SERVE Period

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10: 41-45


Today’s scripture is one that always reminds me how flawed the disciples were. We see two brothers trying to vie for a place of honor, once they are in heaven with Jesus. James and John have a private conversation with Jesus asking him to set them apart from all the other disciples. Jesus, of course, uses this as a teachable moment, explaining to all of them what it means to become great.

This passage is probably familiar to most of us. Jesus words, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave of all.” Although the familiarity of the words make it easy to quote, the lesson is much harder to put into action.

For the past two years, my family has served at Coastal Community Church, in South Florida. One of my favorite things our church does is, "Serve Saturday". On the first Saturday of each month we go to the same neighborhood and serve the residence there. The Senior Pastor designed t-shirts for us to wear that simply reads, "SERVE." on the front.

“The Christians are here; the Christians are here!” Those are the excited cries that can be heard from one of the houses on my block, in Collier City. On the first Saturday of every month, while a team from my church serves hot dog, chips, snow cones and provide fun activities for kids, I am fortunate to walk down “my block” and visit the families.

Each month I am blessed with conversations, where I’m able to encourage the residence as I catch up on what has been happening in their lives. I am filled with joy as I pray with them over health, financial, or family struggles; and play with the children who joyfully run out of the homes excited that the Christians are here.

It’s more than mere houses on a street. These are families with stories, stresses, and successes. Walk down any street in America and you will find families in need. In Collier City, though, the stresses seem to outweigh the successes.

That’s where we come in. Knocking on the doors is just the beginning. It’s started with conversations, then month after month I got to know the names that match the faces. Before I knew it when I prayed for Verna, Anna, Luis, James and Maria, Mac and Louise, Jerry and Lily, I not only know their faces, and their stories, I know their hearts.

Collier City is about showing who Jesus is through serving. Period. We expect nothing in return. We share ourselves with no expectations attached. One of the values at Coastal is, Saved People Serve People and serving in Collier City is a beautiful way to show the love of Christ.

In our passage today, Jesus says, “ the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” If we are called to be like Jesus, that is our job too. SERVE. And not just once a month but every day. Start looking today for ways you can serve. Don’t worry you do not have to be perfect. We are flawed just like the disciples were with Jesus, but he can still use us for his kingdom purpose.


Read today's entire passage here Mark 10

We're Doing the Best That We Can

In 1980, Mac Davis wrote and performed “Its Hard tobe Humble.” It was tongue in cheek song about how hard it is to be humble when you are good looking, on top of the world and perfect in every way. Mac finished the song by saying he’s doing the best that he can.

 

Today’s reading is Philippians 2:1-11 and it is about humility.

 

Jesus was figuratively on top of the world, that is, in heaven, at the time of creation. As the Son of  God, he was perfect in every way. Unlike Mac Davis, who tried, but was unsuccessful at being humble, Jesus perfected humility.

 

It was not hard for Jesus to be humble.

 

Jesus came to earth and lived with us. He healed and fed many. He brought the dead to life. He prayed for many.  As a teacher, he spoke words of wisdom where ever he went. Jesus truly was a servant.

 

Jesus was living with his father. He had a perfect life in a perfect place with perfect beings.

 

Yet he left perfection to live with us – unclean, corrupted and prideful as we are. Consider the honor and glory he had amongst the heavenly beings. He left all that to serve us, to love us, to give us everlasting life. That is a sign of humility.

 

We (humankind) repaid Jesus by nailing him to a cross. We as humans sometimes are not very grateful.

 

As Philippians states, Jesus asks us to be servants too.

 

We are to love people by caring for them and tending to their needs. Perhaps we can teach them about Jesus. Perhaps we can share a meal. Perhaps we can help someone get needed medical help. And yes, we can pray for others.

 

Obviously we cannot bring people to life, so I suppose we cannot be exactly like Jesus.

 

However, if we do the things we can do, then as Mac Davis sang, “We’re doing the best that we can.”

Life on Mission – Grow

Romans 12:1-13 (Transformed)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

---Learn what God’s will is, and following through with it. You will change. You will grow.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and those members do not have all the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)

---When all of us in Christ work toward the same goal of bringing others to the Lord, each using our own gifts according to the grace given us, we grow together.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:9-10)

---Be selfless in word and deed. Live genuinely, displaying love toward all others.

This “Life on Mission” journey we are on has thus far focused on connecting, serving, sharing, and now growing. It is important that we as Christ followers remain focused on growing our own understanding of the word, and deepening our relationship with the Father. As we mentor others through their own journey however, there are things we need to do to help them grow as well.

We would never leave the side of a child just as they were beginning to balance on a two wheeled bicycle. In the same way, we must not lead someone to our God and then leave them on their own. It is essential to help them learn how to continue to grow by feeding themselves with the fruit of the vine. Time, patience, materials, groups and prayer are all important to offer them on a regular basis, yet walking along side of them and being a model, a friend and an encourager is truly what they will need.

(Romans 12:12-13) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

We all have needs of some sort, yet helping others to grow and fulfill their spiritual need has far greater impact than any other need ........indeed!

Romans 12:1-13

Matthew 25:31-46

The Next Step – Serve

I couldn't have been more humbled when I received this hand-made bench that now has a home on my deck, on the last day of the school year. I was walking away after twenty five years of working with an amazing group of adults and children at my middle school. 

In ways I felt like, "Hey, they got it!" They noticed I went out of my way to serve others, and I am a follower of Christ. That had been my mission field for many years. Then I thought, "Wait a minute, this isn't the end, it is just the beginning!" One of the reasons I am ending this journey is to embark on another one. The need is never ending, and service is just part of the story. 

