Embracing the Easy Yoke Through Service and Humility

 

Summary

Today, we explored the profound concept of the "easy yoke" and how it allows us to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father, just as Jesus did. This involves arranging our lives around the practices and rhythms that Jesus himself engaged in, enabling us to be at home in God's presence regardless of external circumstances. A key aspect of this journey is understanding the principle of indirection, which suggests that spiritual growth often comes not from trying harder to be virtuous but from engaging in practices that transform us from within.

One such transformative practice is service. Service, as Dallas Willard describes, involves using our resources and strength to promote the good of others and the causes of God. This practice is not just a means to an end but can also be an act of love and righteousness. However, when done as a discipline, service can train us away from arrogance, pride, and self-centeredness, leading to spiritual growth and character change.

Service is essential for those in lower societal positions, as it can free us from resentment and enable us to enjoy our roles. Paradoxically, it is also crucial for those in positions of power, who might become accustomed to being served. Jesus, who had all power, exemplified this by choosing to serve rather than be served.

To practice servanthood, we can start by looking around us and doing what needs to be done, even if it seems small or insignificant. This could be as simple as washing dishes or helping someone in need. The movie "Groundhog Day" illustrates this transformation beautifully, showing how a life of service leads to joy and salvation.

Ultimately, the magic of life and the foundation of all community is service. By serving others, we reflect the love and grace of Jesus, who holds our world for us, allowing us to experience the beauty and joy of life anew.

Key Takeaways:

- The "easy yoke" involves arranging our lives around the practices of Jesus, allowing us to live in God's presence regardless of external circumstances. This principle of indirection suggests that spiritual growth often comes not from trying harder but from engaging in transformative practices. [00:34]

- Service is a powerful practice that involves using our resources to promote the good of others and the causes of God. When done as a discipline, it can train us away from arrogance and pride, leading to spiritual growth and character change. [02:14]

- Service is essential for those in lower societal positions, as it can free us from resentment and enable us to enjoy our roles. It is also crucial for those in positions of power, who might become accustomed to being served. [03:39]

- Practicing servanthood involves looking around us and doing what needs to be done, even if it seems small or insignificant. This could be as simple as washing dishes or helping someone in need, reflecting the love and grace of Jesus. [05:59]

- The foundation of all community is service. By serving others, we reflect the love and grace of Jesus, who holds our world for us, allowing us to experience the beauty and joy of life anew. [12:03]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - The Secret of the Easy Yoke
[00:57] - The Challenge of Humility
[01:29] - Principle of Indirection
[01:57] - The Practice of Service
[02:29] - Service as Discipline
[03:22] - Training Away from Arrogance
[04:04] - Serving Jesus with a Whole Heart
[05:15] - Service in Positions of Power
[05:45] - The Golden Key of the Kingdom
[06:12] - A Day of Service
[07:09] - Transformation in Groundhog Day
[08:07] - Salvation Through Service
[09:01] - Embracing Interruptions
[10:10] - Noticing and Serving Others
[11:46] - Holding Someone's World
[12:03] - The Foundation of Community

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
2. Philippians 2:5-7 - "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus mean by the "easy yoke" in Matthew 11:28-30, and how does it relate to living in God's presence? [00:34]
2. How does the sermon describe the principle of indirection, and why is it important for spiritual growth? [01:29]
3. According to the sermon, what are some examples of small acts of service that can reflect the love and grace of Jesus? [05:59]
4. How does the movie "Groundhog Day" illustrate the transformation that comes from a life of service? [07:09]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the "easy yoke" challenge the common perception of spiritual growth as a result of trying harder? [01:46]
2. In what ways does the practice of service help individuals in lower societal positions find freedom from resentment, according to the sermon? [03:39]
3. How does the sermon suggest that service can be a discipline for those in positions of power, and why is this significant? [05:15]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between service and community, and how does this reflect the teachings of Jesus? [12:03]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current life rhythms. How can you arrange your daily practices to better align with the "easy yoke" of Jesus? [00:34]
2. Identify a small act of service you can perform this week. How can this act help you grow spiritually and reflect Jesus' love? [05:59]
3. Consider a situation where you might feel resentment in your role. How can adopting a mindset of service transform your perspective? [03:39]
4. If you hold a position of influence, how can you incorporate service into your leadership style to reflect the humility of Jesus? [05:15]
5. Think of a recent interruption in your day. How can you embrace such interruptions as opportunities for service, rather than inconveniences? [09:01]
6. How can you intentionally notice and serve someone in your community who might be struggling or feeling overlooked? [10:10]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt the joy of serving others. How can you cultivate more of these experiences in your daily life? [08:44]

