Well, I want to encourage you to open up your Bibles, if you would please, to 1 Timothy chapter 3.
We're continuing our study from last week and picking it up halfway through there at verse 8.
! Last week covering the first seven verses about elders and now trying to begin to work on the subject of deacons beginning in verse 8.
If you're using the Pew Bible, I would encourage you to turn there with us. It's on page 992.
It would be beneficial for you to be able to follow along with us in your Bibles.
Have you ever heard someone use the phrase, that's not my job? Anybody heard that phrase before?
I wish I could say I never used that phrase. And I wish I could say I've never heard that phrase.
But even in the home, you know how this works in a home setting.
Hey, will you please pick up the dishes from the table?
Well, that's not my job!
Or, hey, would you be willing to help collect the trash and put it in the bin outside, please?
Well, come on! That's just not my job!
Maybe you've heard that phrase before.
Maybe you've used that phrase before.
Maybe even here in the church setting, you're encouraged to be a part of the ministry that's here.
And, of course, there's lots of opportunities in children's ministry.
And like, hey, I don't have the gift of children.
I don't have the gift of those little rugrats.
Now, you may have one or two or three or four running around your house,
but for some reason, you don't have the gift of it here.
I get it.
Or maybe you don't have the spiritual gift of mowing a lawn, sitting on a tractor.
You do it every week when you're mowing your lawn at home.
But we find different reasons not to be able to fulfill service opportunities here at church.
And I get it, because there's lots to do.
There's work to be done.
But as we're going to see in the passage today, that God has called every single one of you
who is a follower of Jesus Christ, every single one of us that calls ourselves a disciple,
those who have bowed the knee before Christ in faith, asked forgiveness of our sins,
you are now a follower of Him.
You are a servant.
And the word for servant in the New Testament is the word deacon.
We're going to press into that a little bit more as we go.
Here are some examples that I found on the Internet of people not doing their job.
So this sign, illegally parked cars will be fine.
I love that one.
How many people did that have to get through in order for it to get hung up?
You know, the person who is writing the letters, the person who is editing the sign,
the person who is actually hanging it up and reading to themselves,
oh, I like this sign.
I can actually park here.
I'll be fine.
Or how about this?
A person who is trying to connect pipes and realizes a rock is in the way.
I don't know why that rock was so hard to move,
but they're going to route the pipe around the rock.
Or this next one.
If you can't see, that's a possum that's on the road.
And the people who are painting lines decided,
we don't move possums, we just paint lines.
So there you have it, a possum with some lines.
And then on the side of the road, there's some moss that is growing,
line that's going right through.
Final picture here.
This is a sidewalk, and if you can't tell,
you know, a bike lane and walking lane,
but for some reason, you're not going to get too far on this sidewalk.
The tree is right in the way.
And then finally, if you can't read this sign,
it says this is a surgical lounge,
and after hours, they are encouraged.
The visitors who are sitting in the lobby waiting for their turn are encouraged,
will you please answer the phone for us?
We need some help around here.
And it's easy to say, hey, time out, not my job.
The truth is that God has given us a job to do.
And it's not only a good job, a good work.
It is a way for us to point to the one to whom we follow.
It's a way for us as God's people to demonstrate that the work of Christ is happening in our life,
that the preeminent servant that we're going to just look at and remember throughout this entire passage today,
that the preeminent servant, Jesus Christ, has and should have done a work in our life
to make us servants, to make us deacons, as it were.
So if you're with me there, in 1 Timothy chapter 3,
there's a phrase that I put on your outline.
I want it to kind of guide our thinking today as we work through this passage.
And it's there on your outline.
It says this,
Elders serve by leading, and deacons lead by serving.
And we're going to fill this out and kind of develop this thought for us as we work our way through this passage.
So if you're there with me in 1 Timothy chapter 3,
let me read the passage for us, and we'll dig in.
It says in verse 8,
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine,
not greedy for dishonest gain.
They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience,
and let them also be tested first.
Then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.
Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers,
but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
Let deacons each be the husband of one wife,
managing their children and their own households well.
For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves
and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
So similar to last week, I want to take this into sections.
First, I want us to see the ministry of servant leaders.
What is it that they do?
How do they benefit the church?
What is the role that they play?
And so as we dig into this,
I want us to recognize this first word likewise
demonstrates to us that there are some similarities,
but also some differences that they play.
