Elements City Church
Counter Culture: Serving Over Being Served
Each of us has a capacity for power and we’re invited to use that power, as a follower of Jesus, to leverage our lives for others. In a world bent on pushing us to seek to be served, we’re called to serve others, demonstrating the transformation of God within our lives. We’re to follow in the footsteps of our serving Savior. We must seek to serve over being served. Serving humbles us, stretches our compassion, and teaches us to value others over ourselves. Serving is also an act of worship to God…we are honoring Him, not just helping people. In Matthew 20, Jesus sets the record straight about how we are to use our power to serve.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Welcome to Elements...
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And Happy Mother's Day!
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https://share.fluro.io/form/6329f633da0feb00250cbd5fTonight - we’re looking at how Jesus challenges his followers to leverage their power.
Imagine for a moment the final night Jesus spent with His disciples before the cross. He knew the weight of what was coming—betrayal, torture, death. And what did He do? He didn’t demand comfort. He didn’t gather His disciples to serve Him. Instead, He took a towel, knelt down, and washed their feet. This example turns the world’s idea of greatness upside down.
In our culture, we’re often taught that success means being served. But Jesus shows us that in His Kingdom, greatness is measured not by how many serve us, but by how many we serve.
Imagine for a moment the final night Jesus spent with His disciples before the cross. He knew the weight of what was coming—betrayal, torture, death. And what did He do? He didn’t demand comfort. He didn’t gather His disciples to serve Him. Instead, He took a towel, knelt down, and washed their feet. This example turns the world’s idea of greatness upside down.
In our culture, we’re often taught that success means being served. But Jesus shows us that in His Kingdom, greatness is measured not by how many serve us, but by how many we serve.
Serving is the natural outflow of a heart that has been changed by the gospel. Serving others matters—not just for the people we serve, but for our own hearts, our ongoing spiritual transformation, for the health of the Church, and for the glory of God!
We can all notice the misuse, manipulation and mismanagement of power in our world and throughout history…
Some Truthful observations when it comes to power:
-We all have power in some capacity.
-All power ultimately comes from God
-In today’s broken reality, power is complicated.
-Power tends to corrupt.
-Few people handle power well. (often, at best, we have mixed motives)
Jesus is the perfect example of how to use power. To leverage your life for others.
Some Truthful observations when it comes to power:
-We all have power in some capacity.
-All power ultimately comes from God
-In today’s broken reality, power is complicated.
-Power tends to corrupt.
-Few people handle power well. (often, at best, we have mixed motives)
Jesus is the perfect example of how to use power. To leverage your life for others.
Use your power to serve others as Christ did.
Follow in the footsteps of your Serving Savior.
Become more inclined and alert to lean in that direction year over year…
Follow in the footsteps of your Serving Savior.
Become more inclined and alert to lean in that direction year over year…
Truth:
Living a life of serving others is a non-negotiable for a follower of Jesus.
You’ve been called to serve - by a Savior that serves — and you’ve been equipped to serve. (your talents, time, ability, experience and your spiritual gifts. These gifts are meant to be discovered and developed and displayed.
*see: 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 and also briefly in 1 Peter 4 (list of spiritual gifts)
Living a life of serving others is a non-negotiable for a follower of Jesus.
You’ve been called to serve - by a Savior that serves — and you’ve been equipped to serve. (your talents, time, ability, experience and your spiritual gifts. These gifts are meant to be discovered and developed and displayed.
*see: 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 and also briefly in 1 Peter 4 (list of spiritual gifts)
Quote:
“When we employ our spiritual gifts others benefit. Others are encouraged. Others gain fresh hope. And interestingly, so do we!”
-Charles Swindoll
“When we employ our spiritual gifts others benefit. Others are encouraged. Others gain fresh hope. And interestingly, so do we!”
-Charles Swindoll
As a follower of Christ - we are called away from simply viewing life as a CONSUMER. We are IN Christ and a new creation that has been remade and rewired to not merely consume, but to make a contribution.
– TO SERVE. To give, to get involved, to partner in God’s work in His Church and this world.
WE’RE ACTIVE AGENTS FOR GOD AND HIS GOOD IN THE WORLD!
We each have a role to play – a contribution to make! Serving others is not just for the "professionals" -- it is for every disciple of Jesus.
*Follow in the footsteps of your Serving Savior
– TO SERVE. To give, to get involved, to partner in God’s work in His Church and this world.
WE’RE ACTIVE AGENTS FOR GOD AND HIS GOOD IN THE WORLD!
We each have a role to play – a contribution to make! Serving others is not just for the "professionals" -- it is for every disciple of Jesus.
*Follow in the footsteps of your Serving Savior
Service and self-giving love are the evidence of God’s transformational work within us.
Albert Schweitzer quote:
“The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve.”
In a world that pushes us to seek ‘being served’, live as one looking for ways to serve others.
Quote:
“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve... You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” ~Martin Luther King
Albert Schweitzer quote:
“The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve.”
In a world that pushes us to seek ‘being served’, live as one looking for ways to serve others.
Quote:
“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve... You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” ~Martin Luther King
Thank you for your financial partnership!
Thank you for giving your tithes and offerings to Elements City Church. They enable us to be the church, and they help us to fuel the mission and vision. Our capacity to function on a daily basis is a direct result of your support, and we are so grateful for it! You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements City Church app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveCatch the Nerd Out on Mondays...
If you desire to go deeper into tonight's message, we have a YouTube show designed for just that! Gain additional insight on the message, hear what might've been cut from the message, and think through questions that help you apply each Sunday sermon throughout the week. New episodes are posted every Monday afternoon to our YouTube channel at the link below. Digital discipleship delivered to you. Check it out!
NOTE: This Nerd Out this week, will be the last one for a month or so, we're taking a summer break, but encourage you to go back and catch up on any previous episodes you missed or catch a replay...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGrZqZC4G6lcZCKrkZGIBGxgfTd3YmkSCNOTE: This Nerd Out this week, will be the last one for a month or so, we're taking a summer break, but encourage you to go back and catch up on any previous episodes you missed or catch a replay...
Aren't you glad you got to church tonight?!
We gather together to be equipped and to encourage one another as we prepare to step into a new week carrying the hope and the light of Jesus within us!
Join us next Sunday as we launch our SUMMER SERIES "The Shepherd King...a look into the life of David.
Get info on all of the upcoming events in the Elements City church app:
-New here recently? Join us for the next Party with the Pastors coming up August 2nd; info in the app or online
-Join us at ROADIES - an Elements crew will be hanging out Monday July 14th if you want to join in and check it out with us; info in the app.
- Registration for the Marriage Retreat is soon closing; $50 saves your spot as a couple. Sign up in May to guarantee your spot for Retreat August 9-11.
We gather together to be equipped and to encourage one another as we prepare to step into a new week carrying the hope and the light of Jesus within us!
Join us next Sunday as we launch our SUMMER SERIES "The Shepherd King...a look into the life of David.
Get info on all of the upcoming events in the Elements City church app:
-New here recently? Join us for the next Party with the Pastors coming up August 2nd; info in the app or online
-Join us at ROADIES - an Elements crew will be hanging out Monday July 14th if you want to join in and check it out with us; info in the app.
- Registration for the Marriage Retreat is soon closing; $50 saves your spot as a couple. Sign up in May to guarantee your spot for Retreat August 9-11.