Serving Others: The Heart of Following Jesus
Summary
In today's message, I explored the profound yet simple truth that serving others is at the heart of following Jesus. This principle, though straightforward, is not easy to live out. It requires us to move beyond intellectual understanding to practical application. Jesus exemplified this during the Last Supper when He washed His disciples' feet, demonstrating that true greatness is found in service, not status. This act was not just a lesson in humility but a call to action for all who follow Him.
The story of Peter's resistance to Jesus washing his feet illustrates a common struggle: we often think we know better than God. Yet, Jesus teaches us that we must first receive His service—His sacrifice on the cross—before we can truly serve others. This receiving and giving is a divine rhythm that reflects the heart of the Gospel.
Moreover, serving is not just a church activity; it's a lifestyle that extends to every area of our lives. Whether it's in our families, workplaces, or communities, we are called to serve as Jesus did. This is not about earning salvation but responding to the grace we've received. Our greatness in God's kingdom is measured by how we serve, not by the titles we hold.
As a church, we are encouraged to embrace this call to service, not out of obligation but as a privilege and a response to Jesus' example. By doing so, we not only grow in our relationship with Him but also have the opportunity to impact our communities profoundly. Let's strive to be a church where everyone serves, reflecting the love and humility of Christ in all we do.
Key Takeaways:
- Simple Yet Challenging: The teachings of Jesus are simple to understand but challenging to implement. The call to love God and love others is straightforward, yet it requires us to move beyond intellectual understanding to practical application. This simplicity demands action, not just contemplation. [03:25]
- Service as Greatness: True greatness in God's kingdom is measured by service, not status. Jesus demonstrated this by washing His disciples' feet, showing that serving others is the path to true greatness. Our lives should reflect this principle, prioritizing service over seeking titles or accolades. [14:16]
- Receiving and Giving: There is a divine rhythm of receiving and giving in our relationship with God. We receive His love, forgiveness, and service, and in turn, we are called to extend these to others. This cycle is essential for spiritual health and growth. [19:12]
- Peter's Lesson: Peter's resistance to Jesus washing his feet highlights a common struggle: thinking we know better than God. We must learn to submit to Jesus' way, recognizing that His service to us is the foundation of our relationship with Him. [16:54]
- Impact of Serving: Serving others as Jesus served us can have a profound impact on our communities. By embracing a lifestyle of service, we reflect Christ's love and open doors for sharing the Gospel. Our effectiveness is measured in how we serve, not in the titles we hold. [34:48]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:25] - Simple Yet Challenging
- [06:20] - Practical Faith
- [08:31] - The Last Supper Context
- [11:38] - Foot Washing Explained
- [14:16] - Service as Greatness
- [16:54] - Peter's Lesson
- [19:12] - Receiving and Giving
- [22:29] - Jesus' Love for Enemies
- [24:29] - Serving One Another
- [26:52] - Competing Against Darkness
- [29:35] - Faith in Action
- [31:22] - Opportunities to Serve
- [34:48] - Impact of Serving
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 13:1-17
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Observation Questions:
1. What significant act did Jesus perform during the Last Supper, and what was its purpose? [11:38]
2. How did Peter initially respond to Jesus' attempt to wash his feet, and what does this reveal about his understanding of Jesus' actions? [16:54]
3. What does Jesus' act of washing the disciples' feet teach about the nature of true greatness in God's kingdom? [14:16]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Jesus have chosen to wash the disciples' feet as a demonstration of service, and what does this act symbolize in the context of His ministry? [11:38]
2. How does Peter's resistance to Jesus washing his feet reflect a common struggle in understanding and accepting God's ways? [16:54]
3. What does the concept of "receiving and giving" mean in the context of our relationship with God, and how is it essential for spiritual growth? [19:12]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you found it challenging to serve others. What was the situation, and how did you overcome the difficulty? [11:38]
2. In what areas of your life do you find yourself resisting God's guidance, similar to Peter's initial reaction? How can you work on being more open to His direction? [16:54]
3. How can you incorporate the principle of "receiving and giving" into your daily life, particularly in your interactions with family, friends, and coworkers? [19:12]
4. Identify a specific way you can serve someone in your community this week. What steps will you take to ensure this act of service reflects the love and humility of Christ? [34:48]
5. Consider the roles you hold in your church or community. How can you shift your focus from seeking status to embracing service as a measure of greatness? [14:16]
6. Think about a person or group you find difficult to serve. What practical steps can you take to serve them with the love and humility that Jesus demonstrated? [22:29]
7. How can you encourage others in your church or community to embrace a lifestyle of service, and what impact do you hope this will have on your collective witness for Christ? [31:22]
Devotional
Day 1: The Challenge of Simple Truths
The teachings of Jesus are often simple to understand but challenging to implement. The call to love God and love others is straightforward, yet it requires us to move beyond intellectual understanding to practical application. This simplicity demands action, not just contemplation. Jesus exemplified this during the Last Supper when He washed His disciples' feet, demonstrating that true greatness is found in service, not status. This act was not just a lesson in humility but a call to action for all who follow Him. [03:25]
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." (James 1:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one simple teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to live out? How can you take a specific step today to put it into practice?
Day 2: Greatness Through Service
True greatness in God's kingdom is measured by service, not status. Jesus demonstrated this by washing His disciples' feet, showing that serving others is the path to true greatness. Our lives should reflect this principle, prioritizing service over seeking titles or accolades. This is not about earning salvation but responding to the grace we've received. Our greatness in God's kingdom is measured by how we serve, not by the titles we hold. [14:16]
"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 prioritize serving others over seeking recognition or status in your daily life?
