The Servant Heart

The world is increasingly self-centred and self-absorbed, true selfless service is uncommon and striking. A servant heart is a sign of the true Church, it always has been, it’s what Jesus taught and demonstrated. The Church must embrace a servant identity, attitude and action to show the world the love and power of Jesus Christ, and to differentiate ourselves from false religion.

Scripture

Matthew 25:23 ESV His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Bible Study Questions

Serving the One who doesn’t need serving

Are we called to serve God because of His needs, as though He needs our respect, commitment or anything else?

Acts 17:24-25 ESV The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Why are we here?

What did God create us for, what are we here to do?

Deuteronomy 6:13 ESV It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

Who are we?

We are loved by God and forgiven by Him by His grace and through our faith in Jesus Christ. When He saves us He adopts us as beloved children. His disciples and brothers knew Him and loved Him yet chose to not to identify primarily as brothers or friends, but firstly as something else. What did they identify as primarily?

2 Peter 1:1 ESV Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

James 1:1 ESV James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

Titus 1:1 ESV Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,

Jude 1:1 ESV Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

Revelation 22:9 ESV but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Who do we belong to?

The world has one idea of freedom and the Bible reveals another. We need to constantly be reminded of what freedom really is because forgetting it has major consequences. What is freedom? Are we free, or do we belong to someone or something?

John 8:31-34 ESV So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Embracing a servant attitude like Jesus

Jesus gives us the best example of the right attitude about our identity and duty as servants of God. What do we need to keep reminding ourselves of regarding this attitude?

Philippians 2:3-7 ESV Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Luke 17:7-10 ESV “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Embracing a service like Jesus

Knowing who we are and having the right attitude about our duty needs to result in action. Once again Jesus makes this possible and demonstrates this. What do we need to be reminded to do as servants of God?

Mark 10:42-45 ESV And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Blessed Servants

Being reminded of our identity, correct attitude and expected behaviour leads us to serve well, but we need encouragement along the way. What do we need reminding of regarding the motivation for our service to God?

Luke 12:35-37 ESV “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

John 15:14-15 ESV You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Serving Christ by serving others

How do we actually serve the invisible God?

Matthew 25:34-40 ESV Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’