Embracing Service: Following Jesus' Example of Humility
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound significance of serving within the Christian faith, drawing from John 13 where Jesus washes His disciples' feet. This act of humility and love serves as a powerful example for us. Jesus, the Master, performed a task so lowly that even Hebrew servants avoided it, demonstrating that true greatness in the Kingdom of God is found in serving others. This countercultural act of service is a call for us to follow His example.
We discussed three key reasons why we serve. First, our lives are limited unless we serve. Jesus wants us to move beyond just knowing Him as Teacher and Lord to actively participating in His mission by serving others. This transition from receiving to giving expands the Kingdom of God exponentially. Second, we serve because Jesus first served us. His ultimate act of service was His sacrifice on the cross, and He continues to serve us daily with His blessings and presence. This should naturally lead us to serve others. Third, blessing comes through serving. Secular research even shows that serving can lead to a longer, more fulfilling life. Jesus Himself promised that God would bless us for serving.
Serving is not just a religious duty but a response to the mercies we have received from God. It is an act of worship and a way to experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers. We are encouraged to serve in the house of God, as it is the primary vehicle for reaching a lost world. By serving, we not only bless others but also find community, purpose, and even unexpected blessings in our own lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Life's Limitations Without Serving: Our spiritual journey is incomplete if it stops at knowing Jesus as Teacher and Lord. True fulfillment comes when we follow His example and serve others, thereby expanding the Kingdom of God exponentially. Serving moves us from a self-centered faith to a community-centered mission, breaking the limitations we often feel in our spiritual lives. [10:30]
2. Jesus Served Us First: The foundation of our service is rooted in the fact that Jesus first served us. His sacrifice on the cross and His continual blessings in our lives should naturally lead us to serve others. This act of service is a response to the immense love and grace we have received, making it a natural byproduct of an encounter with Jesus. [14:22]
3. Blessing Through Serving: Serving others not only fulfills a spiritual mandate but also brings tangible blessings into our lives. Secular research supports that serving can lead to a longer, more fulfilling life. Jesus promised that God would bless us for serving, making it a win-win situation where both the server and the served are blessed. [24:00]
4. Serving as Worship: Romans 12:1 teaches us that offering our bodies as a living sacrifice is our true and proper worship. This act of service is so closely related to worship that translators often use the terms interchangeably. Serving is not about earning religious badges but about responding to God's mercies with our whole lives. [21:18]
5. Community and Purpose in Serving: Serving in the house of God helps us find community, purpose, and even unexpected blessings like lifelong friendships and divine relationships. It is through serving that we often discover our calling and direction in life. The church, as God's primary redemptive vehicle, offers numerous opportunities for us to serve and make a lasting impact. [25:49]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:28] - Introduction to Serve Team Sunday
[02:46] - John 13: Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
[04:12] - Cultural Context of Foot Washing
[05:21] - The Humility of Jesus
[06:43] - Peter's Reaction and Jesus' Teaching
[07:59] - The Importance of "Amen"
[09:20] - Why We Serve: Life is Limited Without Serving
[10:30] - Moving Beyond Teacher and Lord
[11:52] - The Exponential Growth of God's Kingdom
[13:09] - The Natural Byproduct of Serving
[14:22] - Jesus Served Us First
[15:43] - The Woman at the Well: A Case Study
[17:04] - The Impact of One Encounter
[18:31] - Personal Testimony: Why I Serve
[19:47] - The Transformative Power of Serving
[21:18] - Serving as Worship
[24:00] - Blessing Through Serving
[25:49] - Community and Purpose in Serving
[29:10] - Be Like Jesus: Follow His Example
[29:48] - Application: Serve in the House of God
[32:02] - Practical Steps to Start Serving
[34:27] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- John 13:1-17
- Romans 12:1
- 1 John 2:6
### Observation Questions
1. What significant act of service did Jesus perform in John 13, and why was it culturally significant? [02:46]
2. According to the sermon, what are the three key reasons why Christians should serve? [09:20]
3. How does Romans 12:1 describe the relationship between worship and service? [21:18]
4. What was the reaction of Peter when Jesus attempted to wash his feet, and how did Jesus respond? [06:43]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon suggest that our spiritual journey is incomplete if it stops at knowing Jesus as Teacher and Lord? [10:30]
2. How does the act of Jesus washing the disciples' feet serve as a model for Christian service today? [06:43]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that serving others can lead to personal blessings and fulfillment? [24:00]
4. How does the concept of serving as worship challenge or reinforce your current understanding of worship? [21:18]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt limited in your spiritual journey. How might serving others help you move beyond those limitations? [10:30]
2. Jesus served His disciples by washing their feet, a task considered lowly and humiliating. What are some "lowly" tasks you can take on to serve others in your community? [05:21]
3. The sermon mentioned that serving can lead to unexpected blessings, such as lifelong friendships and divine relationships. Have you experienced any such blessings through serving? If not, how can you position yourself to experience them? [25:49]
4. Romans 12:1 urges us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. What specific actions can you take this week to serve as an act of worship? [21:18]
5. The sermon highlighted that Jesus continues to serve us daily with His blessings and presence. How can you make serving others a natural response to the blessings you receive from Jesus? [14:22]
6. The sermon mentioned that secular research supports the idea that serving can lead to a longer, more fulfilling life. How does this information motivate you to serve more actively? [24:00]
7. Think about the various ministries mentioned in the sermon. Which one resonates with you the most, and how can you take a step to get involved this week? [33:08]
Devotional
Day 1: Moving Beyond Teacher and Lord
Our spiritual journey is incomplete if it stops at knowing Jesus as Teacher and Lord. True fulfillment comes when we follow His example and serve others, thereby expanding the Kingdom of God exponentially. Serving moves us from a self-centered faith to a community-centered mission, breaking the limitations we often feel in our spiritual lives. Jesus demonstrated this through His act of washing the disciples' feet, a task so lowly that even Hebrew servants avoided it. This act of humility and love is a powerful example for us to follow. By serving others, we not only emulate Jesus but also experience a deeper connection with Him and His mission. [10:30]
John 13:14-15 (ESV): "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you."
