July 23-24, 2005, Selected

SUMMER ROAD TRIP!
SERVICE ENTRANCE!

*** Mark 10:43-44 “Among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.” [NLT]

JESUS SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION IN THE CHURCH IS…THE SERVANT!

*** John 13:14-17 “If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet. I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth; a servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.”

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE PRIORITY OF SERVICE!

1. WE’VE BEEN CREATED FOR SERVICE!
*** Eph. 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." [New International Version]
*** Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work…." [NCV]
*** Ge.2:15 “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden as its gardener, to tend and care for it.” (Living Bible)

2. WE’VE BEEN SAVED FOR SERVICE!
*** 2 Tim. 1:9 "It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan...to show his love and kindness to us through Christ." [LB]

WE HAVE BEEN SAVED TO SERVE!

*** Romans 12:1 “Because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” [Today’s English Version]

3. WE’VE BEEN GIFTED FOR SERVICE!
*** 1Pe.4:10 (LB) “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings." [NIV]
*** 1Co.12:1,4-7,11 “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. There are different kinds of gifts...there are different kinds of service... there are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” [NIV]

4. WE'VE BEEN COMMANDED TO SERVE!
*** Mt.20:28 "[Jesus] Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve...." [LB]

MANY HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF SERVE US INSTEAD OF SERVICE!
*** Col.4:17 "...See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."
*** 1Co.15:58 “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord....” [NIV]
*** De.10:12 “What does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD… walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and soul....”[NIV]
*** Ep.6:7 “Serve wholeheartedly....” [NIV]
*** Ga.5:13 “...serve one another in love.” [NIV]
*** Hebrews 10:24 “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.” [New Living Translation]

5. WE ARE TO BE PREPARED FOR SERVICE!
*** Eph. 4:11-12 "It was he who gave some to be apostles...prophets...evangelists, and Pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up...." [NIV]
MY SERVICE IS TO HELP YOU DO YOUR SERVICE!

ASK: WILL YOU: TRAIN ME? SUPPORT ME? PRAY FOR ME?

6. THE BODY OF CHRIST NEEDS OUR SERVICE!
*** 1Co.12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a [separate and necessary (LB)] part of it."
*** Mt.9:36-37 "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." [NIV]
56% ARE SERVING 1 HOUR/WEEK! 44% ARE NOT SERVING AN HOUR/WEEK!

7. WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR SERVICE!
*** Ro.14:12 "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."
*** Jer.48:10 “A curse on him who is lax in doing the LORD's work!"

THE GOAL OF MATURITY IS MINISTRY!
*** 2 Tim. 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” [NLT]

WE ARE TO GROW UP IN CHRIST IN ORDER TO GIVE OUT FOR CHRIST!
*** Romans 2:8 "He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves..." [NLT]

8. WE WILL BE REWARDED FOR OUR SERVICE!
*** Col.3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart...since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." [NIV]
*** Eph.6:8 "Remember the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do..."
*** Matthew 10:42 "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." [NLT]
*** Rev. 14:13 "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Put this in writing. From now on, the Lord will bless everyone who has faith in him when they die." The Spirit answered, "Yes, they will rest from their hard work, and they will be rewarded for what they have done." [Contemporary English Version]

SERVICE IS THE ROAD TO REAL, LASTING SIGNIFICANCE!