Serving Light

Intro

Story of Dave Wottle

6 feet tall weighed 146 pounds

Ordinary 22 year old kid from Canton Ohio

1972 Olympics in Munich

Pulled off one of the greatest upsets of all time

(Show Video)

One example of how ordinary people can do extraordinary things

Recap Series

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things

When we look at the Bible, sometimes we think of the people in the stories as superheroes

We are guilty of thinking that we could never accomplish what they did

Acts 4:13–15 NLT

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. 15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.

More Biblical Examples of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

Noah – He drank too much, but, God used him to build the ark to save the world. (Genesis 6-9)

Abraham and Sarah – They were an old, washed-up couple who God used to build a nation. (Genesis 11-25)

Joseph – He was an entitled teen who went through God’s classroom, training him to save both Egypt and Israel. (Genesis 37-50)

Moses – He was a stutterer who was God’s spokesman and leader. (Exodus 3-4)

Rahab – She was a prostitute who God used to help his spies and overtake Jericho. (Joshua 2)

Jonah – He was the escapist who God brought back to save Nineveh. (Jonah 1-3)

Esther – She was the adopted orphan who became Queen to save Israel. (Esther 1-8)

Peter – He was the quitter who God brought back to start the Kingdom. (Matthew 26, John 21, Acts 1-2)

Paul – He was the enemy who became the most prolific Christian in the New Testament. (Acts 7-9)

Ordinary people are exactly who God is looking for when it comes to serving others

Qualities God Seeks

God is looking for people with passion

Skills can be taught but passion can’t be faked

I would choose someone with passion over skills any day of the week

Colossians 3:23–24 NLT

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

God wants a humble and teachable heart

Know-It-Alls don’t Grow-At-All

Example of Rifle Range (every farm boy thought they could shoot)

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 NLT

26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

God wants someone who is willing to sacrifice

Sacrifice comes with a cost

Sometimes we don’t want to pay the price

Matthew 16:24–25 NLT

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

God sees passionate, humble, and self-sacrificing people as extraordinary

Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

The ultimate act of love is rooted in service to others

John 15:13 NLT

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Challenge

What excuses have you been using in order not to serve others?

Which quality (passion, humbleness, and self-sacrifice) is your biggest struggle when it comes to serving? (Call up worship team)

2 fold challenge

Serve somewhere inside the church building

Give examples

Serve somewhere outside the church building

Give examples