Christ: The way of Service
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Christ is the way. . .
Christ is the way. . .
Christ is the way, way more than we think, or ask as it says in (Eph3:20) and as we look at our passage today we learn another aspect of this.
(Insert Christ is more PowerPoint slide here)
Christ is more than the way to:
God, Life and Truth
Love, Joy and Peace
Unity, Prayer, Forgiveness and bearing fruit
Today we are looking at Christ is the way of service. This year our theme is “together we grow” and one of the areas we are aiming to grow in is service, as well as spiritually, numerically and financially.
Christ is the way of Service (Mt20:28; Php2:5-8; Heb7:24-25)
He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (ref: Mt20:28)
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
He came to serve by humbling Himself and becoming obedient, even to death (Php2:5-8)
He came to serve as our Intercessory Priest with unchangable priesthood (Heb7:24-25)
24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
(Transition) So, this morning as we continue this series may we look at Christ is the way of Service. How He taught, how the apostles taught. How it can, should be applied today in the kingdom. Finally how we should serve, for it is a matter of heart.
The way of service taught
The way of service taught
YouTube, I think you can YouTube about anything you want to learn. Instructional videos about everything. Well how about biblical instruction that we can picture in our mind from the Word of God?
Jesus teaches us to serve
That serving leads to true greatness (Mt20:25-28)
In Matthew it tells of the mother of the sons of thunder came to Jesus to request her sons be seated in the kingdom on the right and left of Jesus.
Jesus responded to her and to them they did not understand and that it was not His place to give that, but here is what they should do starts in (v.25)
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
So, you want to be first, be a servant, you can be a servant in may ways and we will get to that shortly.
Jesus demonstrated and taught by example (Jn13:12-17)
12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
This is more than foot washing, it is humbling ourselves to serve one another. This was the example, the illustration, living illustration that Jesus gave from a place of humility in doing what only the lowly would normally do. We should be lowly and humble and willing to serve one another.
The Apostles teach us to serve (Gal5:13-14; 1Pt4:9-10; ref: 1Cor12:4-14)
Paul says through love to serve one another
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Peter says use the special gift, employ it in serving one another
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
You maybe familiar with the variety of gifts noted in (1Cor12:7-14), gifts given by the Spirit as He wills as a part of the body, one body, many parts working together in service to one another.
(Transition) we are to know we are gifted. We are to deploy our gifts for the common good in serving one another out of love, so that God may be glorified. Serving God may be manifested in many facets in many ways, (1Cor12; 1Pt4) give a few ways but let’s look at the ways when it comes to evangelist, edification and benevolence as I believe we have spoken of in another sermon at some time, lol, surprise, surprise, right?
Way of service manifested
Way of service manifested
Christ is the way and the reason for service. Christ is the way of love and His love transforms us and His love compels us to love and serve one another. We from a place of love then can serve in the kingdom.
Serving the kingdom through evangelism (Jn1:35-42, 45-46; Jn4:29; 1Pt4:9)
John was at the RIver Jordan and was baptizing for the forgiveness of sins, a baptism of repentance. John had his own disciples but John knew a greater one was coming and that brings us to this passage. Look what John does and how it went out from there.
35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
and from there jump down to where we get to Philip who was a disciple of John now is a disciple of Jesus
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Someone led you to Christ be a parent, a friend, a co-worker, you too can lead others to come to know and have the freedom that you have in Christ. Maybe you are not comfortable sharing the gospel, but you can be hospitable
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
You can be loving, caring, hospitable without complaint, you can offer acts of kindness and service
Maybe it is just inviting someone like the woman at the well did
29 “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?”
(Transition) Now we do need to know the gospel, why do we believe what we believe? We do need to know scripture to back up our belief. Now that brings us to building up the body of Christ, aka: edification.
Serving the kingdom through edification (Eph4:16; 1The5:11; 1Cor14:12; Eph4:29)
Because we are equipped for the works of service (v.12) and are growing in the unity of the faith we can serve the body through each of us contributing together
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Keep encouraging one another as noted in (1the5:11)
And since you are equipped, gifted, use the gifts zealously for the building up of the body.
12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
Let your words be edifying too
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Serving through benevolence (Eph4:32; Act2:45, 4:32)
Benevolence is not always just giving, it is being too, benevolent in nature, look at this.
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
be kind in nature to one another, forgiving on another, is that not what others need?
Benevolence means: “The quality of well meaning, kindness” according to Oxford dictionary. According to Yourdictionary it is defined as: “The definition of benevolence is a kind act or gift or the doing of kind things for others
It is benevolent to visit in hospitals and in each others homes.
It is benevolent to see a need and meet a need even if not asked.
it is benevolent to minister to the poor, the hungry or others that may be in need.
It is not just throwing money at something, it is from your heart to someone else’s.
Ministering (Serving) in other ways
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In the home
Husbands to wives serving one another
Parents and children
Siblings
In the work place
Managers and laborers
Coworker and coworker
In the community
Neighbors and neighbors
Friend and friend
I’m sure you can think of others.
(Transition) There are many ways we can serve one another, giving ourselves to service as Christ set the example for service. Now can I take a side trip for a minute from the act of service to the heart of service?
The heart of service
The heart of service
The heart of service, the way we serve the kingdom of God. Let’s take a few minutes and look at things to help us have the right heart.
Serve the Lord in gladness (Ps100:2)
2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.
Yep, gladness and go ahead you can come with joyful singing too!
Serve the Lord with your whole heart (Deu11:13)
13 “It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul,
14 that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil.
Serve him with all your heart and soul and see how He will bless you.
Serve with the Lord’s strength (1Tim1:12)
You do not have to do it under your own strength.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
You take the given faith and build on it and He will strengthen you and use you for His purpose and service.
Be abounding in it (1Cor15:58)
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Abound in the work of the Lord knowing your work is not in vain, it is for the Lord and for the Lords glory!
Do it in following Christ’s example (Jn12:26)
As you serve Him, you need to know Him and follow Him, follow His example and the Father will honor you
26 “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Think about that we are to honor God and here it says and God will honor YOU!
Do it knowing what God did for you .(1Sam12:24)
24 “Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
Think about what He has done for you! (expand time permitting)
(Transition) I think we can continue to find lots of examples, etc. when it comes to service, but examples need to be applied and applied will bring glory to God.
It may see that the way of Christ of service is counterintuitive
Whoever desires to be great, let him be your servant (Mt20:26)
Whoever desires to be first, let him be your slave (Mt20:28)
But the reality is the way of service leads to
Love, respect and favor in the hearts of others
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
and eventual exaltation by God
11 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
So be a humble servant, follow the example and teaching of Christ and the apostles and know the greatest example and teaching Jesus gave
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
(Transition to invitation) - think about that, a ransom.
(Insert Jesus paid the ransom picture here)
As a (noun) a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner.
As a (verb) obtain the release of (a prisoner) by making a payment demanded.
(invitation/Encouragement)
(Invitation song) (Prayer) (exit)