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  6 Spiritual Disciplines

SERVE both within and beyond St John’s

Mark 10:45 “even the Son of Man … came to serve and give his life”

Becoming more like Jesus

·  Jesus was a servant

·  We are called to follow his example

·  That means we are to be servants too

·  In this way we grow closer to (and more like) Jesus

Our culture and our sinful hearts tell us the lie that each of us is the centre of the universe.  That it’s all about me!  Luther characterised human sin as being selfishly curved in on ourselves - of thinking that it’s all about me.

Jesus teaches us a better way: The way of the servant

Jesus not only came to set us free from our sin, death and the forces of evil.  He also came to free us from ourselves.  When it comes to messing up our own lives, we are our own worst enemies: We imprison our own hearts in selfishness and sin.

Jesus has come to set us free from ourselves so that we can live our lives in God’s service through serving others in his name.  True freedom in life doesn’t come from being enslaved to our own sinful egos.  True freedom in life can only be found through submitting to the Lordship of Jesus.  There is no more fulfilling way to live your life, than the way of the servant - as we joyfully live our lives in the service of our Lord  Jesus, who gave his live in service of us.

Serving God in your station and vocation

Luther identifies two keys areas where we are to serve God:

1. Your station – where God has placed you (within your network of close relationships with family and friends) and

2.  Your vocation – the task that God has given you to do (your life’s work – both paid and unpaid): the place or places where God has called you to make a difference in his name.

Charity might begin at home but shouldn’t stop there!

God is equally pleased when we serve him within the local

community as he is when we serve him in the congregation.  It’s both/and not either/or.  God calls us to serve him in ever widening circles: starting in our homes and then in our social network, our Church family, our workplace and in the wider community, within our nation and as global citizens.

Having a heart for the poor

We are called to make a difference in Jesus’ name as we love, care, help, befriend, feed, clothe, support and defend the people around us - having a particular concern for the poor and needy, for those who have been excluded or left behind.

“We can not do great things, only small things with great love. It is not how much you do but how much love you put into doing it.” – Mother Teresa

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Reflections on adopting a servant lifestyle

The foundation of service is faith in our Lord who saved and served us

The key characteristic of service is selfless love

The measure of service is sacrifice

The surprise of service is its freedom and joy

The authority of service is our submission to God’s purposes

The purpose of service is to help others and to glorify God

The tools of service are the Word of God and prayer

The privilege of service is being a channel of God’s blessing

The reward of service is growing closer to Jesus

The power of service comes from the Holy Spirit

The outcome of service is spiritual growth

The scope of service incorporates our whole lives

The motive for service is love and gratitude

The model for service is Jesus Christ.