In Matthew 25:31-46 we read the story of the Son of Man coming in Glory to separate the righteous from the unrighteous. How those who served others will reap the benefits of eternal life, and those who did not going away to eternal punishment. 

We don't like speaking of hell, but it is mentioned in many of the books of the bible. As I serve others and think of how I can do more, it is not because if I don't I may go to hell. I serve others because it's the right thing to do. It is following the word of the Lord. 

Jesus came to serve people, with humility. Because he was human, he surely felt uneasy and threatened at times, but he knew what we also know about what awaits us after this life. So being out of our comfort zone as Jesus often was is part of the mission. 

Today many of us are too busy to take the time for others in need. Well, we need to MAKE time. It may mean giving up other activities, or rearranging schedules to accommodate others, but that's how others know we care. They need to know how much we care before they will open up to us and trust enough to allow us into their heart.

We freely give gifts of money and material things on special occasions, but consider the difference it will make when we give the gift of the Savior. It's free and will last FOREVER. 

Read/Listen to Matthew 25:31-46

Life on Mission

Today we begin a new journey together. For the next six weeks each of your Blog writers will follow the book and study called “Life on Mission” (God’s people finding God’s heart for the world) by Tim Harlow.

Tim is the Senior Pastor at Parkview Christian Church in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.

As Christ followers, we certainly recognize the tragic state of affairs of this country and the rest of the world. We cannot stand still. Tim offers us real, biblically based insight and direction regarding God’s heart and His intended purpose for us. Each week will focus on one of the following;

Witness          Connect           Serve          Share          Grow          Pray

This day I offer you an overview of Pastor Tim’s passionate and sincere message. In Matthew 9:36 Jesus is described as having compassion on the crowds because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Our challenge is not only to personally live the life of a Christ follower, but to look at others through the eyes of the Lord. Each of us was created in the Image of God, and there is no denying that Satan is intensely interfering with our peace, love and happiness. This world is filled with lost sheep. 

When entertaining the idea of witnessing to others many of us become insecure in our ability to accurately and confidently share the Word. In Acts 1:8 Jesus explained to the apostles; “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Relax, and be at peace for the Holy Spirit is with us as well. You CAN do this! Pastor Harlow simply summarizes witnessing this way;

First: Connect Just hanging out and building relationships: 

Next: Serve Giving of your gifts or resources without complaint or judgment.

Later: Share the story of how God has affected your life in order to help those without God understand why you are so alive and content in Him.

Later still: Grow them in their faith walk and show them how to continue to grow on their own.

Finally: Pray! Be strong in the Lord.

This study also includes a DVD, which strengthens the message and offers pastor Harlow’s personal touch. Please join us for “Life on Mission.” Together we can make a difference!

Also, if you have not yet seen the movie War Room by the Kendrick Brothers, we highly recommend it.

Click here to view the trailer:
WAR ROOM 

Here is a journal to record your journey this week. Page down to Life on Mission. Each week a new journal will be posted.

Gifts to Change the World

In this day when extreme behavior is the norm, when news programs are filled with horrific weather catastrophes, and devastating financial frauds are uncovered regularly, we become hardened and take these things in stride. Given this reality, it may be difficult to read about Spiritual gifts and get very excited, but they are a big deal; a life changing deal when used as they were meant to be used.

Do you know what your spiritual gift is? Do you even care? If you are a believer, you have at least one, some of us have more. Scripture tells us these gifts are precious and meant to be used to serve one another, not denied nor hidden away. These gifts will unite us as Christians and they will build up the Body of Christ.

We live in a world that could benefit by these gifts: administration, discernment, healing, helps, faith, knowledge, and wisdom. When the Body of Christ works together and shares these gifts with the world, what a change we would see.

When we acknowledge our need each for other and begin to live a life united to one another through Jesus, what s sight that will be. When we use these gifts with love, intentionally serving our neighbor, we will no longer be living a hardened life but the life of one transformed by love.

Read the text for today at Biblegateway.

Even You Can Make Disciples Matthew 10:24:11:1

We have been given the great task to “go and make disciples.” Do you ever feel that some people seem more ready with the right words to say or more excited about going into the mission field to change the world for Christ? If you have ever felt that way, then today’s passage may seem overwhelming, but don't give up, God has a plan.

I read our text today and thought about those who want to take the challenge, but are afraid. God does not want us to lose heart. He has called each of us and gifted us for this amazing work of making disciples. We are not all called to serve in the same way, but we are all called to serve.

I love the way The Message says it. “This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."

God understands, he doesn’t want excuses but he understands. Some of us need to start small, but it won’t be long and God can take our willing heart and change the world.


Read today's passage at Biblegateway Matthew 10:24-11:1

TLC for Trying Times -- 1 Peter 5

Chapter 5 of 1 Peter reads like a how to for Christian leadership and service.  When I read this chapter I see a bullet point list like:

• Be shepherds of God's flock
• Be examples to the flock
• Be submissive to the elders
• Be self-controlled and alert

This chapter also explains problems to avoid as we monitor our own behavior toward others:

1. Check your motivation -- serve out of love
2. Check your goals -- don't expect financial gain
3. Check your methods -- don't lead by domination or intimidation

Peter reminds us that the devil is our great enemy and the source of all evil in the world. "Your enemy, the lion, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." }1 Peter 5:8)  Peter is calling us to serve one another out of love.  In tough times like these we need some TLC - Tender Loving Christians -- to walk along side us.

To read all of 1 Peter chapter 5 go to Biblegateway.

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