Devotional

Day 1: Living in God's Presence Through Jesus' Practices
Arranging our lives around the practices and rhythms that Jesus engaged in allows us to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father, regardless of external circumstances. This concept of the "easy yoke" suggests that spiritual growth often comes not from trying harder to be virtuous but from engaging in practices that transform us from within. By adopting the practices of Jesus, we can find rest and peace in God's presence, experiencing a life that is not burdened by the pressures of the world. This approach encourages us to focus on the transformative power of spiritual disciplines rather than mere effort. [00:34]

"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling." (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific practice of Jesus can you incorporate into your daily routine to help you experience God's presence more fully today?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of Service
Service is a powerful practice that involves using our resources to promote the good of others and the causes of God. When done as a discipline, it can train us away from arrogance and pride, leading to spiritual growth and character change. Service is not just a means to an end but an act of love and righteousness. By serving others, we reflect the love and grace of Jesus, who chose to serve rather than be served. This practice helps us grow spiritually by transforming our character and aligning our actions with the heart of God. [02:14]

"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: Identify one person in your life whom you can serve selflessly today. How can you use your resources to promote their good?


Day 3: Service as Freedom and Responsibility
Service is essential for those in lower societal positions, as it can free us from resentment and enable us to enjoy our roles. Paradoxically, it is also crucial for those in positions of power, who might become accustomed to being served. Jesus, who had all power, exemplified this by choosing to serve rather than be served. By embracing servanthood, we can find freedom and joy in our roles, regardless of our societal position. This practice challenges us to view service as both a responsibility and a privilege, transforming our perspective on power and humility. [03:39]

"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: In what ways can you practice servanthood in your current position, whether in power or in service, to reflect the humility of Jesus?


Day 4: The Small Acts of Servanthood
Practicing servanthood involves looking around us and doing what needs to be done, even if it seems small or insignificant. This could be as simple as washing dishes or helping someone in need. By engaging in these small acts of service, we reflect the love and grace of Jesus, who holds our world for us. These acts, though seemingly minor, can have a profound impact on our spiritual growth and the lives of those around us. They remind us that every act of service is significant in the eyes of God. [05:59]

"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42, ESV)

Reflection: What small act of service can you perform today that reflects the love and grace of Jesus to those around you?


Day 5: Service as the Foundation of Community
The foundation of all community is service. By serving others, we reflect the love and grace of Jesus, who holds our world for us, allowing us to experience the beauty and joy of life anew. Service is the magic of life, creating bonds and fostering a sense of belonging and purpose within a community. It is through serving others that we build strong, loving communities that reflect the heart of God. This practice encourages us to see service as the glue that holds communities together, transforming them into places of love and grace. [12:03]

"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." (Romans 12:13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to building a stronger community through acts of service today? What specific action can you take to foster a sense of belonging and love within your community?

Quotes


this very day you can be at home in The Fellowship of your heavenly father as you learn the secret of the easy yoke how to effortlessly do what it is that Jesus would do if he were in your place or my place and we're learning this together as we do one thing and that is to try to arrange our lives around those practices and rhythms that Jesus himself engaged in so that he could be from one moment to the next whatever was going on externally at home deeply in his mind and soul in the presence of the father who loved him [00:19:41]

well this brings us to a central Dynamic a foundational truth that we're experiencing all through this journey together and that is the principle of indirection that generally the easy yoke involves not trying really really hard to be more joyful or be more patient or be more humble to arrange our lives around those activities through which we receive the power to be changed to be different and the primary practice that helps people grow in equality like humility is what we're going to look at today and it is the practice of service [00:89:24]

