Grow in Service (#3 of Epiphany Series)

January 27, 2025
Grow in Service (#3 of Epiphany Series)

Scripture Reading: Acts 20: 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.’

Message:  Grow in Service (#3 of Epiphany Series)

Show up and grow

Epiphany series on growth - #1 grow in worship, #2 grow in fellowship, today grow in service

This series of growth is meant as a response to an epiphany “yes”

I get it, God so loved this world that He sent his only Son, “yes” God has done that for me, “yes” I belong to God’s family, and “yes” I want to be part of what God is doing in this world…  “yes” I want to grow!

This is part of the epiphany discovery we need to make…

There is the potential of growth when we show up and serve

But we need to make the effort… we need to show up

We need to put ourselves in this environment of growth

Serving in God’s kingdom is where we will experience growth

Serving is the environment of growth

Serving is hard work

The words we read this morning is part of Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesians

In it, he teaches the elders and people of Ephesus what it means to be the church of Christ

He is leaving and urging them to continue the work of serving 

And he reminds them of what he has done among them…

He talks about the “hard work” that he did in the time that he was there

We need to hear this - serving in God’s kingdom is hard work

It is not going to happen by itself - we need to step up

We need to make the effort to serve

There will always be challenges when you decide to serve

A conscious choice to serve is to accept the challenge, even though they might be hard

It is about keeping going when things get challenging

In a sense, this serves as reminder - when you decide to serve in God’s kingdom, know that you will experience challenges

Also, it is a reminder not be surprised or resentful when it gets hard to serve…

Example of others

Paul is presenting himself as an example of serving

We need to find inspiration when we are deciding to grow in our service

Seeing others around us serving, inspires us to grow in our own serving

Let us look around to see others serve

Look at the ladies - we saw a great example on Friday with the Scottish luncheon

Look at elders and managers - doing the hard work… budget this past week

Look at volunteers serving on committees 

Look at people serving against the odds of age and mobility

Look at others showing up to serve despite the excuses the majority serves up

Look at people serving beyond the bounds of the church

The inspiration for you to serve is all around you, you just need to look!

Serving = Helping

Paul also says that serving is about helping the weak

Just make that mental note here - when you serve it is not about yourself, but about helping others

It is about making a difference

And being part of a movement that is making a difference 

It is about serving, knowing that what I do is part of something bigger than just my own needs 

It is having the inner motivation of my service being an act of loving my neighbour 

Turning God’s law of love into action…

Reward 

And when you serve with that motivation, serving is not about what I get but rather about what I can give

Paul is quoting Jesus in his speech to the elders:  “It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Serving is about unselfishly giving of yourself, not expecting something in return

Giving, not receiving!

In this regard, Paul wrote to the Colossians: - “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3: 23)

Do it with all your heart

As working for the Lord, not for human masters…

This is not to say that there is no reward in serving

We will grow when we serve, we will find joy when we serve, we will feel a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves when we serve

But we serve to give - give from ourselves to our Lord

Keep it simple - uncomplicated

Today, we are all invited and challenged to grow in our service

Let’s not overthink it

Let’s keep it simple and show up - whether is in serving in the church or in God’s kingdom in the community

Let’s not be under any illusion - serving is hard work, we will be challenged

Let us look around you for inspiration - and also be aware that you are an inspiration to others when you serve

Let us remind ourselves that when we serve, we are doing it out of love for God and our neighbour - we serve to help

And let us do what we do with all our heart, not for ourselves but for our Lord

May we all grow in our service this year!


Comments

Add your comment
Please enter your name.
Please enter a longer comment.