​Great Service
Mark 10:35-45
How do you define service?
The “service industry” is growing
 
“servant leadership” is standard business practice
 
What does great service look like?
 
 
Observations from the story
James and John ask Jesus for position and power
-Ambitious or arrogant? 
   -you have to appreciate their bold trust in Jesus
   -they knew Jesus was announcing the Kingdom
 
Jesus asks if they are prepared to pay the price
-Can you “drink the cup”?
   -Jesus was going to submit to suffering physically Mk 14:36
   -Jesus was going to submit to God’s wrath against sin
-Can you handle the “baptism”?
   -baptize- to dip, immerse
   -Jesus would be fully immersed, submitted to suffering
 
James and John respond with “yes”  Did they understand?
 
Jesus correctly predicts they will suffer greatly
-James was the first disciple to be killed- beheaded
-John was the last disciple to die- exiled, possibly boiled alive
 
Jesus cannot give James and John what they asked for
-Jesus was fully submitted to His Father
-There WILL BE positional authority in Christ’s eternal kingdom
 
Jesus contrasts earthly greatness with spiritual greatness
-Earthly authorities exploit and abuse their followers
   -they worship the unholy trinity of me, myself and I
-Spiritual authorities serve and submit to the needs of others
 
The definition of Great Service
1.  Put the needs of others ahead of yours
-True greatness is determined by how much we serve
-Ephesians 5:21  submitting to one another in the fear of Christ
-Eph 5:25  Husbands love your wives, just as Jesus loved the
                 church and gave himself for her
 
2.  Surrender completely for the good of others
-True greatness is determined by selfless sacrifice
-1 Cor 9:19 …I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order
                        to win more people
 
3.  Follow the example of Jesus
-Jesus was completely submitted to His Father’s will
-Jesus came to serve, not to be served
 
4.  Serve to lead others to Jesus for salvation
-Jesus met many physical needs:  healed, fed, delivered
   -this was temporary, incomplete
-Jesus came to die!  “to give his life as a ransom for many”
-Healed and well-fed people still need rescued from sin and hell!
 
 
Next Step:  Examine the greatness of my service!
1.  What do I pray for and why?
 
 
2.  Am I prepared to suffer for Jesus?
 
 
3. Do I use my authority to serve myself or others?
 
 
4.  Am I willing to serve when there is no personal benefit?
 
 
5.  Does my service lead people to Jesus?
 
 

​Church Covenant Message 2021 Part 2
What community are you depending on above all others?
National/Political community comes and goes
Cultural community evolves over time
The church community lasts forever!
-Matt 16:18  “I will build my church”
-Hebrews 13:13-16  God’s family of faith lasts forever!
-The Church will survive every earthly government!
 
Our church is driven by two key scripture passages
1.  The Great Commandment:  Matthew 22:36-40
-Love God- Worship
-Love your neighbor as yourself- Ministry/Service
 
2.  Great Commission:  Matthew 28:19-20
-Go…make disciples-  Evangelism/Missions
-Baptizing them- Fellowship/Community
-Teaching them- Discipleship (make disciples)
 
Everything we do fits into these Five Purposes
Worship
Ministry
Evangelism
Fellowship
Discipleship
 
Our Fellowship is guided by our Church Covenant
A promise to perform in a certain manner
Biblical Examples
-God and Man (Genesis 2:16,17; 9:1-17; 15:18)
-Leader and People  (Joshua 24:1-28)
-Person to Person (Genesis 31:43-55)
-Descriptions of a local church
-Marriage is a covenant
A Covenant = Relationship Commitment
 
Church Covenant = Fellowship Commitment
 
 
Our Four Covenant Agreements as church members
1.  I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF MY CHURCH
     ...BY ACTING IN LOVE TOWARD OTHER MEMBERS
     ...BY REFUSING TO GOSSIP
     ...BY FOLLOWING THE LEADERS
Romans 14:19  So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.
 
Romans 15:5  Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus,
 
1 Peter 1:22  Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,
 
Ephesians 4:29  No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.
 
Hebrews 13:17  Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
 
2.  I WILL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MY CHURCH
     …BY PRAYING FOR ITS GROWTH
     …BY INVITING THE UNCHURCHED TO ATTEND
     …BY WARMLY WELCOMING THOSE WHO VISIT
 
1 Thessalonians 1:2  We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers.
 
Luke 14:23  “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.
 
Romans 15:7  Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.

3.  I WILL SERVE THE MINISTRY OF MY CHURCH
     …BY DISCOVERING MY GIFTS AND TALENTS
     …BY BEING EQUIPPED BY MY PASTORS
     …BY DEVELOPING A SERVANT’S HEART
 
1 Peter 4:10  Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
 
Ephesians 4:11-12  And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ
 
Philippians 2:3-5  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.  Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.  Adopt the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ.
 
 4.  I WILL SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY OF MY CHURCH
     …BY ATTENDING FAITHFULLY
     …BY LIVING A GODLY LIFE
     …BY GIVING REGULARLY
 
Hebrews 10:24-25  And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
 
Philippians 1:27  Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel
 
1 Corinthians 16:2  On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.
 
Leviticus 27:30  “Every tenth of the land’s produce, grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
 
 
 
What must we do now with this church covenant?
1.  Thank God for every brother and sister who is committed to a spiritual relationship with you!
 
2. Evaluate your own commitment level
-Community- never/rarely attends
-Crowd- regular attender
-Congregation- member, committed to the covenant
-Core- giving yourself in practical and consistent ways
   -Connection Group participation
   -Serving somewhere in our church regularly
   -Giving personally
 
3.  Enroll in our Discovering Membership Class
-A four session (3.5 hours at once usually) Bible study
  -When and where?
 
