Serving with Eternity in Mind: A Call to Action

Summary

### Summary

Today was a day of celebration and reflection at Harvest Fellowship. We had the joy of baptizing several individuals, each publicly declaring their faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism is a powerful testament to the transformative work of God in our lives, and it was a privilege to witness these moments of commitment and joy. We also took time to appreciate the many volunteers who serve in various capacities within our church. Their dedication is a testament to the heart of servanthood that we strive to cultivate.

Our focus today was on the theme of servanthood and living with eternity in mind. We revisited key points from our "Dream Work" series, emphasizing that every call to serve, no matter how small, is significant in God's kingdom. We discussed the importance of teamwork and the necessity of getting the job done without seeking personal recognition. We also touched on the reality that none of us are perfect, but we are all striving to be more like Jesus, extending grace to one another as we grow.

The core of today's message was about serving with eternity in mind. We explored three critical aspects: understanding the importance of the job, recognizing the urgency of the time, and knowing that there is a reward for our efforts, even if it is not immediate. Jesus modeled servanthood by coming to serve rather than be served, and we are called to follow His example. The Apostle Paul's words to Timothy remind us to be prepared, to preach the word, and to fulfill our ministry with diligence and perseverance.

As we concluded, we were reminded that our ultimate reward is in heaven, where we will experience the fullness of joy and the absence of all pain and sorrow. This eternal perspective should motivate us to serve faithfully and passionately, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

### Key Takeaways

1. Every Call Matters: Whether you are a senior pastor or a volunteer making coffee, your role is significant in God's kingdom. The value of your service is not measured by its visibility but by its faithfulness to God's call. Embrace your role with the understanding that it contributes to the greater mission of the church. [52:09]

2. Teamwork is Essential: The phrase "teamwork makes the dream work" highlights the importance of collaboration in achieving God's purposes. A healthy church functions like a well-coordinated team, where each member plays a crucial part. Together, we can accomplish more for God's kingdom than we ever could alone. [52:46]

3. Grace for Imperfection: None of us are perfect, and we all make mistakes. It's essential to extend grace to one another, recognizing that we are all on a journey of becoming more like Jesus. This grace fosters a loving and forgiving community where people can grow and thrive. [54:50]

4. Urgency of the Time: Life is fleeting, and our opportunities to serve and share the gospel are limited. We must live and serve with a sense of urgency, making the most of every moment to fulfill God's purposes. This perspective helps us prioritize what truly matters and stay focused on our mission. [01:16:55]

5. Eternal Reward: While serving can be challenging and may not always bring immediate recognition, our ultimate reward is in heaven. We are storing up treasures in heaven through our faithful service. This eternal perspective encourages us to persevere, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. [01:20:45]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[13:25] - Baptism of Peter
[15:15] - Baptism of Daniel Jr.
[16:54] - Baptism of Hector
[18:30] - Baptism of Alexis
[46:19] - Greeting and Announcements
[47:51] - Reflection on Church Community
[48:14] - Invitation to Newcomers
[49:02] - Teaching on Giving and Faithfulness
[51:01] - Recap of Dream Work Series
[52:09] - Every Call Matters
[52:46] - Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
[54:50] - Grace for Imperfection
[55:58] - Never Give Up on People
[01:16:55] - Urgency of the Time
[01:20:45] - Eternal Reward
[01:23:59] - Communion and Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Reading

1. Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)
> "Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'"

2. 2 Timothy 4:1-8 (NIV)
> "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

### Observation Questions

1. According to Matthew 20:25-28, what does Jesus say about leadership and servanthood?
2. In 2 Timothy 4:1-2, what specific instructions does Paul give to Timothy regarding his ministry?
3. What does Paul mean when he says he is being "poured out like a drink offering" in 2 Timothy 4:6?
4. How does Paul describe the reward that awaits him in 2 Timothy 4:8?

