sf196 - Ministry - You Were Shaped For Serving God (Mark 10 42-45)
Mark 10:42-45
Introduction
The purpose-driven life
Worship – You were created for God’s pleasure
Fellowship – You were formed for God’s family
Discipleship – You were created to become like Christ
Ministry – You were shaped for serving God
Mission – You were made for a mission
How can you serve God?
By becoming a priest or nun
By becoming a pastor or missionary
Are those the only ways?
We serve God by serving other!
Jesus always measures greatness in terms of service not status.
God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many serve you.
God has shaped you for service not self-centeredness.
We must work to develop a servant’s heart; your heart reveals your maturity.
Two essentials needed to develop a servant’s heart…
You must think like a servant
You must behave like a servant
1A. You Must Think Like A Servant
1B. Focus on others not yourself
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
How? Jesus is our example
Philippians 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Ø Real servants don’t try to use God for their purposes, they let God use them for His purposes!
Self-denial is at the heart of servanthood.
Luke 9:23 If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Ø You can know if you are truly a servant by how you react when others treat you like a servant.
2B. Think like a steward, not an owner
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Everything belongs to God
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
God uses money to test your faithfulness as a servant
Luke 16:11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
3B. Focus on your assignment, not what others are doing
Because God is in control of our assignments (1 Corinthians 12:7-12)
Because there is no place for competition among God’s children
Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
4B. Base your identity in Christ
Because they don’t have to prove their worth
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The closer you get to Jesus the less you have to promote yourself.
5B. Think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.
Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
2A. You Must Behave like A Servant
1B. Be available to serve.
2 Timothy 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
This means serving anyway, anytime, anywhere!
2B. Look for ways to help others.
Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Proverbs 3:28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” (John Wesley)
3B. Do your best with what you have.
Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
4B. Give your all to every task.
Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men
There are no unimportant tasks in God’s kingdom.
5B. Be faithful to your task until the end.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
6B. Do not promote yourself.
Do not seek the approval and applause of others.
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Matthew 6:1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Seek only the approval and applause of Jesus
Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
Application
Want to serve God?
Make serving others your life work!
Mark 10:42-45
Mark 10:42-45
1A. You Must _____________________ Like A Servant
1B. Focus on ____________________ not yourself (Philippians 2:4)
How? Jesus is our example (Philippians 2:7)
Self-denial is at the heart of servanthood. (Luke 9:23)
2B. Think like a ___________________, not an owner (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)
____________________ belongs to God (Psalm 24:1)
God uses money to test your faithfulness as a servant (Luke 16:11, 13)
3B. Focus on ________________ assignment, not what others are doing
Because God is in control of our assignments (1 Corinthians 12:7-12)
Because there is ______ place for competition among God’s children (Galatians 5:26; Romans 14:4)
4B. ______________________ your identity in Christ
Because they don’t have to prove their ______________________ (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The closer you get to Jesus the less you have to promote yourself.
5B. Think of ministry as an _____________________, not an obligation. (Psalm 100:2)
2A. You Must ____________________ like A Servant
1B. Be _______________________________ to serve. (2 Timothy 2:4)
2B. ______________________ for ways to help others. (Galatians 6:10; Proverbs 3:28)
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” (John Wesley)
3B. Do your _________________ with what you have. (Luke 9:62)
4B. _______________________ your all to every task. (Colossians 3:23)
There are no unimportant tasks in God’s kingdom.
5B. Be _________________ to your task until the end. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
6B. Do _______________________ promote yourself.
Do _______________ seek the approval and applause of others. (Galatians 1:10; Matthew 6:1)
Seek __________________ the approval and applause of Jesus (Matthew 25:23)