A. One day a kind old gentleman saw a little boy who was trying to reach a doorbell.
1. The boy asked the old gentleman for his help, and the old man lifted the boy up so the boy could push the doorbell.
2. As the old gentleman put the boy back on the ground he asked the boy, “What now, little boy?”
3. “Run!” said the boy, “that’s what I’m gonna do!”
B. Hopefully our desire to serve won’t get us into trouble, like that kind old gentleman.
1. Back in the 1990s, another servant got himself into trouble.
2. A professional clown named “Mr. Twister,” whose real name is Cory McDonald got himself into trouble out in Santa Cruz, California.
3. What kind of trouble did he get himself into, you might ask? Well, acting as a good servant, “Mr. Twister” walked about town putting quarters in people’s expired parking meters.
4. According to the Santa Cruz municipal code, it is against the law for a person to put money in another person’s parking meter without their permission, and anyone breaking that law can be fined.
5. After several warnings, Mr. Twister was ticketed for his random acts of kindness.
6. But Mr. Twister refused to stop doing the golden rule – doing for others what he would want for them to do for him.
7. In the end, his acts of kindness prevailed and he became both a local and national hero.
8. Cory McDonald, Mr. Twister said that he just wants people to be nice to each other and to help in whatever way they can.
C. God certainly agrees with that kind of an attitude – an attitude of kindness and service.
1. Today, as we continue our series on discipleship, I want us to focus on this essential of following Jesus: Disciples of Jesus must have the heart of a servant.
2. And the reason that disciples of Jesus must have the heart of a servant, is because Jesus had the heart of a servant, and disciples of Jesus are supposed to like Jesus.
3. In Luke 6:40, Jesus said: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
4. Jesus our teacher is a great example for us in the area of service.
D. Look with me at how Jesus characterized His own life and purpose: “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” (Matthew 20:28).
1. How’s that for simplicity and clarity? Jesus came to serve and to give!
2. If that was true for Jesus, then don’t you think that is what God would want for us?
3. After bringing us into His family through our faith in His Son, God then sets His sights on building into us the same quality that made Jesus distinct from all others in His day, and for that matter, from anyone who had ever walked the face of the earth.
4. God wants to build in us the same serving and giving qualities that characterized His Son.
E. In many ways, there is nothing more refreshing than seeing someone with a servant’s heart and a giving spirit.
1. Colonel James Irwin was a former astronaut who was part of the crew that made a successful moon walk in 1971.
2. He often spoke of the thrill connected with leaving this planet and seeing it shrink in size.
3. While watching earthrise one day in space, he realized just how privileged he was to be a member of that unique crew of Apollo 15.
4. While on the way back to earth, he thought about the way that many would consider him a “superstar,” and that he was about to become an international celebrity.
5. But his relationship with God would not allow any of this to go to his head.
6. Listen to the humility that he expressed in these words: “As I was returning to earth, I realized that I was a servant – not a celebrity. So I am here as God’s servant on planet Earth to share what I have experienced that others might know the glory of God.”
7. That basic motto would help all of us Christ followers: I am a servant, not a celebrity.
8. Like Jesus, I am here to serve, not to be served.
F. But it is so easy to lose sight of that primary calling as we go about our daily life in our self-absorbed world.
1. If you are like me, then you sometimes think, “I wish I could go back in time and sit at the feet of Jesus. How great it must have been to sit as one of the Twelve and soak up all those truths that Jesus taught. I mean, if I had been there with Jesus and Twelve, it would have been easier to learn this idea of being a servant.”
2. Do you ever think that way? Do you ever think that it must have been easier for the disciples who were physically with Jesus to follow Jesus and become a servant like Him?
3. If and when we think that way, we are wrong.
4. It wasn’t easier for them to get it and as a matter of fact they often failed to get it, right?
G. In Matthew 20, we are told about an incident that had to do with jockeying for power and position.
1. The Bible says: 20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached him with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something. 21 “What do you want?” he asked her. “Promise,” she said to him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom” (Mt. 20:20-21).
