Embracing Our Identity as Servants in God's Mission
Summary
Returning from a month in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I was reminded of the profound privilege and responsibility we share as followers of Jesus to join God in His work—wherever we are. In Mostar, a city still divided by the scars of war, we witnessed firsthand the cost of following Christ: believers risk losing their homes and even a place to be buried. Yet, in the midst of such challenges, God is at work, drawing people to Himself, and inviting us to participate in His mission.
Reflecting on Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we see a city not unlike our own—diverse, wealthy, and morally complex. The church in Corinth struggled with division and the pull of their culture, yet Paul reminded them of their true identity: servants and fellow workers with God, God’s field and building. This identity is not about status or ability, but about belonging to Christ and being sent in His authority. As servants, we represent our Master, and as fellow workers, we join Him in the ongoing work of transformation.
God’s invitation is deeply personal and practical. He has uniquely shaped each of us—our backgrounds, experiences, and even our weaknesses—for good works He has prepared in advance. Our calling is not a burdensome duty, but a joyful partnership. Whether through prayer, everyday encounters, intentional conversations, or simply being open about our faith, we plant and water seeds of the gospel. The results, however, are God’s responsibility. He alone gives the growth, and our success is measured by faithfulness, not outcomes.
This truth brings freedom. We are not defined by our results, but by our relationship with Christ. God rewards our faithfulness, not because He needs us, but because He delights in us joining Him. Our role is to scatter seeds widely, trusting that God will bring the increase in His time and for His glory. As we rest in His ownership and sovereignty, we are empowered to live as ambassadors of reconciliation, carrying the message of Christ into every sphere of life.
Key Takeaways
- Our Identity as Servants and Fellow Workers
Embracing the role of servant means finding freedom in representing Christ rather than striving for personal status or recognition. As fellow workers, we are invited into God’s ongoing mission, not as spectators but as active participants, regardless of our vocation or perceived abilities. This identity is rooted in Christ’s authority and our belonging to Him, shaping how we engage with the world around us. [39:21]
- God’s Intentional Design and Unique Calling
Each person’s background, experiences, and even weaknesses are intentionally woven by God for a purpose. He prepares specific good works for us to walk in, inviting us to join Him in ways that are uniquely suited to who we are. Recognizing this frees us from comparison and compels us to seek out the particular ways God wants to use us in our daily lives. [47:29]
- Practical Ways to Plant and Water
Planting and watering the seeds of the gospel happens through simple, everyday actions: persistent prayer, being open about our faith, asking thoughtful questions, and listening with genuine interest. These practices are not about checking boxes, but about creating space for God to work in the lives of others. Faithfulness in these small steps can have eternal impact, even when results are not immediately visible. [56:41]
- Resting in God’s Sovereignty Over Growth
The responsibility for spiritual growth and transformation belongs to God alone. Our role is to be faithful in planting and watering, trusting that God will bring the increase in His timing and way. This perspective liberates us from anxiety over outcomes and allows us to serve with joy, knowing that God’s purposes will prevail. [01:08:46]
- The Blessing of Intimacy and Reward in Partnership
Joining God in His work is not only a calling but a source of deep intimacy and joy. God delights to reward our faithfulness—not because of our results, but because of our relationship with Him. As we step out in obedience, we experience the blessing of walking closely with our Master and sharing in His happiness, regardless of visible success. [52:20]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[28:38] - Bosnia Mission Update: Building Bridges
[30:44] - The Cost of Following Jesus in Mostar
[31:50] - Our Identity: Servants and Fellow Workers
[33:19] - Corinth and Tampa Bay: Parallels in Culture
[35:55] - Division and Holiness in the Church
[38:35] - God’s Work in the Midst of Brokenness
[39:21] - Servant Identity and Authority
[42:03] - Representing Christ in Everyday Life
[44:55] - Joining God’s Work: Every Person’s Journey
[47:29] - God’s Intentional Design for Each of Us
[48:39] - The Joy of Partnership, Not Duty
[50:08] - Living Out the Great Commission
[53:49] - God’s Field and Building: His Responsibility
[55:52] - Practical Ways to Plant and Water
[57:57] - The Power of Persistent Prayer
[59:40] - Divine Appointments in Everyday Life
[01:01:53] - The “Sometime” Question: Opening Spiritual Conversations
[01:03:31] - Being Open About Your Faith
[01:04:50] - Listening with Genuine Interest
[01:07:08] - Scattering Seeds Beyond the Garden
[01:08:46] - God Gives the Growth: Resting in His Sovereignty
[01:10:18] - God’s Ownership and Our Security
[01:12:10] - Joining God, Resting in His Work
[01:17:55] - Prayer for the Anderson Family and Closing Benediction
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Joining God in His Work
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### Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (ESV)
> What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
> For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (ESV)
> All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
---
### Observation Questions
1. In 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, what roles do Paul and Apollos play in the growth of the church, and who is ultimately responsible for the results?
