The Determination Factor Series

(This message adapted from The Purpose-Driven Life, by Rick Warren)

SERIES: “THE GROWTH FACTORS”

TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11

TITLE: “THE DETERMINATION FACTOR”

INTRODUCTION: A. Chuck Colson has observed that when the Communists took over Russia in 1917,

they did not make Christianity illegal. The Soviet constitution, in fact, guaranteed

freedom of religion.

What they did do is make it illegal for the church to do any “good works” or works

of service. The church was no longer allowed to do what it had always done: feed the

hungry, educate children, take care of widows and orphans, or care for the sick. This

mandatory failure to serve the needs of those around them caused a very stunning

result – within seventy years, the churches became basically ineffective in the

communities in which they lived.

1. How would Washington, IN be effected if FCC were to be no more?

2. Would anyone even notice?

B. We’re deep into our series, The Growth Factors

1. Last week, we started to look closely at the purposes of the church

2. The message last week was The Exaltation Factor

a. We looked at the importance of corporate worship

b. Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God with all of your heart,

soul, mind, and strength

--that commandment expresses itself in worship

3. This morning we’re looking at The Demonstration Factor

--What is it that demonstrates our love for God?

a. It’s our love for others

b. Jesus said that the second greatest commandment was closely tied to the first:

to love your neighbor as you love yourself

C. The Bible teaches that we’re not saved to sit

--We are saved to serve

1. Not teaching salvation by works

a. We can’t earn our salvation

b. Eph. 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not

from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

c. The verse that follows those two verses says that we are saved to serve

--Eph. 2:10 – “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do

good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

2. The world may never see Christ until they see Him through our service

D. The biblical term for service is “ministry”

1. What do you think of when I say the word: “minister”?

--You probably think of a professional person in a dark suit that preaches, teaches,

makes visits, and does weddings and funerals

2. However the Bible teaches that EVERY Christian is called to be a MINISTER

--Not everyone is called to be a preacher but everyone is called to be a minister

3. Being a minister simply means using what God has given me to help someone else

--Anytime you use your talents, your abilities, your experiences, your time, to help

somebody else, you are ministering

4. In the New Testament, “service” and “ministry” are the same word

E. Not only did God save us to serve, He also gave us a model for ministry

1. Mt. 20:28 – “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to

give his life as a ransom for many.”

2. What did Jesus’ ministry teach us about being servants?

--Phil. 2:3-11 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility

consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your

own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same

as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality

with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very

nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in

appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even

death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the

name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus

Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

I. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE

A. Mt. 20:30-32 – “Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going

by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be

quiet, but they shouted all the louder, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ Jesus stopped and called

them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked.”

1. Notice the word “stopped”

--To be a servant means that you must be willing to be interrupted