The Dummies Guide To Christianity - Part 4
called to make a difference in others
March 27, 2011
We’re here in week 4 of a 5 week series covering the basics of the Christian life. If someone were to ask you what the Christian experience was all about, we think you could easily take the notes from these 5 messages and show them the foundation of what it means to be a Christ Follower.
We’ve covered the basics of Honoring God (worship) sharing good news (evangelism) Character development in becoming like Jesus (discipleship) and today we’ll look at Christian service.
Now before we get into that subject, we’ve been testing your mad jeopardy and Bible trivia abilities with a little quiz. Today is no different. So put your thinking caps on here we go!
The Christianity Quiz – (please mark true or false)
Paul was a missionary to the Jews – T/F
David married Bathsheba – T/F (Bathsheba secured the succession to the throne of her son Solomon, instead of David's eldest surviving son Adonijah.)
After 40 years Moses went into the promised land – T/F (He was not permitted to go in because of disobedience)
Elisha went up into heaven in a chariot – T/F (That was Elijah)
Judas sold Jesus for silver – T/F (Yes 30 pieces)
All Christian’s are gifted for ministry service – T/F (True and we’ll look at that today)
Now with this idea in mind, let’s look at the biblical foundation for this idea of ministry service for all Christians.
The Bible teaches that pastors have a particular service and that service is to instruct the people, to prepare them for carrying out acts of love called ministry.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV) “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
In the church world we often talk about pastor’s being “Called into the ministry” as though it’s some mystical thing that only happens to pastors. THAT’S NOT TRUE. While pastors are often called into vocational ministry, that is they receive their salary from ministry work, they are not the only ones “CALLED”.
Following Jesus comes with a call to serve others. It’s a removing yourself from the thought of being served by others and instead becoming a servant toward others. IT’S A HEART ISSUE.
The Bible teaches that we should prefer others over ourselves, to consider them first. When we all do this all needs are met including ours and so many personal benefits come as well as God being honored.
A really smart guy said; the true character of ministry is a servant’s heart. Harold Warner
TOM
So the Bible word for this kind of service is “MINISTRY.”
Ministry: (Greek: diakonia (dee-ak-on-ee'-ah) To wait on others, to serve, to lovingly meet needs.
Hear me; God has called you to lovingly meet the needs of others. You do this because it meets the need and it honors God. It ties right back to worship – honoring God.
Another priority for Christians: meeting the needs of others
Now if you’re like me, you’ve known people who were only self-serving. They couldn’t give a care about anyone else. The Bible says that’s truly a small person.
Galatians 6:3 (Msg) “If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.”
Check out the Heidelberg Catechism’s question on good works…
A big person, an honored person, is known for how they assist and minister and share with those in need. HOW DO PEOPLE PERCIEVE YOU?
OK here’s the gist of it all, the motivation for serving others whether they deserve it or not, comes from viewing all service as being done for and to Jesus.
God wants me to serve others as if I’m serving Jesus
Now here are two key foundations to this principle:
• Significance comes through service.
Significance is the search for meaning or purpose.
• The secret of successful Christian service: Find a need and meet it.
How many people walk around with emotional instability and personal issues that stem from a self focus? Their significance will come in being used as God designed them. MEETING THE NEED IN ANOTHER OFTEN MEETS A NEED IN US!
[VIDEO CLIP] Becoming aware of what people’s needs are is a must. Here’s a clip.
ANNA
HOW TO SERVE OTHERS WELL
You’ll never meet a need that you’re not aware of. Before I went to India I was never aware of the devastating poverty that exists in certain parts of the world. Before I made my first Samaritan food delivery, I wasn’t aware of many physical needs right here.
All around us people have needs. Jesus in responding to this idea says these words to His followers:
Matt 25:40 (ESV) “And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Let’s look at three main areas we can meet needs in.
Focus on their physical needs
[STATS]
• More than 1500 people a day are diagnosed with cancer in the United States.
• 1 in 6 people struggle with hunger in the US every day.
• 67% of persons who are care givers say they need help.
• Nearly 10% of children ages 5-13 are left at home alone daily because of a lack of adult care in the US.
So you may have been thinking, there’s not much I can do. Well this list is barely scratching the surface. Just open your eyes to a world around you that needs a loving hand, a caring person to show them that they matter!
Jesus said…
Luke 10:9 (ESV) “Heal the sick… and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.”
The Kingdom of God has come near you? What? Well the Kingdom of God is any place where you and I are representing Jesus as King!
