Sunday Messages

Shift: Jesus-followers must grow servant hearts by serving the people God has placed in their lives, following the example of Jesus with compassion and helpfulness.

The little things do matter…

Shifts not only have a big impact in the crust of the earth, but also in every area of our lives. By making these small adjustments in the right places, we can set off a chain reaction – much like the earth’s seismic forces that result in an earthquake – but in this case small changes can make a BIG difference in the most important areas of our lives. 16:Shiftscan take place almost anywhere: in the workplace, the school, the family, the church, the community, and in our spiritual and personal lives. In our last message, God disclosed to us the importance of Shift #11: The Shift from Burning to Building.

Jesus said in Mark 10:45…

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

These words of Jesus set the standard of servanthood. Jesus’ mission statement upsets all the accepted standards of the world. Categorically rejecting rank and power, Jesus establishes servanthood as his standard of greatness. By rank, a servant is last of all. In power, a servant has none.

SHIFT #12: FROM SERVED TO SERVING

I remember when I was a little spud in elementary school. Across the street from our school was a Texaco Star Service Station. In fact, the first day of school my mother dropped me off and expected me to find my way home about a mile away. Now, not knowing now to get home, I went across the street to the Texaco Star Service Station. A man in a dark brown shirt and pants, wearing a cap with a big star on it, asked me if he could help me. Yes, I told him I was lost and didn’t know how to get home. So he asked me a few questions concerning the whereabouts of my home, and invited me to ride in the side car of his motorcycle. It was only a matter of minutes that he drove me to my home on Emerson Avenue. What an impression of caring and service that man set upon the life of one small boy.

You see, the place where you got your gas in those days was called service stations, not merely gas stations. Attendants rushed out to your car and literally serviced your vehicle with gas, water, oil, and a clean windshield. You never had to leave your car. Now days, the attendant never leaves the booth so you pump the gas, service your car, and pay your own bill by a credit card directly attached to the pump. From full-service stations to self-serve gas stations. My, has service changed!

Jesus made the shift from served to serving. Jesus as the Son of God could have arranged life entirely to suit himself, but as the Son of Man he spent himself and all his rank and power in the service of others. He has come “to give his life as a ransom for many.” This saying of Jesus is a simple and pictorial way of communicating that it cost the life of Jesus to bring lost people back from their sin into the love of God. It means that the cost of our salvation was the cross of Christ. It defines what Jesus-followers need to focused upon in these last days, making the shift from being served to serving.

"Servant" in our English New Testament usually represents the Greek doulos (bondslave). Sometimes it means diakonos (deacon or minister); this is strictly accurate, for doulos and diakonos are synonyms. Both words denote those who are not at their own disposal, but are their master's purchased property. Bought to serve their master's needs, to be at his beck and call every moment, the servant's sole profession is to do as he or she is told. Christian service therefore means, first and foremost, living out a servant relationship to one's Savior.

What work does Christ set his servants to do? The way that they serve him, he tells them, is by becoming the servants of their fellow-servants and being willing to do literally anything, however costly, irksome, or undignified, in order to help them. This is what love means, as he himself showed at the Last supper when he played the servant's part and washed the disciples' feet.

A little background information on foot-washing in first century Palestine will help us to understand the significance of this act of service. Foot-washing was not primarily a ceremonial custom. It was practically important because people walked in sandals through dusty and manure-filled streets. Feet simply got dirty and stinky.

Not surprisingly, washing someone else's feet was regarded as one of the most demeaning tasks anyone could perform. It was reserved for the lowest of the household servants. It would be similar today to the entry job of a United States forest ranger. All rangers begin their work by cleaning toilets in the national parks. They don’t begin by sharing their knowledge of the awesome wonder of creation by leading nature walks.

We must place in contrast the fact that even though the task of serving was demeaning; the servants were well cared for by their masters. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the youngest of the sons requested his share of the inheritance and left for greener pastures. He scoots with the loot, and found himself penniless among the pigs, the detested swine of Jewish custom. When he came to his senses, he considered the fact that many of his father’s hired servants had food to spare, and he was starving to death (Luke 15:17).

