CALLED TO SERVE:BIBLICAL INSIGHTS FOR

CHRISTIAN SERVICE

SESSION 5:CALLED TO SERVE:

“I HAVE OTHER SHEEPBROADENING OUR HORIZONS

FOR SERVICE” 

Session 1: September 22: “Serving Through Worship”In worship we respond to God’s love & forgiveness with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving

Session 2: September 29: “Jesus the Servant”Jesus’ example empowers our lives for service

Session 3: October 6: “Loving God and our Neighbor”Our serving is guided by Jesus’ double commandment of love

Session 4: October 13: “Called to Serve: Getting Practical”

Responsible service tests our creativity and faithfulness in our use of God’s gifts

Session 5: October 20: “I have Other Sheep: the Broader Horizons of Service

God calls us to expand our horizons in the service of love and mercy in the world

Overview of Sessions

SERVE

RLC’s theme for the coming year

We continue to CONNECT and GROW through reflection on what it means to be a Christian servant.

As God’s baptized children we experience the new FREEDOM we have in Christ to love and serve all of God’s children and all of God’s creation.

Give Thanks and Sing God’s Praises

Encourage and Support One Another

Pray for one another and our World

Share community in joys and sorrows

Are Inspired for service to our neighbor and world

In Worship We:Hear God’s Story of Gracious Love

Experience Confession and Forgiveness

Christ as Servant

Modeled on the Example and Command of the Lord…Guided by the Double Commandment to Love God, and our Neighbor as Ourselves

Philippians 2:1-133 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus 6 Who… emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, …Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

“CALLED TO SERVE:LOVING GOD AND LOVING OUR

NEIGHBOR”

Modeled on the Example and Command of the Lord…Our serving is guided by the Double Commandment to Love God, and our Neighbor as Ourselves

36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."(Luke 10:25-37)

"All things are lawful," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. 24 Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)

Getting Practical

“I HAVE OTHER SHEEP”BROADENING OUR HORIZONS FOR

SERVICE”

God calls us to expand our horizons

in the service of love and mercy in our world

No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. (Genesis 17:5-6) Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; so that the LORD may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." (Genesis 18:18-19)

God’s Promise to Abraham: Father of Many Nations

"By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.

A Blessing for All the Nations

And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice." (Genesis 22:16-18)

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 28 For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. 29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, 31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it. (Psalm 22:27-31)

Recalled in the Prophetic Visions

3 Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:2-4)

In days to come the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.

O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. 4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 Worship the LORD in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, "The LORD is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity." 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the LORD; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth. (Psalm 96:1-13)

…and in the Prayers/ Worship of Israel

See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD…..

God has a Plan & God’s Ways are Sure

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:5-11)

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

The Mission of God’s Servant Messiah

“ Go and Learn What this Means…”

12 But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." (Matthew 9:10-13)

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:35-38) 

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:21-28)

And Even Jesus Learned this Expanded Vision

So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.

Like Master, So His Followers

43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45)

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

God So Loved the World…..

17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:14-17)

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Jesus the Good Shepherd: Life for the Sheep

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father." (John 10:14-18)

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. 18 "If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. (John 15:15-18)

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13-15)

"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. 11 12 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

“Thy will be done…” : That Not Even One Be Lost

14 So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. (Matthew 18:10-14)

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that 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 something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:32-40) 

Service in the Meantime of Waiting:Surprise….

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

Service in the Meantime of Waiting:

Command….

But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Service in the Meantime of Waiting:Visionary Promise….

28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

(Galatians 3:25-29)

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

MARTIN LUTHER On Christian Freedom, 1520

The whole of the Christian life in a brief form: A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all subject to none.A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.Here then, faith is truly active in love, finds expression in works of the freest service, cheerfully and lovingly done... We conclude, therefore, that Christians live not in themselves, but in Christ and in their neighbor. Otherwise they are not Christians. They live in Christ through faith, in their neighbor through love.

Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song (ELW # 808)

Lord Jesus you shall be my song as I journeyI’ll tell everybody about you wherever I goYou alone are our life and our peace and our love,Lord Jesus you shall be my song as I journey. Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journeyMay all of my joy be a faithful reflection of youMay the earth and the sea and the sky join my songLord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey. 

As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servantTo carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tearsFor you saved me by giving your body and bloodAs long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant. 

I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journeyBut courage will come with the sound of your steps by my sideAnd with all of the family you saved by your loveWe’ll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.  http://youtu.be/a2WDtrt-tfs