Serving with Love: The Heart of True Leadership
Summary
Today, I explored the profound theme of service, drawing from the rich biblical context of John 13, where Jesus washes His disciples' feet during the Last Supper. This act, set against the backdrop of the Passover, was not just a ritual of cleanliness but a profound lesson in humility and love, the core motives of true service.
I began by addressing the motive for service, highlighting that Jesus, knowing His time was short, chose to love His disciples to the end. This act of washing feet, typically reserved for servants, was a powerful demonstration of servant leadership, where the greatest leader stoops to serve. This challenges us to adopt a posture of humility in our service, recognizing that it is not about elevating ourselves but about genuinely caring for others.
I then transitioned to discussing the model of service that Jesus provided. He didn't just serve; He served with a love that was willing to get dirty, to touch the untouchable. This is the model we are called to follow—a service that goes beyond convenience and comfort, reaching out in love to meet the needs of others, even when it's uncomfortable or thankless.
In the practical application of this teaching, I emphasized the importance of serving within the church and community. I provided examples of how this could look in everyday life, such as volunteering in various church ministries, helping neighbors, or simply being a person who uplifts others in their daily interactions. This kind of service not only meets physical needs but also builds the kingdom of God by demonstrating His love in tangible ways.
Furthermore, I addressed the joy and fulfillment that come from serving. This isn't a superficial happiness but a deep, soul-satisfying joy that comes from living in alignment with God's purpose for us—to love and serve others as He has loved and served us.
Finally, I concluded with a call to action, urging everyone to reflect on their own lives and find ways to serve not out of obligation but out of a heartfelt response to the love we have received from God. This is how we truly worship Him—not just with our songs and prayers but with our lives of service.
### Key Takeaways:
1. The Motive of Service: Love
The ultimate motive for service should be love, as demonstrated by Jesus during the Last Supper. By washing His disciples' feet, He showed that true leadership is expressed through humble service. This challenges us to serve not for recognition or reward but out of genuine love for others. [45:19]
2. The Model of Service: Jesus
Jesus not only taught but also exemplified service. His actions in the upper room serve as a model for us, teaching us that true greatness in the kingdom of God is measured by our willingness to serve. This calls us to reflect on our own service—are we leading by serving in humility and love? [53:47]
3. The Joy of Service
Serving others brings a unique joy that enriches our lives. This joy is a deep fulfillment that comes from knowing we are participating in God's work on earth. When we prioritize Jesus, others, and then ourselves, we experience the true joy of living out our divine purpose. [01:02:48]
4. Practical Ways to Serve
Service can be integrated into every aspect of our lives, from church involvement to community engagement. By identifying our spiritual gifts and using them to meet the needs around us, we embody the call to be Christ's hands and feet on earth. [01:12:55]
5. The Impact of Service
Our service has the power to transform not only the lives of others but also our own lives. It aligns us with God's will and deepens our relationship with Him, as we become conduits of His grace and love in the world. [01:18:28]
### Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [40:44] - Introduction and Welcome to Attendees
- [41:15] - Importance of Student Camp
- [43:10] - Overview of Spiritual Disciplines
- [44:21] - Lessons on Service from John 13
- [45:19] - The Motive for Service: Love
- [53:16] - The Model of Service: Jesus
- [01:02:15] - The Ministry of Service
- [01:12:16] - Practical Ways to Serve
- [01:18:28] - Closing Prayer and Dedication
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- John 13:1-17
- Philippians 2:3-4
- 1 Samuel 12:24
### Observation Questions
1. What significant event is taking place in John 13, and what does Jesus do for His disciples during this event? ([45:19])
2. According to Philippians 2:3-4, what attitude should we have towards others when serving them?
3. In 1 Samuel 12:24, what reason does Samuel give for serving the Lord faithfully?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to wash His disciples' feet, an act typically reserved for servants, during the Last Supper? ([45:19])
2. How does the act of washing the disciples' feet serve as a model for Christian service today? ([53:47])
3. What does it mean to serve the Lord with gladness, as mentioned in 1 Samuel 12:24, and how can this be reflected in our daily lives?
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you served someone out of genuine love. How did it impact your relationship with that person? ([45:19])
2. Jesus served His disciples by performing a humble task. What are some humble tasks you can perform in your community or church to demonstrate servant leadership? ([53:47])
3. Serving others can sometimes be uncomfortable or thankless. How can you prepare your heart to serve even when it is inconvenient? ([46:26])
4. Identify a specific way you can serve within your church or community this week. How will you ensure that your motive for serving is love? ([47:29])
5. The sermon mentioned the joy and fulfillment that come from serving. Can you recall a moment when serving others brought you deep joy? How can you seek out more opportunities to experience this joy? ([01:02:15])
6. How can you model a life of service to your family, especially to your children, as Jesus modeled for His disciples? ([53:47])
7. Think about the spiritual gifts you have. How can you use them to meet the needs of those around you and build the kingdom of God? ([01:11:42])
Devotional
Day 1: Love as the Foundation of Service
True service begins with a heart full of love. When we serve others, it should not be for recognition or personal gain, but out of genuine love and compassion. This kind of service reflects the heart of Jesus, who, during the Last Supper, demonstrated the ultimate act of love by washing His disciples' feet. This was not just a humble act but a profound demonstration of love in action. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate this kind of selfless service, looking for opportunities to serve others not because we must, but because we are moved by love. [45:19]
John 13:1-5 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."