A deacon's role is both similar but different.
This may seem really obvious, but it's important for us to note.
To explore this word likewise
and to recognize that there are some similarities here.
And the fact that elders and deacons stand side by side in this passage
will help us to recognize that there is something that they do,
some distinction that they have in the church
that allows it to play out in a healthy way.
So, Paul introduces elders there in verse 1.
I'm going to just draw your attention to verse 1 for a moment.
It says,
So, the likewise that is here draws attention to several similarities.
I want to just draw your attention to them briefly.
First is they have a distinct function.
They have a distinct function.
The fact that elders qualifications and deacon qualifications are here
means that deacons, like elders, have a specific role to fill.
Second, they provide some leadership in some way.
Like elders, deacons provide a measure of leadership and service for the body.
Third, they are selected on the basis of their character.
Meaning, you're not just looking for competencies.
You're not just looking for somebody who can mow a straight line.
You're looking for somebody who has a character quality about him.
He's leading a team of individuals.
And you want to make sure that there is this spiritual maturity,
this quality about his character that has been tested
and it's demonstrated through his life.
But unlike elders, there are some differences.
First, they are not encouraged to aspire to the work.
It's fascinating to me how simple and abrupt the very beginning of verse 8 is.
Having provided an introduction for elders in verse 1,
to begin this section on deacons with just one word, likewise,
before spilling into the characteristics,
draws some attention and I just want to draw this out as an observation for us
that whatever a deacon is supposed to do,
he doesn't necessarily aspire to this role of deaconing.
Second, Paul does not mention a specific office like he does with elders.
Aspire to the office of overseer, we see in verse 1.
No such correlation is made here for us in this verse, verse 8.
Now, while they have a title and they have a role to play,
Paul does not designate necessarily in this spot an office.
And I think that's important for us to notice.
Third, while it's clear that deacons serve in some ways,
Paul does not indicate a specific work for them to do,
like he does with elders in verse 1.
He desires a noble task.
That is, the Greek words kalos ergon,
which is the two words good work.
Now, Paul could have talked about a work,
which he does in Ephesians chapter 4.
Ephesians 4, 11 and 12, he talks about a work.
Notice with me.
And he gave the apostles, speaking of Christ,
the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work, that's ergon,
of ministry, that is, diakonia,
to building up the body of Christ.
There is a ministry work, a deaconing, serving work to do,
but guess what?
Guess who is supposed to fill out the deaconing work
in a service-related way?
Every believer.
And elders are in place, pastors are in place,
to help equip the saints to do and carry out the function of serving,
which is really just kind of the basic word for service throughout the New Testament,
that we're all called to a measure of service,
and pastors, elders, overseers are intended,
they're put in place to help you serve better,
to help you do what God has called you to do.
It's clear that deacons are important for the welfare of the church.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be listed here side by side with an elder.
So let's develop this some more.
Let's kind of understand a little bit more about what a deacon is supposed to do.
And now I'm speaking more specifically about kind of this function of leadership,
this service kind of leader, this deacon.
We're going to look at their function in the early church from Acts chapter 6.
If you've spent any time reading through the book of Acts,
you understand how the church has developed.
It's developed significantly from Acts chapter 2.
There at the day of Pentecost,
where Peter is preaching his first sermon in front of the masses,
we find in Acts chapter 2, verse 41,
this incredible response.
It says,
So that those who received the word were baptized,
and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.
Now, this church of 120 believers exploded overnight,
and then exploded to this church of 3,000 at least individuals.
And then as the church begins to interact with one another,
they're growing in a spiritual way.
We find in verse 47 of chapter 2 that the Lord was adding to their number each day
those who were being saved.
This multiplication, this gospel work, these open hearts,
the ministry of the Spirit and convicting hearts and drawing them to faith,
this multiplying work that's happening.
Well, in Acts chapter 3, Peter and John will go to the temple.
They go there to pray, and there at the temple, they meet a lame man,
and they heal this lame man.
They walk into the temple.
People recognize him and see the work of God in healing him,
and they all are celebrating,
and Peter capitalizes on the opportunity and preaches another message.
And then in Acts chapter 4, we find that 5,000 more are added to the number.
So now we're at least at 8,000 plus.
So that when the church is now in the process of laying down their possessions,
selling their possessions, sharing with one another,
we find from Acts chapter 5, verse 14,
that more than ever, believers were added to the Lord,
multitudes of both men and women.