So on this night before Passover, since there was evidently no household servant present at this private meal, who would perform this task? Jesus' disciples were not about to do it. Luke says they were in the midst of their favorite argument--"which one of them was regarded to be the greatest" (Luke 22:24). Those who washed feet in this setting would be admitting they were the good-for-nothings of the bunch!

Compassion and Helpfulness

When the New Testament speaks of ministering to the saints, it means not primarily preaching to them but devoting time, difficulty, and substance to giving them all the imaginative compassion and practical helpfulness possible. The essence of Christian service is loyalty to the king expressing itself in care for his servants.

So John sets the stage of this act of service by telling us it was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus was fully aware that his hour had come for him to leave his disciples and go to the Father. Jesus loved those who followed him supremely. He would love them to the end. So the evening meal was in progress in the Upper Room.

Jesus models for us the shift from served to serving as he washes the disciple’s feet in John 13:3-5, 12-15.

In the likeness of Jesus…

1. Servants are dependably aware of their origin and destiny

³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

Jesus knew the source of his authority came from his Father. He knew that his incarnation of becoming flesh was ordained by his Father, and he would ascend back to heaven when he completed the work his Father gave him to do. So he was fully aware of his mission and ministry. He was able throughout his life and ministry to constantly recognize his work with humility, obedience, compassion and gentleness.

Servants must know the origin and the destiny of their authority. It is important that we as Jesus-followers know our roots. Our heritage is important because it helps us know who we are, but most importantly, whose we are. When we know we are God’s children, and one day we are going to spend eternity with him, then our service takes on a new dimension than the social services of our day. When we serve with loyalty to our Master, expressing care for his servants, then our service embodies eternity. We have a foundation and a future upon which to base our service. Our service has the stamp of eternity upon it.

2. Servants are dutifully observant of the task before them

⁴ …so he [Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him… 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.”

Jesus was both observant and sensitive to the fact that the household servant either was lax in the assigned duties or was no where to be found. The disciples entered the place of dining, and the servant did not do the customary act of washing their feet. No doubt, Jesus was the guest of honor.

How strange it must have been for the disciples to witness this act of compassion and helpfulness coming from their Teacher and Lord. But Jesus takes off his outer coat, wraps a towel around him, pours water into a basin and washes their feet. Jesus then returns to his place of honor. He asks them if they truly understood what he had done for them. They were right in calling him Teacher and Lord. Would they be responsive to move from served to serving?

Servants must be observant of the task before them. Jesus calls us as Jesus-followers to minister to one another in his name. There is no excuse for us to sit back and wait for God to show us the need for service in our lives and ministry. Jesus sets the example and calls us to observe the commitment it takes to serve him, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. So we make the shift from served to serving.

3. Servants are devotedly obedient to the commission assigned them

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.”

Jesus called his disciples servants, not consumers. He commissioned his disciples to serve one another in the likeness of his service to them. Jesus set the example. Jesus provided a model. One who models has the willingness to go first. Jesus will never ask his disciples to do anything that he first isn’t willing to do.

Servants must be devotedly obedience to the call of servanthood. In a culture where people are most often concerned about their own well-being, we are charged to follow the lead of our Master. We begin our service to those who we are called to love, care about, and be concerned for. Only the Holy Spirit can create in us the kind of love toward our Savior that will overflow in imaginative compassion and practical helpfulness towards his people. Unless the spirit is training us in love, we are not fit persons to serve with that creative compassion and sensible helpfulness in the church.

All in the Family--

Let’s envision the following scenarios...

First, let’s picture a church where everyone wants to be served. (video clip, second service).Each person believes the church exists to serve their needs, to make them happy, and to cater to their whims and tastes. Imagine a church where everyone has a “take care of me” attitude and is quick to grumble whenever things are not as they should be. It becomes a church of self-absorption. Sadly some people don’t have to use their imagination to picture such a church. This kind of church will NEVER have a positive impact on their world.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Real service is what I desire.

I’ll sing you a solo any time, dear Lord,

Just don’t ask me to sing in the choir.

I’ll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,

I like to see things come to pass.

But don’t ask me to teach boys and girls, dear Lord,

I’d rather just stay in my class.

I’ll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,

I yearn for your kingdom to thrive.

I’ll give you my nickels and dimes, dear Lord,

But please don’t ask me to tithe.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

I’ll say what you want me to say.

I’m busy just now with myself, dear Lord,

I’ll help you some other day.

