True Significance: Serving Others in God's Name
Summary
In our world today, we often find ourselves idolizing celebrities—those whose names are in lights, who wield power, and who have achieved cultural significance. However, in the eyes of God, true celebrity status is not about fame or influence but about touching the lives of others in His name, especially those who cannot repay us. Jesus calls us to minister to those in need, those who are naked, hungry, thirsty, or imprisoned, without expecting anything in return. This is the essence of true ministry and love for God and others.
Every Sunday, I am reminded of this truth by a young man in our congregation who cannot hear or speak. He faithfully attends church and approaches me each week, seeking a simple affirmation that he is okay. He doesn't ask for money or favors; he just wants to know that he is seen and valued. This interaction is a powerful reminder that God values our acts of kindness and love towards those who cannot repay us more than any grand gesture or public recognition.
Today, as I prepare to preach to a large crowd, I am reminded that God is not impressed by numbers or public acclaim. Instead, He values the quiet, unseen acts of love and service we offer to those in need. May we strive to be a church that God feels comfortable visiting, one that is not caught up in celebrity culture but is focused on serving others with humility and love.
Key Takeaways:
- True significance in God's eyes is not about fame or influence but about touching the lives of others in His name, especially those who cannot repay us. This is the essence of true ministry and love for God and others. [00:27]
- Our acts of kindness and love towards those who cannot repay us are more valuable to God than any grand gesture or public recognition. This is a powerful reminder of what truly matters in our walk with God. [01:13]
- The young man in our congregation who seeks affirmation each week is a reminder that everyone desires to be seen and valued. Our role is to offer love and affirmation to those who may feel invisible or overlooked. [02:48]
- God is not impressed by numbers or public acclaim. Instead, He values the quiet, unseen acts of love and service we offer to those in need. This challenges us to focus on what truly matters in our ministry. [03:37]
- May we strive to be a church that God feels comfortable visiting, one that is not caught up in celebrity culture but is focused on serving others with humility and love. This is the kind of church that truly honors God. [04:19]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - True Celebrity in God's Eyes
[01:13] - Ministry and Love for Others
[01:54] - A Young Man's Simple Request
[02:48] - Seeking Affirmation
[03:37] - God's Perspective on Greatness
[04:19] - Avoiding Celebrity Culture
[04:49] - A Church God Feels Comfortable In
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV): "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus identify as acts of service in Matthew 25:35-40, and how do these acts relate to the sermon’s message about true ministry? [00:27]
2. In the sermon, what example does the pastor give to illustrate the concept of touching the life of someone who cannot repay you? [01:54]
3. How does the pastor describe God's perspective on public acclaim versus quiet acts of service? [03:37]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of the young man in the congregation illustrate the sermon’s message about the importance of seeing and valuing others? [02:48]
2. What might Jesus mean when He says that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on serving those who cannot repay us?
3. Why might God value unseen acts of love and service more than public recognition, according to the sermon? [03:37]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you helped someone who could not repay you. How did that experience impact your understanding of service and ministry? [01:13]
2. The pastor mentions the danger of becoming a "celebrity church." How can we as a church community ensure that we remain focused on serving others with humility and love? [04:19]
3. Consider the people in your life who may feel invisible or overlooked. What practical steps can you take this week to affirm their value and show them love? [02:48]
4. How can you personally shift your focus from seeking public recognition to valuing quiet acts of service in your daily life? [03:37]
5. Identify one specific way you can serve someone in need this week without expecting anything in return. How will you ensure that this act of service is done in the name of God? [00:27]
6. In what ways can you encourage others in your small group or church to engage in acts of kindness towards those who cannot repay them? [01:13]
7. How can we as individuals and as a church create an environment where God feels comfortable visiting, as mentioned in the sermon? [04:19]
Devotional
Day 1: True Significance in God's Eyes
In a world that often equates significance with fame and influence, it's crucial to remember that true significance in God's eyes is measured by our willingness to touch the lives of others in His name, especially those who cannot repay us. This is the essence of true ministry and love for God and others. When we serve those in need, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who ministered to the marginalized and the forgotten. Our acts of kindness, no matter how small, are seen and valued by God, and they carry eternal significance. [00:27]
"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life is in need of help or encouragement today, and how can you serve them without expecting anything in return?
