Embracing Service: Identity, Humility, and Sacrifice
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of service as a core value in our lives and our faith. We began by acknowledging that we are creatures of habit, often caught up in routines that may not always reflect our true calling. The essence of our discussion centered around the idea that serving is not just an action but an identity. We are called to serve our church, community, and world, not out of obligation but as a privilege. This perspective shift from "have to" to "get to" is crucial in understanding our role as servants of God.
We delved into the story of Tabitha from Acts 9:36, who was known for her good deeds and helping the poor. Her life exemplifies how our actions define us and how serving others can become a part of our identity. We also looked at David's story in 1 Samuel 17, where he faithfully served in mundane tasks, highlighting that true service often involves humility and dedication, even when the task seems insignificant.
Furthermore, we examined the account of Jesus washing His disciples' feet in John 13:1-5. This act of humility by the Son of God serves as a powerful example of how we should be willing to serve beneath ourselves, setting aside pride to fulfill God's calling. We also discussed the cost of service, as seen in the story of the disciples retrieving the colt for Jesus in Luke 19:28-31. Sometimes, serving God requires sacrifice, whether it be our time, resources, or comfort.
Finally, we reflected on Acts 1:8, which calls us to be witnesses in our immediate surroundings and to the ends of the earth. This passage reminds us that our service extends beyond our local church to our community and the world. As we serve, we must examine our hearts to ensure that our motivation is to glorify God and not ourselves.
Key Takeaways:
- Service as Identity: Serving is not just an action but a reflection of who we are. Our actions define us, and like Tabitha, we should strive to be known for our good deeds and service to others. [52:28]
- Faithfulness in the Mundane: True service often involves humility and dedication, even in tasks that seem insignificant. David's willingness to serve in the fields teaches us the importance of being faithful in the small things. [55:47]
- Humility in Service: Jesus washing His disciples' feet exemplifies the humility required in service. We must be willing to serve beneath ourselves, setting aside pride to fulfill God's calling. [01:03:40]
- The Cost of Service: Serving God may require sacrifice, whether it be our time, resources, or comfort. The disciples' willingness to retrieve the colt for Jesus shows that true service often comes with a cost. [01:00:38]
- Global Perspective of Service: Our service extends beyond our local church to our community and the world. Acts 1:8 reminds us to be witnesses in our immediate surroundings and to the ends of the earth, serving with a heart to glorify God. [01:09:11]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [40:00] - Introduction to Service
- [41:33] - The Privilege of Serving
- [43:13] - Perceptions of Our Actions
- [45:16] - Technology and Identity
- [47:26] - Self-Promotion in Society
- [50:32] - Serving as an Identity
- [51:33] - Tabitha's Example
- [52:28] - Actions Reflect Character
- [53:43] - David's Faithfulness
- [55:47] - Serving in the Mundane
- [57:11] - The Cost of Service
- [01:01:30] - Jesus' Humility
- [01:03:40] - Serving Beneath Ourselves
- [01:09:11] - Global Perspective of Service
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Core Value of Service
Bible Reading:
- Acts 9:36
- 1 Samuel 17:17-18
- John 13:1-5
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Observation Questions:
1. In Acts 9:36, what specific actions was Tabitha known for, and how did these actions define her identity? [51:33]
2. How did David demonstrate faithfulness in the mundane tasks assigned to him in 1 Samuel 17:17-18? What was his attitude towards these tasks? [53:43]
3. Describe the act of service Jesus performed in John 13:1-5. What was significant about this act, considering His position? [01:01:30]
4. According to the sermon, what is the difference between serving out of obligation and serving as a privilege? [41:33]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Tabitha in Acts 9:36 illustrate the concept of service as an identity rather than just an action? [51:33]
2. What lessons can be learned from David's willingness to serve in seemingly insignificant tasks, and how does this relate to our understanding of humility in service? [55:47]
3. In what ways does Jesus washing His disciples' feet challenge our perceptions of leadership and service? How does this act redefine greatness in the kingdom of God? [01:03:40]
4. Reflect on the cost of service as demonstrated by the disciples retrieving the colt in Luke 19:28-31. What does this teach us about the sacrifices involved in serving God? [01:00:38]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current routines and habits. Are there areas where you feel you are serving out of obligation rather than privilege? How can you shift your perspective to see service as a privilege? [41:33]
2. Consider a mundane task you perform regularly. How can you approach this task with the same faithfulness and dedication that David showed? [55:47]
3. Jesus demonstrated humility by washing His disciples' feet. Is there a specific area in your life where pride might be hindering your ability to serve others? How can you practice humility in that area? [01:03:40]
4. Think about a time when serving God required a personal sacrifice. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you prepare yourself for future sacrifices in service? [01:00:38]
5. Acts 1:8 calls us to be witnesses in our immediate surroundings and beyond. Identify one way you can extend your service beyond your local church to impact your community or the world. [01:09:11]
6. How can you ensure that your motivation for serving is to glorify God rather than seeking personal recognition or gain? What steps can you take to align your heart with this motivation? [01:10:01]
7. Reflect on the statement, "If serving is beneath you, then leading is beyond you." How does this challenge your current understanding of leadership and service? What practical steps can you take to embody this principle in your daily life? [01:05:46]
Devotional
Day 1: Service as a Reflection of Identity
Service is not merely an action we perform; it is a reflection of our identity and character. Like Tabitha in Acts 9:36, who was known for her good deeds and acts of charity, our actions define who we are. When we serve others, we embody the values and teachings of our faith, becoming living examples of God's love and compassion. This perspective shift from "have to" to "get to" is crucial in understanding our role as servants of God. By embracing service as a core part of our identity, we align ourselves with our true calling and purpose. [52:28]
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you serve today, not out of obligation, but as an expression of your identity in Christ?
