A. One day a professor, a preacher and a professional golfer went deer hunting together.
1. They were all novices, but wanted to try it.
2. They had been out all day and towards dusk they all spotted a 5 point buck at the same time.
3. They each took aim and all three fired a shot at the moving target.
4. The buck went down, and so they rushed over to where the deer fell to the ground.
5. As they stood over the 5 point buck, they started to discuss who’s shot had actually hit the deer.
6. As they were discussing it, a game warden happened along and asked what the problem was.
7. They explained to him what had happened and he said for them to stand back while he tried to figure it out based on the bullet hole and the rifles they were using.
8. A minute later, the game warden declared that the preacher was the one who shot the deer.
9. They all three inquired how he could have figured it out so quickly and definitively.
10. The warden said, “It was easy to determine, the bullet went in one ear and came out the other.”
B. I certainly hope that isn’t the case with my preaching…I hope it does more than go in one ear and out the other.
1. I hope that is especially true of this series on Serving Like Jesus.
2. We began this series three months ago to motivate us and help us serve like Jesus.
3. As we bring this series to a close, I want us to try to put it all together by reviewing the primary points from each of the sermons in the series.
C. In the first sermon of the series, we learned that Jesus came to serve and to give and that God wants us to become like Jesus.
1. In Romans 8:29, Paul wrote that those who have been called according to His purpose are supposed to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.
2. Jesus has many great characteristics that are worthy of imitation, but one of the most important was His mission to serve and to give.
3. If we want to be just like Jesus, then we will want to commit our lives to serving and giving.
4. When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, He set a wonderful example of the kind of practical ways we should serve each other.
5. Jesus said: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (Jn. 13:15, 17)
6. Jesus also declared that whoever wants to be great must be a servant. (Mt. 20:26)
D. In the second sermon, we talked about how to be selfless in a selfie world.
1. We learned that we cannot be a servant of Jesus and serve like Jesus unless we develop a selfless attitude.
2. One of the basic requirements of discipleship is self-denial.
3. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mt. 16:24)
4. The apostle Paul wrote: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider other better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4)
5. God doesn’t want us to think less of ourselves, rather He wants us to think of ourselves less.
6. We ended the sermon talking about forgetting ourselves into greatness.
7. Here’s the poem I closed the sermon with:
If you are wise, you will forget yourself into greatness.
Forget your rights, but remember your responsibilities.
Forget your inconveniences, but remember your blessings.
Forget your own accomplishments, but remember your debts to others.
Forget your privileges, but remember your obligations.
Forget yourself into greatness.
E. In the third sermon we talked about how to think like a servant.
1. Because thinking leads to actions, if we don’t think like a servant, then we won’t behave like a servant.
2. We borrowed five points from a chapter in Rich Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Life,” where Warren says, “Real servants serve God with a mindset of five attitudes.”
a. First, Real servants think more about others than about themselves.
b. Second, Real servants think like stewards, not owners.
1. Everything we are and everything we have ultimately come from God and belong to God, and are given to us to manage on God’s behalf.
c. Third, Real servants think about their own responsibilities, not what other servants are doing.
d. Fourth, Real servants base their identity in Christ.
e. Finally, Real servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.
1. When we serve the Lord with gladness rather than sadness, it makes our service so much better for others and for ourselves.
3. If we are going to learn to serve like Jesus, then we have to learn to think like a servant.
F. In the next two sermons in the series, we explored how the Beatitudes form a perfect portrait of what a servant should look like.
1. We learned that a servant is poor in spirit; meaning they genuinely humble and absolutely dependent on God.
2. A servant is one who mourns and feels compassion toward the needy and hurting.
3. A servant is meek and gentle; a person who is strong inside and yet controlled on the outside.
4. A servant has a passionate appetite for righteousness in their own lives and justice and mercy in the world.
5. A servant is merciful and is willing to forgive and to help others because of mercy.
6. A servant is pure in heart which makes them honest and authentic in their service.
7. A servant is a peacemaker who works to maintain unity and restore relationships.
8. Finally, a servant endures persecution without retaliation and never gives up.
9. When we put these eight characteristics together, we see the portrait of someone who:
a. Humbly serves with God’s strength.
b. A servant who shows compassion, gentleness, and kindness.
c. A servant who puts effort into bringing justice and mercy to others.
d. A servant who maintains unity and seeks reconciliation and never gives up even when under attack.
10. A person who develops these characteristics and serves in these ways is truly happy and will be blessed.
G. In the sixth sermon in our series, we talked about the influence of a servant.
1. The influence of a servant is found in the fact that we are salt and light for the world.
2. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 5:13-16)
3. I suggested that in order for us to be salt and light, we need to do two things:
a. First, we need to live the life – live a life of godly character and good deeds.
b. Second, we need to speak the words – when we live the life our lives create beautiful music, but unless there are words to the song, the real meaning of the song is hidden.
c. At some point we have to give testimony to who our God is and share what and why we believe.
