Exceeding Expectations: The Call to Over-the-Top Service

Devotional

Day 1: Unity Through Shared Family Values

Family values are the deeply held beliefs that guide a family's actions and interactions. When these values are shared and agreed upon, they cultivate incredible unity, harmony, and group success. This principle is biblical, as the Lord commands blessings where there is unity. Our church's mission to love people as God loves us is a testament to the power of shared values. When we align our family values with God's love, we create an environment where miracles can happen, and lives can be transformed. [01:29]

Psalm 133:1-3 (ESV): "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore."

Reflection: Think about the core values that guide your family. How can you align these values more closely with God's love to foster greater unity and harmony in your home?

Day 2: Excellence in Service Reflects Our Love for God

Serving the Lord means serving people, and our service should be marked by excellence. Colossians 3:23 teaches us to work with all our heart as if working for the Lord. This means going above and beyond in everything we do, reflecting the love and excellence that God has shown us. When we strive for excellence in our service, we honor God and demonstrate our love for Him. This commitment to excellence should be evident in all areas of our lives, whether in church, at work, or within our families. [09:30]

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV): "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Reflection: In what areas of your life can you strive for greater excellence in service? How can you ensure that your efforts reflect your love for God?

Day 3: Jesus as the Ultimate Example of Over-the-Top Service

Jesus left heaven, took on human form, and died for us while we were still sinners. His service was above and beyond, and He calls us to do the same. Our service should cross dividing lines of race, gender, and socioeconomic status, just as Jesus did. By following His example, we can draw people closer to the Lord and demonstrate the transformative power of His love. Jesus' sacrificial service is the ultimate model for us to emulate in our daily lives. [23:27]

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV): "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Reflection: How can you follow Jesus' example of sacrificial service in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to serve others across dividing lines?

Day 4: Service as an Expression of Love and Appreciation

Our service is an expression of our love and appreciation for what Jesus has done for us. We are not saved because we serve; we serve because we are saved. This mindset transforms our approach to service, making it a joyful and passionate endeavor. When we serve with this perspective, we reflect our gratitude for God's grace and love. Our service becomes a powerful testimony of our faith and a way to share God's love with others. [21:42]

Galatians 5:13 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Reflection: Reflect on the ways you currently serve others. How can you shift your mindset to see your service as an expression of love and appreciation for what Jesus has done for you?

Day 5: Going Over the Top Draws People Closer to God

When we serve over the top, we have an opportunity to draw people closer to the Lord. Our actions can make a significant impact on others, leading them to experience God's love and grace. This is exemplified in the story of a student leader who went above and beyond to help a struggling middle schooler, ultimately leading to her baptism. By going the extra mile in our service, we can be a powerful witness to God's transformative love and draw others into a deeper relationship with Him. [29:54]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Think of a specific person or situation where you can go over the top in your service. How can your actions draw them closer to God and help them experience His love and grace?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Family values are the deeply held beliefs that guide a family's actions and interactions. In the context of our church, these values foster unity, harmony, and success. Our mission at Community Church is to love people the same way God loves us, and we believe that by making this our primary objective, God will work miracles in people's lives. Over the next six weeks, we will explore our Team Orange values, starting with "Over the Top."

Being "Over the Top" means aspiring to exceed what is normally expected in our service to the Lord and to people. This value is about striving for excellence, going above and beyond in everything we do. Serving the Lord means serving people, and our service should reflect the love and excellence that God has shown us. Colossians 3:23 reminds us to work with all our heart as if working for the Lord, not for human masters.

Jesus is the ultimate example of going over the top. He left heaven, took on human form, and died for us while we were still sinners. His service was above and beyond, and He calls us to do the same. Our service should cross dividing lines of race, gender, and socioeconomic status, just as Jesus did. When we serve over the top, we draw people closer to the Lord.

We are called to serve with passion and our best effort, reflecting our love for God. Whether it's serving in church, at work, or in our families, we should always bring our A-game. Jesus notices not only how we serve but also if we are serving at all. Our service is an expression of our love and appreciation for what He has done for us.

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Key Takeaways

1. the-Top Service**: Jesus left heaven, took on human form, and died for us while we were still sinners. His service was above and beyond, and He calls us to do the same. Our service should cross dividing lines of race, gender, and socioeconomic status, just as Jesus did. [23:27]
4. Service as an Expression of Love and Appreciation: Our service is an expression of our love and appreciation for what Jesus has done for us. We are not saved because we serve; we serve because we are saved. This mindset transforms our approach to service, making it a joyful and passionate endeavor.

5. Going Over the Top Draws People Closer to God: When we serve over the top, we have an opportunity to draw people closer to the Lord. Our actions can make a significant impact on others, leading them to experience God's love and grace. This is exemplified in the story of a student leader who went above and beyond to help a struggling middle schooler, ultimately leading to her baptism.

