IMPACT: Investing In others
IMPACT: Investing in Others
I. Introduction Why should we invest in others
A. Surprised to see an empty seat at the Super Bowl stadium, a diehard fan remarked about it to a woman sitting nearby. "It was my husband's," the woman explained, "But he died." "I'm very sorry," said the man. "Yet I'm really surprised that another relative, or friend, didn't jump at the chance to take the seat reserved for him." "Beats me," she said. "They all insisted on going to the funeral."
B. Imagine another world looking down at 60,000 people who pay $900,000 to sit in a stadium that cost $45 million to watch 22 men being paid $7 million a year dispute the possession of a ball that costs $16.95.
C. Go over IMPACT
D. What If you had a coach who, at game time, went out on behalf of the team and began to play for them?
1. Would he be effective?
2. Would the team win?
3. Would the team get better without the experience?
4. Is that the work of the coach?
II. Because Jesus Invests in Others
A. Illustration
B. Exegesis
1. Mark 10:32-45
a) He has just explained that His purpose is to go to Jerusalem, be handed over by His own people to the Gentiles, be condemned to death, mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him, and James and Andrew are still wanting to be high officials in His Cabinet
b) Jesus takes the opportunity to hare with the disciples that being great in His kingdom is not about doing for self, but being a servant of others – That is what He is doing
2. He humbled Himself for us – Philippians 2:5-11
3. He came to serve – Matthew 20:28
III. Because Jesus expects us to Invest in others
A. Transition - 1 Corinthian 12:27 – Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it!
B. He washed His disciples’ feet – John 13:12-17
C. Doing for others is doing for Jesus – Matthew 25:34-40
IV. Because Investing in others is a gift of God –
A. The ability to serve is given by God 1 Peter 4:11
B. We see service as a waste of time, but it should take service from the realm of the mundane to the level of divine
1. We should see every opportunity to serve as a chance to share Jesus with others
2. We should see every opportunity to serve as fulfilling the duties of God
V. Because investing in others is where true greatness is found
A. To be great you must be a servant - Back to Mark 10:42-44
B. Mother Theresa
1. In 1948, she came across a half-dead woman lying in front of a Calcutta hospital. She stayed with the woman until she died.
2. In 1952, she founded the Nirmal Hriday Home for the Dying in a former temple in Calcutta. It was there that they would care for the dying Indians that were found on the streets.
C. Jim Elliott –
1. Martyred Missionary to the Auca Indians, Quito, Ecuador
2. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
D. Context of passage
VI. Conclusion – How do we do it?
A. By being prepared – Ephesians 4:11-12
1. The job of ministers is to equip the church to do the work of service
2. There is a process of being equipped
a) Finding out where your gift lies
b) Being open and observant to the needs that need to be met
3. How do we do it
a) Get involved in ministry to learn under others who are doing it
b) Participate in Bible study in order to learn how God can use you
B. By sing you gifts –
1. Romans 12:4-8
2. Be looking around to see how God could use your talents and skills – Which He gave you
C. William Temple, "the Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members".
Mark 10:42-44 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Ephesians 4:11-12 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Romans 12:4-8 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Mark 10:32-45 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Philippians 2:5-11 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Matthew 25:34-40 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it 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.
Mark 10:42-44 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Ephesians 4:11-12 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Romans 12:4-8 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.