Now, let’s imagine a church where every person has a passion to serve others. What could God do through such a church? The church was never meant to be a bunch of people watching on as a few exhausted people strain to carry the burden of a whole congregation. Football has been likened to service in the church. Thousands of fans are watching, desperately in need of exercise. Twenty-two players are exercising, desperately in need of rest! The wise saying from Ecclesiastes 4:9, “two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor” is true. It becomes a church of self-sacrificing. This kind of church is filled with people who will CHANGE their world.

Brother Lawrence lived in the 17th century. He remained 40 years in the uninterrupted awareness of God's presence. He walked in the humility of depending on God and the purity of doing everything for the love of God. It was observed, that in the greatest hurry of business in the kitchen, he still preserved his recollection and heavenly-mindedness. He was never hasty or loitering, but did each thing, even the washing of dishes, in its season with an even uninterrupted composure and tranquility of spirit. "The time of business," said he, "does not with me differ from the time of prayer. In the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Supper."

Moving from served to serving is one of the great disciplines that allow God to speak to our heart through his Word. Our series on 16:Shifts highlights the verse from John 3:16…

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

…God loves…God gave…We believe…We live.

Prayer: Father, I believe you love this world. You gave your one and only Son so I can live forever with you. Apart from you, I die. With you, I live. I choose life. I admit I need a Savior. I believe Jesus is my Savior. I choose to walk with Jesus and become a worldchanger.

Shift: When words become a fire, the Spirit convicts Jesus-followers to have the courage to open their mouths and build others up with their words.

The little things do matter…

Shifts not only have a big impact in the crust of the earth, but also in every area of our lives.By making these small adjustments in the right places, we can set off a chain reaction – much like the earth’s seismic forces that result in an earthquake – but in this case small changes can make a BIG difference in the most important areas of our lives. 16:Shifts can take place almost anywhere: in the workplace, the school, the family, the church, the community, and in our spiritual and personal lives. In our last message, God disclosed to us the importance of Shift #10: The Shift from Anxiety to Peace.

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” –Psalm 19:14.

SHIFT #11: From Burning to Building

We who have lived in Southern California in the fall, we know we don’t get much change in our weather. No, instead we’re stuck with the same boring eighty-degrees day in, day out. But fall in Southern California does have one major drawback. Fall is fire season. It happens every September, October, and November. The gentle winds shift from the standard off-shore afternoon breezes to the warm, whipped up Santa Ana desert winds. And every time they do, a high alert goes out for wildfires. We have watched these infamous, fall fires on the evening news. For some, we know of family or friends who have literally been evacuated from their homes. In recent fires near Malibu, the flames literally jumped eight full-size lanes of a massive freeway in an instant. The fire left a charred and flattened path twenty miles through Malibu Canyon and down to the beach. It is a frightening experience. Each year, hundreds of thousands of acres are burned, homes are lost, and lives are threatened by fires that often get started with a simple “spark.” [video clip on start a fire].

There is another force to be reckoned with when it comes to our speech. One of the most startling passages in the Bible was written by Jesus’ younger brother, James. Describing the power of our words, he writes in James 3:5-6…

⁵ … the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

James seems to be going to extremes. He thinks the tongue is like a fire, that a whole world of evil lives in this tiny pink organ, that it can corrupt us through and through, that it ignites the very fabric of our lives with flames that must be quenched, and that all of this fiery mess has been ignited by hell itself.

Is the tongue really as dangerous as James thinks? Do our words have the potential for the kind of destruction he seems to be worried about? Well, we as Jesus-followers need to respond to these questions with consciences open and hearts softened by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. When considering our words, we need to make the shift from burning to building.

Words that burn cause emotional battle scars. We don’t have to walk long on this earth before we discover that some of our deepest wounds are the result of careless or hurtful words. It is also true; words that build produce lasting relationships. When people speak words of love, affirmation, and blessing, we experience some of the most precious memories in this life.

So it is no surprise that God gives us all kinds of warnings about how we use our words. God inspired Solomon to speak on this topic from the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 18:20-21 ²⁰ From the fruit of their mouths people's stomachs are filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. ²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Solomon understood that words have the potential to burn or to build. They have the power of life or death. We all know how refreshing it is to hear words of life, hope, and encouragement. They can help our performance and brighten our attitudes. The right word at the right time can bring us renewed vigor for a task and can challenge us to improve. Young or old, people blossom under the influence of encouraging words. Too often we do not hear encouraging words. Too often, yet we do not speak words that build, only burn.

