God's Design for the Church: To Serve (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Series: God's Design for the Church

Sermon: To Serve

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5

Date: November 10, 2019

 

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.  (2 Corinthians 4:5)

We are shaped to serve.  (Ephesians 2:10; NIV)

Here are 5 easy ways that a church glorifies God:

1. Churches grow stronger through worship
2. Churches grow warmer through fellowship
3. Churches grow deeper through discipleship
4. Churches grow broader through ministry
5. Churches grow larger through evangelism

God shaped us to serve.  Here are three important truths to embrace if we, as Hopewell Baptist Church, are to be His servants in His way:

1. We have a Master
   • Here's a really big deal: we serve God by serving others.
   • Servants make themselves available.
   • Is He Lord of our schedules?  Are we open to God interrupting our lives?  Will we surrender our schedule to God?
   • Real servants pay attention to needs.
   • Galatians 6:10, NIV
   • Real servants do the best they can with what they have.
   • Real servants are faithful.
2. We have a motive
   • We serve others because they mean a lot to Jesus.
   • Matthew 8:15
   • God shaped you to serve.  We ought to want to use what He's given us for Him!
   • Psalm 139:13-14, NCV
     • Spiritual Gifts
     • Heart
     • Abilities
     • Personality
     • Experiences
   • 1 Peter 4:10-11, NLT
   • DNA molecules can unite in an almost infinite number of ways.  The number is something like 10 to the 2,400,000,000th power!
   • "What matters is not the duration of your life bu the donation of your life."  -Rick Warren
3. We have a message
   • What's holding you back from serving others?
   • God transforms the world by loving personal service up close.
   • Galatians 6:3, NLT

WEEKLY GROWTH SUGGESTION: Start each day by asking God to show you people to serve for Him that day.