Serving

SERVING: AAW

(No formal address, but comments throughout)

 Readings:

Philippians 2

Imitating Christ’s Humility

 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,

   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

   by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,

   being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

   he humbled himself

   by becoming obedient to death—

      even death on a cross!

 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

   and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Footnotes:

I

 Luke 9:46-48

New International Version (NIV)

 46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

 

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 

Suggestions for hymns and songs

Hymn: Be still  40

Hymn: Awake Awake O Zion  (sheet?)

Hymn: The Servant King 120

Song: Make Time For Love (www.sheilahamil.co.uk click onto music link))

Hymn: Brother let me be your servant  54 S of F

Hymn: Rejoice! Rejoice!  480 S of F

 

 

 

 

Introductory sentence: ‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’ (Phil 2.5)

 

Today our theme is Serving?

Is ‘Christian serving’ simply doing as we’re told?’ And if not, what does it mean for a Christian to serve?

Let’s see if we can work the answer out from this illustration.

I want you to welcome here this morning a world famous conductor! Let’s give him a very warm welcome The Maestro himself: Roberto Hamilio: (My husband in this case)

 

MIME:

*Here follows a mime by someone who is talented in mime. A conductor enters, complete with baton; he divides the congregation up into three parts, and will conduct them. The first third all must clap ONCE at his instruction; the second third, TWO claps, the third, THREE claps.

It’s quite a difficult exercise at first, and much laughter occurs, but eventually they will get it right. At the end of the mime he leads them all into applause by pointing to all of them. He bows and goes out.

 

I don’t think serving God is quite like that do you? …

The Maestro instructed us, he showed us what to do, and we were expected to do as we were told; and we were almost afraid to get things wrong! There are people of faith who serve like that. They are told what to believe, what they must do, how they should worship, whom to love and whom NOT to love, and they slavishly follow and think they’re serving God. The way of Christ is different!

 

Jesus once said,

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from the Father I have made known to you.”

So serving God has a lot to do with offering willingly to give of ourselves as he did, and to be useful in meeting the needs of others, simply because Jesus is our friend and so we want to be like him... and follow his example.

I wonder if you have ever looked up to that kind of friend before, and wanted to be just like them?

If we’re going to serve let us do it in IMITATION OF CHRIST.

And did you notice that when we worked together we started to get excited about the actual sound we were making together?  We started to enjoy it.

‘There was a joy at being like-minded, focussed on the same task, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose!’ (we’ll hear this reading in a moment!)

 

Jesus was the ultimate servant and we’re going to hear about that in our reading, but first. . .

I wonder if I could just ask for a couple of willing volunteers from Genesis to sit themselves over here for about ten to fifteen minutes, and serve by watching over a ‘tea set on a rug’ activity ~ just in case any little child might feel a little bored. There’s quiet play here and cups of water to drink. And I’m sure their parents or grandparents will know the right time to bring them over to you.

Lads first? any volunteers? Now a girl? Could you help each child serve others?    See how willingly they offered themselves!

 

Reading ; Philippians 2. 1-10

 

Jesus set the perfect example for us to follow!  His example was powerful and revolutionary.

Let’s just look at some positions of power

Powerpoint here (*slides of adornmentsgiven to teachers, lawyers, doctors, priests, bishops, pope and kings; then show Christ crucified)

 

It seems it is the way of our world to honour people who are called to higher positions over us. We give them more and more glorious and grand things to wear and to use and to ride around in, grander homes in which to live.

The more important the person, the more we adorn and honour them; the greater they are the more expensive the style . . .and yet Jesus, King of Kings, Lord of lords, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, emptied himself, THREW ALL THE TRIMMINGS AND TRAPPINGS AWAY, to embrace a cross of wood and a crown of agony.

And it was precisely that he was in the very nature ‘God’ that he took the very nature of a ‘servant’. He came to reveal God’s true nature!

He came to present to us his manifesto for right living!

Jesus became obedient, even to death. What does that say to us about the kind of service and friendship we should offer. Does it seem paltry by contrast?

 

Hymn: The Servant King

So what kind of serving are we called to? To whom should we go?

 

Gospel: Luke 9. 46-48

 

Here Jesus welcomes a child. The child has no status, no wealth, no power, no influence; nothing to give to the one who welcomes him.

Seeing to the needs of this child will bring the welcomer no admiration, no reward, no popularity. JESUS WELCOMES THE CHILD REGARDLESS.

He refused to join a rat race of those falling over themselves looking for greatness and glory and recognition in service.

 

A story that has always stayed with me is one where St Francis was severely tested as he walked along a country road. He saw someone he most dreaded walking in his direction. . .it was  a leper. At first he walked around him and avoided him, walked on like the priest in the parable of the Good Samaritan; but then he heard the voice of one who was leading him on the road to a life of Poverty and Sacrifice. It told him to go back, and he returned and kissed the leper, and went on to comfort many other lepers. Francis became as Jesus to him; this was the moment his real ministry had begun!

I think here of  that hymn, ‘My song is love unknown ‘ with the beautiful line, ‘love to the love-less shown, that they might lovely be!’

How wonderful a gift, to be able to make others feel loved and lovely!

Much is required of those to whom much has been given!

 

Many years ago, General William Booth, was once unable to attend an international Salvation Army conference; he was ill and so very weak.

He cabled a message to the people there. It was a one word message, which read, ‘OTHERS’

 

A Sunday Express article once said, ‘Many people wish to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.

 

We’re often so wrapped us in ourselves, it’s hard to really empathise with OTHERS!

Let’s think about some reasons why we might find it hard to serve others, see if there are any clues in this drama?

