DEVOTED TO JESUS: To Serve as a Disciple
DEVOTED TO JESUS
To Serve as a Disciple
February 6, 2022
• The book of Acts tells us the story of the first century church. It didn’t begin as an institution. It began as a movement.
ekklesia (Church) actually means: an assembly or gathering.
1. A simple message. 2. An expanding mission. 3. A serious devotion.
• Devoted means: To be earnest towards, to persevere, be constantly diligent, or to attend tirelessly all the exercises.
Acts 2:42-47 - They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Big Idea: We find
Matthew 9:36-38 - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on 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 workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Romans 12:1-2 - “Because God is merciful to you, OFFER YOURSELVES as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 And do not conform to the pattern of this world, but BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind.”
Look at the life message of Jesus:
1. Jesus put
2. Jesus taught that you are great when you are a
Mark 9:33-35 - They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
3. Jesus taught that when you
Luke 10:33-34, 37 - But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him… 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
4. Jesus came to serve,
Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
• For Jesus’s serving wasn’t a good idea, it was the
• Serving is the primary method that God uses to
Why do I find it difficult to be the hands of Jesus: Because I’m
1. I have to choose
Matthew 4:19-22 – “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
2. I look for opportunities to
• Short term opportunities
• Long term opportunities
• ASAP opportunities
• “Serve” Card to be a changemaker
Matthew 10:42 – “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”