2. According to Ephesians 2:10, what does it say about our purpose and how God has prepared us?
3. In the sermon, what are some of the real-life costs faced by believers in Mostar, Bosnia, for following Jesus? [[30:44]]
4. What are some practical ways the sermon mentions for “planting and watering” the seeds of the gospel? [[56:41]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Paul emphasizes that “neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth”? How does this shape our view of success in ministry? [[53:49]]
2. The sermon describes our identity as both “servants” and “fellow workers.” What does it mean to embrace both of these roles in your daily life? [[39:21]]
3. How does understanding that God has intentionally designed each person’s background and experiences (Ephesians 2:10) free us from comparison with others? [[47:29]]
4. The sermon talks about the joy and intimacy that comes from joining God in His work, not just the duty. Why is this distinction important for our motivation? [[48:39]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The believers in Mostar risk losing their homes and even a place to be buried for following Jesus. What is the “cost” of following Jesus in your context? Are there areas where you feel pressure to hide your faith? [[30:44]]
2. The sermon encourages us to see ourselves as “servants” and “fellow workers” with God. In what area of your life do you find it hardest to live out this identity? What might help you embrace it more fully? [[39:21]]
3. God has uniquely shaped each of us for good works. Can you identify a part of your background, experience, or even a weakness that God might want to use for His purposes? [[47:29]]
4. Of the practical ways to “plant and water” (prayer, being open about your faith, asking thoughtful questions, listening with interest), which one feels most natural to you? Which one feels most challenging? Why? [[56:41]]
5. The sermon suggests making a list of friends to pray for regularly. Who are 2-3 people in your life you could start praying for this week? What would it look like to pray persistently for them? [[57:57]]
6. The “sometime question” is a simple way to open spiritual conversations: “Sometime, I’d like to hear about your spiritual journey. Would you be up for that?” Who could you ask this question to in the next week? [[01:01:53]]
7. The sermon says our success is measured by faithfulness, not outcomes. How does this truth change the way you think about sharing your faith or serving others? [[53:49]]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help each person in the group see where He is already at work around them, and to give courage and joy in joining Him as servants and fellow workers this week.
Devotional
Day 1: Our Identity as Servants of Christ
Followers of Jesus are called to embrace the identity of a servant, not seeking status or recognition, but faithfully representing their Master in every sphere of life. This means living in such a way that our actions and attitudes reflect the character and authority of Christ, knowing that our purpose is to serve Him and others with humility and love. Just as a waiter’s service impacts the reputation of the restaurant, so too does our service impact how others perceive Jesus. We are sent in His name, empowered by His authority, and freed from the pressure of relying on our own abilities. [41:05]
1 Corinthians 3:5
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. (ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your daily life can you intentionally serve someone this week, knowing you represent Jesus in that moment?
Day 2: Joining God as His Fellow Worker
God invites each of us to join Him as fellow workers in His ongoing mission, regardless of our background, vocation, or perceived limitations. He is already at work in the hearts of people around us, and He desires for us to partner with Him, bringing the good news of Christ into every environment we enter. This partnership is not about duty or fear, but about stepping into the joy and privilege of being used by God to impact lives, trusting that He has prepared good works for us to walk in. [46:23]
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
Reflection: What is one “good work” or opportunity God may be inviting you to join Him in this week, and how can you take a step toward it?
Day 3: Planting and Watering—Practical Ways to Share Christ
Every believer is called to plant seeds of the gospel and water them through prayer, genuine conversation, and openness about faith, trusting God with the results. This can look like praying for friends, seeking divine appointments in everyday moments, asking thoughtful questions about someone’s spiritual journey, being open about your relationship with Jesus, and listening with genuine interest. Success is not measured by immediate results, but by faithfulness in taking initiative and leaving the outcome to God, knowing that He alone gives the growth. [01:07:56]
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (ESV)
Reflection: Which one of the five practical ways to plant and water can you commit to trying this week, and who will you focus on?
Day 4: Resting in God’s Sovereignty and Ownership
God is the owner of the field and the builder of the house; He is responsible for the growth and transformation in our lives and in the lives of others. We are His possession, secure in His hands, and nothing can separate us from His love or change our belonging to Him. This truth brings freedom from striving for results or fearing failure, allowing us to rest in His sovereignty and trust that He will complete the good work He has begun in us and through us. [54:58]
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (ESV)
Reflection: Where in your life do you need to release control and trust God’s ownership and responsibility for the outcome?
Day 5: Ambassadors of Reconciliation—Our Calling and Message
As those reconciled to God through Christ, we are entrusted with the ministry and message of reconciliation, serving as His ambassadors in the world. This means representing Jesus in our words and actions, imploring others to be reconciled to God, and living out our identity as those sent with purpose and hope. Our calling is not just to receive God’s grace, but to extend it, making His appeal to the world through our lives. [01:17:55]
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience God’s reconciliation, and how can you intentionally be an ambassador of Christ to them this week?
Quotes
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