in service Dallas Willard writes we engage our goods and strength in the active promotion of the good of others and the causes of God in our world now this brings up an important distinction that Dallas mentions in this particular case not every act that may be done as a discipline needs to be done as a discipline in other words if I'm doing something as a discipline I'm doing as a means to an end so that through it I can receive the power to become a different kind of person [00:129:18]

however often I'll be able to serve somebody simply as an act of love and righteousness without regard to I want to be doing this so that it changes me I'm simply doing it to help them there's nothing wrong with that obviously and it may incidentally strengthen me spiritually as well so there are practices like serving that we do not just because they function as a spiritual discipline but what we're talking about today in particular is I may well want to engage in the practice of serving because I need training away from arrogance and pride and self-preoccupation [00:165:52]

service is done as a discipline for the spiritual life and character change such discipline is very necessary for Christians who find themselves as most of us by necessary musk in the lower positions in society at work and the church it alone can train Us in habits of loving service to others and free us from resentment enabling Us in faith to enjoy our position a little bit paradoxically actually if I'm in a lower position than to engage in the practice of service and remember as Paul said I'm doing this because ultimately the one that I'm serving is Jesus and to do it with a whole heart [00:207:95]

Dallas goes on to say he thinks that the discipline of service is even more needed to people who find themselves in positions of power and can get used to being served and we remember how Central service was to the person of Jesus who said that he being the Son of God having all power came not to be served that's what we think power is about but to serve and to offer his life a sacrifice for many so service is in many many ways the golden key the golden ticket of the Kingdom [00:312:43]

well a very simple way from one moment to the next is look around you at what needs to be done that nobody else is doing and doing it when our kids were quite small and I knew how much work I needed in this area I would try to take one day a week usually it was the day that I wasn't going into work and make it a day of serving and just try to say I will have no agenda today I want to be available to do the dishes or give a bath or run an errand or whatever it is that needs to be done [00:351:39]

and So eventually what happens to him is he realizes the only real way to life is to serve others and we see this one day when he brings coffee and danish to the his co-workers and they Delight in that and there's a kind of satisfaction that grows in him and then if you ever watch this movie this is what happens this is his salvation this is his character transformation there's an old man who's begging on the street and he helps that old man and there's some old ladies driving a car and he ends up changing their Tire every day there's a guy choking to death in a restaurant he does the Heimlich for him [00:476:52]

so this is how we practice the gift of servanthood look around what needs to be done today you can do this in small ways for example set an intention just for today the next time you get interrupted don't resent it don't sigh don't communicate with your body language I don't have time for this actually embrace that you know a good deal of Jesus's Ministries was just interruptions from the blind or the leper or the tax collector or The Prostitute that intercepted his path today be open to that interruption and ask how can I help [00:524:70]

and it may be that you know of a young mom or an elderly person or a lonely person for whom life is hard and you could come and hold their word world for a while as Jesus does with us the magic of life the Deep glue that holds relationships together the foundation of all Community is just serving it's just service and if that's not your deal got another one tomorrow welcome home [00:702:21]

and if you ever watch this movie this is what happens this is his salvation this is his character transformation there's an old man who's begging on the street and he helps that old man and there's some old ladies driving a car and he ends up changing their Tire every day there's a guy choking to death in a restaurant he does the Heimlich for him there's a couple where the wife is getting cold feed and he gives them wise counsel he pours out his life in service Bill Murray for crying out loud and Groundhog's Day and there is salvation and there is joy [00:498:35]

notice somebody this is what happened in Groundhog's Day what they like what they want what they need a comment that you can make cup of coffee that you can bring to them how can I make their life a little different look for a person whose life is particularly different and ask how can you ease it Nancy read this poem for me last week and it was so deeply moving it's called wife takes a vacation and it made her think about those years when our kids were really small and it might be embarrassing for her to ask for somebody else to serve her because the message that our world often gives to a young mom is you're just supposed to do that all the time and not think about yourself [00:610:20]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?