Humility, Service, and the Power of Personal Testimony

Today, we reflected on the profound humility and love of Jesus, especially as seen in his actions leading up to the cross. While the world often equates knowledge with power, Jesus demonstrated that true power in the kingdom of God is found in humble service. Even with full knowledge of his divine authority and the events to come, Jesus chose to wash his disciples’ feet—a task reserved for the lowliest servant—showing that love and service are at the heart of God’s character. As we partook in communion, we remembered not just what Jesus knew, but how deeply he loved, loving his own to the very end.

We also explored the importance of sharing our personal stories of faith. Many of us struggle with feeling like our testimonies are either too mundane or too messy, but every story of encountering Jesus is a testimony to God’s glory. Whether your journey began in a dramatic moment or through a quiet upbringing in faith, your story is valuable because it reveals God’s ongoing work in your life. The Samaritan woman at the well is a powerful example: her encounter with Jesus was simple yet transformative, and her willingness to share her experience led many in her village to faith.

Sharing our stories isn’t about religious pressure or checking a box; it’s about genuine love and connection. An impactful Jesus story is personal, ongoing, and connects to the real needs of those around us. It’s not about having all the answers or a perfect past, but about honestly sharing how Jesus is present and active in our lives today. When we invite others to “come and see” what Jesus has done, we offer them a chance to experience his love for themselves. Our stories, no matter how ordinary or extraordinary, are bridges that God uses to reach others. Let us be attentive to his daily work in our lives and be ready to share it with love, humility, and authenticity.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True greatness in God’s kingdom is found in humble service, not in the accumulation of knowledge or displays of power. Jesus, knowing all things, chose to serve his disciples by washing their feet, modeling a life where love is expressed through selfless action. This challenges us to redefine what it means to be powerful and influential in God’s eyes. [40:20]
• 2. Every believer’s story—no matter how dramatic or seemingly “boring”—is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and grace. The value of your testimony is not in its entertainment value, but in its authenticity and the evidence it provides of God’s ongoing work in your life. Even a legacy of generational faithfulness is a powerful witness to God’s enduring love. [85:43]
• 3. Sharing your Jesus story is most impactful when it is personal, current, and connected to the real needs of those you’re speaking with. Rather than relying on distant or secondhand experiences, focus on how Jesus is working in your life today, and be attentive to the struggles and questions of those around you. This approach fosters genuine connection and opens hearts to the gospel. [74:11]
• 4. An effective testimony is invitational, not manipulative or abrasive. The Samaritan woman simply invited her neighbors to “come and see” what she had experienced, allowing space for others to respond freely. When we share our stories with humility and respect, we honor both God and the people we’re reaching out to, building trust rather than pressure. [80:41]
• 5. The discipline of noticing and recording God’s daily work in your life deepens your relationship with him and equips you to share meaningful stories with others. When Jesus is a living, active presence in your everyday experiences, sharing about him becomes natural and authentic. This ongoing awareness transforms your testimony from a one-time event into a lifelong journey of faith. [72:25]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [40:20] - Jesus’ Humility and Service
• [42:45] - The Love That Drove Jesus to the Cross
• [44:36] - Communion: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
• [45:22] - The New Covenant in Christ
• [57:13] - Wrestling with “Boring” Testimonies
• [59:15] - The BLESS Paradigm for Sharing Faith
• [60:36] - Building Relationships Through Food and Service
• [62:06] - The Power and Challenge of Sharing Your Story
• [63:25] - Real Stories vs. Religious Pressure
• [64:53] - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
• [67:20] - Jesus Crosses Boundaries for Love
• [70:23] - The Impact of a Testimony
• [74:11] - Elements of an Impactful Jesus Story
• [80:41] - Inviting Others to Experience Jesus
• [85:43] - The Beauty of Generational Faithfulness
• [87:28] - Applying Your Story to Others’ Needs
• [88:50] - Invitation to Begin Your Jesus Story
• [90:27] - Closing Prayer and Next Steps

Bible Reading

John 13:1-17 (ESV) — > Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 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. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

John 4:19-30, 39-42 (ESV) — > The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. ... Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Observation Questions

1. In John 13, what did Jesus know about himself and his future before he washed the disciples’ feet? How did this knowledge influence his actions? ([40:20])
2. What was surprising about Jesus’ choice to wash his disciples’ feet, considering the cultural context? ([40:20])
3. In the story of the Samaritan woman (John 4), what barriers did Jesus cross to speak with her, and how did she respond to their conversation? ([01:04:53])
4. According to the sermon, what was the immediate impact of the Samaritan woman sharing her story with her village? ([01:07:20])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to demonstrate his love and authority through humble service rather than a display of power or knowledge? What does this reveal about God’s character? ([40:20])
2. The sermon mentioned that every believer’s story is valuable, whether dramatic or “boring.” Why might people struggle to see the value in their own testimony? ([57:13])
3. How does the Samaritan woman’s invitation to “come and see” model a healthy way to share our faith stories with others? ([01:20:41])
4. The sermon emphasized that sharing your story should be personal, current, and connected to real needs. Why is it important for testimonies to be ongoing and relevant, rather than just a one-time event from the past? ([01:12:25])

Application Questions

1. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet even though he knew he was their Lord and Teacher. Is there a specific area in your life where you could choose humble service over seeking recognition or power? What would that look like this week? ([40:20])
2. Think about your own faith story. Do you tend to see it as too ordinary or too messy to share? What holds you back from sharing it, and how might God use your story to encourage someone else? ([57:13])
3. The Samaritan woman simply invited her neighbors to “come and see” what Jesus had done. Who in your life could you invite to experience Jesus, either by sharing your story or inviting them to church or a small group? ([01:20:41])
4. The sermon encouraged us to notice and record God’s daily work in our lives. What is one practical way you could start paying attention to and remembering how Jesus is active in your everyday experiences? ([01:12:25])
5. When you think about sharing your story, do you feel pressure to have all the answers or to make it sound impressive? How can you focus on being authentic and loving instead of feeling like you need a “perfect” testimony? ([01:03:25])
6. The sermon talked about connecting your story to the real needs of others. Can you think of a recent conversation where you could have shared how Jesus helped you in a similar situation? How might you approach it differently next time? ([01:16:57])
7. If you have a habit of only sharing old stories about your faith, what is one recent way God has worked in your life that you could share with someone this week? ([01:12:25])