Reflection: How can you show love through service in your community this week, even in small, seemingly insignificant ways?
Day 2: Emulating Jesus' Model of Service
Jesus not only taught us the importance of service; He lived it. His actions at the Last Supper serve as a powerful example for us all. True greatness in God's kingdom is measured not by how many serve us, but by how many we serve and the spirit in which we do it. Serving like Jesus means stepping out of our comfort zones, being willing to get our hands dirty, and touching lives in a tangible and loving way. This model challenges us to examine our own hearts and actions in light of Jesus' example. [53:47]
Philippians 2:5-7 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."
Reflection: In what ways can you incorporate more humility and selflessness into your daily interactions and service to others?
Day 3: The Deep Joy of Serving Others
Serving others brings a unique joy that transcends ordinary happiness. This joy stems from aligning with God's purpose for our lives, which is to love and serve others as He has loved and served us. When we prioritize others' needs and serve with a Christ-like attitude, we experience a profound fulfillment that only comes from doing God's work on earth. This joy is a testament to the spiritual richness that service brings into our lives. [01:02:48]
1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent act of service you performed. How did it make you feel, and what did it teach you about the joy of serving?
Day 4: Practical Ways to Serve in Everyday Life
Service is not limited to grand gestures; it can be woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. Whether it's through involvement in church ministries, helping a neighbor, or uplifting someone with encouraging words, each act of service contributes to building God's kingdom. By identifying our spiritual gifts and using them to serve others, we become Christ's hands and feet on earth, demonstrating His love in practical ways. [01:12:55]
Galatians 5:13-14 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. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Reflection: What are your spiritual gifts, and how can you use them this week to serve someone in your community or church?
Day 5: Transformative Impact of Service
Our service has the power to transform lives—not just the lives of those we serve, but our own lives as well. As we align ourselves with God's will through service, we deepen our relationship with Him and become conduits of His grace and love. This transformation is both personal and communal, as it impacts our hearts and spreads to those around us, creating a ripple effect of God's love in the world. [01:18:28]
Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: How has serving others helped you grow in your faith, and how can you encourage others to start serving more actively?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Don't ever forget where you came from. Recently, in the last few years, somebody gave me the tip. I'm gonna give it to you. Buy everything, pay for everything on one credit card that gives you points. And I do it with one of the airlines. And so I have never bought, are you listening? I've never in my life bought a first class ticket. But recently, over the accumulation of time, I have now got to the highest status. And they just bump me up to first class." [50:23]
2. "Everyone can be great because everyone can be a servant. Let me tell you, if you want to be great in the kingdom of God, you got to put service above status, character above convenience, we above me and worship above wealth. How many times do we hear somebody say something like this, trying to excuse their sin? They'll say, but God just wants me to be happy. No. He wants you to quit being self-centered and self-serving and serve others." [01:05:01]
3. "Serve one another, here it is, humbly, and in love. You know, there's so much more here that I don't have time to preach, but I want you to write it. Now, Romans 12, 1. It's talking about spiritual gifts here. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. But in many translations, the word worship is translated service." [01:09:49]
### Quotes for Members
1. "He didn't say, well done, good and faithful husband or wife. He didn't say, well done, good and faithful parent. He said, no, servant. And if you will give your life to be a servant, of God, you'll be a great parent. You'll be the spouse you need to be. You will be the teacher, the preacher, the singer. Are you tracking with me?" [01:06:52]
2. "Here's the third lesson is the ministry of service. John 13, 16. It says, Verily, truly, I say unto you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. And so he is talking here. Makarios is the word in the Greek for blessed. It doesn't mean happy. Like, oh, somebody just told a joke and we're laughing, we're happy. No, here's what it means. Fulfilled." [01:02:15]
3. "The motive for service. The motive. And you're gonna see it right up front in the scripture. John chapter 13, verse one. It was just before the Passover festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. That's the motive. That's the," [45:19]
4. "The model of service. All right, stay with me. I'm at John 13, verse 12. You still awake? Say amen. It says, When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done for you? He asked them. You call me teacher and Lord. And rightly so. For that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." [53:16]
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