Untitled Sermon

How Can the Church Serve One Another?

Introduction:

1. The world is constantly telling us that we are the most important people in our lives. If we listen to the world we will be conditioned for selfishness.

2. Serving others may not be glamorous but it is godly and God honoring.

3. The church needs to be involved in serving each other and helping one another on the road to heaven.

I. Jesus: Our Perfect Example ()

A. Jesus was the only perfect person who ever lived and he prioritized serving others ().

B. Jesus did not think he was too good to serve others he taught his disciples that greatness involved serving others and not serving themselves ().

C. Jesus left heaven and came to earth so that we could one day leave earth and go to heaven ().

D. Jesus laid down his life for the world as the greatest act of service ever performed (; ).

E. If we would learn to serve one another in the church we need to look to Jesus and the example that he sets for us ().

II. Serve by: Restoration

A. We can serve each other by restoring those who have erred from the faith and need to be restored ().

B. We need to fulfill the law of Christ by bearing the burdens of our brethren ().

C. Others are served when we are concerned about the condition of their soul. We should do what we can to retrieve those who have strayed from the path of righteousness (cf. ).

III. Serve by: Encouraging

A. We need to encourage each other constantly (, ).

B. Paul and others wrote New Testament books to encourage 1st century Christians to press forward and not to lose heart.

C. Encouraging others is something we are all capable of doing. We can encourage by writing cards, making calls, speaking a kind word, etc.

D. Barnabas was one of the greatest encouragers of the New Testament and sets an example of how we can serve each other in this way ().

IV. Serve by: Sacrificing for Each Other

A. We can serve each other by sacrificing for each other in ways the early Christians did ().

B. The proof of our love is demonstrated by how much we are willing to surrender for our brethren ().

C. In Christianity we should be willing to do whatever is necessary to help our brothers and sisters who are in need ().

V. Serve by: Loving One Another

A. Jesus said we would be identified as his disciples if we loved each other ().

B. Everything that we do should be done in love ().

C. The aim of our faith is to love ().

D. If we truly love one another serving each other will be the natural response ().

Conclusion:

1. We have liberty in Christ, but our liberty is given so that we are free to serve each other ().

2. The Christian life is one of service and the church is where the service is to take place.

3. A selfless church is a church that is reflecting the spirit of Christ in a world of self-centeredness.