Day 3: The Divine Rhythm of Receiving and Giving
There is a divine rhythm of receiving and giving in our relationship with God. We receive His love, forgiveness, and service, and in turn, we are called to extend these to others. This cycle is essential for spiritual health and growth. Jesus teaches us that we must first receive His service—His sacrifice on the cross—before we can truly serve others. This receiving and giving is a divine rhythm that reflects the heart of the Gospel. [19:12]
"Freely you have received; freely give." (Matthew 10:8b, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally receive God's love and grace today, and in what specific way can you extend that to someone else?
Day 4: Learning from Peter's Resistance
Peter's resistance to Jesus washing his feet highlights a common struggle: thinking we know better than God. We must learn to submit to Jesus' way, recognizing that His service to us is the foundation of our relationship with Him. This act of submission is crucial for our spiritual journey, as it allows us to fully embrace the grace and love that Jesus offers. [16:54]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are resisting God's way? What would it look like to submit to His guidance today?
Day 5: The Impact of a Servant's Heart
Serving others as Jesus served us can have a profound impact on our communities. By embracing a lifestyle of service, we reflect Christ's love and open doors for sharing the Gospel. Our effectiveness is measured in how we serve, not in the titles we hold. As a church, we are encouraged to embrace this call to service, not out of obligation but as a privilege and a response to Jesus' example. [34:48]
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one specific way you can serve someone in your community this week. How can this act of service reflect the love of Christ?
Quotes
"What if I told you that there is one thing that you can get today that can significantly improve the health of your marriage or your future marriage for the single people in here? What if I told you that there is one thing you can get today that will drastically enhance the relationship that you have with your children or your future children?" [00:02:00] (25 seconds)
"Jesus was the master at taking very complex, very complicated things and making them very simple to understand. For example, Jesus, summarize the entire Old Testament into one thing. Jesus says okay, love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and depending on the gospel you're reading and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Great job Jesus, amazing." [00:02:43] (28 seconds)
"The Bible was meant to be put into practice. The Bible is intensely practical. Jesus teaching is intensely practical. His teaching was simple but it was challenging to the core. Forgive others. Yes, we all know that we should forgive others. But when that person hurts you, is it easy to forgive sometimes? No. Have faith. Yes, of course. We all know we should have faith." [00:04:10] (35 seconds)
"Following Jesus is meant to be practical. It's why we're going through the practices of Jesus. Our verse for the year is Matthew 7, 17. Every healthy tree produces good fruit. We don't just want you to have knowledge, we want you to be healthy. And if you are healthy, you will produce good fruit. Regardless of how many Bible verses you have memorized, you are not healthy if you are cheating on your spouse." [00:06:20] (29 seconds)
"Jesus did not insist on being served. He came as a servant to serve. Jesus did not seek status. He embraced sacrifice. Jesus did not rule by force. Instead, he led with love. Jesus didn't pursue a crown. Instead, he carried a cross. Jesus did not chase after a throne. Instead, he grabbed a towel. Very different approach." [00:13:48] (27 seconds)
"Serving is what makes you great. It continues. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus said, you don't realize now what I'm doing, but later on you will understand. No, said Peter, you shall never wash my feet. The response in the Greek is actually more intense. He's in essence saying, you shall never in all of eternity wash my feet. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever." [00:14:42] (29 seconds)
"The truth is that you must be washed by Jesus before you can be with Jesus. You must accept and receive Jesus's service to you. That he died on a cross. We accept and we receive that service. And that is the starting point of our relationship with Jesus. This is... It's not just about going to church." [00:17:30] (23 seconds)
"There's a godly rhythm with receiving and giving. Receiving and giving. If you have a body of water and there is water coming in and there is no water going out, you have the Dead Sea or a swamp or something that's disgusting and gross. Because there's inflow, but there's no outflow. If you have a heart that takes in blood, but it doesn't pump it out, or lungs that breathe in air, but don't breathe it out, or a digestive system that takes food in, but doesn't, you're in trouble." [00:18:18] (33 seconds)
"Jesus washed Judas' feet knowing he was going to have him killed and he did it anyway. Jesus loved and served not only his disciples, his friends, he even did it with his enemies. When he was on the cross, he said, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. How great of a love is that?" [00:22:31] (23 seconds)
"Ultimately, the depth of your revelation of Jesus is revealed in the depth of your serving. The depth of your revelation of serving. As Jesus has served you, you go and serve others. Your greatness is measured in towels, not titles. 180 from the way the world works. If I can get enough titles, enough accolades, enough accomplishments, if I can put enough things on my resume, then I'm a big deal. It's not how Jesus measures greatness." [00:24:44] (34 seconds)
"Serving is not what makes you saved by your own service, your own activity, but serving is the natural result of being saved, of having been served by Christ. Jesus served you, go and serve one another. If you don't have a revelation of serving, you don't have a revelation of Jesus. This is so core to who Jesus is. It is the starting point for a relationship with him." [00:30:06] (25 seconds)
"Elan Church has always been and always will be a church where no one person does everything, but everyone does something. Every single one of us should be serving, not as a religious obligation, but as an opportunity and as a privilege and as a response to Jesus serving us." [00:33:26] (20 seconds)
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