One of the deadliest diseases of the modern church is a sedentary, consumeristic mentality – a perception that the Christian life consists only of attending church.
• Every maturing Christian from early on needs to exercise through service.
• Christians can consume the truth of God’s Word, worship God in spirit and in truth, learn from the best Bible studies, and stand in awe of the character and glory of God – yet if they do not flex those spiritual muscles through service and ministry, they will lose their spiritual muscle mass.
• Churches where service and ministry is not emphasized as a primary expression of worship churn out Christians who are like these aging babies. They are seasoned in Christianity, but not in ministry.
• How does the spiritual discipline of service act as the fitness program of the Christian life?
Romans 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
• Spiritual Worship could also be translated “reasonable act of service” >> this means that the way we worship spiritually is by responding to the Gospel with a desire to mimic the servant leadership of Jesus.
// Mark 10:45 | For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Throughout Scripture, the Son of God, who was the most powerful being to ever walk the earth showed us how to use the power and strength we have – we use it to serve others.
• “Living sacrifice” >> the idea is that the servant is totally surrendered and offers themselves to God. A sacrifice had no say. In fact, a sacrifice gave up their life. But we are living sacrifices. So we keep our lives, but it is our sense of self-determination that dies. We are not Lord. Jesus is.
• How has God empowered us to serve? Rick Warren’s the S.H.A.P.E. of a believer
// Spiritual Gifts >> areas that God empowers His children through His Spirit to build His kingdom (encouragement, evangelism, pastor/shepherd, leadership, faith, mercy, service, giving, discernment)
// Heart >> Your passion, what stirs you
// Abilities >> What skills do you possess?
// Personality >> How are you wired?
// Experience >> What have you been through?
• Your calling lies at the intersection of your passion and the world’s brokenness.
• But God doesn’t just give us a command. He also gives us the resources to obey. “In view of God’s mercies” shows us that the Gospel is at the center of our service.
• Donald Whitney notes that we are motivated by obedience, gratititude, gladness, forgiveness, humility, and, most of all, by love.