Serving Within Ekklesia

Service Defined

Culture’s view of service

Now

America is the most individualist culture on earth (91 out of 100) based on…

Hofstede Insights founded and developed by Professor Geert Hofstede. Where through rigorous academic theory, and data-driven analysis pinpoints the role and scope of organizationally and nationalist culture .

And in highly Individualist societies people are only supposed to look after themselves and their direct family. Where as In Collectivist societies people belong to “in groups” that take care of them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty.

American society is loosely-knit in which the expectation is that people look after themselves and their immediate families only and should not rely on much support.

Biblical Times

Christ as servant

Washed the disciples feet

John 13:1–20 ESV

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Despite his plans he would be moved to minister/serve to the crowds based on his compassion

Matthew 15:29–32 ESV

Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

He served his family

Luke 2:46–52 ESV

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Completely obedient to the will of the father.

Service within the church of Acts

Attributes of a good servant

Scripture identifies certain qualities which are found in good servants and requires that these qualities should be found in believers’ service of God.

Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).

Diligence (Ecc 9:10 See also 1Ki 11:28; Pr 10:4; 22:29; Mt 25:14-23 pp Lk 19:12-19)

Faithfulness( 1Co 4:2 See also Ex 21:5-6; 2Sa 15:21; 2Ch 34:11-12; Ne 13:13; Pr 25:13; Da 6:4)

Honesty (2Ki 22:7 See also Ge 39:6; 2Ki 12:15; Tit 2:9-10)

Obedience (Eph 6:5 See also Lk 17:10; Col 3:22)

Perseverance (Ge 31:40-41 See also 2Th 3:12-13)

Respect (1Ti 6:1-2 See also Mal 1:6; 1Pe 2:18)

Willingness (Eph 6:6-7 See also 1Ch 28:21; Tit 2:9)

Blessings of a good servant

Good servants are often rewarded by their employers

They are advanced by them

Ge 39:4-5; Pr 27:18; Mt 25:21,23

They have their confidence

Ge 24:2-4,10

Good servants often bring blessings on their employers

Ge 30:27-30; 39:2-4

Good servants have God with them

Ge 24:7,27; 31:7,42; 39:3,21; Mt 24:46; Ac 7:9-10

Alignment with Christ

Alignment with the great church fathers of history

The revelation of Christ

A witness

Adoption as sons

Examples of good servants

Abraham’s servant:

Ge 24:9,49

David’s servants:

2Sa 12:18; 23:13-172

Naaman’s servants;

Ki 5:13

a centurion’s servants

Mt 8:9

Who are we called to serve

Christ

Fellow believers

All those in authority

Our families

How should we serve