Serve One Another

Introduction

Financial Peace University, Dave Ramsey, people want to be generous…

I know your heart is to serve…

What makes serving “Christian?”

How does the Bible teach us to serve?

Where can we start?

Read 1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV).

Body

What makes serving “Christian?” How is Christian service different than volunteering or humanitarian aid?

Look at 1 Peter 4:11. Christian service has a different motive. It’s not virtue signaling or self-justification. It is to glorify God by helping another person in the love and grace of Jesus.

Illustration: This is reflected in our little slogan: Following Jesus together for the glory of God and the common good.

How does the Bible teach us to serve? What does the Bible mean when it says to serve each other?

Look at 1 Peter 4:10… The Bible teaches us to serve using our “gifts.” What does that mean?

According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, the English word “gift has two meanings:

a thing given to someone without payment; a present

a natural ability or talent

We think a “spiritual gift” is a special ability or talent the Holy Spirit gave us as a present on our spiritual birthday. And, as 1 Peter 4:10 teaches, we must use our gifts, our supernatural abilities and spiritual talents, to serve one another.

How do you figure out what your special Spirit-given abilities are?

What if your church doesn’t need your special ability?

What if you church has needs that you aren’t your special ability?

Illustration: Youth group, spiritual gifts test…

This whole concept isn’t helpful, and it all boils down to the modern English definition of “gift” as a special talent or ability, or a present.

1 Peter 4:10 with charisma… The Greek word underneath the concept of “spiritual gift” is the word charisma, plural charismata.

The English word “gift” means an ability or present, but the Greek word charisma doesn’t mean either of those things… Context… Charisma is closely related to another word in this verse: charis, which is translated grace.

1 Peter 4:10 with both charisma and charis.

Charis = grace

Charisma = a concrete expression of grace

1 Peter 4:10 amplified.

The Bible teaches us to serve with charisma: concrete expressions of God’s grace to one another.

Biblical examples

1 Pet 4:11 — speaking the words of God, serving one another

1 Pet 4:8, 9 — loving one another, showing hospitality to one another

1 Cor 12 — speaking in tongues, wisdom, healing, prophecy

Rom 12 — teaching, encouraging, doing acts of mercy

Other examples

Changing diapers

Doing crafts with preschoolers

Running sound

Building relationships with teenagers

Changing a broken electrical outlet for a widow

How can we start serving? Where do we begin?

See a need, meet a need.

Praying with someone who is healed

Raking leaves for an elderly person

Bringing a meal to a family who just had a baby

Praying a prophetic word over someone

Prepare to be inconvenienced (the servant in Luke 17).

Be willing to serve in menial ways

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet in John 13.

Remember the motive for Christian service: “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 4:11).

Conclusion: Survey