2. We shouldn’t be too tough on this dear Jewish mother, right?
a. Picture her standing there proudly with her sons at her side.
b. Like any good mother, she watched for “breaks in life” that could lead to a nice promotion.
c. Her request was tempered by the proper perspective – she didn’t ask that her sons occupy
the center throne – she knew that that place belonged to Jesus.
d. So, she pushed for her sons, James and John, to be candidates for thrones #2 and #3.
3. Just in case you’re wondering how the other ten apostles felt about this mother’s request, check out verse 24 – It says that the ten became indignant!
a. They were likely angry that they hadn’t been the first to make the same request.
b. And they were not going to give up those spots without a fight!
c. You and I might have reacted the same way, right?
4. Jesus’ initial reply was: “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” (vs. 22)
a. They foolishly answered: “We are able.” (No problem. Piece of cake)
b. Keep in mind that in the three verses that had preceded their mother’s request, Jesus had said that he was going to Jerusalem where he would be betrayed, condemned, mocked,
flogged and crucified.
c. Obviously, this mother and her sons didn’t really understand the cup he was to drink!
d. In spite of all that Jesus had said, she and her sons were imagining a kingdom with emperors with jeweled crowns, palaces protected by soldiers, with subjects and slaves serving those at the top of the pyramid.
5. The Bible tells us that Jesus pulled all the disciples aside and attempted to straighten out their thinking.
a. The Bible says: 25 Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 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” (vs. 25-28).
b. Do you see how Jesus spelled out a sharp contrast between His philosophy and the philosophy of the world?
c. Do you see how different is His movement and kingdom from the ways of the world?
H. The key phrase is: Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
1. These have become forgotten words and an unwelcome concept in the world.
2. Sadly even in many churches these are forgotten words and an unwelcome concept.
a. In many of the Mega Churches there are celebrity pastors, high powered executives, and superstar singers.
b. Yet even in the smallest of churches the notion of serving rather than being served can get lost as some preachers or leaders may demand a special title, or a special parking place, or special treatment.
3. A man named Diotrephes was openly rebuked by the apostle John in 3 John 9-10.
a. What was it that Diotrephes was doing that was so wrong?
b. John wrote: I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
c. Diotrephes considered himself the boss. He was large and in charge.
d. The mentality and behavior of Diotrephes has no place among the followers of Christ.
4. Perhaps the best model we have, next to Jesus Himself, is that of the apostle Paul.
a. As you know, Paul was a preeminent leader in the Jewish Hierarchy of Jesus’ day, but after an encounter with the risen Christ, he became a servant of Jesus.
b. Almost without exception, Paul began every piece of correspondence with the words, “Paul, a servant of God…” or “Paul, a bond-slave of Jesus Christ…”
c. Isn’t that amazing, this man who certainly could have expected preferential treatment or could have demanded a “high-and-mighty” role of authority over others, referred to himself most often as a “servant” of God.
I. Jesus, Himself, is the only one who deserves the place of preeminence - He is the only one who deserves to be served, and yet He became a servant.
1. In Philippians 2, Paul challenges us to have the attitude of Jesus Himself, Paul wrote: 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:5-11)
a. Isn’t that amazing? For all eternity, God the Son had been reigning in heaven with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
b. But Jesus was willing to become a servant, which required leaving His heavenly position, coming to earth as a human, and suffering death by crucifixion.
c. But after doing all that, He returned to His rightful place beside His Father, and He is worthy to be served as Lord.
J. But even though Jesus was and is God for all eternity, let’s notice again how He thought and acted while He was here in the earth.
1. One of the clearest pictures Jesus painted for us of what it means to be a servant is found in John 13.
2. The apostle John sets the stage for this event, saying that it was just before the Passover Feast.
a. Jesus knew that His time on the earth was quickly coming to an end.
b. Jesus wanted to show His disciples the full extent of His love.
3. So all the disciples arrived at the upper room where preparations for the Passover Meal had been made, but surprisingly, there was no servant there to greet them at the door with a basin and towel to wash their tired, dirty feet as was the custom.
a. So, with dirty feet, they reclined at the table and began to enjoy the meal.
4. About halfway through the meal the Bible says: 4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him (Jn. 13:4-5).
a. Jesus washed His disciples’ dirty feet, and His disciples must have been uncomfortable
with Jesus’ actions.
b. Peter initially strongly protested, but then relented after Jesus clarified things.