The truth of the matter is that if we are not careful, our words tend toward the negative. If we push the default button, we tend to use words in ways that destroy relationships and fracture community. God has something very different in mind. God longs to see us build healthy and lasting relationships. But to accomplish this, we must learn to control our speech.

Can we imagine what it would be like to have a full-time grumbler following us around for a day? Perhaps some of us can say, “For a day? I’ve got one that follows me around everyday!” Well, we would soon discover that our house is too small, our job is no fun, we have bad taste in restaurants, and our clothes don’t match…that is, if we survived the day without going crazy. Grumblers can scorch the life out of just about any circumstance. At work, a grumbler can change a dream job into one of drudgery. At home, a grumbler can turn a place of rest into a place of stress. At church, a grumbler can twist a ministry that thrives into a ministry that only survives.

The apostle Paul wrote in Jude 16…

¹⁶ These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

There is a danger in grumbling. The forty-years Israel spent wandering in the desert was a time they would have preferred to forget. When Paul brought up this topic, it would have been as comfortable as asking someone to talk about their root canal surgery during the second course of a dinner party. Some things are better left unsaid. However, Paul brings up this awkward topic and lists four sins the people of Israel committed while they wandered in the wilderness during those agonizing years.

Let’s note these sins in 1 Corinthians 10:6-10…

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry." ⁸ We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ⁹ We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. ¹⁰ And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

Here are the four sins:

Idolatry... Sexual immorality…Testing the Lord…Grumbling

Now, Jesus-followers take a strong stand on idolatry, sexual immorality, and testing the Lord. The question then becomes, why do we practically ignore the fourth sin Paul addresses in this passage? We simply ignore this one as seriously as the other three. Paul is basically communicating God’s heart on this topic. This sin of grumbling not only plagued the people of Israel all through their history, it was damaging the church in Paul’s day, and it still runs rampant in the lives of too many Jesus-followers and churches today.

Therefore, we need to constantly draw near to God and ask him for the right words to speak, words that will satisfy the soul of every listener. Words that encourage and not discourage those who hear us speak. That God might help our tongues to nourish life and not to torch others. And perhaps most important of all, help us to encourage others to be encouragers.

So how do we make the shift from burning to building?

Words That Matter

Grumbling burns, consumes, and destroys relationships; speaking words of blessing can heal, strengthen, and rebuild them. If we desire to experience dynamic and lasting relationships, we can begin by committing to use our words as a source of blessing and encouragement. We need to declare our lives Zero Tolerance Zones. We must not tolerate the poison that grumbling brings into our relationships. God wants us to celebrate the good we see in others. We can speak uplifting words face to face, and we can even become ambassadors of “good gossip.”

Paul writes to the believers in Ephesians 4:29-32…

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

When we develop the habit of affirming others, a shift from burning to building occurs. In a modern culture where the tongue is often used to burn, we create a culture of blessing. Paul prohibits burning and permits building in his wise counsel:

1. Paul disallows all “trash talk”

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths…

Burning permits are not granted. It’s too dangerous to take the chance. Also, he urges us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the guide of life. When we act contrary to the counsel of our parents when we are young, we hurt them. In a similar way, to act contrary to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is to grieve the Spirit and hurt the heart of God who, through the Spirit, sent his word to us.

So burning permits are not granted by God. The conditions are too dangerous to take the chance. Why? Here are ten modern-day examples from culture…

· There are a lot of ugly people out there, too bad your one of them

· I hear you are connected to the Police Department -- by a pair of handcuffs

· Save your breath, you are going to need it to blow up your date tonight

· Try not to let your mind wander - it's too small to be left out alone on its own

· I hear the only place you're ever invited is outside

· Don't you need a permit to carry that much stupid around?

· Your family tree is nothing but a rest stop for dogs

· You're so stupid that if brains were taxed you would get a rebate

· Your teeth are so yellow when you walk into church the choir sings “let it shine, let it shine, let it shine”

· Your breath is so hot when you sneeze you start forest fires

2. Paul allows “building permits”

²⁹ … but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Paul goes on to put the same thing positively. He wants us as Jesus-followers to take out “building permits.” The Jesus-follower should be characterized by words which help, not hinder. Building permits are granted.

