Part I: The Heart of a Servant
by Pastor Reinaldo A. Z. García
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Introduction
http://vimeo.com/13744400
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
Introduction
“You’re gonna have to ________
serve somebody,
Well, it may be the ________
devil or it may be the _______
Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
(Bob Dylan, “Gotta Serve Somebody,” 1979)
“15If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the
Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve:
whether the gods which your fathers served which
were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites
in whose land you are living; but as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24.15)
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Serving is not evangelism, but it softens, fertilizes,
and waters the ground for sowing.
“Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible
God. John 1:18: ‘No one has ever seen God, but God
the only Son has made him known.’ ‘That’s wonderful,’ people say, ‘but it was 2,000 years ago. Is there
no way by which the invisible God makes Himself visible today?’
There is. 1 John 4:12: ‘No one has ever seen God.’ … ‘If we love
one another, God dwells in us.’ In other words, the invisible God,
who once made Himself visible in Christ, now makes Himself
visible in Christians, if we love one another. It is a breathtaking
claim. The local church cannot evangelize, proclaiming the gospel
of love, if it is not itself a community of love.” (John Stott)
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Serving is not evangelism, but it softens, fertilizes,
and waters the ground for sowing.
“Men would sooner believe that the gospel is from
heaven, if they saw more such effects of it upon the
hearts and lives of those who profess it. The world
is better able to read the nature of religion in a man’s life than
in the Bible.” (Richard Baxter)
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
A couple of definitions with regards what it
means to have the heart of a servant:
1. Heart:
a. Contemporary: One’s feelings, emotions or affections.
b. Scripture: “a.” plus one’s intellect, will, conscience,
or any given combinations of these.
2. Servant:
a. Contemporary: One who provides goods & services
for another.
b. Scripture: “a.” plus wisely, willingly, excellently,
not under compulsion, motivated by love, not fear or
personal gain.
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
So then, what does it mean to have the heart of a
servant? A servant with a “good heart” is one who…
1. …loves God,
a. heart (intellect, will, emotions, conscience),
b. soul (psyche, personality, consciousness), and
c. might (behavior, decisions, deeds);
“…the great and foremost commandment…depend the
whole Law and the Prophets [Scriptures].”
(Deuteronomy 6.5, also Matthew 22.34-38, Mark
12.28-30 & Luke 10.25-27a)
2. …loves his neighbor. (Leviticus 19.18, also Matthew
22.39, Mark 12.31 & Luke 10.27b)
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Lesson to be learned from these passages is that,
A servant ______/_______
_______/________
serving
loves serves God by loving
his neighbor.
See also:
 Matthew 25.31-46 (“judgment of sheep & goats”);
 John 21.15-17 (“love me? … feed my sheep!”);
 John 13.35 (“ultimate apologetic”); and
 Luke 10.30-37 (“Parable of the Good Samaritan”).
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Story of James’ & John’s mom (Matthew 20.20-28)
“Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of
mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”
24And
hearing this, the ten became indignant with the
two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to Himself and
said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it
over them, and their great men exercise authority over
them. 26It is not this way among you, but whoever
wishes to become great among you shall be your
servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you
shall be your slave; 28just as the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many.” (Matthew 20.24-28)
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Story of James’ & John’s mom (Matthew 20.20-28)
“Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of
mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”
24And
hearing this, the ten became indignant with the
two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to Himself and
said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it
over them, and their great men exercise authority over
them. 26It is not this way among you, but whoever
wishes to become great among you shall be your
servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you
shall be your slave; 28just as the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many.” (Matthew 20.24-28)
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Four principles derived from Matthew 20.20-28:
1. Greatness in God’s kingdom is never to be found in
position or power or in the praise and opinions of
men, but in servant-like service to others.
2. The ultimate purpose of serving others is to set
them free to love and serve God.
3. With Christ as our role model of a Servant-Savior—
by faith, hope and love—we are motivated to serve
one another for the edification of the other person.
4. We are never to make others our servants in order
to satisfy our immature cravings or insecurities or
search for self-significance or importance.
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Consequences of living a life in opposition to or
absence of Biblical servanthood:
1. For the individual: Jealousy, discontent, bitterness,
burnout, disunity, animosity, failure to minister,
failure to thrive (perennial spiritual childhood,
Hebrews 6.1-3), narcissism, etc.
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Consequences of living a life in opposition to or
absence of Biblical servanthood:
1. For the individual: Jealousy, discontent, bitterness,
burnout, disunity, animosity, failure to minister,
failure to thrive (perennial spiritual childhood,
Hebrews 6.1-3), narcissism, etc.
2. For the church: Divisions, factions, church splits,
ministry dysfunction, failure to disciple, black eye
on the church, hindrances to the gospel, etc.
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Developing the heart of a servant…
1. Exercise “____________
obedience of _______”
faith
(Romans 1.15 & 16.26).
2. Submit to ___________
spiritual _____________
authorities in
your life (Hebrews 13.17).
3. Be ______________ to the _______ of _______
(Romans 12.1-2).
4. __________ God in _______ and in ______
(John 4.23-24).
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
“If we help someone become what God wants
them to be, God will send someone along to
help us be everything God wants us to be. One
day I asked one of our musicians if he would
like to do something that needed to be done. He said, ‘I will
do whatever you tell me to do; I am here to serve you.’ I
said, ‘But do you want to do this? You don’t have to do it;
we can find someone else.’ He said, ‘It doesn’t matter if I
want to or not. Tell me what you want me to do, and I will
do it.’ He was anointed to help others and enjoyed doing
whatever needed to be done. To enjoy your day, be ready to
help people with whatever God has called them to do.”
(Joyce Meyer, Starting Your Day Right, December 6)
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
Developing the heart of a servant…
1. Exercise “____________
obedience of _______”
faith
(Romans 1.15 & 16.26).
2. Submit to ___________
spiritual _____________
authorities in
your life (Hebrews 13.17).
3. Be ______________
transformed to the _______
Christ
image of _______
(Romans 12.1-2).
4. __________
Worship God in _______
spirit and in ______
truth
(John 4.23-24).
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
The Heart of a Servant
“Serving others is worship. ‘Do not neglect to do good and
to share what you have, for such sacrifices
are pleasing to God’ (Hebrews 13:16) …
That means our worship is revealed not
simply in a meeting but in the way we live
every day. We worship God by seeking to
obey 1 Corinthians 10:31: ‘So, whether you eat
or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory
of God.’” (Bob Kauflin, Worship Matters)
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant
Closing Thoughts
What works for me as a motivation to serve…
 Identify with and find significance—in Christ alone.
 Study the life of Christ and be inspired & equipped
for service.
 Rest in Christ; He died for us and redeemed us. He
said, “it is finished” (John 19.30) and also “Take
My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest
for your souls…My yoke is easy and My burden is
light.” (Matthew 11.28-30).
 “Love God and do as you please.” (Augustine)
Being Servants of Christ, Message on Biblical Servanthood - Part I: The Heart of a Servant