The church is exploding in a very good way.
Numbers of people are being added.
And then we turn our attention to Acts chapter 6.
We find this in verse 1.
It says,
Now, in the days when the disciples were increasing in number,
a complaint among the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews
because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
And that's the diakonia.
That's the ministry of service that we find throughout the New Testament.
So now we've come to a crisis moment.
Now we've come to a point of decision.
There's ministry to do, but there aren't enough people to go around.
And a decision has to be made.
What are the apostles going to do in terms of fulfilling the call to ministry that they've been given?
Well, so they devise a plan.
The plan shows up in verse 2.
It says,
And that's our verbal form of deacon, this diakoneo.
And so they recognized that the ministry that was in front of them was a significant work.
But the ministry that they've been called to was also a significant work.
It wasn't that the apostles had to make a decision between the more important ministry and the less important ministry
and to prioritize that, but to say,
No, both ministries need to happen in this crisis moment of the church.
And so we need to distribute the load of ministry to other qualified men to help lead in this effort
so all the ministry within the church can happen.
Which, by the way, is really shocking to me that here we are,
a church of 15,000, 20,000 or more,
and now finally the apostles are recognizing,
This is too big a load for us to handle.
We need to draw in some other people to help us with this.
And so that's what they do.
This word to serve that we find in verse 2 is the verbal form of deacon.
So the apostles are not going to oversee this ministry anymore.
They're going to entrust this delegated ministry to a group of faithful men.
That's what we find in verse 3.
Therefore, it says,
Brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute,
full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom,
whom we will appoint to this duty.
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry,
that's important, diakonia of the word.
There is a ministry to do.
There is a ministry of the word.
There is a ministry to these Hellenistic widows.
Both ministries are vital for the health and progress of the church.
And so raising up leaders to help fulfill that ministry was essential
to ensure that God's work was being done.
These two ministries taking place here, both important,
both by qualified men to fulfill.
But I want to draw your attention to this phrase here at the beginning of verse 3,
Pick out from among you.
And I think that's significant for us.
It means that these men have already shown a heart to serve.
It means that these men are already doing the work.
It means that these men have already demonstrated their proven character,
their dependability, their leadership, their spiritual maturity.
They are vested.
They are trusted.
They are engaged.
They are active.
They are dependable.
In a very real way,
they've already established themselves as servant kind of leaders.
The title of deacon wasn't going to change anything about the way
that they engaged the people, these Hellenistic widows.
It was only going to activate the work that they were already doing
and help to enhance it in some way
so that the widows knew who to look to for this kind of help and leadership.
It was to ensure that that work was going to continue.
It was going to be done.
It wasn't that the title of deacon was going to change anything about that work,
but just recognize the work that was already taking place.
All this process was meant to identify these servant leaders
who were already engaged.
And notice the primary purpose of their ministry.
There in the verse 4,
we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
It was a compatibility between elders and deacons
to allow the ministry of teaching and praying to continue.
That focus that the apostles had to continue to be enhanced.
So overseeing this ministry,
the apostles was to free them up, as it were,
to preach and to pray.
We find this throughout the New Testament,
these kinds of examples of faithful men
who were willing to fill this kind of responsibility
and serving in this kind of way.
But it does beg the question,
then who is a deacon?
And the scripture is clear about this too.
So the goal for every believer
is serving the body.
Who is a deacon?
And I want to confuse the subject,
but I want to just suggest
that everybody who is a follower of Jesus
is a servant,
and thus, in a very technical sense,
is a deacon in that God has called them
to servant kind of leadership.
Of course, we find this preeminently
in our Savior Jesus.
You remember when the disciples,
they're on this road,
and they're arguing about who is first
and who is the greatest,
and Jesus turns his attention to them,
and he confronts them,
and he says,
he sits down,
he calls the disciples
in Mark 9, verse 35,
if anyone would be first,
he must be last of all
and servant diakonos of all.
God calls his people to be servants.
And by the way,
service is the building block of Christianity.
Service is at the foundation
and at the heart of spiritual maturity.
It's what God has called every one of us to do
because it is preeminently
a picture of Christ,
as we find in Mark 10, 45,
where Jesus says of himself,
for even the Son of Man
came not to be served
diakono,
but to serve diakono
and to give his life a ransom for many.
You want to be like Christ?
