Best Practices Part 8 – The Practice of Serving

Best Practices

Part 8 – The Practice of Serving

8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Luke 9:46-48

For Christ-followers, greatness is not tied to achievement, accomplishment, value or worth; .

What’s the problem with pride?

• Pride fills us with and .

13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;

    I hate pride and arrogance,

    evil behavior and perverse speech. Proverbs 8:13

• Pride keeps us from .

4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;

    in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Psalm 10:4

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

• Pride leads to devastating .

18 Pride goes before destruction,

    a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

is the antidote for pride and it was for us by Jesus Christ!

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8

There is no greater expression of humility that the .

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:24-28

Jesus set the for us to follow in one another!

Jesus Washes His Disciple’s Feet – John 13:1-17

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 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. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:12-17

Something happens to us when we ; we will be !

Five Ways to Practice Serving

1)Consider others than yourself.

37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:37

3 …in humility value others above yourselves, Philippians 2:3b

2) Recognize that your greatest is your .

3) Look for opportunities to quietly serve without .

4) when you would rather give up!

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2.

5) Find a place to exercise your gifts and passions in your !

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, 1 Peter 4:10.