Servanthood-Rules

(NIV)

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Opening: Thanking the congregation for their service to the community.

Show Video of the church members serving the community at the Back to School Party.

This is a great Sunday for us. Knowing that we took an opportunity collectively to serve our community is one of the greatest, truest illustrations of discipleship! The community saw Christ through us. Touched Christ through us. Christ was pleased and to God be all the glory!

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This is a great Sunday for us. Knowing that we took an opportunity collectively to serve our community is one of the greatest, truest illustrations of discipleship! The community saw Christ through us. Touched Christ through us. Christ was pleased and to God be all the glory!

It is of no coincidence that the efficacy of service that prevailed happened after Pastor Keishuan taught an exemplary message on “Serving Like Jesus” the week prior. The preaching of the WORD produces results.

It is of no coincidence that the efficacy of our church that was prevalent happened after Pastor Keishuan taught an exemplary message on “Serving Like Jesus” the week prior. The preaching of the WORD produces results.

I’m going to continue with the same theme of servanthood over the next several weeks. When a person embraces servanthood, they are elevated in the Kingdom of God.

I’m going to continue with the same theme of servanthood over the next several weeks. When a person embraces servanthood, they are embracing position of power

PP- The new series I’ll be teaching on is, “SERVANTHOOD: God is calling you to a higher level”

PP- Say this out loud with me, “God is Calling Us to a Higher Level!”

“God is Calling You To A Higher Level!”

Now make it personal, “ God is Calling Me To A Higher Level!”

*Say this out loud with me, “God is Calling Us to a Higher Level!” “God is Calling You To A Higher Level!” Now make it personal, “ God is Calling Me To A Higher Level!”

Jesus tells us in plain language how to go to higher levels in the Kingdom of God.

PP- (NIV)

25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—

28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

To go up, you serve up!

PP- What is “Servanthood”?

Biblical servanthood can be defined as loving acts performed in the power of the Holy Spirit to meet the temporal and spiritual needs of those around us—and leaving the results to God.

I want to share with you this morning some “Rules for Serving”. If there isn't any etiquette in place when we are serving others, our serving could become futile, non-productive.

I’ve seen people, organizations calling themselves serving people, but actually degrade them while serving them. I’ve seen organizations serve others and make the people they serve feel as though they could have done without the so-called “service”.

in order for serving to be effective it has to come from the heart, a place of caring.

The very first scripture we read, was written by Peter to Christians who lived in Asia Minor which is modern day Turkey. His readers are being persecuted because of their faith. They were feeling like outsiders in a society which used to accept them. Peter encourages them to stay strong in the faith and to take on the role of true servants of Christ!

1 Peter Chapter 4:1-11 gives us rules for serving. This is today’s topic.

Today’s lesson is “Rules for Serving”

Today’s lesson is “A Recipe for Serving”

(NIV)

Start Thinking -

(NIV)

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. (suffering in this case is an indicator that you aren’t participating in the world’s ways.)

2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Real intelligence is taking on the mind of Christ!

2. Stop the Stupid! -

(NIV)

3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.

5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Stop conforming! Stop bending the knee to baal. Stop imitating the ways of this world. You’ve already done enough! Enough already!

Quit please! Stop doing what the bible says we shouldn’t be doing. And start doing what the bible says we should be doing.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Nine: The Rest of Your Time (1 Peter 4:1–11)

They do not think it strange when people wreck their bodies, destroy their homes, and ruin their lives by running from one sin to another! But let a drunkard become sober, or an immoral person pure, and the family thinks he has lost his mind!

Unsaved people are blind to spiritual truth

(NIV)

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing (for instance, the world thinks that abstinence is weird, unusual, and improbable. When we teach abstinence they think that we are being impractical. The sad part of it all is that Christians have adopted this mentality and are allowing our schools to teach our children morality and values!)

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Nine: The Rest of Your Time (1 Peter 4:1–11)

unsaved people are blind to spiritual truth (2 Cor. 4:3–4) and dead to spiritual enjoyment (Eph. 2:1).