You want to pattern your life
so that it looks like Jesus?
Wear the robe of service.
Choose to be,
for lack of a better word,
a deacon.
Choose to serve
in a deacon kind of way.
Expend yourself like Jesus.
Serve to the end
like Jesus.
Grow in service
like Jesus.
That's what we're all called to.
We see examples
throughout the New Testament.
We don't have time
for this this morning,
but Timothy
is referred to
in 2 Timothy 4, 5,
he's referred to
as a deacon.
His ministry
is deacon-like.
Stephanas
and his family
was referred to
in 1 Corinthians chapter 16.
It was a deaconing
kind of ministry.
The apostle Paul
actually referred to himself
in 1 Timothy 1, 12
as he's filling out
his own credentials.
He speaks of himself.
His service
was the deaconing
kind of service
because foundationally
every single believer
is a servant.
Deacon.
You are a deacon
in that
you are called
to serve
the body.
You are called
to look
like Jesus,
to serve
in that way.
We find this
in the church.
We saw this verse already,
but I want to
bring it back up.
Ephesians chapter 4
verses 11 and 12.
He gave
the apostles,
the prophets,
the evangelists,
the shepherds,
and teachers
why?
Well,
to equip the saints
for the work
of ministry,
diakonia,
for the building
up the body of Christ.
So,
we as pastors,
elders,
overseers,
are preeminently
called
to equip you
to serve
like a deacon.
We're called
to help build out
in your life
a heart
and affection
for serving others.
In 2 Corinthians
chapter 9,
verse 12,
Paul,
in speaking about
the gift
that was given
by the church
of Corinth
to the church
in Jerusalem,
says this,
for this ministry,
diakonia,
of this service,
leturgia,
which is another
word for service,
is not only
supplying the needs
of the saints,
but also is overflowing
in many thanksgivings
to God.
This expression
of ministry
and service
and pouring out
and spending self
for the sake
of serving the body.
in 1 Peter
chapter 4,
verses 10 and 11,
we find this,
as each has received
a gift,
and how many
of us
have received
a gift?
Every one
of you
in this room
who has
the Holy Spirit,
who has asked
forgiveness for sin,
has confessed
your faith
in God,
you have the Spirit,
so you have
a spiritual gift.
So,
this applies
to everybody
in this room
who has
the Holy Spirit,
okay?
So,
as you have
received a gift,
use it to serve
diakanao,
one another,
as a good steward
of God's
varied grace.
Whoever speaks
is one who speaks
the oracles of God.
Whoever serves
diakanao
as one who serves
by the strength
that God supplies.
And here's
the glorious
privilege
of our service.
It's this,
in order that,
in everything,
God may be
glorified
through Jesus Christ.
To Him
belong glory
and dominion
forever and ever.
Amen.
When we put
the spiritual gifts
that God
has given to us,
when we put them
to work,
we glorify God.
Which,
I think we can
make the correlation
without being
in jeopardy
or danger
that if we choose
to shelf
our gift,
if we choose
to push it
to the side,
if we choose
to just let it
languish,
then at least
as it relates
to service
and being a good
steward,
we are not
bringing glory
to God.
What a privilege,
what a responsibility.
We are servants.
The joy
of that entrustment,
the joy
of that stewardship
to put to work,
the gift
to serve
as a deacon
as it were.
The church,
serving the church
but especially
and preeminently
serving Christ.
Maybe you're listening
and you're like,
okay,
thank you Andrew,
I get all that
but I still don't know
who this deacon is
here in
1 Timothy chapter 3
and I don't know
what this deacon
is supposed to do.
So let's try
to build that out
a little bit more.
We're going to see
that deacons
are there
to multiply
the work of pastors.
A deacon
multiplies
the work
of pastors.
The Bible says,
by the way,
almost nothing
about deacons.
We find no job description.
We find no roles
and responsibilities.
We only get
a glimpse
of the prototype
of deacons
from Acts chapter 6
and we only have
these qualifications
for deacons
in one place
in 1 Timothy chapter 3
and we only get
a glimpse
of maybe
what they do
through the use
of the word
servant.
Diaconess
is servant
and so
it's still
a little fuzzy
as it were.
What is it
specifically
that a deacon
is meant to do?
I think the best
way to answer
this question
is to
understand
that we've
just begun
chapter 3
in a discussion
about elders.