### Interpretation Questions

1. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 20:25-28 challenge common views of leadership and authority? [01:01:16]
2. What might Paul be referring to when he talks about people gathering teachers to suit their own desires in 2 Timothy 4:3-4? How does this relate to our current context? [01:03:33]
3. Why is it significant that Paul describes his life as a "fight" and a "race" in 2 Timothy 4:7? What does this imply about the nature of Christian service? [01:04:06]
4. How does the promise of an eternal reward in 2 Timothy 4:8 motivate believers to serve faithfully, even when immediate recognition is lacking? [01:20:45]

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on a time when you served in a role that was not highly visible or recognized. How did you find motivation to continue serving faithfully? [52:09]
2. In what ways can you contribute to teamwork within your church or community? How can you ensure that your efforts are collaborative rather than competitive? [52:46]
3. How do you handle imperfections in yourself and others within your church community? What steps can you take to extend more grace and foster a forgiving environment? [54:50]
4. Considering the urgency of the time, what are some practical ways you can prioritize serving and sharing the gospel in your daily life? [01:16:55]
5. How does the promise of an eternal reward influence your current attitude towards service and ministry? What changes can you make to keep this eternal perspective in mind? [01:20:45]
6. Identify one area in your life where you can serve with more intentionality and purpose. What specific actions will you take this week to serve with eternity in mind? [01:06:22]
7. Think about someone in your life who does not know Jesus. How can you take a step this week to share your faith with them, keeping in mind the urgency of the time? [01:16:55]

Devotional

Day 1: The Significance of Every Role
Every Call Matters: Whether you are a senior pastor or a volunteer making coffee, your role is significant in God's kingdom. The value of your service is not measured by its visibility but by its faithfulness to God's call. Embrace your role with the understanding that it contributes to the greater mission of the church. [52:09]

In God's kingdom, every role, no matter how small it may seem, holds immense significance. The act of serving, whether it is preaching from the pulpit or preparing coffee for the congregation, is a testament to one's faithfulness to God's call. The visibility of the role does not determine its value; rather, it is the heart and dedication behind the service that matters. Each task, when done with a spirit of servanthood, contributes to the greater mission of the church and the advancement of God's kingdom.

Understanding this can transform how we view our contributions. It encourages us to embrace our roles with joy and commitment, knowing that our efforts, no matter how small, are valuable in God's eyes. This perspective helps us to serve with humility and gratitude, recognizing that we are part of a larger body working together for God's glory.

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (ESV): "But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."

Reflection: Think about your current role in your church or community. How can you embrace it with a renewed sense of purpose and faithfulness, knowing that it is significant in God's kingdom?

Day 2: The Power of Collaboration
Teamwork is Essential: The phrase "teamwork makes the dream work" highlights the importance of collaboration in achieving God's purposes. A healthy church functions like a well-coordinated team, where each member plays a crucial part. Together, we can accomplish more for God's kingdom than we ever could alone. [52:46]

Collaboration is a cornerstone of achieving God's purposes. The phrase "teamwork makes the dream work" encapsulates the idea that a healthy church functions like a well-coordinated team. Each member, with their unique gifts and talents, plays a crucial part in the overall mission. When we work together, we can accomplish far more for God's kingdom than we ever could on our own. This collective effort not only strengthens the church but also amplifies its impact on the community and beyond.

Recognizing the importance of teamwork encourages us to value and support one another. It fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose, reminding us that we are all working towards the same goal. By collaborating and leveraging each other's strengths, we can overcome challenges and achieve greater things for God's glory.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"

Reflection: Reflect on a recent project or task you worked on with others. How did collaboration enhance the outcome? How can you foster a spirit of teamwork in your current endeavors?

Day 3: Embracing Imperfection with Grace
Grace for Imperfection: None of us are perfect, and we all make mistakes. It's essential to extend grace to one another, recognizing that we are all on a journey of becoming more like Jesus. This grace fosters a loving and forgiving community where people can grow and thrive. [54:50]

In our journey of faith, it is crucial to recognize that none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes and fall short at times. Extending grace to one another is essential in fostering a loving and forgiving community. This grace allows us to support each other as we strive to become more like Jesus. It creates an environment where people feel safe to grow, learn, and thrive without the fear of judgment or condemnation.

