Jesus says the truest sign others will have that we love Him is when we show love towards each other. One of the clearest ways to demonstrate this love is by serving each other! (John 13:12-17; 34-35)
Sermon OutlinE
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:12-17, 34-35)
The definition of a disciple of Jesus: A disciple is following Jesus, being changed by the Holy Spirit, and committed to the mission of God.
A. Serving is about proximity & presence
- To illustrate what love is, Jesus chose the very tangible act of washing feet.
- Our idea of washing feet compared to the first century experience
- Love is a ministry of presence, not just words
B. Serving like Jesus is about humility
- Jesus just arrived in Jerusalem to a king’s welcome
- Jesus demonstrated the path of downward mobility (Philippians 2)
- Humility means we look to serve people in ways that help them, not just what makes us feel good
C. Serving like Jesus requires letting go of other influences
- Each disciple brought their own pre-conceived notions of who Jesus should be
- What are our unseen or subtle outside influences?
- How can we let Jesus be the center of our lives, and not these influences?
D. Serving like Jesus is about developing others
- Other people are not resources to be used, but individuals to be developed
- As we mature, our role shifts more to caring and developing other believers
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
First Steps:
- Think back to the first time you stepped out to care for our serve someone else. What do you remember about that moment? What has stuck with you?
- How have experienced the ministry of presence, serving people in real tangible ways? How can that complement the words we use or ways we care for people spiritually?
- What is one way you will either continue to serve or step out and serve in a new way in the next year?
Diving Deeper
- Describe a time where you have seen someone serve like Jesus did. What did it look like? What did you learn?
- When we say that serving required humility, how do you experience this?
- What are ways that you’ve seen people serve in a way that was more about themselves than actually helping the other person?
- Dan shared the example of Brian Fikkert’s advice to inject wisdom in between our initial compassion and the action we take to serve others. What was your reaction to this? How would you apply this idea?
Putting Christ as the Center
- What are the ways that you have seen outside culture or influences impact how you or others live out the Gospel?
- While there can be wisdom in ways others approach things, why do you feel it is important to keep Jesus at the center of how we choose to love and serve others?
- How is Jesus’ love and way of serving different than what you see in our broader culture?
- What are ways you can live out Jesus’ way as you serve?
Developing Others
- If you are new to following Jesus, do you feel like you have mentors or community that can help you grow? If no, consider getting connected more, or joining next week’s Small Group Launch.
- If you are a long-time believer, how can you take steps to develop others around you? How can you journey with someone as they grow, and resist the temptation to use them to fill a role/need?
Further Reflection
- Spend time in silence and solitude this week and invite the Holy Spirit to move, guide, or show you where you can grow in an area of serving that was discussed today.
- Spend time re-reading one of the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry this week. As you read, reflect on the ways in which Jesus’ loves and serves others, and how that is different than how our culture teaches us to interact.
- Take a walk outside some time this week and enjoy the beauty of creation as the Fall colors reach their peak. Take comfort that in the midst of a world that has many broken and hurting areas where we can serve, God is still in control, and His plan is to bring out the “very good” in creation, in us, and through us.