March 17, 2024

Influencers

Week 3 – You Got Served

 

Introduction

  • Continuing with our sermon series, Influencers.
  • Reflect upon the different kind of invitations we receive in life and how they influence our decisions and actions.
  • Set the stage for the sermon’s main theme: embracing the invitation to serve others as Jesus did.

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1. Serve to Reflect Jesus (John 13:1-17)

  • Discuss the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, explicating its significance in the context of servanthood.
  • Drawing attention to the selfless and unconditional love Jesus exhibited, even to the point of serving the one who would betray Him.
  • Encourage the Church to reflect the same service focused attitude as Jesus did, aiming to influence others through acts of service rather than through words.

“(14) Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. (15) I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” – John 13:14-15 (NIV)

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2. Serve to Be a Blessing (Acts 20:35)

  • Explore the idea that serving others is a privilege, not an obligation, and it can be a blessing in disguise.
  • Explain the principle of giving being more rewarding than receiving and relating this to acts of service.
  • Remind the Church that through service to others, we are also serving Jesus.

“(35) In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” – Acts 20:35 (NIV)

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3. Serve Out of Love (John 13:1)

  • Explain that our motivation for service should be love, a love that is reflective of Jesus’s love for his disciples.
  • Address the reality of serving others who may not respond or appreciate our efforts, encouraging the Church to serve selflessly and without expectations.
  • Emphasize that our actions should be out of love and imitation of what Jesus did for us.

“(1) It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” – John 13:1 (NIV)

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Bring it Home

  • The story of Saint Patrick, highlighting how his life of service was turned into a self-serving celebration, drawing parallels to how our influence can be manipulated if not grounded in Christ.
  • Encourage the Church to prioritize serving others and reflecting Jesus over personal gain.
  • Response to the message. Let’s see lives changed!
  • Invite cards for Easter – Transition to a story of transformation from an invite.

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