Serve With Love

Terry White welcomed us and then invited us to join in pre-service discussions about faith and life. Among other things we received a reminder that the second Sunday in August we will be eating at Cressman's for church.

As we turned to worship Terry read from Psalm 150. We then sang a mix of hymns and worship songs

After taking an offering and spending time in prayer we received the message for today.

Serve With Love

Terry began by reacting to the worship and prayer time, expressing that it's a blessing to experience unity, as a body of believers or as families. He then gave an update on things that are happening with regard to the sale of his house and the transition from what was to what will be.

Through the month of June Pastor White has been sharing a series of messages based on the acronym BLESS. The message today features the letter S, for Serve.

One of the best ways to live is to live as servants. But our natural inclination is to serve ourselves, not others.

Terry cited the TV show Survivor and how many things we do and choose are for the benefit of others or for the benefit of ourselves. The more that is at stake, the more we see what is in their hearts and ours.

Today's text was John 13:1-18, the story of Jesus watching the disciples' feet.

Terry points out how God doesn't ask us to do things that God wouldn't do. In this case we see Jesus humbling Himself, serving, modeling servanthood.

The key verse here is verse 14: "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet."

We're called to serve, and sometimes we do and it feels good. But there are times and situations where it feels like we are doing all the work. Resentment sets in and we wonder thoughts like are we being enablers for bad behavior?

A life of service is a powerful witness.

Terry read from Rich Mullins, paraphrased here: God has called us to be lovers...  Most of us give up ourselves as long as our investments pay off. We even resent those who we pretended to love.

We are called to be the hands, feet and voice of Christ to the world. This is our calling, our responsibility. Matthew 25:31-45. Service is the heart of the Gospel.

We also read Philippians 2:1-8. There's a reason it feels good to do good. It's because we're aligning ourselves with who God is and His purpose for us. It feels right.

We closed with the song Take My Life & Let It Be.... Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.