Day 2: Faithfulness in the Mundane
True service often involves humility and dedication, even in tasks that seem insignificant. David's story in 1 Samuel 17 illustrates this beautifully. Before he became a king, David was a shepherd, faithfully tending to his father's sheep. His willingness to serve in the fields teaches us the importance of being faithful in the small things. It is in these mundane tasks that our character is shaped, and our faithfulness is tested. By embracing these moments, we prepare ourselves for greater responsibilities and opportunities to serve. [55:47]
"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: What mundane task in your life can you approach with renewed faithfulness and dedication, seeing it as an opportunity to serve God?
Day 3: Humility in Service
Jesus washing His disciples' feet in John 13:1-5 exemplifies the humility required in service. This act of humility by the Son of God serves as a powerful example of how we should be willing to serve beneath ourselves, setting aside pride to fulfill God's calling. True service requires us to put others before ourselves, to lower ourselves in order to lift others up. By following Jesus' example, we learn to serve with a heart of humility, recognizing that no task is beneath us when it comes to serving others. [01:03:40]
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility in your service to others, setting aside pride and self-interest?
Day 4: The Cost of Service
Serving God may require sacrifice, whether it be our time, resources, or comfort. The disciples' willingness to retrieve the colt for Jesus in Luke 19:28-31 shows that true service often comes with a cost. Sometimes, serving God means stepping out of our comfort zones and making sacrifices for the sake of others. It is through these sacrifices that we demonstrate our commitment to God's calling and our willingness to put others before ourselves. By embracing the cost of service, we grow in our faith and deepen our relationship with God. [01:00:38]
"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:38-39, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can make a sacrifice to serve others, even if it requires stepping out of your comfort zone?
Day 5: Global Perspective of Service
Our service extends beyond our local church to our community and the world. Acts 1:8 reminds us to be witnesses in our immediate surroundings and to the ends of the earth, serving with a heart to glorify God. As we serve, we must examine our hearts to ensure that our motivation is to glorify God and not ourselves. By adopting a global perspective of service, we recognize the interconnectedness of our actions and the impact they can have on the world. We are called to be agents of change, spreading God's love and compassion to all corners of the earth. [01:09:11]
"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: How can you expand your perspective of service to include not just your local community, but also the global community, in a way that glorifies God?
Quotes
1. "Things are going wonderful at South. We, at 10 o'clock today as we were beginning service, we actually at South were wrapping up a 24, except for it was daylight saving something. So, it's actually a 25-hour prayer meeting at our South campus. We've seen wonderful moves of God. Things are going great. God is moving. And I want you to know that. And here's the reason why. Because we're one church. We got two campuses. We got two locations, but we're one church. So, everything that God does in us, he does in you." [00:40:35] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I was thinking about this value and thinking about if we really get to do things, right? How many know sometimes we don't get to do things? Sometimes we have to do things? Yeah. And I love the intentionality of this value is that we get to do things. Because I always say that I get to do some things. And sometimes I really get to do things. And sometimes there's a whole lot more faith statement in it than others. Right?" [00:41:33] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You see, because the things we do reflect who we are and actually become who we are. The things that we do become who we are. Has anybody ever been in a restaurant and watched a family eat dinner? Anybody notice that everybody's got one of these? And if they don't have one of these, they have one of these? We've become so tied to these devices." [00:44:59] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And we have to remember that when we think of serving as an action, we have to remember that we think of serving as an action, right? We think of serving as something we do, right? Everybody think like that? But I want us to look at serving as something we do, but I also want us to realize that serving as someone we are. Because our actions reflect who we are." [00:50:53] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You see, part of being a servant is being faithful to serve in the mundane. You see, part of being a servant. A servant is making sure that when it's not glamorous, you're still doing it, right? See, David was in the field taking care of the sheep. That wasn't the glamorous job. We would have, let's be honest for a minute. I'm putting my hands in my pocket. I'm not pointing at anybody. If I had a pink shirt, I'd be wearing it." [00:55:53] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You see, sometimes being a faithful servant means serving when it costs us. Sometimes we got to give up a little something to serve God in that manner. Sometimes we have to give up a lot or be willing to give up a lot. You see, because for those disciples, their willingness was to go to jail or whatever the punishment might be. They might have got flogged. They might have, whatever the case may be, be arrested for taking this colt." [01:00:08] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "You see, because Jesus set the example. He could have sat at the table and had a servant go and wash the feet. But he set an example. He set an example for his disciples and he set an example for us. He said, listen, if you want to lead, you have to serve. If you want to lead somewhere, you have to be willing to do it. You see, because the best leaders in the world are the ones who are willing to roll up their sleeves, put on their gloves, and work beside those that work for them." [01:04:33] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "If serving is beneath you, then leading is beyond you. You see, because the best servants, or the best leaders, leaders in the world, are those that are the ones that'll walk beside you in a difficult time. You'll gain more respect by walking through something with someone than sitting and telling them how to do it. And in God's kingdom, he calls us to be servants." [01:05:38] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "And we get to say it like this. We get to serve our church, our community, and our world. Now let's jump into that a little bit. And in Acts 1.8, it says, you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in both Jerusalem, in Judea, and in Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the world." [01:06:52] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "You see, and we get to serve our church and we get to serve our community and we get to serve our world. And when we do that, we become true servants of God. And I forgot to tell you to come back. So you can go, hmm? They're going to play something wonderful. So what I want to do today as I'm closing out, you can go ahead and start play." [01:09:20] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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