We’re pretty selfish people. Even when we do good, our motivation is often how good we will look or what we might get in return. And even when we do try to help with good intentions, we can still get burned. So do we look out for ourselves or risk being the sucker who helped? Jesus had a better way to look at it.

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MESSAGE NOTES

Today, we are looking at one final “one another” statement… and this one takes the most from us.

 

[Luke 22:25-27] 

Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are
the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 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.

 

In the kingdom of God, in the Church, the greatest person ISN’T the one who sits at the table… it’s the person who SETS the table, who CLEARS the table!

 

[Matthew 16:24]

he says, “if any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways…”

Pastor Rick Warren — “Until you experience the transforming power of God’s grace in your life, you’re too enslaved by your own hurts, habits, and hang ups to think much about others.”

 

[John 13:3-5]

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

 

[ Philippians 2:3-8]

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble,
thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with
God as something to cling to. 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, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

 

You are called to serve IN your church.

[1 Peter 4:8-10] 

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully
share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

 

 

[1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 12-13, 18, 25-27] 

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. The human body has many parts, but the many
parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for
each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

 

[Galatians 5:13]

For YOU have been called to live in freedom, my brothers
and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use YOUR freedom to serve one another in love.

 

We are called to serve AS our Church.

 

 

[Matthew 28:18-20]

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and
the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the
commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

 

[Matthew 25:34-40, 44-46]

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was
hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave
me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into
your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you
hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

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Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?

2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?

3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?

4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?