 

One of these characters was a very religious man, a Pharisee, not particularly a leader, but who could have done so much for the second one, a tax collector; a sinner, but no the Pharisee keeps his distance. Why?

 

DRAMA:

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (revised version 2011)

 

Narrator: Two people one day came into church, one was a Pharisee, the other a Tax Collector. The Pharisee stood up and this is how he prayed.

 

Pharisee:     

I am your faithful servant God, there’s no-one serves likes me,

look around at all these others, and you’ll see. (nods towards the congregation)

 

They’re lazy, self-centred, their faith~ not all that strong,

But I cannot be faulted for I never go far wrong.

 

 I smile a lot, I’m popular, a pleasure to have around;

People realise I’m important; my good deeds all abound,

 

A pillar of the church I am, reliable and sound!

Without MY Sunday offering, this church here would fall down! (looks up at the roof)

 

I give my money to the poor, well, I give them what I can,

I say my prayers quite often, and I’m your biggest fan God,

 

But I’m pleased I’m not like HER/HIM, her/his life is such a mess,

S/he’s really quite pathetic, but I’m sure s/he TRIES her/his best.

(motions towards the other person)  

 

So come on God, give me credit? I’m sure you must agree

You must be filled with so much joy…. to have a child . . .  like me?

 

Narrator: The Tax Collector would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but hung his head in shame and whispered……

 

Tax Collector: Oh God . . . I’m so sorry! (this person speaks right from the heart)

 

Narrator: As you watch them leave this place, ask yourself which person, God’s pleasure fell upon? 

 

The reasons for the barriers we erect to keep our distance and avoid serving others can all be found within that one drama

 

 

Do we each have an inner Pharisee and what is it that really takes up our time?

 

But at this point I must ask this question:- Is there a real LIFE balance between serving God and others, and serving our own family? People who minister to others often come a cropper at this hurdle! Are we in God’s plan for us each day?

 

 

You're too busy, counting all the ripples in the sea,

Running round in circles needlessly,

Making all those plans so easily.

And you're swimming,

floundering in a whirlpool all the time,

Racing like a fish to catch the line,

While the grains of sand are falling

in this hourglass of mine…

Make time for love,

Make time for love

You're too busy, thinking that by rushing here and there,

Power'd by highest motives built on care,

That you'll achieve perfection, climb the stairs.

And your children, all like buried treasure oh so rare,

 

One day soon will not be waiting there,

And the sand within the hourglass is descending through the air…

Make time for love (x2)

 

There's a hundred, a thousand things in life still to be done,

But all these things just can't be done by 'one'

So still the racing clouds… and see the sun,

Catch the blossom, now before it gently fades away.

Smell its perfume let it have its say,

Who have you neglected in your race of life today?

Make time for love,

make time for love.                                       ©1993 Sheila Hamil

www.sheilahamil.co.uk  visit music link or youtube  sheilahamil for video

 

When I was very young I had a thought one day, that the world as I saw it, only existed as long as I was watching it. Have you ever felt that as a child?

I was so convinced I was right that I doubled back quickly along the alley next to our house, to look up the road and see if the bus full of people was still travelling along it. I was convinced that I would peep out and see a blank canvas, and no bus at all any where. I thought the world revolved around me!

Is Self on the throne in today’s world! (What was it that was said to Eve in the Garden of Eden, when tempted to eat of the forbidden fruit? ‘You will not die, you will be like God!’)The media tell us that we are WORTH it! We are gods! We deserve it, whatever that it happens to be!

Anon quote: Every human being who has ever lived had suffered from the Messiah complex-except one- and he WAS the Messiah!

Pride, self-interest, self-obssession destroy the capacity to love as we should love others. We were made to love God and love each other!

 

ALSO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVE HUMBLY, AND NOT CREATE A GREATER SENSE OF INTIMACY AND COMMUNITY. (John Ortberg)

 

This was the case in a film Bob and I have just seen.

It was on for one night only at a cinema in Keswick. It was called ‘The Way’

It was a story of a man ‘s son who had died while on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella. He collects his son’s ashes, and decides that he will make the journey his son had attempted to make, and he takes all his anger, grief and frustration along with him on the journey.

Various people meet him on the journey, and he soon begins to realise through a process of listening and sharing and caring, that they have their pains to bear too. Different pain, but pain nevertheless. They speak the truth to one another, they provide for one another, they find their way together, they heal one another.

They become pilgrims on a journey, travellers on the same road; there to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.

As priests, and as church folk we can be so like that father, we’re here because we’re in need. . . to relieve the pain of living, know forgiveness, come to terms with who we are, or to understand ourselves, to learn, or to worship.

But many Christians don’t always consider what the needs are of their fellow travellers out there, who pass by this church and never darken the doors.

Have we ever asked them what it is they are seeking, what their needs are that a church could fulfil, even what kind of worship would be meaningful to them, what hours of opening, what style would move THEM, what THEY feel about bringing their children along?

Now there’s a challenge for us this week, to go and ask!

Do we want self-service or to be Christ to others?

And now we are back to what St Francis was trying to achieve in service to lepers; he was trying simply to be Christ to others.

That is something every single one of us can try to do, when those many hundreds of opportunities present themselves to us each day.

If we seek to do this as we travel this world, we won’t go far wrong!

WE SERVE BEST WHEN WE MEASURE UP TO GOD’S PLAN FOR US!

Closing prayer:

I close with a prayer often said at Boys Brigade camps just before breakfast.

It is one we might like to remember each new morning before our breakfasts as a new day begins.

Lord, do not make us like porridge,

which is difficult to stir,

And slow to serve.

Make us more like cornflakes,

Crisp, fresh, and ready to serve.

 

So let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. (In the name of Christ Amen)