Sermon Cloud

CONNECT—GROW—SERVE

“Serve”

Pastor Duane Cross

February 10, 2008

Vision Statement

“Walking together as we experience the life-changing journey of knowing and living for Jesus”

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Eph. 2:10 (NIV)

“Each one should use whatever gift he’s received to serve others.”

I Peter 4:10 (NIV)

I.  Serving like Jesus means being available.

Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.”

Matthew 20:30-32 (NIV)

Three common barriers to being available:

1st barrier:  Self-centeredness       

“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

Philippians 2:4 (MSG)

2nd barrier:  Perfectionism 

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT)

3rd Barrier:  Materialism     

No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Luke 16:13 (NIV)

II.  Serving like Jesus means being grateful. 

“Serve the Lord with gladness”

Psalms 100:2 (KJV)

“It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was His plan”

2 Timothy 1:9 (LB)

III.  Serving like Jesus means being faithful.  

“The one thing required of servants is that they be faithful”

1 Corinthians 4:2 (TEV)

“Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.”

1 Corinthians 15:58

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!”

Matthew 25:21 (NIV)