When you sit with a person in need or bind a wound or listen – if it’s done for and through Jesus – His kingdom just got a little bit bigger.
Now these things should be occurring in your personal life, but we also make opportunities through the church to do them together.
Celebration opportunities: Foothills Free Medical Clinic (second Saturday of every month, next one April 9), Samaritan’s kitchen, Free Yard Sales (Next one August 13th), missions team/trips (We have a team going to NJ next week, we’re looking for a team to go to FL in May, we have teams going to India, China this summer)
TOM
Engage their emotional needs
Now another area that we serve in is often harder to see, it’s more internal. It’s dealing with the emotional needs of others. Many people hide well what’s really going on in their lives.
What emotional trauma or struggle have you been through? Ever dealt with depression, fear, anger, lack of self worth? We all have at some level.
If you’re a Christ follower, you have access to the Grace of God and the Peace of God. The grace of God is a measure of His super-natural ability to handle things that normally you couldn’t. The peace of God is a sense of confidence that He’s in control and He’s ultimately handling it all.
Look at what the Word says:
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (ESV) “… God… comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
The comfort you receive is something you can pass on. When God heals your marriage you become a prime candidate to tell someone else how He did it and that there is hope!
When God fills your heart with Peace after a terrible loss in your life, you become a testimonial for what God can do for others in the same situation.
You tell people, there’s light and hope with God. There’s salvation from this situation with God. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID! Trust in the Lord!
This is what David said in Psalm 27.
Psalm 27:1 (ESV) “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Picture that you’re in a dark tunnel and you’re lost. Someone comes along with a light and verbal instruction to safety – that’s what Jesus doesn’t in your life. You don’t have to be afraid, there’s direction and hope in Him.
Now you are to do these things as the opportunity arises personally but we also do them together as a church. Here’s some opportunities offered through your church:
Celebration opportunities: Celebrate Recovery (a Christ centered 12 step program meeting weekly), Small groups (little house churches gathering across the region to encourage, study and connect as well as meet needs), Surecord Christian Counseling, Equip U classes, Bible studies, Eagles Wings ministry.
Don’t turn your face away from the needs, point people to help.
Finally…
ANNA
Speak to their spiritual needs
At the core of every person is this desire to know God. We find information about God in His Word, but also from those who have learned from Him over the years.
The Word of God, the Bible brings a wisdom that no other thing can offer. It’s one thing to give people personal opinion; it’s a whole other thing to give them God’s Word.
When it’s your opinion, they say oh well that’s just you. When it’s God’s Word and they don’t agree, they’ll have to take that up with Him.
What people want and need is truth. God’s Word is the truth. When people are in need what they need is a Word from God from a person who cares enough to be present!
Look at what the Bible says…
Colossians 3:16-17 (LB) “Remember what Christ taught, and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise; teach them to each other and sing them out in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing to the Lord with thankful hearts.”
The Bible here is expressing the normal interaction of Christ Followers with others. People who follow Christ remember what Jesus has taught them and pass that along to others in multiple ways.
The truth we learn affects us at the innermost parts.
Now there are times when we are serving that it requires what some have called tough love. You know when you love enough to confront.
There are times when people in your life need for you to be bravely honest about situations that are not what God would want and will bring pain to them. The Bible has clear instructions here…
Galatians 6:1 (NCV) “Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin, too.”
We have the obligation to minister, serve, care, for people in a way that helps direct them away from the wrong and toward God’s desire.
The best way to help people spiritually is to expose them to God’s Word. You can do that personally but obviously we have numerous opportunities here at Celebration.
Celebration opportunities: Small groups, Weekend services, Core Classes
TOM (to close)
So how committed are you to helping others? Are you a servant or do you expect to be served?
Celebration Church has taken a posture that we are here to represent Jesus to this valley. We’ve asked God to grant us favor and influence here in order to tell the people in practical ways how much God loves them.
Today when you leave we’re asking you to take the card in your bulletin (YOU MATTER CARDS - tangible expression of God’s love card) and use it this week. It may be that you buy the meal of the car behind you at McDonalds, or mow someone’s yard or wash a car or whatever.
MINISTRY FAIR – Children’s ministry, venue team FAB 50.
WILL YOU BE A SERVANT?
Time of Commitment
PRAYER: “Dear Jesus I want to be your hands in this world. I want you to use me to do the things that you would do if you were here. I commit myself to be this kind of serving Christian, in Jesus name, A-men!”
