Embracing Service: A Vision for the Future
Summary
The vision for Saddleback Church, as articulated 40 years ago, remains a guiding light for our future. It was a vision of a place where the hurting and confused could find love, acceptance, and hope. It was a dream of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with thousands, welcoming new members into a loving community, and developing spiritual maturity through various programs. This vision also included equipping members for significant ministry, sending missionaries worldwide, and establishing a regional church with facilities to serve the whole person.
As we look to the future, the core of our mission remains serving God by serving others. This is one of the five purposes of life, and it is through service that we truly live. Jesus taught that serving others is akin to serving Him, and it is through this service that we find purpose, become more like Christ, and use our time most effectively. Serving is the secret to greatness and will be rewarded in heaven.
Our new goals, encapsulated in the acronym DOORS, focus on improving our service. We aim to double everything, from small groups to campuses, to better serve our community and beyond. We are committed to obeying Christ's commission, ensuring that every tribe and nation hears the gospel. We will outshine the darkness by living as examples of Christ's love and hope in a world that often seems hopeless. We will revitalize other churches, sharing the blessings we've received. Finally, we will serve people in pain, using our resources to provide comfort and hope.
As we embark on this journey, we are reminded that God’s dream for us is far greater than we can imagine. We are called to be a multigenerational, multicultural church that embraces the future with faith and courage. Together, we will walk through these doors, trusting that God will bless our efforts and use us to make a significant impact in the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Serving as a Life Purpose: Serving others is a fundamental purpose of life, transforming mere existence into true living. Jesus taught that by giving our lives away for His sake, we find real life. This principle challenges us to look beyond ourselves and make a meaningful impact in the world. [05:31]
2. Becoming More Like Jesus: Serving others is a pathway to becoming more like Christ. Jesus exemplified servanthood and giving, and as we serve, we grow in spiritual maturity. This growth requires moving from self-centeredness to focusing on the needs of others, reflecting Christ's love. [06:29]
3. The Highest Use of Time: Serving God by serving others is the most valuable use of our time. Unlike many activities that can be wasteful, service is never wasted in God's eyes. It leaves a lasting legacy and contributes to the eternal kingdom. [07:28]
4. The Secret of Greatness: True greatness is found in servanthood. Jesus taught that those who wish to be great must learn to serve others. This principle counters the world's view of success and calls us to live for a cause greater than ourselves. [08:42]
5. Rewarded in Heaven: Our service to God will be rewarded in heaven. This promise encourages us to serve with joy and excellence, knowing that our efforts are seen by God and will be repaid beyond our imagination. [09:46]
YouTube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Reflecting on 40 Years
- [00:50] - Original Vision of Saddleback
- [03:32] - The Purpose of Serving
- [04:27] - Five Eternal Benefits of Serving
- [05:11] - Serving as Life's Purpose
- [06:10] - Serving Makes Us Like Jesus
- [07:28] - Highest Use of Time
- [08:27] - Secret of Greatness
- [09:46] - Rewarded in Heaven
- [11:34] - New Goals: DOORS
- [12:09] - Improving Our Serve
- [15:38] - Decade of Hope
- [19:55] - Five Giant Doors
- [25:56] - Doubling Everything
- [34:27] - Obeying Christ's Commission
- [45:19] - Outshine the Darkness
- [54:47] - Revitalize Other Churches
- [01:03] - Serve People in Pain
- [01:11] - Funding the Vision
- [01:23] - A Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 8:35 - "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it."