Day 2: The Value of Unseen Acts
Our acts of kindness and love towards those who cannot repay us are more valuable to God than any grand gesture or public recognition. This truth challenges us to examine our motives and to prioritize the quiet, unseen acts of love and service that truly matter in our walk with God. When we focus on serving others without seeking recognition, we align ourselves with God's heart and His kingdom values. [01:13]
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a recent act of kindness you performed. Did you seek recognition for it? How can you cultivate a heart that values unseen acts of service?
Day 3: The Desire to Be Seen and Valued
The young man in the congregation who seeks affirmation each week is a reminder that everyone desires to be seen and valued. Our role as followers of Christ is to offer love and affirmation to those who may feel invisible or overlooked. By doing so, we reflect God's love and remind others of their inherent worth and dignity. This simple act of acknowledging someone's presence can have a profound impact on their life. [02:48]
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community might feel invisible or overlooked? How can you intentionally affirm their value this week?
Day 4: God's Perspective on Greatness
God is not impressed by numbers or public acclaim. Instead, He values the quiet, unseen acts of love and service we offer to those in need. This perspective challenges us to focus on what truly matters in our ministry and to seek God's approval above all else. By prioritizing humility and service, we align ourselves with God's definition of greatness. [03:37]
"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave." (Matthew 20:26-27, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking public acclaim? How can you shift your focus to serving others quietly and humbly?
Day 5: A Church God Feels Comfortable In
May we strive to be a church that God feels comfortable visiting, one that is not caught up in celebrity culture but is focused on serving others with humility and love. This is the kind of church that truly honors God and reflects His heart to the world. By prioritizing service over status, we create a community where God's presence is welcomed and celebrated. [04:19]
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to creating a church environment that prioritizes humility and service over status and recognition?
Quotes
We worship American idols. We worship people whose names are in lights who have reached a level of significance in the culture because of who they are, what they can do, how much they have, or the power they wield. Well that may be celebrity-ship down here, but it's not celebrity-ship up there. God calls a celebrity somebody who touches somebody else who needs them in the name of God. [00:00:00]
What Jesus says I want from you is I want you to touch the life of another in my name, and I want you to touch the life of somebody who can't help you. They can do nothing for you. They're naked. They're without clothes, without food. They're thirsty. They're in prison. They can't do anything for you. [00:00:39]
There is a direct correlation between ministry and love for God and ministry and love for others, and by others I mean folks with a need who can't help you back and for which you do not expect help back. And the more God sees you do this, the more blessed the Son will be on you. [00:01:13]
I'm made conscious of it every Sunday morning because in our first service, every Sunday, there's a young man. He sits over here. In the first service, every Sunday, at the beginning of service he walks over to me. He cannot hear. He cannot speak. He never misses church. He walks over to me. He grabs my hand, and he does this. [00:01:36]
What he is saying is, "Look at my suit." He said, "Look at my suit." And what he's asking is "Do I look ok?" And every week I go. And once he sees that. You know what he wants to know, "Am I okay?" He's just looking for an okay. He's not asking for money. He's not asking for— Am I just okay? Do I look okay? [00:02:24]
In a few hours I'll be driving down with many of you to Waco. At the appointed time I will stand before what is expected to be 35,000 people live, not counting the people on television, to preach the Word of God. When God looks down at that stadium today and sees Tony Evan preaching, He will not credit me with greatness. [00:02:58]
Now some folks may. "Wow, you spoke to 35,000 people." He will not be impressed. God the Father is not gonna turn to God the Son, and God the Son's not gonna turn the Holy Spirit, "Did you see that Evans man there? 35,000 people, not counting folk watching on TV. Hey, he's a bad boy." Uh uh, I'm not going to get no credit for that. [00:03:37]
When he sees me touch that deaf boy, I'm gonna get credit for that one. I'm gonna get credit for caring for somebody who can't do anything in return. May God keep me and keep us from becoming celebrities. Do what we've been called to do, do it to the best of our ability, but let's not be a celebrity church. [00:04:12]
I want God to feel comfortable to come in here on Sunday. I don't want Him to say, "Well they're having church, but I'm not going, cause they ain't nothing but a bunch of celebs in that place." Who knew who knows who, and who can cut a deal with who, and who's popular, and who can sit up front, and who has to sit in the back. [00:04:31]
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