Reflection: Think of one way you can serve someone in your community this week. How can you move beyond just knowing Jesus to actively participating in His mission?
Day 2: Jesus Served Us First
The foundation of our service is rooted in the fact that Jesus first served us. His sacrifice on the cross and His continual blessings in our lives should naturally lead us to serve others. This act of service is a response to the immense love and grace we have received, making it a natural byproduct of an encounter with Jesus. When we understand the depth of Jesus' service to us, it compels us to extend that same love and service to others. This is not just a duty but a heartfelt response to the love we have experienced. [14:22]
1 John 4:19 (ESV): "We love because he first loved us."
Reflection: Reflect on a specific blessing or act of service Jesus has done for you recently. How can you mirror that act of service to someone else today?
Day 3: Blessing Through Serving
Serving others not only fulfills a spiritual mandate but also brings tangible blessings into our lives. Secular research supports that serving can lead to a longer, more fulfilling life. Jesus promised that God would bless us for serving, making it a win-win situation where both the server and the served are blessed. When we serve, we open ourselves up to receive God's blessings in unexpected ways. This could be through personal growth, deeper relationships, or even physical and emotional well-being. [24:00]
Proverbs 11:25 (ESV): "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."
Reflection: Identify a recent opportunity where you served someone. What unexpected blessings did you receive from that experience?
Day 4: Serving as Worship
Romans 12:1 teaches us that offering our bodies as a living sacrifice is our true and proper worship. This act of service is so closely related to worship that translators often use the terms interchangeably. Serving is not about earning religious badges but about responding to God's mercies with our whole lives. When we serve, we are worshiping God with our actions, showing gratitude for His mercies and grace. This transforms our service from a mere task to a profound act of worship. [21:18]
Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: How can you transform a routine task into an act of worship today? What mindset shift is needed to see your service as worship?
Day 5: Community and Purpose in Serving
Serving in the house of God helps us find community, purpose, and even unexpected blessings like lifelong friendships and divine relationships. It is through serving that we often discover our calling and direction in life. The church, as God's primary redemptive vehicle, offers numerous opportunities for us to serve and make a lasting impact. By engaging in service, we not only contribute to the mission of the church but also find a sense of belonging and purpose that enriches our spiritual journey. [25:49]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: What gifts or talents do you have that can be used to serve in your church community? How can you take a step to get involved this week?
Quotes
1. "The master humbled himself to serve his disciples out of extraordinary love. This was completely upside down. This was counterculture. This would not happen. This was so extraordinary and outside of the norm. That's why it commanded the attention of the whole room. And it should command ours today." [05:21] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Your life is limited unless you're serving. Look at verse 13. He says, you call me teacher and Lord, and you are right because that's what I am. I, your Lord and teacher have washed your feet. You ought to wash each other's feet. And I've given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you." [10:30] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We serve because Jesus served us first. Now, how many love to be served? All right. I'm not talking papers. I'm talking, you know, right. We all love to be served. Like maybe it's uncomfortable because you're not used to it. And it can get awkward if someone's serving you, but we all love to be served." [14:22] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Serving is the natural byproduct of an encounter with Jesus. Here's what I know. If many people were saved in the village, then many marriages were affected by this one moment. And if many marriages were affected, then many families were affected by this one encounter. And if many families were affected, then the lineages to come were affected because of this one encounter." [17:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I serve because Jesus first served me. I grew up in church, but in my teenage years and into my early 20s, I was drowning in a lifestyle of sexual sin. And I thought that the call of God was out of reach for me. I thought God would never want to use me. And I didn't live up to the standard. And so God wants to use all those perfect people down there, but he doesn't want to use me." [18:31] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "We don't serve because it's some religious thing that we do. We don't serve so that we can get badges on our religious jacket that we don't have. We serve because we have his mercies in view. Don't forget his mercies. The psalmist in Psalm 103 said it like this, bless the Lord, oh my soul, and do not forget his benefits. I think sometimes we get Christian amnesia and we forget where we would be without Jesus." [21:18] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Jesus said, I've given you an example to follow. Do as I've done to you. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. So I'm not up here asking you to be like me. I'm not asking you to be like us. Everybody get in line and look the same, act the same. I'm asking you to be like Jesus." [29:10] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The primary place that, as believers, we should serve is in the house of God. It's not that we don't serve elsewhere, but the first place we should serve is in the house of God. You can go drill wells for water in foreign nations, and people will have water to drink, and it'll sustain them for another day. But if they're sustained for another day, and their soul perishes, then what good is it?" [30:50] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "If you love Jesus, you can hand out a bag of groceries. If you love Jesus, you can welcome people to church. There are people that walk into our buildings every week, and they never have somebody that smiles at them, shakes a hand, or gives them a hug. You can give somebody a hug, and guess what that is? Those are the arms of Jesus, wrapping around people, and telling them that they're loved." [32:02] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "The application of this message is, to serve, serve in the house of God. We're to be those that live a lifestyle of serving, right? There's so many ways to serve, and we should be serving as a lifestyle. And I'm boasting in God, not in myself, but just I've been running after Jesus. And here's what I find. I hold doors open for people all the time around town." [29:48] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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