By embracing imperfection with grace, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who extends His grace to us daily. This attitude helps us to build stronger relationships and a more compassionate community. It reminds us that we are all on a journey, and we need each other's support and encouragement to keep moving forward.

Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where someone made a mistake. How can you extend grace to them, just as Jesus extends grace to you? What steps can you take to foster a more forgiving and supportive community?

Day 4: Living with Urgency
Urgency of the Time: Life is fleeting, and our opportunities to serve and share the gospel are limited. We must live and serve with a sense of urgency, making the most of every moment to fulfill God's purposes. This perspective helps us prioritize what truly matters and stay focused on our mission. [01:16:55]

Life is fleeting, and our opportunities to serve and share the gospel are limited. This reality calls us to live and serve with a sense of urgency. By making the most of every moment, we can fulfill God's purposes and make a lasting impact. This perspective helps us to prioritize what truly matters and stay focused on our mission. It encourages us to seize every opportunity to serve, love, and share the good news of Jesus with those around us.

Living with urgency does not mean rushing through life but rather being intentional and purposeful in our actions. It means recognizing the value of each moment and using it to advance God's kingdom. This mindset helps us to stay motivated and committed, knowing that our time is precious and our mission is critical.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

Reflection: Reflect on your daily routine. Are there areas where you can be more intentional and purposeful in serving and sharing the gospel? How can you make the most of every moment to fulfill God's purposes?

Day 5: The Promise of Eternal Reward
Eternal Reward: While serving can be challenging and may not always bring immediate recognition, our ultimate reward is in heaven. We are storing up treasures in heaven through our faithful service. This eternal perspective encourages us to persevere, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. [01:20:45]

Serving can often be challenging, and it may not always bring immediate recognition or reward. However, as believers, we are called to serve with an eternal perspective. Our ultimate reward is in heaven, where we will experience the fullness of joy and the absence of all pain and sorrow. By storing up treasures in heaven through our faithful service, we are investing in something far greater than earthly accolades.

This eternal perspective encourages us to persevere, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. It reminds us that God sees our efforts and will reward us in His perfect timing. This hope sustains us through difficult times and motivates us to continue serving with passion and dedication, even when the results are not immediately visible.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: Consider the challenges you face in your current service. How does the promise of an eternal reward encourage you to persevere? What steps can you take to keep an eternal perspective in your daily life?

