Serving Like Jesus
By Ryan Dawson
To follow Jesus means things will need to change. As we have been learning in the Sermon on the Mount, there is a way to follow Christ. Jesus shows us the ethic from above – the Way of the Kingdom Life, and it is radical. If we are going to truly follow Jesus it will require a radical commitment to Christ and His ways. It won’t cut it to simply sprinkle in a little theological truth here and there. We can't simply go through the motions. To follow Jesus is to be like Jesus.
In Luke 22:27 Jesus says this to his disciples: Luke 22:27 (NLT) “Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.”
Jesus did not come into the world as one who would be served, He came to serve. That goes against everything the world values as success. The world tells you “the cream rises” and you’ll know you have arrived when people are serving you. Status equals success and determines value in the eyes of the world. Your value is based on your net worth and when you make a lot of money you can expect people will be lining up to serve you.
In other words, when the most significant person walks into the room, everyone else should jump to serve them, seek to meet their needs, and find out what the “important” person wants them to do. Jesus could have played that card as the Messiah, but He didn’t – not even close.
Jesus was the Son of God, the One whom all things were created, the conqueror of sin and death, and the first to experience resurrection Life. Jesus could turn water into wine, heal the sick, raise the dead, walk on water and calm the storm, and yet he came to serve and give His life for others.
The apostle Paul describes Jesus in this way…
Philippians 2:4-8 (NLT)
4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Jesus came to serve! One of the true marks of Christ followers is that they are the ones looking to serve others instead of expecting to be served, because Jesus’ disciples “must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” Service is an act of love and humility, and when we embrace this posture, we are walking in the very footsteps of Jesus.
This really challenges me because it makes me ask, am I really living my life to serve others? Do I embrace the posture of a servant, or do I prefer to be served? Is my life more about serving others or consuming for myself? When I do serve, am I more interested in getting some credit from others, or pleasing God? Tough questions I know!
Serving is the way of Jesus and if we want to be like Christ, we will serve, because we are made in the image of God and we are being formed in the likeness of Christ.
How is God calling you to serve right now? Who is God asking you to serve? In what ways can you be a blessing to your church family by serving with joy and passion?
This Sunday at Sequoia is Serve Sunday where we will highlight the various ministry teams at the back of the gym after our service. We are asking that you take the time to check out these ministry tables, ask questions, and sign up to serve on one or more of our teams. Serving is an incredible privilege and a responsibility for a Christ-follower, and it is such a blessing to give of our lives to bless others in the church and in our community. So, I want to thank you in advance for embracing your identity as a servant. Let’s live like Jesus by serving like Jesus.
Blessings, Ryan
To follow Jesus means things will need to change. As we have been learning in the Sermon on the Mount, there is a way to follow Christ. Jesus shows us the ethic from above – the Way of the Kingdom Life, and it is radical. If we are going to truly follow Jesus it will require a radical commitment to Christ and His ways. It won’t cut it to simply sprinkle in a little theological truth here and there. We can't simply go through the motions. To follow Jesus is to be like Jesus.
In Luke 22:27 Jesus says this to his disciples: Luke 22:27 (NLT) “Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.”
Jesus did not come into the world as one who would be served, He came to serve. That goes against everything the world values as success. The world tells you “the cream rises” and you’ll know you have arrived when people are serving you. Status equals success and determines value in the eyes of the world. Your value is based on your net worth and when you make a lot of money you can expect people will be lining up to serve you.
In other words, when the most significant person walks into the room, everyone else should jump to serve them, seek to meet their needs, and find out what the “important” person wants them to do. Jesus could have played that card as the Messiah, but He didn’t – not even close.
Jesus was the Son of God, the One whom all things were created, the conqueror of sin and death, and the first to experience resurrection Life. Jesus could turn water into wine, heal the sick, raise the dead, walk on water and calm the storm, and yet he came to serve and give His life for others.
The apostle Paul describes Jesus in this way…
Philippians 2:4-8 (NLT)
4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Jesus came to serve! One of the true marks of Christ followers is that they are the ones looking to serve others instead of expecting to be served, because Jesus’ disciples “must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” Service is an act of love and humility, and when we embrace this posture, we are walking in the very footsteps of Jesus.
This really challenges me because it makes me ask, am I really living my life to serve others? Do I embrace the posture of a servant, or do I prefer to be served? Is my life more about serving others or consuming for myself? When I do serve, am I more interested in getting some credit from others, or pleasing God? Tough questions I know!
Serving is the way of Jesus and if we want to be like Christ, we will serve, because we are made in the image of God and we are being formed in the likeness of Christ.
How is God calling you to serve right now? Who is God asking you to serve? In what ways can you be a blessing to your church family by serving with joy and passion?
This Sunday at Sequoia is Serve Sunday where we will highlight the various ministry teams at the back of the gym after our service. We are asking that you take the time to check out these ministry tables, ask questions, and sign up to serve on one or more of our teams. Serving is an incredible privilege and a responsibility for a Christ-follower, and it is such a blessing to give of our lives to bless others in the church and in our community. So, I want to thank you in advance for embracing your identity as a servant. Let’s live like Jesus by serving like Jesus.
Blessings, Ryan