2. Matthew 20:26 - "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."
3. Colossians 3:23-24 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the original vision for Saddleback Church as described in the sermon, and how does it emphasize the importance of serving? [00:50]
2. According to the sermon, what are the five eternal benefits of serving God? [04:56]
3. How does the acronym DOORS relate to the new goals for Saddleback Church? [11:51]
4. What examples were given in the sermon to illustrate the concept of "serving as a life purpose"? [05:11]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Mark 8:35 challenge the common understanding of what it means to truly live? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on serving others? [05:31]
2. In what ways does Matthew 20:26 redefine greatness, and how does this align with the sermon’s message about servanthood? [08:42]
3. How does Colossians 3:23-24 encourage believers to view their daily tasks and responsibilities, and how does this perspective support the sermon’s call to serve with joy and excellence? [09:46]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between serving others and spiritual maturity? [06:43]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you served someone else. How did it impact your understanding of living a purposeful life as described in Mark 8:35? [05:31]
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you can practice servanthood as described in Matthew 20:26. What steps can you take this week to serve others in that area? [08:42]
3. Consider your current use of time. How can you prioritize serving others to ensure it is the highest use of your time, as suggested in the sermon? [07:28]
4. Think about a recent situation where you felt challenged to serve with joy. How can Colossians 3:23-24 guide your attitude and actions in similar situations in the future? [09:46]
5. The sermon mentioned the goal of doubling everything, including small groups. How can you contribute to this goal within your church community? [25:56]
6. Reflect on the concept of being a "prisoner of hope" as mentioned in the sermon. How can you cultivate hope in your life and share it with others, especially in challenging times? [33:21]
7. The sermon emphasized serving people in pain. Identify one person in your life who is experiencing pain or difficulty. What practical steps can you take to serve and support them this week? [03:11]
Devotional
Day 1: Serving Transforms Existence into True Living
Serving others is not just an act of kindness; it is a fundamental purpose of life that transforms mere existence into true living. Jesus taught that by giving our lives away for His sake, we find real life. This principle challenges us to look beyond ourselves and make a meaningful impact in the world. Serving others allows us to step outside of our own needs and desires, focusing instead on the well-being and growth of those around us. It is through this selfless act that we discover a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose, aligning our lives with the teachings of Christ. [05:31]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who is in need of support or encouragement. How can you serve them today in a way that reflects Christ's love?
Day 2: Serving as a Pathway to Christlikeness
Serving others is a pathway to becoming more like Christ. Jesus exemplified servanthood and giving, and as we serve, we grow in spiritual maturity. This growth requires moving from self-centeredness to focusing on the needs of others, reflecting Christ's love. By serving, we are not only helping those in need but also allowing ourselves to be transformed into the image of Christ. This transformation is a journey that involves humility, compassion, and a willingness to put others before ourselves. As we serve, we are reminded of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice and are called to emulate His example in our daily lives. [06:29]
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you tend to prioritize your own needs. How can you shift your focus to serve others in this area, following Christ's example?
Day 3: The Eternal Value of Serving
Serving God by serving others is the most valuable use of our time. Unlike many activities that can be wasteful, service is never wasted in God's eyes. It leaves a lasting legacy and contributes to the eternal kingdom. When we serve, we are investing in something far greater than ourselves, something that will have an impact beyond our lifetime. This perspective encourages us to evaluate how we spend our time and to prioritize activities that have eternal significance. By choosing to serve, we are aligning our lives with God's purpose and making a meaningful contribution to His kingdom. [07:28]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your daily schedule. What is one activity you can replace with an act of service that has eternal value?
Day 4: Servanthood as the Secret to Greatness
True greatness is found in servanthood. Jesus taught that those who wish to be great must learn to serve others. This principle counters the world's view of success and calls us to live for a cause greater than ourselves. In a society that often equates greatness with power and status, Jesus' teaching offers a radical alternative. By serving others, we are participating in God's kingdom work and discovering a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment. This redefinition of greatness challenges us to evaluate our ambitions and to seek ways to serve others in our pursuit of true greatness. [08:42]
"But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all." (Mark 10:43-44, ESV)
Reflection: Think about your personal goals and ambitions. How can you incorporate servanthood into your pursuit of greatness?
Day 5: Heavenly Rewards for Earthly Service
Our service to God will be rewarded in heaven. This promise encourages us to serve with joy and excellence, knowing that our efforts are seen by God and will be repaid beyond our imagination. The assurance of heavenly rewards provides motivation to persevere in our service, even when it is challenging or goes unnoticed by others. It reminds us that our ultimate reward is not found in earthly recognition but in the eternal blessings that await us in heaven. This perspective helps us to serve with a joyful heart, trusting that God is faithful to honor our efforts. [09:46]
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a recent act of service that went unnoticed or unappreciated. How does the promise of heavenly rewards change your perspective on this experience?