Quotes

1. "No matter the call, the call matters. No matter the call, the call matters. And all that is a statement of saying is just simply that whether you're called to be a senior pastor, a worship leader, a greeter, an usher, a nursery worker, a kids' man volunteer, a youth volunteer, whatever you're getting the donuts, making the coffee, whatever you're called to do, if you feel led by God to do it, it has just as much value and importance to the kingdom as my calling. Okay? There are differences in authority. There are differences in responsibility and accountability. But the call is the same." [52:09] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Teamwork makes the dream work. Okay? And where that came from, it's a quote from John Maxwell. The extension of that quote says teamwork makes the dream work, but a dream can become a nightmare if you have a bad team. And I rejoice in Harvest Fellowship. We have an amazing team. All of you guys, from the paid staff to the volunteers, everybody is amazing. It's a joy to do God's work here. But teamwork makes the dream work, and we can do better and more together than we can on our own. And I rejoice that God's allowed us to do this life together." [52:46] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "It's not a matter of who does what. It's a matter that the job gets done. It's not about recognition. It's not about accolades. It's not about. It's you know, who's, what title you get or how you're introduced or any of that thing. It's a matter that the job gets done. And that's what a team is all about. Picking it up and doing things along the way to fulfill God's calling and his purpose here at Harvest Fellowship and in this community of Artesia. Right? And even across the, there are times we do things for other churches. Why? To get the job done. Because it's not just about Harvest Fellowship. It's about God's kingdom. Amen?" [53:32] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We never give up on people because God never gives up on people. Okay? It's just how it is. We never give up. And you know, and I was worried about this. Because any time the preacher preaches grace, and maybe this isn't you, and maybe you've never felt this, but I'm just being transparent with you. But any time a preacher preaches grace, we have this back concern in the back of our mind. Worried, okay, do people think I'm giving them permission to sin? Do people think I'm giving them permission to not even try to do right because we know we're human, we're going to mess up? And let me assure you, in case you walked out of here last week thinking that, that's not what I'm saying. We all need to be holy. We all need to strive. That's the concept of discipleship. That's the concept of sanctification. Becoming more and more like Jesus. Amen?" [55:58] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Are you serving with eternity in mind? Are you serving with eternity in mind? And let me unpack the question a bit for us to make sure that we are all on the same page and know what I'm talking about here. There are three things of great importance that will cause us to serve with eternity in mind. And I'm going to get to all of them. But I got to give you the backside of it first. And this isn't in my notes, but I got to help us understand. And I'm not being critical. I'm not making fun of anybody. I'm not picking on anybody. I'm just telling you how life works. And if your life doesn't work this way, talk to me because I need to know your secrets. Okay? But we all have a tendency to do most of what we do expecting some kind of compensation for what we're doing." [01:07:05] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We serve the Lord, number one, because he's worthy of our service. We worship him because he's the only one who's worthy of worship. But we are evangelistic and we try to reach people. We disciple people because their soul matters. Listen, if you're here today and you don't know Jesus, God's word is very clear. The wages of sin is death. It's very clear that at some point you're going to face judgment. And at that moment, you're either going to inherit eternal life. Or you're going to be cast out into hell for eternal damnation. Those are the two choices. You don't get to decide then. You have to decide now. Amen. The good news is, it's very simple. Just put your faith in Jesus. Because he's done everything that needs to be done in order for you to be saved." [01:14:37] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "To serve with eternity in mind, we have to understand the reward for the effort. See, there is a reward. You just don't get it now. I mean, you might get a pat on the back. You might get an attaboy. Those are fine. But the reward comes in eternity. Serving can be difficult. It can be tiring. It can be taxing. It can seem as though the effort is not worth it because you may not always be appreciated or get the recognition. But the reward's not for now. It comes later. The Bible talks about the fact that we're storing up treasure in heaven. And is that from the offerings we give? Yes, but it's also from the work that we do. We'll receive that reward." [01:20:45] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Eternity is the priority. Amen? This got good? That's what's going to happen. I'm going to pray for you in just a second. I'm going to give you an opportunity for those who don't know the Lord to accept him, and then the guys are going to come, and they're going to spread out these plates, and I'm going to have you come forward and get the communion elements and take them back to your seat, and we'll all take it together. I want to tell you. If you're visiting here today, we practice this thing called open communion. All it means is that if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, it doesn't matter when or where you did that. If you're serving Jesus, we invite you and encourage you to take communion with us. You're a part of the family, okay?" [01:23:15] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Life with Jesus is a lot better than life without Jesus. Life without him. Accept him, serve him, and see how he doesn't help you figure life out. It's just a point of surrender. So if you're here today and you say, Pastor Ronnie, I need Jesus. I need him to be the Lord of my life. We're going to pray a prayer in a minute. I encourage you to say the prayer out loud and strong with us. And I want to challenge one more group of people. Maybe you're here, and maybe you've accepted the Lord, and maybe you've even served him, but an honest evaluation, or your life right now would show that you're not living for him. And you need to get things right. This is your opportunity. Do that today." [01:26:39] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We worship you Lord and we're so thankful for all that you've done. We're so grateful for all that you've done taking the joy that you've given us with us that we take the truth and the joy of salvation wherever we go that others may come to know you Lord God I thank you for all the blessings that you have provided to us Lord all the benefits of being your children we rejoice in that God I thank you for healing I thank you for direction I thank you for wisdom God I thank you for for all the fruit that you send us in this great season come and give us the strength to Him You allow the flow in our life because of your Holy Spirit within us. You're an amazing God. We love you. We give you glory. We ask all of this in Jesus' name. Come on, everybody, say amen." [01:35:10] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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