Serving

FOUNDATIONS FOR FAMILIES 3: Service Allen R. Hunt Mount Pisgah
Mark 10.35-45 8/27/06
I. New GT grad interviewing for job
Human resources person wrapping things up – asks about his salary requirements.
“Well, I’d like to make about $150,000 – depending on benefits of course.”
“Oh, of course! What if we were to offer you that figure plus a company car (say a red Mustang), reserved parking space, dental and medical insurance, full-time personal assistant, and first pick at an office?”
“Wow, are you kidding?”
“Yes, I am, but you started it.”

What are the benefits? What’s in it for me? We like that question
We’re trained early on to ask it – what’s in it for me?

Why these words of Jesus are so very surprising and so very powerful
To really get this passage, you first have to know
This is not the first time Jesus predicts His death and resurrection
In fact, He has already done it twice before
1) Mark 8.31-9.1
Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of law, must be killed and after three days rise again
Disciples’ response: Peter rebukes Jesus
I.e., Jesus shares His very mission – His reason for being – I must die and be raised
And Peter, leader of the disciples, is so uncomprehending that He rebukes Jesus
And Jesus says those famous words, “Get behind me, Satan. You do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men.”

2) Mark 9.30-37
Son of man going to be betrayed into hands of men – they will kill him and after three days rise again
Disciples again do not get it
And on the way they begin to argue about which one of them is the greatest
Disciples’ response: “Who is the greatest?”
Jesus: “If anyone want to be first, He must be the very last and the servant of all”
To illustrate the point, He takes a child, and says when you welcome a child, you welcome me

3) Now here third time: Mark 10.32-34
We’re going to Jerusalem – Son of man will be betrayed, condemned to death, handed over to Gentiles, mocked, spat upon, flogged and killed
3 days later He will rise
Disciples’ response
Then James and John come to Him
Mark 10.35
10.35: Self-centered: that’s nice Jesus but what we are really concerned about is us – this Messiah thing is all about me
Mark 10.36-37
10.37: Self-serving: what is the benefit for us – what’s in it for me?
Jesus has just taught His passion and death – and they are concerned about their place in glory
Mark 10.38-39
10.39: Self-conceited : we are so self-absorbed, we think we can do what you can do – no lack of self-confidence here

Still happens every day – and perhaps to everyone of us
Everest story – details of climbers to summit – dozens who passed a dying man and chose to do nothing – kept going on their own way to the summit
Left him there on the side to die
Horror of Sir Edward and others that climbing Everest has become all about me
Even at the expense of someone else’s life
So when Jesus sees His disciples getting full-chested, swollen pride, and me-firstism
II. Then Jesus teaches: authentic discipleship
“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 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.”
Lesson 1: Greatness is measured in service
Jesus is clear – there is no room in the Kingdom of God for “what’s in it for me?”
The benefit package may include a crown of thorns and a cross
And the very one you think is the lowest, may well be the greatest in the Kingdom
That is why Jesus on last night of His life, took a basin and towel, and washed the feet of His disciples, His closest friends, the ones He was entrusting the future of the Church to
Usually a servant would do that task – but on this night, Jesus, the Son of Man
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

Lesson 2: Christians are servants
Christ-followers expect to serve not to be served
Because we follow in the footsteps of Jesus
The model of Jesus (Phlp. 2.5-11)
Being a servant is not being a doormat – that is called co-dependence
Being a servant is a choice – servanthood is a decision of strength
In fact, if you look at the scoreboard – you will notice that the word “servant” appears in the NT exactly 100 times, the word “volunteer” zero
The word for “slave” 116 – volunteer – still zero
Volunteer assumes I have a little time, I decide to give it – but I am still in charge, and I am still in control
Servanthood is a lifestyle choice – says I follow a God who made Himself nothing, took the very nature of a servant, and humbled Himself in death, even death on a cross
I belong to Jesus and I choose to serve

Teresa: “I belong to Jesus; He must have the right to use me without consulting me.”
Because love is meant to be shared not hoarded
Loving God and loving people is expressed in real ways – not merely know a few intellectual concepts about God
It is entirely possible to go from bible study to bible study, taking and receiving spiritual resources for your entire life – and never give any of it away – to never put your knowledge into action
If you do that, you will be a very educated spiritual person who is not a follower of Jesus
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

Two facts to know and apply
Fact 1: One of the best ways to develop your faith is to start serving people
Want to be a Christian – start acting like one
Soon you will discover that you are becoming one
Fact 2: Build the habit of service at a young age, and a young person’s
attitudes and expectations will be altered forever.

III. Friend, David, led team from his congregation on mission team in Honduras
They would be serving the poorest of the poor
Among people like half world’s population who struggle to live on less than $2 per day
Digging latrines in a remote village, build small church, and teach children about Jesus
Many had never been on a mission team before
As they prepared to leave for the airport together, they shared a final worship experience
Davis preached and invited them to prepare by sharing communion and then serving one another by washing each other’s feet
To seek to have the servant heart of Jesus
Each person took a turn picking up the bowl and towel and moving across the room to wash the feet of someone whose feet had not been washed – leave the bowl there for that person to move to next person to wash
Until finally the bowl lay at the feet of a fellow I’ll call John
John was serious – medical engineer – highly analytical – extremely intelligent
After his feet were washed, John just sat there
Did not move toward washing someone else’s feet
Did not budge
Room filled with awkward silence – no one knew what to do – no one had expected this
Finally, David just prayed and dismissed the group to get on the bus

Team felt strange – a bit incomplete – things had not started as they expected or planned
They reached Honduras, got on dilapidated school bus to go into hills where village lay
Along the way, they stopped at a roadside stand for a meal of grilled meat
As they were leaving, David turned to be sure that everyone was heading back onto the bus, when he noticed John over near a group of small children
He was stooped over
As David walked up, he saw John with a child who had a horrible abscess on his foot
John was washing the boy’s foot, and applying ointment to it before dressing it
As John and David got back on the bus, John looked at David, and said,
“I wanted to complete our worship.”

Phyllis – 81 years old – more than 20 years serving children each week in the nursery here – often first car here on Sunday morning – working alongside 95 volunteers it takes each week just to do what we do with children
First Beginnings – prayer ministry for babies at Mount Pisgah, their families, and baptisms – dozens of children each year
Footwashing

Service – a life of servanthood – what’s in it for me? You might ask
And Jesus gently replies, “Your life and your soul.”

Invitation to Ministry fair – choose to serve


5 Helps for Families
Goal: Build a habit of service in the lives of children

1) Serve someone who serves your family. Leave a gift for your postman. Buy a meal for someone who works on your lawn or house. Bring a gift to a nursery worker at church.
2) Go on a mission team as a family. Serve persons and churches in areas of high need like Venezuela or St. Lucia.
3) Visit a nursing home resident regularly. Take cards. Bake cookies. Give flowers. Serve your child’s new elderly friend.
4) Spend a Sunday at the New Hope Mission for homeless men, women, and children. Prepare breakfast and lunch. Worship with persons who live in the woods. Serve them with God’s grace.
5) Pick a ministry at the ministry fair today. Commit as a family to serve together in that ministry.
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 10.45)