Teaching Tuesday: This is Christmas - Service

Series: This is Christmas
Sermon: Service

How many points have you scored by serving others?
 
Let’s keep focusing on others and how we can serve others in the name of Jesus.
 
Please take four minutes to watch this fun video of a job description. (Watch some and then fast-forward to the end if you don’t have time.)
      
No one would accept the job, yet billions of moms have desired such a job.
Moms are a great example of being servants. They sacrifice themselves for the good of their family. Thank You!

If you are blessed to still have your mom with you give her a call and let her know you appreciate all she has done and continues to do for you and your family.
 
Be like a mom, be a servant. Be great!
 
Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
 
Being a servant takes a lot of sacrifice.
 
As Christians sacrifice is worship.
 
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
 
Being a servant is hard.

A servant does what he doesn't want to do for the good of others.
A servant gives up her will to do the will of another.
A servant humbles themselves to do the gross jobs. (Even toenails)
A servant is attentive, helpful, willing to listen, putting others' needs first, and shows compassion.
A servant doesn’t expect anything in return.
 
Serving makes us tired but don’t grow weary.

Galatians 6:8 The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
 
We love reaping a harvest, so keep serving.
 
To help me check my attitude I have this verse in my calendar as a reminder every week, and I used to have it in my calendar every day.
 
Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”
 
I need to make sure that I stay focused on humility and not become an entitled brat, even at my age.
 
We don’t have to be perfect servants, but we do need to be headed in the right direction of becoming more Christ-like, making sure our goal is to serve rather than be served.
 
Mark 10:45 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.
 
The King of Heaven took off His crown and picked up a towel.
 
Will you take off your pride and ego, will you take off your arrogance and selfishness and pick up a towel?

Philippians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
 
Humbling ourselves is challenging but it is worth it when we know we are pleasing Jesus and will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
 
What do you want to hear Jesus say when you take your last breath?
 
Matthew 25:23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
           
Well done, Servant!

- Pastor Jim