### [23:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:29] - The Importance of Family Values
[02:55] - Community Church's Mission
[04:22] - What Does "Over the Top" Mean?
[05:58] - Excellence in Service
[09:30] - Serving as Unto the Lord
[11:16] - Jesus as the Ultimate Undercover Boss
[12:53] - Serving in All Areas of Life
[15:00] - Bringing Our A-Game
[16:44] - Serving the Famous One
[18:32] - The Sinful Woman's Example
[19:59] - Jesus Takes Note of Our Service
[21:42] - Serving Because We Are Saved
[23:27] - Jesus' Over-the-Top Sacrifice
[25:10] - Going the Second Mile
[26:42] - Jesus' Examples of Service
[28:27] - Crossing Dividing Lines in Service
[29:54] - Over-the-Top Service Draws People to God
[33:09] - Call to Action and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Colossians 3:23 instruct us to do in our work and service? How does this relate to the concept of "Over the Top" service? [09:30]
How did Jesus exemplify "Over the Top" service according to Philippians 2:7-8? [23:27]
In Luke 7:44-47, what actions did the sinful woman take to show her love and appreciation for Jesus? How did Jesus respond to her actions? [18:32]
What are some examples given in the sermon of people going "Over the Top" in their service to others? [29:54]

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to work with all our heart as if working for the Lord, according to Colossians 3:23? How does this perspective change our approach to everyday tasks? [09:30]
How does Jesus' willingness to humble Himself and die on the cross (Philippians 2:7-8) set a standard for our own service and sacrifice? [23:27]
What does the story of the sinful woman in Luke 7:44-47 teach us about the relationship between forgiveness and love? How does this story challenge our own expressions of love and service? [18:32]
How can going "Over the Top" in our service draw people closer to God, as illustrated by the story of the student leader and the middle schooler? [29:54]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current service in church, work, or family. Are there areas where you can strive for more excellence and go "Over the Top"? What specific steps can you take this week to improve? [05:58]
Jesus served others sacrificially, even to the point of death. Are there sacrifices you are currently avoiding that could help you serve others better? How can you embrace these sacrifices? [23:27]
The sinful woman's actions in Luke 7:44-47 were a profound expression of her love and gratitude. How can you show your love and gratitude to Jesus through your actions this week? [18:32]
Think of a time when you received "Over the Top" service. How did it make you feel? How can you replicate that feeling for someone else in your community or church? [07:40]
The sermon mentioned that our service should cross dividing lines of race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Are there specific barriers in your life that you need to overcome to serve others better? How can you start breaking down these barriers? [23:27]
How can you maintain your zeal and passion for serving the Lord, even when faced with challenges or discouragement? What practical steps can you take to keep your spiritual fervor alive? [16:44]
Identify one person in your life who might benefit from "Over the Top" service. What specific actions can you take this week to serve them in an extraordinary way? [29:54]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Family values, they are the deeply held beliefs that become the guiding force of a family's actions and interactions. Come on, not all the beliefs, but the beliefs that actually prompt action, that actually become that guiding force of a family, of a people, a group of people, and we're talking about family. The church is the family. It's the family of God. Amen? It's the family values, the guiding force of our actions and interactions." (36 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We believe that we can achieve it, and we really believe that if we would make loving people our primary objective, God will show up and do some incredibly miraculous things in the hearts and lives of people. He's doing it every day here at Community Church." (17 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Our family values are guiding principles for good Christian living. Come on, they're biblically based. We didn't just grab these values from nothing. We got them from God's word. And so we're all called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and demonstrate God's love to others if we're believers, if we're Christians, if we are the children of God." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Serving the Lord means serving people. So when we say we want to go above and beyond in our service to the Lord, what we're really also saying is that we want to go above and beyond in service to his people. God loves people so much that he did what? He gave his only begotten son." (23 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Christians don't live an ordinary life. We're not called to live an ordinary life. We're called to do whatever we do... whatever we do, we do it wholeheartedly. Here's the Christian approach. Whatever we do, whatever we put our hands to, we don't just do it. We do it to the nines. We do it with all of our heart. We do it with all of our soul, all of our passion, and we do it just like we're doing it for the Lord." (55 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "If you consider yourself a member of Community Church, you contribute to our overall success. All members of the family rep the family name. Come on, how many of you tell your kids, don't go out there acting like you're not a tailor? You are a tailor. You are a part of this house. You're a part of this family. Don't make this family look bad. Every family member reps the family name, but also the expression of God's love to others." (34 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "To serve the Lord reveals the measure of our love for the Lord. Uh-oh. There's a story in the book of Luke, one of my favorite stories in the Bible. It's the story of the sinful woman. Didn't even mention her name. Now, some people think she's Mary Magdalene, but there's no real proof of that. But she's known as the... The whole town knew her as the sinful woman. And one day, Jesus is with his closest disciples. And she comes in, and she begins to cry on Jesus' feet and begins to wash his feet with her hair. And she begins to anoint his feet with her hair." (43 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Above and beyond service also best represents the Lord we love. We serve a Lord and Savior who went above and beyond for us. Jesus left heaven and dawned our human likeness. Let's read that scripture. Philippians 2, 2, 7 through 8. You want to see over the top? It says, rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even the death on the cross." (34 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus tells us as his children to, to in doing so, to overcome evil with good. How am I doing on time? I'm running out of time. Let me bring this to a close. Jesus set all kinds of examples for us. The thing I love about Jesus, he didn't just stand up and preach. He also demonstrated. He washed his disciples' feet. Come on. Here's a note I put here. As we're, as we're endeavoring to serve people on another level, we need not get, a scarcity mindset. Because as we serve the Lord as unto the Lord, and we serve people as unto him, he is able, he's able to actually provide for us." (49 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When we serve over the top, we draw people closer to the Lord we love. When we endeavor to serve over the top, to go above and beyond, we have an opportunity to draw people closer to the Lord. We have so many stories of example for this, but one that came to my mind, we had a mom who came to our church and she went to the student help, help desk. And she communicated, she communicated a concern that she had for her middle school daughter and some of her behavior, some of the things that she was getting into." (34 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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