5. This is how the story ends: 12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. 16 “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (Jn. 13:12-17).
K. God wants us to follow the example of Jesus, right?
1. Disciples of Jesus are supposed to follow their Lord and become like their Lord.
2. And the great news is that we will be blessed when we follow Jesus and become like Jesus.
3. When we have the heart of a servant and the life of a servant, we will be blessed.
4. Albert Schwitzer, the German theologian, philosopher, physician and missionary to Africa said, “I do not know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know, the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
L. Bob Russell said: “Great occasions for serving God come seldom. Little ones surround us daily.”
1. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, came to serve and to give.
2. Jesus was willing to serve in so many ways: healing the sick, teaching the lost, and even washing dirty feet.
3. As His disciples, we must, like Him, be willing to serve and to give, and even wash dirty feet.
M. Dave Thomas, the late founder of Wendy’s Hamburgers, in his book Well Done, wrote: “I got my M.B.A. long before my G.E.D. I even have a photograph of me in my M.B.A. graduation outfit; a snazzy knee-length work apron. I guarantee you that I’m the only founder among America’s big companies whose picture in the corporate annual report shows him wielding a mop and plastic bucket. That wasn’t a gag; it was a case of leading by example. At Wendy’s, M.B.A. does not mean Master of Business Administration. It means “Mop Bucket Attitude.” It’s how we define satisfying the customer through cleanliness, quality food, friendly service, and atmosphere.” (Well Done, Harper Collins, 1994, p. 159)
1. I believe the heart of a servant is a heart with an M.B.A. – a “mop bucket attitude.”
2. Having the heart of a servant of Jesus means that we are willing to serve in any way that is needed, big or small, hard or easy, clean or dirty.
3. I consider it such a joy and a privilege when I get to serve – whether it is talking with someone on the phone, giving someone a ride, fixing a leaky pipe or roof, or holding someone’s hand at the hospital or funeral home – serving God by serving others is what the Christian life is all about!
N. Allow me to end with this written piece:
I saw Jesus last week.
He was wearing blue jeans and an old shirt.
He was up at the church building; He was alone and working hard.
For just a minute, he looked a little like one of our members,
But it was Jesus, I could tell by his smile.
I saw Jesus last Sunday.
He was teaching a Bible class.
He didn’t talk real loud or use long words,
But you could tell he believed what he said.
For just a minute, he looked like my Sunday School teacher,
But it was Jesus, I could tell by his loving voice.
I saw Jesus yesterday.
He was at the hospital visiting a friend who was sick.
They prayed together quietly.
For just a minute, he looked like Brother Jones,
But it was Jesus, I could tell by the tears in his eyes.
I saw Jesus this morning.
He was in my kitchen making my breakfast and fixing me a special lunch.
For just a minute, he looked like my mom,
But it was Jesus, I could feel the love from his heart.
I see Jesus everywhere,
Taking food to the sick, welcoming others to his home,
Being friendly to a newcomer.
And for just a minute, I think he’s someone I know,
But it is always Jesus, I can tell by the way he serves.
May someone see Jesus in you today…
O. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ came to serve and to give.
1. And we look the most like Jesus when we serve and give.
2. I hope and pray that all of us will develop the heart of Jesus - the heart of a servant.
3. And I hope and pray that as we serve others on a daily basis, someone will see Jesus through us
P. Jesus served all of us by dying on the cross for our sins, and being raised from the dead to give us life.
1. We would love to help anyone who has not yet given their life to Jesus to receive the salvation that Jesus offers – each person is born again when they believe, repent and are baptized into Christ.
2. We would love to help all of us who have become followers of Jesus to become servants like Jesus is a servant.
3. As servants, may all of us become channels of God’s blessings.
Resources:
Serving Like Jesus, Sermon by David Owens, 2016.
Improving Your Serve, Charles Swindoll, Word, Inc., 1981, Chapter 1.
A Life that Matters, Sermon by C. Philip Green, SermonCentral.com
From Served to Serving, Sermon by Rick Wadge, SermonCentral.com
