Spiritual Disciplines: Serving
Here's installment #5 in this current blog series. I'm in the process of summarizing the six spiritual disciplines that we discussed in a recent sermon series. This week I'm reviewing the spiritual discipline of serving/service.
As I've mentioned in each of these blog posts, the best way to learn about or to be reminded of the spiritual disciplines is to listen to the messages from the sermon series. To do so click here: Freedom.
Usually, the topic of spiritual disciplines is taught with an individualistic emphasis. Each of us as individual followers of Jesus are to worship, pray, give, read our Bible, etc. That is true. Each individual follower of Jesus should practice the spiritual disciplines on their own. However, the richness of the spiritual disciplines is experience more fully and completely when they are practiced alongside other believers. The discipline of service illustrates this well for us.
During the sermon series we looked at 1 Corinthians 12-20 and we discovered that serving takes place first and foremost in the context of the local church. The biblical assumption is that believers will serve one another and will serve with one another. This is crucial not only for the spiritual health of an individual Christian but is also crucial for the health of a local church.
Each local church (body) is representative of the universal church (body). Those who are followers of Jesus are individual parts of the body of Christ. We fit together as part of a whole; and thus we need each other.
One of the key teachings of 1 Corinthians 12 is that all Christians are given spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is a unique, divinely inspired empowerment that is provided by God for the common good. These special giftings are given for the benefit of others. Thus, it is important that we understand that our spiritual gift isn't so much a gift given to us but rather a gift given by God to our church through us. When we serve and use our specific spiritual gift(s) others are helped and the mission of the church advances. If we fail to use our spiritual gift(s), then it is to the detriment of others and to the detriment of our church.
For more on spiritual gifts see my posts on spiritual gifts Gifted to Serve: Part 1 (March 14, 2014) and Gifted to Serve: Part 2 (March 19, 2014).
Great things happen when we serve and give of our time, talents, and gifts. This is what we saw when we looked at the Book of Nehemiah. There we saw the story of the re-building of the wall around Jerusalem. It's a great example of what happens when God's people pull their own weight and fulfill their specific roles. In only fifty days, they re-built a wall around the entire city of Jerusalem. They all worked together and by God's grace something amazing was accomplished. The same is true today. By God's grace we can be part of building something incredible. If we serve one another and serve with one another, we can be part of building God's kingdom in our hearts and in this world.
Serving is a discipline because serving is contrary to our sinful nature. We don't like putting others ahead of ourselves. We'd rather live for ourselves and look after our own concerns. So it requires discipline to be loving and to give of ourselves for the good of others.
Jesus Himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Giving isn't limited to financial contributions, but also includes donating time and effort for the good of others and for the advancement of God's kingdom in this world. It is more blessed to serve others than to live selfishly. It is more blessed to use your spiritual gifts. It is more blessed to serve fellow believers and to serve alongside them. It is more blessed to serve Him who served us by giving His life on a cross that we may receive forgiveness of sin and receive grace for eternal life.
Begin exploring ways to serve. Join a ministry at your church. Try out different ministries until you find the one that fits best. Be a part of outreach events, service projects, and go on mission trips. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. As His followers let us follow in His footsteps. Let's be humble servant of God, servants in our churches, and servants in our communities.
In awe of Jesus,
Pastor Rick
As I've mentioned in each of these blog posts, the best way to learn about or to be reminded of the spiritual disciplines is to listen to the messages from the sermon series. To do so click here: Freedom.
Usually, the topic of spiritual disciplines is taught with an individualistic emphasis. Each of us as individual followers of Jesus are to worship, pray, give, read our Bible, etc. That is true. Each individual follower of Jesus should practice the spiritual disciplines on their own. However, the richness of the spiritual disciplines is experience more fully and completely when they are practiced alongside other believers. The discipline of service illustrates this well for us.
During the sermon series we looked at 1 Corinthians 12-20 and we discovered that serving takes place first and foremost in the context of the local church. The biblical assumption is that believers will serve one another and will serve with one another. This is crucial not only for the spiritual health of an individual Christian but is also crucial for the health of a local church.
Each local church (body) is representative of the universal church (body). Those who are followers of Jesus are individual parts of the body of Christ. We fit together as part of a whole; and thus we need each other.
One of the key teachings of 1 Corinthians 12 is that all Christians are given spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is a unique, divinely inspired empowerment that is provided by God for the common good. These special giftings are given for the benefit of others. Thus, it is important that we understand that our spiritual gift isn't so much a gift given to us but rather a gift given by God to our church through us. When we serve and use our specific spiritual gift(s) others are helped and the mission of the church advances. If we fail to use our spiritual gift(s), then it is to the detriment of others and to the detriment of our church.
For more on spiritual gifts see my posts on spiritual gifts Gifted to Serve: Part 1 (March 14, 2014) and Gifted to Serve: Part 2 (March 19, 2014).
Great things happen when we serve and give of our time, talents, and gifts. This is what we saw when we looked at the Book of Nehemiah. There we saw the story of the re-building of the wall around Jerusalem. It's a great example of what happens when God's people pull their own weight and fulfill their specific roles. In only fifty days, they re-built a wall around the entire city of Jerusalem. They all worked together and by God's grace something amazing was accomplished. The same is true today. By God's grace we can be part of building something incredible. If we serve one another and serve with one another, we can be part of building God's kingdom in our hearts and in this world.
Serving is a discipline because serving is contrary to our sinful nature. We don't like putting others ahead of ourselves. We'd rather live for ourselves and look after our own concerns. So it requires discipline to be loving and to give of ourselves for the good of others.
Jesus Himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Giving isn't limited to financial contributions, but also includes donating time and effort for the good of others and for the advancement of God's kingdom in this world. It is more blessed to serve others than to live selfishly. It is more blessed to use your spiritual gifts. It is more blessed to serve fellow believers and to serve alongside them. It is more blessed to serve Him who served us by giving His life on a cross that we may receive forgiveness of sin and receive grace for eternal life.
Begin exploring ways to serve. Join a ministry at your church. Try out different ministries until you find the one that fits best. Be a part of outreach events, service projects, and go on mission trips. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. As His followers let us follow in His footsteps. Let's be humble servant of God, servants in our churches, and servants in our communities.
In awe of Jesus,
Pastor Rick
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