The Challenge Of Servanthood Series

The basis of this series is from Nelson Searcy and The Journey Church, however this message is my own.

The Challenge of Servanthood

John 13:1-5, 12-17, 34-35

When we Serve, We Humble Ourselves

When we Serve, We Lead Others

When we Serve, We Love God

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Good morning.

Welcome to Hickory Creek.

We have been reading through the New Testament as a church and discussing some of the primary teachings of the New Testament over a 9 week period.

Today marks the halfway point for the messages in this series and we are almost half way done with the readings.

How is everyone doing so far?

If you would like to join us then please pick up a reading plan at the resource table in the foyer.

Well, over the past weeks we have discussed the New Testament teaching on

Love

Generosity

Perseverance

And today we are going to talk about the challenge of Servanthood.

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Now when I say the word servant, what image pops into your head?

Maybe a butler?

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Or a maid?

The image that pops into your head is probably not the picture of

a fortune 500 CEO,

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or a man fit for the cover of GQ magazine

or a woman dressed in an evening gown.

When we think of servant, we are thinking someone who is

lower class,

not educated or

a person of little authority.

But Jesus turned the idea of servanthood on its head.

He said in

Matthew 23:11 - The greatest among you will be your servant.

Not the lowly, not the least educated, not even the best dressed, but the greatest among you will be your servants.

That is typically not the picture we have in our heads of servants.

But He is calling us to greatness by calling us to serve others.

Turn with me to John 13 (p. 763)

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We are going to look at an incredible example of Jesus serving and see the effects of our service so we can face the challenge of servanthood and serve as the Lord would have us.

We are going to focus on several passages from this chapter and I want to begin with

John 13:1-5

1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

The first effect that happens

When we Serve, We Humble Ourselves

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It is sometimes humbling to us to serve others.

It is humbling because people may look at us differently.

But that is why we need to serve, because we need to humble ourselves.

We need to recognize that it is only through Christ that we can accomplish anything and as we serve others, we are humbled and able to realize that.

Listen to John 13:3 again.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power,

He had all things in his control.

He had all power and could do all things.

He could choose not to go through with the plan to provide salvation.

But he said, “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

He could have others serve Him while he was on earth, but he said,

The “Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45)

But He didn’t.

What did the God of the universe who was fully in control of all things do?

John 13:4-5

4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

The job that was lowliest in the land. It was often done by a slave.

But Jesus took this role upon Himself.

This is in contrast to a conflict the apostles were having not too long before this night.

Mark 10:35-37, 41

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."

36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.