a drop of water

Notes and thoughts from:

• Sermon: The Heart of a Servant – A Message from Acts 10
• Church: Coast Vineyard Church
• Pastor: Jess Lyon
• Date: January 4, 2009

“Serving is the ability to relate to people in such a way that their dignity as human beings is affirmed and they are more empowered to live God-glorifying lives.” — Duane Elmer  

Peter the Servant:

• Challenged to see beyond conceptions of “clean” and “unclean.”
• Invites Gentiles into relationships.
• Is willing to go beyond what is comfortable.
• Sees Cornelius as an equal.
• Shares the Gospel with all the people present.

True service happens when we:

• Give up our assumptions about others. (Acts10:28)
• Invite others into friendships. (1 Thes 2:8)
• Are willing to be uncomfortable. (John 13:4-14)
• See others as equals. (Acts 10:26)
• Give with no promise of return (Luke 14:12-14)

Three inspiring thoughts have stuck with me from Jess’ sermon this past Sunday.  They are:

1. We get so caught up in the task of service, we forget about the people who we are serving.  Jess referenced an experience with an African pastor who explained that many church groups had come to dig wells and build buildings but no one had ever asked for his name.  –  I know that I’ve gotten stuck in the impossibilities of the logistics to completely miss the relationship aspect of service.

2. We often become paternalistic in our service, trying to make those we serve into our own image, instead of into Christ’s image.  –  I know that the easiest advice to give is the one that starts out, “I did it this way…and it worked,” but oftne the best help you can give someone is to ask the questions that help them discover God moving and speaking to them in their life. 

3. We must not vindicate our exlcusion of others and the service of those who we make assumptions and stereotypes of.  Instead we must try our best to gain a glimpse of understanding of where they are coming from. — I am guilty of this.  I treat people wrongly (not just differently) based on my assumptions and stereotypes that I have of them before I even give them the chance to tell me their story.

As I try to evaluate this next year, a good question is to ask myself about who are Jenn and I serving this next year.  Whether it be current friends, family, or future friends, I want service to be an integral part of our life style.

Isaiah 58:9-10