Serving Like Jesus Series

Journey With Jesus: Serving Like Jesus

Introduction

In our journey with Jesus we have studied… The foundation of the disciple’s life, the Beatitudes. The source of authority, Jesus is Lord. The divine help we receive, the Holy Spirit. Today we move further into our study to talk about one of the key qualities of discipleship - a life of service.

John Wesley wrote, “One of the principle rules of religion is to lose no occasion of serving God. And, since he is invisible to our eyes, we are to serve him in our neighbor; which he received as if done to himself in person, standing visibly before us.” Matthew 25:45 “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” Galatians 5:13 “…Serve one another in love.”

The words translated “serve,” “servant,” or “serving” appear over 300 times in the NT. Ephesians 2:10 NIV "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Being a servant so often goes against our usual way of thinking. We prefer to be served, to have things our way. Service can be time consuming. Service can cost us money. Service often requires sacrifice.

We most learn about service by looking at Jesus! He not only served, but declared himself a servant. Luke 22:27b “But I am among you as the one who serves.” Mark 10:43-45 But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave[e] of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1. Five Attitudes of Service

Humility - reject self-centeredness

Jesus presented a self-less model of servanthood. Philippians 2:2-5 NLT “…Make me truly happy by agreeing

wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Readiness - Equipped and Ready to serve

Charles Kingsley: “Have your tools ready and God will find you work.” Romans 12:6-8 “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Awareness

We have been saved for a life of good works that match our abilities. 1 Corinthians 7:7 “…But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.”

Love: Service is Love.

William Ward: “Service is love made visible.” (Via McLellan). Galatians 5:14 “For the whole law is fulfilled in one

word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Being a servant requires both dedication and wisdom - the

willingness to serve and understanding your own boundaries of what you can do.

Growth

Foster: “Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness.” When we are servants we find our attention being focused on others and not simply on ourselves.

Some Actions of Service to Consider

Consider the small ways of serving make a big difference in our world. Richard Foster suggests acts of service such as…

-Guarding the reputation of others - refusing gossip.

-Common courtesy - giving people the time of day - acknowledge others.

-Listening - requires compassion / patience.

-Bearing the burdens of each other (Gal. 6:2)

-Sharing the Word of Life with one another.

-Foster suggests, “Begin the day by praying, ‘Lord Jesus, I would so appreciate it if You would bring me someone

today whom I can serve.’”

Keep your Eyes Open for Opportunity.

1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

-Offer your gifts

- Offer grace

- Offer words of truth

- Offer service

- Offer glory to God

Donald Whitney - “Beyond the church walls, serving is baby-sitting for neighbors, taking meals to families in flux, running errands for the homebound, providing transportation for the one whose car breaks down, feeding pets and watering plants for vacationers, and - hardest of all - having a Servan’t heart in the home. Serving is as