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Peter notes that those who blaspheme God by maligning Christians for their righteous living will have to give an account of themselves “to the One prepared to judge the living and the dead”

Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1 Peter c. The Universal Scope of God’s Judgment (4:5–6)

Peter notes that those who blaspheme God by maligning Christians for their righteous living will have to give an account of themselves “to the One prepared to judge the living and the dead”

When you start to exercise Christian discipline and rejection of sinful pleasures, and you no longer participate in the sin others participate in, your become a problem. They experience psychological indictment! This is why you become abrasive to them. They feel as though your non-participation judges them. Have you ever noticed that when you walk into a room full of unbelievers, they get uncomfortable! Darkness hate light!

If you want to see perfection, wait till midnight, go into the bathroom and look into the mirror without turning on the light. This is the most beautiful you’’ ever be! Because you’ll never see the blemishes ,the dried saliva around your mouth, the unkempt weave, wig or toupee! Why do you look so beautiful, because you’ll never see what needs attention!

When you start to exercise Christian discipline and rejection of sinful pleasures, and you no longer participate in the sin others participate in, your become a problem. They experience psychological indictment! This is why you become abrasive to them. They feel as though your non-participation judges them. Have you ever noticed that when you walk into a room full of unbelievers, they get uncomfortable!

Light brings attention to areas that need attention!

7 The end of all things is near. (Peter is saying that because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, his readers are living in the last stage of God’s great redemptive plan,which leads to its consummation in the return of Christ. Peter is teaching a period in time not a point in time). Therefore be alert (clear minded and sensible) and of sober mind (to control the inordinate influence of controlling emotions) so that you may pray.

(NIV)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

3. Start Serving -

(NIV)

3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

4They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.

5But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

(NIV)

1. Serve People Love - we serve people with the love of Christ.

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Serve People Love - we serve people with the love of Christ.

Jobes, K. H. (2005). 1 Peter (p. 275). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.Therefore be alert (clear minded and sensible) and of sober mind (to control the inordinate influence of controlling emotions) so that you may pray.

Jobes, K. H. (2005). 1 Peter (p. 276). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.). Therefore be alert (clear minded and sensible) and of sober mind (to control the inordinate influence of controlling emotions) so that you may pray.

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

We are to serve God by serving people with LOVE! “God so loved the world that he gave...” When we serve, we serve with the spirit of God’s love.”

Illustration: A man placed a steak on a platter and gave it to his dog. The man started shouting at the top of his lungs means words to the dog. The dog left and didn’t touch the steak. Another man took some trash and put it on a plate, talked nice to the same dog and the dog started licking the trash.

You can do something for someone without love but for ulterior motives. This is not the way to serve people

2. Serve Without Complaint

9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Have you ever had someone do something for you and they complained the whole time while doing it.

3. Serve Freely (Freely you have received, freely you give)

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful (fitting) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Everything, innate and tangile, gift, talent, ideas, creativity, mobility, ingenuity, all your possessions, your money all comes from God!

4. Serve Excellently

4. Serve With Excellence!

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ (meaning- so that God will get the credit). To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

“so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

5. Serve WIthout Accolades

Remember, God gets the glory, he gets the credit.

Teaching servanthood in our homes is necessary in order to perpetuate God’s laws within our future generations!

This is why Joshua challenged every household in Israel. Collectively they were well over a million people. He called out every leader of every household and said:

(NIV)

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

My Grandfather taught me the importance of serving God, God’s house, and people on God’s behalf. Everything he taught me, I’m passing on to Matthew.

Pictures of Matt serving in the church when no one is looking.

5. Don’t look for a pat on the back, don’t look for accolades

So that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ (meaning- so that God will get the credit). To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

God is to get the credit.

Teaching servanthood in our homes is necessary in order to perpetuate God’s laws within our future generations!

This is why Joshua challenged every household in Israel. Collectively they were well over a million people. He called out every leader of every household and said:

(NIV)

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”

My Grandfather taught me the importance of serving God his house, and the people on God’s behalf.

(NIV)

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially (malista - superlative) to those who belong to the family of believers.

Paul is saying, if you forget to do good for all people, never forget to take care of the family of believers. In other words,God and anything attached to him ALWAYS COMES FIRST!

My grandfather taught me this. He illustrated for me. It’s ingrained within me. So of course I pass it on.

Pictures of Matt serving in the church when no one is looking.

Teach Your Family...

PP: a. Serving is our Responsibility

(NIV)

10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”

Teach Your Family...

b. God will reward you.

(NIV)

3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Make it a goal to bless someone else! Stay fervent in your love

Servanthood-Rules

The Lifestyle of a Servant