Heart For The House-6-Serving Others

Originally recorded on 24 Feb 19 during the morning service; Pastor Brad finishes his Heart for The House series with a message he called Serving Others.

Pastor's Notes:

Serving Others
TEXT
Mark 10:35-45 NKJV
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
39 They said to Him, “We are able.”
So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall 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 a ransom for many.”
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everybody!
I’m very glad you’ve joined us today! I pray that you will stick around as we baptize some new believers after service, and then go and eat with us afterwards in the fellowship hall.
I’ve enjoyed this series this month that we’ve entitled “A Heart For The House”. It’s been challenging to say the least, but that’s what I love about the word of God. It transforms us to look more like Jesus.
As we get ready to cap this off, I want to talk to you today about serving. I’ve entitled this message, “Serving Others”.
ILLUSTRATION
Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's, who died a few years back, became a familiar sight to millions in his company's television commercials.
Dave also appeared in a lot of in store training films. In those, as in many of the more familiar commercials, he would dress as his workers. One year he appeared on the cover of one of the company's annual reports dressed in a knee-length work apron holding a mop and a plastic bucket.
For many years, a framed copy of that picture graced the back rooms and manager's office of most Wendy's. That picture was built on the fact Dave was a self-made millionaire. He didn't finish high school. He worked his way up through the ranks of Colonel Sanders' Kentucky Fried Chicken chain long before he went off on his own and started Wendy's.
Here's how Dave explained that picture:
''I got my M.B.A. long before my G.E.D. At Wendy's M.B.A. does not mean Master of Business Administration. It means Mop Bucket Attitude.'' Dave Thomas taught all of his employees that service comes before success.
That’s exact the type of attitude that Jesus showed us: Servant leadership. Mark 10:45 NKJV
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jesus came in this world as the King of Kings, but let He lowered Himself to the place of a humble servant, to the point of giving the very best—His own life.
BACKGROUND
Yet, in our text, we see James and John petitioning Jesus for a place of power. Jesus was
I personally believe that while they were good people, they had their eyes set on the wrong thing. You see, when a Roman ruler would conquer and elevate to a place of power, they would establish high places of authority and ruler-ship.
Verse 42 tells us they would “lord their authority” over people. He told them, “it should not be so among you.”
Yet, Jesus came and He served the people He was assigned to.
The truth is, these disciples had an entitlement mentality when it came to the Kingdom.
TRANSITION
It’s rather unfortunate that the same attitude permeates our culture and church life today.
We often want things our way, and we feel entitled to them. Maybe we feel like we’ve “paid our dues” like James and John did.
In many ways, we’ve adopted a consumerism mentality when it comes to church and Christianity, rather than a servant mentality.
In stead of saying, “It’s not good.”, we should be asking ourselves, “How can I make it better?”
If we are going to have a heart for the house of God and truly see our community impacted, it’s going to take all of us working together and serving together.
So, why should we serve others? APPLICATION
1. Jesus modeled it.
- As our text said, Jesus laid down His life.
- He fed people,
- He healed them.
- He washed their feet.
- He served ungrateful people.
- He even served those who outright rejected Him.
2. The church needs it.
-  Years ago, during army issued a poster of Uncle Sam pointing his finger at us in a very serious way with a caption that read’s “We Need You!”
- Show Picture
- Because YOU/WE are the church, we aren’t complete if we all aren’t doing our part.
- I have to wonder sometimes how much our effectiveness is diminished  by those who don’t serve.
- As we grow, we are going to need more kids volunteers, ushers, greeters, growth group leaders, musicians, etc.
- It was the great JFK who said - SHOW PICTURE
“Fellow Americas, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
- I would say that’s a good slogan for the church.
“Fellow Christians, ask not what your church can do for you, ask what you can do for your church. “
- How can you add to the vision of your church?
3. It promotes personal growth.
- When we serve, it often times pushes us out of our comfort zones.
- When we serve, it also helps us discover and develop gifts we didn’t know we had.
4. It encourages others.
- When other people see us serving God, it can encourage both the lost and the saved.
- Have you ever been blessed by a song?
- Been ministered to by a meal?
- Encouraged by a kind note or letter?
CONCLUSION
If we are going to have a true heart for the house, we’re going to have to engage in active service.