4.  Let us know how to help you!
-Connection Card
-Contact page on our website
 

Stop Trying!
Romans 3:9-31
The righteous will live by faith   Romans 1:17
 
 
 
Stop Trying To Be Good Enough!
1.  No one is good enough  (Romans 3:9-18)
-Actions and attitudes condemn us all
 
-Paul quotes the OT, aiming at self-righteous Jews
   -knowing the law didn’t make them perfect
 
-Today, we are told people are born with a  blank slate
   -Society/Government/Religion makes good children go bad
   -vs 10-18 says we by nature do bad, everyone!
 
-Any solution to world/society problems that rejects God, His Word, and Jesus Christ, will fall short!
   -Rules cannot cure the human heart
   -Good people may spring up, but they still aren’t good enough
 
-A Judeo-Christian worldview has led to the most moral, benevolent and just societies and governments- but they still fall short of perfection!
-Abolition of slavery, human rights, elevation of women legally, sanctity of human life, all have sprung up from the soil of a Christian worldview.
-However, a worldview isn’t enough- America still falls short of the glory of God!  We are still sinful, still unjust, still destroying human life in the womb, still corrupt
-Government rules and rulers won’t fix our hearts!
 
2.  We have no defense   (Romans 3:19-20)
-Illustration:  have you ever been caught doing wrong? 
   -unable to talk, you willingly accept judgment
-“every mouth” will “be shut” in front of God!
-The Law will condemn us!  (whether external or internal)
 
Stop trying to be good enough!
3.  Jesus removed our guilt    (Romans 3:21-26)
-God announced His plan through the Law and Prophets!
 
-vs 22  “The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ”  
   -John 14:6  Jesus is the only way, truth, life!
 
-vs 23-24  A compare and contrast analysis
   -We all sinned, we all fall short of God’s glory  (vs 23)
   -HOWEVER, God justifies us freely, by his grace (unmerited
     Favor)  through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
-Heb 10:10 “sanctified…through Jesus Christ once for all”
 
    -received through faith-  trust, surrender
 
-God remains righteous-  not a corrupt judge overlooking sin
 
-God declares righteous the one who has faith in Jesus!
   -Give up
 
 
Christian, Stop trying to be good enough!
4.  We cannot boast in ourselves   (Romans 3:27-31)
-Stop trying to steal God’s glory!
-Hebrews 10:14  For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
-Ephesians 2:8-9  saved by grace through faith….not from works, so than one can boast
-Luther:  by grace alone, through faith alone, to God alone be the glory
 
Stop Trying And Start Trusting!
1.  Trust what Jesus did for you- place your faith in Him
 
2.  Keep trusting what Jesus did for you- live for Him
​

​The Tragedy of Rejecting God Part 3
Romans 2:1-11
The Righteous Will Live By Faith!
Humankind naturally rejects faith in God    Romans 1:18-32
-Part 1:  We suppress the truth, worship false gods   vs 18-23
-Part 2:  We worship our heart desires and creation   vs 24-32
 
Rejecting God leads to tragic lives
-We violate God’s natural design for our lives
-We destroy human relationships
-CS Lewis “[They] enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have
  demanded, and are therefore self-enslaved.” 
 
Today, The tragedy of trusting GOOD instead of God
-Read Romans 2:1-11
-note: Paul uses a diatribe literary device- “argument with an imaginary critic”
 
The tragedy of trusting Good instead of God!
1. Good blinds us of our bad  vs 1
-self-righteous people judge others without judging themselves
-“you do the same thing!”   the same sins (maybe 1:29-31)
-Matthew 7:1-5  you see their splinter, don’t see your log!
-note:  Jesus DID say evaluate (Matt 7:15-20)- the fruit of
   someone’s life determines if you can trust him/her spiritually
   -judging character is different than judging to gain moral
     superiority over others.
 
2.  God judges good based on truth  vs 2
-No one is good enough to pass as perfect
-Moral standards don’t save us
-No one can escape the truth!
 
3. Good gives false security  vs 3-5
-Good is generally rewarded in this life (see Proverbs!)
-But temporal blessings don’t erase God’s judgment of sin
   -good people mistake God’s patience for approval
   -good people become hard hearted, don’t see their sin
   -They will receive God’s wrath unless they repent
 
God will repay fairly  vs 6-11
Paul uses a chiastic literary arrangement, the main point is at the beginning and then restated at the end (vs 6 and 11)
1.  Eternal life to those who pursue what is right
-vs 7, 10
 
2.  Wrath and destruction for those who pursue evil
-vs 8, 9
 
3.  Those who “knew better” will be judged first!
-Jews, then Gentiles/Greeks   vs 9, 10
 
 
Stop trusting in GOOD!
1.  Agree with God- good isn’t good enough!
-Romans 3:23
 
2.  Believe in Jesus- He died to pay for our sins
-Everyone will be judged by their works!
   -No one can escape the wrath of God
-Putting our faith in Jesus makes us righteous!
   -A Christ follower is judged by Christ’s works
   -We are made perfect in God’s sight!
-Ephesians 2:8-9-  Trust the gift of God’s grace!
    -Good works don’t save us- that would diminish God’s glory
 
3.  Commit your whole life to Jesus Christ
-knowing is not good enough, we must repent and follow
-Matthew 3:8  “Therefore produce fruit consistent with
   repentance. 
-James 2:17  “In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is
  dead by itself”
-Stop using your own standards of good and evil
-Surrender to God’s truth
-Make Jesus your forever boss