IDENTITY 1-1-1 February 13, 2011 (Week 5- SERVE)

Keys to the Abundant Life

Serving God by Serving Others

First Free Will Baptist Church, Church Hill, TN

February 13th, 2011

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

“Your hands shaped and made me.” Job 10:8a (NCV)

“Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NCV)

My 4th purpose is to SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS


We are all called to “Ministry”

Jesus: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” Matthew 20:28 (NKJV)

Learning to Serve Like Jesus


1. Serving like Jesus means being AVAILABLE

“Two blind men... cried out, saying, ‘Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!’ ... Jesus
stood still and called them, and said, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?”  Matthew 20:30-32 (NKJV)

“If you have what your neighbor asks for, don’t say, “Come back later. I will give it to you
tomorrow.” Proverbs 3:28 (NCV)

1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS

“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of
others.” Philippians 2:4 (NKJV)

2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM

“Those who wait for perfect weather will never plant seeds; those who look at every
cloud will never harvest crops” Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NCV)

3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM

“No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and mammon."  Luke 16:13 (NKJV)

2. Serving like Jesus means being GRATEFUL

“… Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard Me. And I
know that you always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by..."  John 11:41-42 (NKJV)

“Serve the Lord with gladness.” Psalm 100:2a (NKJV)

“… according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose…”  2 Timothy 1:8-9 (NKJV)

1st Barrier: COMPARING AND CRITICIZING

“You cannot judge another person’s servant. The master decides if the servant is doing
well or not…” Romans 14:4 (NCV)

2nd Barrier: WRONG MOTIVATIONS

“Be careful! When you do good things, don’t do them in front of people to be seen by
them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your father in heaven” Matthew 6:1 (NCV)

3. Serving like Jesus means being FAITHFUL

“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work that You gave Me to do.” John 17:4 (NKJV)

“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV)

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press
toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

“God is fair; He will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for Him by helping
His people… “ Hebrews 6:10 (NCV)

"…Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you
ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."  Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)