I just finished reading a few articles dealing with family theology over at 9Marks.org. There was an article I'd like to recommend for parents because it really provided some valuable insight. Check out the article here. As the pastor of a family focused church, the article resonated with my desire to disciple families. It is always prudent to gather wisdom from those who have gone before. 

An area of ministry I am currently praying over for LifeTree Church is missions. There is a great article about family missions here. Please pray for LifeTree Church as we seek where God would have us invest our mission efforts. It has to be a place where there is a great need for the gospel, but also where we can take the whole family to minister. If you have suggestions, you can leave a comment below, or email me at jeff@lifetreechurch.org.

While preparing for last Sunday's sermon, I thought a great deal about servant evangelism. I think at a beginner's level, Servant Evangelism is okay, but for a churchwide service strategy (or even a personal spiritual discipline) it comes up short. We should definitely show God's love in a practical way, but we should focus on meeting real needs.

I know I am being critical of servant evangelism. I just wonder whether God's love is practically shown by giving somebody a coke when they don't really need it or want it. It is a nice gesture, but it is not really necessary. I am reminded of something I read on Skip Kazmarek's website. He wrote, "There is a difference between self-righteous service and true service. Self righteous service is insensitive. It force itself in and demands the opportunity to help. True service listens with tenderness and patience before acting. Self-righteous service is temporary, mainly occasional projects and "special" acts. True service is a life-style."

The spiritual discipline of service means that we should be prayerfully attentive to the people we come into contact with each day. Just as we are to expect a divine appointment to share the gospel, we are to expect a divine appointment of meeting needs. Serving could mean helping your co-worker on a project and doing your best despite the fact that it could potentially put him in a position to be promoted ahead of you. Serving could mean coaching a baseball or softball team even when you would rather be at home relaxing after work. Serving could mean adopting your neighbor's yard as a project because her husband has deployed (or has left, or is out of town on business, etc.). Serving could mean helping someone carry groceries to their car.

The point is not what you do, it is that you do it as an act of love toward God. Servant evangelism suggests serving with no strings attached, but there is always that hope that the person will respond favorably and end up at your church. Serving is helping people as an act of worship. I love God so I tend His flock. What do you think?

The Discipline of Service

I am getting a head start on posting for my sermon a little later today. There is just so much that can be said about serving God by serving others. The big question is, "who do you serve?"

 

When we serve others for personal gain, then we follow the way of the world. "I'll help you, but what's in it for me?" is the predominant mindset that we see everyday. Jesus taught against this many times. Most notably was in Matthew 6.

 

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

 

When I read these words, I think about so many times that I have been recognized for doing something for others. True, the attention did make me uncomfortable, but on deeper levels, I really liked it. Now don't misunderstand, recognizing people for good deeds isn't wrong. However, it is a dangerous thing for Christians to get comfortable with praise. We can become so enamored with the good feelings, that we begin to serve ourselves. No one can serve two masters.

 

When we made Christ lord of our lives, we willing entered his service. In order for us to reflect Christ, we must think as he thinks, pray as he prays, and live as he lives. Jesus is the servant of servants. He gained sustenance by doing the will of the Father. Even though it is tiring work, it is healthy work.

 

Last week, I read an article about Michael Phelps. It said that Phelps eats 12,000 calories a day! I come nowhere close to that amount, but I guess I can hold my own. I may eat a tenth of what Phelps does, but he and I will never be mistaken for identical twins. Why does Phelps look so trim when he eats so much? It is because he participates in healthy work. Phelps has a very intense training regimen which he practices every day. By exercising and swimming daily, he hones his body into an incredible, competitive instrument.

 

In the same way, we are to spiritually exercise our bodies. When we read the Bible, pray, meditate, and worship God, we are taking in loads of spiritual calories. Many of us have progressed from the milk to the meat of the word. If we do not combine service with our spiritual intake, then we will become fat, unhealthy Christians.

 

This week, I will post more. Specifically, I will share some practical suggestions for serving God by serving others.