Being Servants of Christ Message on Biblical Servanthood

Part I: The Heart of a

Servantby Pastor Reinaldo A. Z. García

Sunday, January 13, 2013

RWCC

Being Servants of Christ

Message on Biblical Servanthood

RWCCBeing Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant

Introduction

http://vimeo.com/13744400




Introduction

“You’re gonna have to ________ somebody,Well, it may be the ________ or it may be

the _______But you’re gonna have to serve

somebody.”(Bob Dylan, “Gotta Serve Somebody,”

1979)“15If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24.15)

servedevil Lord


The Heart of a ServantServing is not evangelism, but it softens, fertilizes, and waters the ground for sowing.“Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. John 1:18: ‘No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son has made him known.’ ‘That’s wonder-ful,’ people say, ‘but it was 2,000 years ago. Is there no way by which the invisible God makes Himself visible today?’ There is. 1 John 4:12: ‘No one has ever seen God.’ … ‘If we love one another, God dwells in us.’ In other words, the invisible God, who once made Himself visible in Christ, now makes Himself visible in Christians, if we love one another. It is a breathtaking claim. The local church cannot evangelize, proclaiming the gospel of love, if it is not itself a community of love.” (John Stott)


The Heart of a ServantServing is not evangelism, but it softens, fertilizes, and waters the ground for sowing.“Men would sooner believe that the gospel is from heaven, if they saw more such effects of it upon the hearts and lives of those who profess it. The world is better able to read the nature of religion in a man’s life than in the Bible.” (Richard Baxter)


The Heart of a ServantA couple of definitions with regards what it means to have the heart of a servant:

1. Heart: a. Contemporary: One’s feelings, emotions or

affections.b. Scripture: “a.” plus one’s intellect, will,

conscience, or any given combinations of these.

2. Servant: a. Contemporary: One who provides goods &

services for another. b. Scripture: “a.” plus wisely, willingly,

excellently, not under compulsion, motivated by love, not fear or personal gain.


The Heart of a ServantSo then, what does it mean to have the heart of a servant? A servant with a “good heart” is one who…

1. …loves God, a. heart (intellect, will, emotions,

conscience), b. soul (psyche, personality, consciousness),

and c. might (behavior, decisions, deeds);“…the great and foremost commandment…depend the whole Law and the Prophets [Scriptures].” (Deuteronomy 6.5, also Matthew 22.34-38, Mark 12.28-30 & Luke 10.25-27a)

2. …loves his neighbor. (Leviticus 19.18, also Matthew 22.39, Mark 12.31 & Luke 10.27b)


The Heart of a ServantLesson to be learned from these passages is that,A servant ______/_______ God by _______/________ his neighbor. See also:

Matthew 25.31-46 (“judgment of sheep & goats”);

John 21.15-17 (“love me? … feed my sheep!”);

John 13.35 (“ultimate apologetic”); and Luke 10.30-37 (“Parable of the Good

Samaritan”).

loves serves loving serving


The Heart of a ServantStory of James’ & John’s mom (Matthew 20.20-28) “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”

24And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20.24-28)


The Heart of a ServantFour principles derived from Matthew 20.20-28:

1. Greatness in God’s kingdom is never to be found in position or power or in the praise and opinions of men, but in servant-like service to others.

2. The ultimate purpose of serving others is to set them free to love and serve God.

3. With Christ as our role model of a Servant-Savior—by faith, hope and love—we are motivated to serve one another for the edification of the other person.

4. We are never to make others our servants in order to satisfy our immature cravings or insecurities or search for self-significance or importance.


The Heart of a ServantConsequences of living a life in opposition to or absence of Biblical servanthood:

1. For the individual: Jealousy, discontent, bitterness, burnout, disunity, animosity, failure to minister, failure to thrive (perennial spiritual childhood, Hebrews 6.1-3), narcissism, etc.


The Heart of a ServantConsequences of living a life in opposition to or absence of Biblical servanthood:

1. For the individual: Jealousy, discontent, bitterness, burnout, disunity, animosity, failure to minister, failure to thrive (perennial spiritual childhood, Hebrews 6.1-3), narcissism, etc.

2. For the church: Divisions, factions, church splits, ministry dysfunction, failure to disciple, black eye on the church, hindrances to the gospel, etc.


The Heart of a ServantDeveloping the heart of a servant…

1. Exercise “____________ of _______” (Romans 1.15 & 16.26).

2. Submit to ___________ _____________ in your life (Hebrews 13.17).

3. Be ______________ to the _______ of _______ (Romans 12.1-2).

4. __________ God in _______ and in ______ (John 4.23-24).

obedience faith

spiritual authorities


The Heart of a Servant“If we help someone become what God wants them to be, God will send someone along to help us be everything God wants us to be. Oneday I asked one of our musicians if he wouldlike to do something that needed to be done. He said, ‘I will do whatever you tell me to do; I am here to serve you.’ I said, ‘But do you want to do this? You don’t have to do it; we can find someone else.’ He said, ‘It doesn’t matter if I want to or not. Tell me what you want me to do, and I will do it.’ He was anointed to help others and enjoyed doing whatever needed to be done. To enjoy your day, be ready to help people with whatever God has called them to do.” (Joyce Meyer, Starting Your Day Right, December 6)


The Heart of a ServantDeveloping the heart of a servant…

1. Exercise “____________ of _______” (Romans 1.15 & 16.26).

2. Submit to ___________ _____________ in your life (Hebrews 13.17).

3. Be ______________ to the _______ of _______ (Romans 12.1-2).

4. __________ God in _______ and in ______ (John 4.23-24).

obedience faith

spiritual authorities

transformed image

Worship spirit truth

Christ

RWCC

“Serving others is worship. ‘Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God’ (Hebrews 13:16) … That means our worship is revealed not simply in a meeting but in the way we live every day. We worship God by seeking to obey 1 Corinthians 10:31: ‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’” (Bob Kauflin, Worship Matters)Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The

Heart of a Servant

The Heart of a Servant


Closing ThoughtsWhat works for me as a motivation to serve…

Identify with and find significance—in Christ alone.

Study the life of Christ and be inspired & equipped for service.

Rest in Christ; He died for us and redeemed us. He said, “it is finished” (John 19.30) and also “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls…My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11.28-30).

“Love God and do as you please.” (Augustine)

Being Servants of Christ Message on Biblical Servanthood

Documents

Transcript of Being Servants of Christ Message on Biblical Servanthood