And so I think
we can say
with a fair amount
of certainty
and without
any
pushback
that a deacon
is not
an elder.
Would you agree?
I think that's
pretty clear
from the text.
A deacon
is not an elder.
It's a separate
category,
a separate function.
So just to review
from last week
in understanding
what elders
are meant to do,
we come to
realize
that elders
are there
to exercise
spiritual oversight.
1 Timothy
chapter 5.
They're there
to preach
and to teach.
1 Timothy
chapter 5.
They are tasked
with equipping
the saints
for ministry.
Ephesians
chapter 4.
They are to
guard the flock
from false teachers
in Acts
chapter 20.
They're to
shepherd the flock
by providing
some measure
of spiritual
oversight
in 1 Peter
chapter 5.
They're to
hold firm
the trustworthy
word in order
to give instruction
and rebuke
those who
contradict.
Titus
chapter 1.
We understand
from 1 Timothy
chapter 1
that leaders
and spiritual
pastors
are there
to charge
some
if they teach
no other
doctrine.
They're also
to set an
example for
the believers.
1 Timothy
chapter 4
verse 12.
They're to
have nothing
to do with
foolish controversies
or quarrels
but to be
kind,
enduring evil,
correcting opponents
with gentleness.
2 Timothy
chapter 2
verse 23
and 24.
That is the
function and
role of a
pastor,
leader,
overseer.
It is not
the role
of a deacon.
But
the function
that deacons
have,
although different
from an elder,
is compatible
with an elder.
and so
they are
side by
side in
this passage
for a
significant
reason
because
pastors
and elders
need the
support
and the
help
in ministry
of others.
There are times
when ministry
gets to be
unwieldy
and they need
the supportive
help and
service of
other gifted
and qualified
men to come
alongside them.
It is
then with
the discretion
of the
elders
then to
determine
how the
deacons
will be
put to
work.
As I
have said
in the
opening,
elders
will serve
by leading
and deacons
will lead
by serving.
Deacon
multiplies
the work
of pastors
by carrying
various
ministry
burdens
so that the
church can
remain healthy
and pastors
can continue
to devote
themselves
to the
primary
work
of
equipping
and
discipling
and teaching
and preaching.
It's not
that every
pastor,
especially,
it's not
that any
pastor
will be
independent
of service
because
at the
foundational
level,
since we're
all called
to service
kind of
ministry,
you would
expect your
pastors to
serve as
well.
But the
deacons come
alongside to
help support
that effort.
We don't have
time this
morning to
build out
this next
point,
the life
of a servant
leader.
We find in
verses 8 to
13,
we're going to
turn our
attention to
that a little
bit more
next week,
but I just
want to
kind of give
you a preview
of what we're
talking about.
The life of a
servant leader.
Let me read
this passage
one more time
and then I'll
show you a
couple of
tables that
demonstrate the
similarities and
the differences
between an
elder and a
deacon so
you can see
that for
yourself and
then like I
said we'll
explain it
more next
week.
It says
deacons likewise
must be
dignified,
not double
tongue,
not addicted
to much
wine,
not greedy
for dishonest
gain.
They must
hold the
mystery of
the faith
with a clear
conscience and
let them also
first be tested
then let them
serve as
deacons.
If they prove
themselves
blameless,
their wives
likewise must be
dignified,
not slanderers,
but sober-minded,
faithful in
all things,
let the deacons
each be the
husband of one
wife, managing
their children and
their households
well.
For those who
serve well as
deacons gain a
good standing for
themselves and
also great
confidence in the
faith that is in
Christ Jesus.
There are 15
qualifications for
elder, there are
nine qualifications
that are given to
us here for
deacons and
there are five
qualifications that
find really good
comparison and
overlap with one
another.
There are things
that are similar.
What is the same?
And here's a table
that will demonstrate
several of those
things that are the
same.
They are above
reproach.
They have the kind
of character that
is not guilty of
blame.
They're blameless.
There is this
essence of their
character that you
can't attach blame
to.
These are individuals
who are faithful to
their wife.
They're a one woman
man.
We talked about that
last week.
There is this
faithfulness to their
partner.
There is a desire of
their heart to make
sure that they're
guarding their eye as
Job says in his
book.
He guards his eye.
He has a single
mind and a single
heart for the woman
that God gave to
him.
He's not given to
much wine.
He's not greedy for
gain.
He manages his house
well.
