunteered for Glendale

Know God’s purpose for your life. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

We have a purpose—to glorify God and be a witness in this world.

God has a plan and purpose for you!

To know God’s Word. The best way to know the Father is to read about Him and what He has to say.

To keep God’s commands. Part of your destiny is to live in a righteous manner where God has placed you—and to do so consistently.

To be a witness for Jesus Christ! Every Christian is called to an active ministry. This doesn’t mean we will all be full-time preachers or missionaries. But with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believers are to share the gospel through words and conduct.

Give an example of what you thought your purpose was versus God’s purpose for you.

Never live for the applause. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

It feels good when someone pats you on the back and says, “Great job.” And that is totally okay, but do not LIVE for the applause!

There are times in our lives when no one seems to be cheering for us … when no one is encouraging us to keep going … DON’T LIVE FOR THE APPLAUSE! Live for God’s approval!

Real service comes from doing the things no one sees! The little things! The seemingly insignificant tasks that need to get done!

Jesus didn’t live for the applause. Jesus chose not to live for the applause … he lived for His Heavenly Father’s approval! ()

Give an example of you lived for applause by volunteering for Glendale.

Jesus chose not to live for the applause … he lived for His Heavenly Father’s approval!

Find a need and fill it. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

The need was great. The world needed a Savior. Jesus filled the need … he came not to be served BUT TO SERVE!

Our lives need to be a reflection of our Lord … if he served, then we must serve!

There are a not of needs to be fulfilled at Saturday Night Church. Clean up, kids, teen, ushers, filling water bottles, greeters

We need you to be a part of Saturday Night Church. In the front you will be able to sign up for one of the above after tonight … GET INVOLVED! We need more of you involved so that we can see this ministry go to a whole new level.

Why don’t people serve? Laziness … too busy … unwilling … not interested … don’t care … don’t know what to do … don’t know where to help … All of these seem like great answers, but I really think most people don’t get involved because they THINK THEY CAN’T …

Live to serve and give. For the glory of God. Serving others is about worshipping God.

Give an example of how I find a need in the church and fulfilled it.

Conclusion

Get involved in Saturday Night Church and let’s serve Christ, Church, and Community

Prayer: We do these by not seeking a position, but seeking God, knowing God’s purpose for our lives, never live for an applause, and find a need and fill it.