Quotes
"It is a dream of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with hundreds of thousands of residents across Southern California. It is the dream of welcoming 20,000 new members. Remember, there are 60 people listening to this. 20,000 new members into the fellowship of God's family, loving, learning, and living in harmony together." [00:01:16]
"God says that the purpose of our life is to give our lives away like Christ did. It's one of the five purposes of life. Serving God by serving others. And serving God by serving others is really what we've done for 40 years. Now before I get to the 2020 vision of where we're going next, and I can't wait to share it with you, I want to pause for a second and explain the five eternal benefits of serving God." [00:03:55]
"Number one, serving is a purpose of my life. God created you for service, to serve God, to serve others, to make a contribution, to make an impact, to make a difference in the world. God didn't put you here on earth to live for yourself. He puts you here to make the world a better place, and so that purpose isn't gonna change in the next 40 years. He still wants you to learn how to serve." [00:05:00]
"Number two, serving makes me more like Jesus. Serving makes me more like Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 28 verse 20, 'I did not come to be served' I didn't come to earth to be served, 'But to serve others, and to give My life as a ransom for many.' Now, if you're taking notes, if you circle the word serve and the word give, those two words describe what it means to be like Christ, what it means to follow Christ." [00:06:12]
"Number three, serving is the highest use of my time. You wanna make an impact. You wanna leave a legacy. You wanna make a contribution with your life, the highest use of your time is when you're serving God by serving others. 1st Corinthians 15:58, 'Always give yourselves fully to serving the Lord.' Why? 'Because you know that your service for the Lord is never wasted.'" [00:07:23]
"Number four, serving is the secret of greatness. You wanna be great, stop living for yourself. You wanna be great, give your life away for others. We build statues to people who don't live for themselves. They are the great ones. They are the ones who live for the benefit of others or for a cause greater than themselves. Matthew 20 verse 26 Jesus said, 'If you want to become great, you must learn to serve others.'" [00:08:23]
"Number five, my service God says, will be rewarded in heaven. My service will be rewarded in heaven. And you could know that for sure. So that even changes your whole attitude toward menial service or hidden service, or service that nobody sees. Colossians 3:23 and 24 says this, 'Whatever you do, do it cheerfully and give it your best.' Doesn't matter what it is, 'Do it cheerfully and give it your best.'" [00:09:40]
"Now, the reason I wanted to go through that is because the new goals that I'm gonna share with you, and we've got five goals. I call them doors, D-O-O-R-S. The five directions we're going into the future as a church family. They're all about serving in better ways. In fact, I could summarize where we're going in four words to improve our serve. We've always been about serving, but we just wanna do it better." [00:11:41]
"Now, in every decade at Saddleback Church, we have named the decade. The decade of 2000 was when we launched the PEACE Plan, and in the decade of 2000 we named that the Decade of Peace. And during the PEACE Plan we sent, on that decade when we were launching it, we sent 26,869 of our members overseas to 197 nations." [00:13:57]
"Now, where are we going from 2020 forward? We're gonna name this decade, the Decade of Hope, the Decade of Hope, why? Because as the world gets darker, people need more hope. And people are feeling, many people are feeling hopeless today about their lives, about their jobs, about the economy, about the future, and so we're gonna name it the Decade of Hope. And we serve with joy because we have hope." [00:15:41]
"Now, true greatness is really servanthood. The greatest leaders are those who the most. Now here's what's the problem, in life everybody starts off wanting to make a difference. Whether a journalist, or an artist, or a doctor, or a business leader, you wanna make a difference. You wanna create a product that other people can use or whatever. You wanna be of help to people, but slowly over time, service becomes serve us." [00:08:50]
"Now, I wanna tell you confidently, Jesus said, 'Go to every tribe and every nation' and I'm telling you that is gonna happen, that the task of the Great Commission will be finished. You say, how do you know that? Because Jesus promised it. The next verse in your outline, Jesus said, Matthew 24:14, 'This gospel will be preached in the whole world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.'" [00:44:23]
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