Growing thru service.
The disciplines of a disciple. • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 292 viewsA disciple must learn to serve as the Master served.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
So far on the series “The disciplines of a disciple”, we have covered some crucial disciplines such: constant Bible feeding, constant prayer, obedience, staying connected, and faithful attendance to church.
Today we’ll talk about one of no less importance: the discipline of serving.
Read
Prayer
Did you notice verses 26-27? We grow in Christ, we mature, we become great when we serve.
It must be a discipline because, due to our ego, which comes from the flesh, serving is not natural. Serving must be learned!
This is the area where the growth of some believers becomes stagnated! They stay as spectators instead of becoming participants.
We grow when we serve because...
Serving we imitate our Master.
Serving we imitate our Master.
Jesus came to serve.
Jesus came to serve.
Every day in the life of Jesus was a day of serving in one way or another: healing, feeding, teaching, encouraging, etc.
That’s why He came for, to serve, not to be served:
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
The last portion of that verse reminds us that He took serving to the ultimate expression: He gave His life at the cross to serve the spiritual need of sinners.
He came to teach with His example.
Jesus gave us the example.
Jesus gave us the example.
During the Last Supper, doing the job of the lowest servant, the Lord washed His disciples’ feet (including the betrayer). Right after finishing, He told them:
“You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
John 13:13-15
He was the Teacher (didaskalos). As the Teacher , He was teaching them what to do
He was their Lord (Kurios), the Master, the Owner of the slaves, the one who should be served. But as Lord, He was giving them the greatest example of serving.
Serving should not be seen as a pain or burden, but as a privilege. There are blessings in serving others: that why Jesus added:
“If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
John 13:17
We grow when we serve because...
Serving is one of the purposes of our life.
Serving is one of the purposes of our life.
That’s what were made for.
That’s what were made for.
We were made new in Christ with the purpose of doing good deeds to others:
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Eph 2:10
Good works are actions done for the benefit of others.
I remember that the Boys Scouts had the slogan of doing the good deed of the day.
We are not Boy Scouts, but deacons of the Lord.
Deacon (waiter, minister, servant) is a title that does not belong only to a few in the church; every believer is a deacon.
The Gk-English Lexicon by Louw and Nida describes a deacon as “one who helps the believers”.
The Lord made us servants and gave us the tools to serve: He has given us spiritual gifts so we can serve others:
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 pe 4:10-11
We have heard the Spanish phrase, “El que no sirve, no sirve” (The one who does not serve is useless.).
Everything must have a use or purpose. If it is not useful, we get rid of it! We must be useful as tools in the Lord’s hands!
Serving is the way to greatness.
Serving is the way to greatness.
Knowing man’s natural desire of being great or the first, Jesus instructed the apostles saying,
Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
In the world, greatness is measured by commanding and being served, not by being servants; but in Christ things are the opposite:
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
: 25-27
In the world, servants are not well-seen and despised, but in Christian culture they are seen as great.
We grow when we serve because...
Serving is expressing our love.
Serving is expressing our love.
Our love for Jesus.
Our love for Jesus.
How did Martha show her love for Jesus? Serving Him!
It is good to have Marys in the church, but if there are no Marthas, nothing happens in the church.
Application: Committed Sunday School teachers needed
Why? Because everyone wants to be Mary, but no one wants to be Martha!
Let’s imitate Peter’s mother in law; as soon as she was healed, she got up and served Jesus.
Our love for others.
Our love for others.
Serving Jesus means serving others:
For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
10
Love is the reason of our service. If we love our Lord and love our brethren, we will serve them:
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
The family of Stephanas, the Corinthian believer, was worthy of imitation:
13
How did Martha show her love for Jesus? Serving Him!
It is good to have Marys in the church, but if there are no Marthas, nothing happens in the church.
Let’s imitate Peter’s mother in law; as soon as she was healed, she got up and served Jesus.
The family of Stephanas, the Corinthian believer, was worthy of imitation:
Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints), that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.
1 cor 16:15-16
We cannot deny that , sometimes serving is tiring, but our Lord expects us to serve, not obligated, but with good will:
With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men,
Man may not recognize what we do, man may be ungrateful, but the Lord is not; and it is Him whom we serve. The rewards will come from Him:
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Col
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
ADVERTISEMENT