Elements City Church
Summer at Elements - wk7: The Practice of Serving
As we follow after Jesus we are invited into some practices and habits we see in his life. We examined some of these earlier this year with our Unhurried series. This summer we're diving into more. We invite you to experiment with us, and grow in these practices -- to see which ones God might be nudging you to make more prominent in your life. How might He be wanting to use these to do more work within you as He grows you and shapes you to be more like Jesus?
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us tonight!
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbA disciple is someone who
knows and follows Jesus,
is becoming like Jesus,
and is committed to the mission of Jesus.
"Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you." -Dallas Willard
knows and follows Jesus,
is becoming like Jesus,
and is committed to the mission of Jesus.
"Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you." -Dallas Willard
Tonight: Practice of Serving
We’re talking about the practice of serving others. Putting others needs above your own. Taking notice of situations and struggles that face others and you and I stepping up and stepping in to offer relief, assistance, help, encouragement — coming alongside and serving them to lift them up…
To BE SERVED is the honor that our culture promotes.
To SERVE others is the honor that Jesus exemplifies.
We’re talking about the practice of serving others. Putting others needs above your own. Taking notice of situations and struggles that face others and you and I stepping up and stepping in to offer relief, assistance, help, encouragement — coming alongside and serving them to lift them up…
To BE SERVED is the honor that our culture promotes.
To SERVE others is the honor that Jesus exemplifies.
TRUTH:
Living a life of serving others is a non-negotiable for a follower of Jesus.
Living a life of serving others is a non-negotiable for a follower of Jesus.
Benefits of serving others: (research has found)...
-Helping others is a contagious behavior
-When we serve others, it puts us in a good mood.
-Giving is better than receiving.
-Helping behaviors reduce stress.
Quote:
One thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.
-Albert Schweitzer, missionary doctor
The essence of serving lies in humbly embracing the example set by Jesus Christ, who washed the feet of His disciples and instructed us to do likewise.
-Helping others is a contagious behavior
-When we serve others, it puts us in a good mood.
-Giving is better than receiving.
-Helping behaviors reduce stress.
Quote:
One thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.
-Albert Schweitzer, missionary doctor
The essence of serving lies in humbly embracing the example set by Jesus Christ, who washed the feet of His disciples and instructed us to do likewise.
Philippians 2:5-11:
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Back to John 13 - Jesus and the Towel...
—The towel now distinguishes those who have allowed the King to serve them. The towel marks those who know and follow the servant King Jesus. After washing their feet, Jesus says to his disciples, “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘ Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another’s feet.”
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Back to John 13 - Jesus and the Towel...
—The towel now distinguishes those who have allowed the King to serve them. The towel marks those who know and follow the servant King Jesus. After washing their feet, Jesus says to his disciples, “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘ Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another’s feet.”
Lesslie Newbigin (English theologian) Quote:
“Jesus has laid aside his life for us all, and the debt which we owe to him is to be discharged by our subjection to our neighbors in loving service. Our neighbor is the appointed agent authorized to receive what we owe the Master.”
“Jesus has laid aside his life for us all, and the debt which we owe to him is to be discharged by our subjection to our neighbors in loving service. Our neighbor is the appointed agent authorized to receive what we owe the Master.”
The King whose scepter is a towel is inaugurating a kingdom of foot washers.
What distinguishes the fallen world is people clamoring for power, climbing over each other to get to the top - tearing others down on their climb up.
That which distinguishes the new humanity brought into being by the self- emptying love of King Jesus — is people who trip over each other trying to get under. Those Who serve, because they were served by their Savior; People who lift up and build up, because that is the experience they have from the Savior who does that for them…
What distinguishes the fallen world is people clamoring for power, climbing over each other to get to the top - tearing others down on their climb up.
That which distinguishes the new humanity brought into being by the self- emptying love of King Jesus — is people who trip over each other trying to get under. Those Who serve, because they were served by their Savior; People who lift up and build up, because that is the experience they have from the Savior who does that for them…
embrace what Timothy Keller calls the the Christian mindset of "self-forgetfulness"
In a world that pushes us to seek ‘being served’, live as one looking for ways to serve others.
In a world that pushes us to seek ‘being served’, live as one looking for ways to serve others.
How can you serve someone this week?
Who might God be nudging you to partner with Him in coming alongside to bless, encourage, serve and lift up?
Suggested Practices:
-making and delivering a meal for someone who is struggling
-goodie bag of items to encourage someone
-gift card and note to someone
-going out of your way to show attention and love to someone
-writing a note to someone (appreciating them - encouraging them)
Engage in “5-minute favors” (service doesn’t have to mean taking on a huge endeavor. Brainstorm quick actions that can brighten someone’s day, make them smile, or make their life easier) - small acts of service make a big difference!
Who might God be nudging you to partner with Him in coming alongside to bless, encourage, serve and lift up?
Suggested Practices:
-making and delivering a meal for someone who is struggling
-goodie bag of items to encourage someone
-gift card and note to someone
-going out of your way to show attention and love to someone
-writing a note to someone (appreciating them - encouraging them)
Engage in “5-minute favors” (service doesn’t have to mean taking on a huge endeavor. Brainstorm quick actions that can brighten someone’s day, make them smile, or make their life easier) - small acts of service make a big difference!
How can you leverage your skills, talents and time to SERVE others via serving within the teams here at Elements?
It takes real people investing their resources to make the church a place that blesses all those that are here and those not here yet...
join a SERVE TEAM
It takes real people investing their resources to make the church a place that blesses all those that are here and those not here yet...
join a SERVE TEAM
Thanks for partnering with us!
To those who tithe to Elements, thank you for enabling us to be the church in our city. Your gifts help fuel the mission of Elements City Church, as well as our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis.
You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveYou can give online at the link below, or through the Elements app.
Thanks for worshipping with us tonight! We invite you back next week as we continue our Summer @ Elements series looking at some practices and rhythms of following Jesus.
Join us this summer on-site or online every Sunday at 5pm!
Keep an eye on the Events tab in the Elements app for our upcoming events. And catch a NEW summer devotion on YouTube channel every Wednesday - watch the social channels as well.
Join us also for WORSHIP NIGHT AUGUST 6TH!
Join us this summer on-site or online every Sunday at 5pm!
Keep an eye on the Events tab in the Elements app for our upcoming events. And catch a NEW summer devotion on YouTube channel every Wednesday - watch the social channels as well.
Join us also for WORSHIP NIGHT AUGUST 6TH!