You can see the
quality of leadership
and service that
echoes itself through
his family.
You can recognize
that their needs are
met, that they're
cared for, that
dad has paid
attention to them.
There's a measure of
stability and respect
in the home.
But there are some
things that are
different.
What is different?
And this next table
will help show some
comparisons.
While elders have
some qualifications
regarding their
tongue at not being
quarrelsome, deacons
are told not to be
double-tongued.
They're not to be
hypocrites in the way
they speak.
Speaking one way to
one person a different
way to a different
person.
For elders, they're
not violent but
gentle.
And for deacons, they
hold the mystery of
the faith.
And we'll talk about
that some more next
week, especially in
light of the mission
that God has called us
as a church to be on.
They're not a recent
convert.
And for deacons,
there's not a
qualification for how
soon they can become
a deacon because
essentially, we're all
to be deacons the
moment we become
Christians in
following after Jesus.
But of course, we're
building and growing
through that process
of doing it better.
But they do need to
be tested.
We find this
qualification, it's
actually in verse 11,
for their wives.
And we'll develop that
some more next week
as well.
But there's nothing
about hospitality.
There's nothing about
a good reputation.
Not that those things
don't matter.
And again, as we come
back to this next week,
we'll see the
significance of the
way Paul describes
their function.
But I do want to end
with this.
There is a reward.
What is the reward?
And the reward is
found for us in
verse 13.
Those who serve well
as deacons gain a
good standing for
themselves and also
great confidence in
the faith that is in
Christ Jesus.
They gain a good
standing for
themselves.
One commentator
says, this linear
aspect of this verb
to gain or to
inquire helps us
understand this
ongoing process.
There is this
process of growing
and developing and
being sanctified
through serving
others.
And as people
watch and evaluate
their life, they're
going to see this
growing concern for
individuals, this
growing heart to
spend themselves for
others, this desire
to be useful to
Jesus and especially
to point to his
perfect service.
And as they are
moving and growing
in this good
standing, they're
growing in confidence
and faith as well.
And the reason for
that is because as
they see the Lord
working in their life
and helping them to
grow in their
expression of service
for others, they're
recognizing that the
process of Philippians
chapter 1 verse 6 is
playing out.
That he who began a
good work in them has
been faithful to
complete it, is being
faithful to complete
it.
This growing process of
God sanctifying their
life helps to confirm
the fact that they
have the fruit of the
spirit, they're loving
God's people, and
they're growing in
service for others.
But as we turn our
attention now to the
preeminent servant to
Jesus, we remember
what Jesus demonstrates
to us again from Mark
chapter 10 verse 45.
Even the Son of Man
came not to be served,
but to serve and to
give his life a ransom
for many.
Jesus has demonstrated
for us the foundational
level of growing in
spiritual maturity.
it begins with
recognizing who Jesus
is, and begins with
recognizing what we
really deserve in light
of judgment, and the
privilege that we have
of now being united in
Christ, and being able to
serve Christ's body.
Do you realize, as you
look around, you'll be
the people who are
sitting with you on your
pew.
the people who are
sitting before you and
behind you.
That they are part of
God's family.
So when you serve the
family of God, when you
serve God's children, you
are serving God.
What an incredible
privilege.
What an incredible
responsibility.
And so as we do this, as
we grow in service for
others, we have the joy
through service of
pointing to Christ.
Because let me tell you,
our world does not
serve.
They don't serve by
their own desire.
They don't choose to
serve.
But when we follow in
the footsteps of Christ,
when we choose to do the
things that really we
don't get attention for,
we don't get promoted
for, we demonstrate that
there is a work of God in
our lives, and we point
to Christ, the gospel
through our service.
I'm going to pray for
us.
I'm going to invite the
men to come forward.
We'll commemorate and
remember this work of
Christ, of drawing us
into himself.
And then we'll close our
time together.
Father, thank you for
sending Jesus.
Thank you for overcoming
our sin.
Thank you for making a
way of forgiveness, in
salvation, in cleansing,
and relationship with
you.
Thank you that that new
relationship, that new
position that we enjoy
because of Jesus, has not
only drawn us in to this
rich union with God, but
has drawn us in to
fellowship with one
another.
And the distinct joy that
we have because of the
work of the Spirit in our
life to serve those around
us and to point to
Christ.
Oh God, may we grow in
this service.
And may all glory and
praise redound to you
because of it.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Thank you.