Here are ten affirmations that bless…

· You are God’s special gift in my life

· Your smile brightens my day

· Your friendship means the world to me

· Is there something I can do for you today?

· Be strong because God is on your side

· Your words keep me on my feet

· I thank God for you

· I need some guidance; can you help me?

· God is doing a good work in you

· I love you

So Paul comes to the summing up of his advice. He tells us to be kind. The Greeks defined this quality as the disposition of mind which thinks as much of its neighbor’s affairs as it does of its own.Kindness has learned the secret of looking outwards all the time, and not inwards. Paul tells us to forgive others as God forgives us. So, in one sentence, Paul lays down a rule for personal relationships—that we should treat others as Jesus Christ has treated us. Forgiveness is the standard Jesus modeled for how we treat one another. And this treatment of others surely includes the words we speak!

Moving from burning to building is one of the great disciplines that allow God to speak to our heart through his Word. Our series on 16:Shifts highlights the verse from John 3:16…

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

…God loves…God gave…We believe…We live.

Prayer: Father, I believe you love this world. You gave your one and only Son so I can live forever with you. Apart from you, I die. With you, I live. I choose life. I admit I need a Savior. I believe Jesus is my Savior. I choose to walk with Jesus and become a worldchanger.

Triple-Filter Test

Let’s bring a summation to our message. When we think about what we say and how we say it, there is a very simple test for guiding our speech. There are three things we can ask ourselves before we speak:

• Is it kind?

• Is it true?
• Is it helpful?

We have affirmed in this message the fact that speaking mindfully is not a simple task. We are used to blurting out and presenting our opinions, grumblings and thoughts, sometimes to the detriment of others and ourselves.

Is it kind, is it true, and is it helpful? I didn’t make those questions up. We might be familiar with them already—they were first used in a poem in 1835, and the Rotarian 4-Way test is similar. Some people use the word “useful” or “necessary” instead of “helpful.” I think these three simple tests of our speech bring together the meaning and purpose of many of the laws in the Bible about right speech.

Maybe the questions of “kind, true, helpful” were in the mind of Paul when he gave his advice concerning our speech to the believers at Ephesus.

Ephesians 4:25

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”

Gossip can be very malicious—telling lies, or secrets about someone to anyone who will listen. But it is also interesting to note the fact that the word gossip was not always a negative word.

The word gossip came from the early English word “God-sibb.” A god-sibling, like a god-parent, was a member of a religious community, someone who shared faith. We were truly kindred in God. Therefore, the original meaning of gossip literally was speech within the church.

So if it seems like a lot of gossiping happens in church…we are right! Gossip can be good. Gossip is the way a community tells its story. Gossip can be the way that people get the help they can’t ask for, the forgiveness they didn’t know they needed, and the affection that comes with being loved with all our faults. Thus, not all “gossip” is bad. Some of it is just sharing stories and connections so that we humans can better care for each other, and better understand the world we live in. The difference between good gossip and bad gossip comes when we ask ourselves…

Is it kind?

Is it true?

Is it helpful?

If we really take this “triple-filter test” into our lives; really think before we speak (or type) and ask ourselves if what we are about to say—is kind, is true, is helpful—there would be a lot less talking in the world. It would be a calmer, quieter, kinder place.

I have attempted personally to take this “triple-filter test” into my life in the past two weeks, but it's hard. I'm not used to thinking before I speak. I have to wonder if incorporating kindness, truth and helpfulness into my communications is really such a great idea. However, small talk, discussion of the weather, asking people how they are doing even though you may not care or listen or know who they are, is a very important part of human interaction. And let's face it; refraining from speaking the truth is sometimes the only way to be kind. Kind, true and helpful, for me is like anything I enjoy: ice cream or chocolate, fine in moderation, but we have to know when to stop. We can have too much of a good thing.

So let’s make the shift from burning to building. We are members of one another, kindred with all we meet. May we forgive ourselves and each other; we begin again in love.

May the words of all our mouths be a benediction and a blessing to those we encounter daily. May what we say be kind, true, and helpful! Amen.