4. I ended that sermon with the story of the Keeper of the Spring which is a great story about the positive influence the keeper of the spring had on the health of the stream that fed a mountain village.
a. I suggested that what the keeper of the spring meant to the village, Christian servants mean to our world.
H. In the next sermon, we talked about the tools and tactics of a servant.
1. We talked about the fact that God has made each of us unique individuals and has given us gifts and opportunities to serve God and others.
2. The apostle Peter wrote: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)
3. In Jesus’ Parable of the Talents, He told about an owner of an estate who was going on a trip and entrusted his servants with his money.
a. To one servant he gave 5 talents of money, to the second, he gave 2 talents of money, and he gave one talent of money to the last one.
4. We used Jesus’ Parable of the Talents as the primary text to illustrate these principles:
a. First, You are the Lord’s servant.
b. Second, You are unique.
c. Third, You are gifted.
d. Fourth, You must put your gifts to work.
e. Fifth, You will succeed if you try.
f. Sixth, You either use it or you lose it.
g. Finally, You will give an accounting.
I. In the eighth sermon in the series, we talked about the perils of a servant.
1. We used Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, as a case study in the perils servants encounter.
2. We witnessed Gehazi experiencing the following perils:
a. First, he faced the peril of being overprotective and possessive of the one he served.
b. Second, he faced the peril of feeling used and unappreciated.
c. Third, he faced the peril of experiencing hostile, undeserved disrespect and resentment.
d. And finally, he faced the peril of hidden greed that prompted him to take what rewards he wanted.
3. The perils servants face must be navigated appropriately or it will derail their service and cause them to lose their reward.
J. Finally, in last week’s sermon, we talked about the rewards of a servant.
1. On one occasion, Peter asked Jesus an important question, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Mt. 19:27).
2. Jesus answered: “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life” (Mt. 19:28-29).
3. We spent the sermon looking at the different ways that Scripture describes the rewards the servants of God will receive, including different kinds of crowns.
4. I concluded saying that when we think of eternal rewards, we should think primarily about spiritual rewards, not physical things that will pass away.
a. But the problem is that we do not have the vocabulary to describe details of an existence we have never experienced.
b. God uses words based on the physical when He describes what the spiritual is like.
c. Our eternal reward will be like a treasure.
d. In some respects, it will be like inheriting a kingdom.
e. In some way, it will be like being given all our master’s possessions.
f. It will be similar to having a vineyard to take care of on behalf of the master.
g. It will be like having responsibility over cities.
h. It will be like a wedding banquet when we share in our master’s happiness.
i. It is like all of these things, and so much more.
5. Our spiritual blessings will be far better than the physical things we know in this life.
a. Our eternity in God’s presence will be much more glorious and joyful than physical rewards.
b. King David put it this way: “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).
6. We should be constantly encouraged by that fact that God has promised to reward us.
a. Hebrews 11:6 says: Anyone who comes to him [God] must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7. I ended the sermon with the emotional story of John Todd and the letter that he wrote to his aunt as the end of her life approached.
a. He illustrated her future reception in heaven with the way that she took him into her home and raised him after his parents died when he was six years old.
b. He concluded his letter to his aunt: You probably realize why I am recalling all this to your memory. Some day soon God will send for you, to take you to a new home. Don’t fear the summons, the strange journey, or the messenger of death. God can be trusted to do as much for you as you were kind enough to do for me so many years ago. At the end of the road you will find love and a welcome waiting, and you will be safe in God’s care. I shall watch you and pray for you until you are out of sight, and then wait for the day when I shall make the journey myself and find you waiting at the end of the road to greet me.
8. That is the promised hope of all who serve God.
a. Jesus told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us and has promised to return and take us to be with Him and we can be sure that Jesus will keep His promise.
K. But until that day when we cross over to the other side and receive our rewards, let’s keep on serving like Jesus.
1. There are so many ways to serve and all our service makes a difference and results in joy.
2. A wonderful example of the powerful way our church serves together was on display last Thursday during the memorial service for Sam Grainger.
3. So many parts of the body were at work using their gifts.
a. Many were praying and sending cards.
b. Many were cooking and sending food.
c. Many were present offering their loving support.
d. Many were setting up and serving the meal, and then cleaning up afterward.
e. Some prepared and monitored the equipment for the service.
f. Some prepared and made presentations during the service.
g. And everyone’s contribution was needed to make it a powerful and meaningful day.
4. And that’s a microcosm of a day in the life of God’s people and the way that we strive to serve like Jesus.
5. When we serve like Jesus: God is pleased, good is done, lives are changed, rewards are reserved, and we are filled with joy and satisfaction.
6. The Power for Today devotional for his past Friday included a quote from Albert Schweitzer, the famous, Nobel Prize winning theologian and organist, humanitarian, and physician who said, “The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve.”
a. We used that quote in the 3rd sermon in this sermon series, but it deserved repeating.
7. The way to become the greatest and the happiest is to serve, so, let’s keep serving like Jesus.
