Servants of Christ

Let's just pray together for Kate as she brings God's word to us this morning. Father we thank you for her. Thank you for her ministry, her servant heart. Thank you for his willingness to stand in from Mike. We just pray now Holy Spirit you'll come and fill her anoint her we pray. May the words she has prepared. Lord be magnified tenfold as it were as she brings them to your people.

Lord feed us we pray and we thank you Father in Jesus name. Amen.

So we're probably all tuned in but in case we're not it's the start of Lent.

And traditionally it's a time for those of us that have Christian faith to reflect.

Strengthening faith through prayer, maybe fasting, confession, self-reflection.

Often it's a time of reset and looking to the life of Jesus for renewed inspiration and hope.

Well at Christchurch we're following a series from cover to cover and it's called Centred on Christ.

I just want to say thank you to Julian and the team.

The worship this morning has centred us on Jesus, on Christ.

This study takes examples from Paul's life in his letter to the Philippians.

And it really challenges us to reflect on the practical implications of embracing Jesus as a humble, loving servant.

And consider how the impact of following Jesus can profoundly change how we choose to live and do life.

And today we're starting with this theme.

Servants of Christ.

Servants of Christ.

What did this mean for the church in Philippi?

And what does it mean for us in our 21st century lives?

Well we know that Paul is writing from the confines of a prison cell.

Interestingly, he clearly identifies himself as a servant of Christ Jesus.

And despite his circumstances, his joy is really apparent and actually quite infectious in this book.

And the secret of his joy is revealed.

It's grounded in his relationship with Christ.

He describes his years of devoted discipleship.

Apprenticeship to Jesus.

Where he's acquired those skills.

By daily and intimate relationship with Jesus.

He'd experienced abundant wealth, excruciating poverty and everything in between.

But whatever the circumstances,

Paul has learned to be content.

He has learned to be content.

Finding real joy as he focused all his attention and energy on knowing Jesus.

Well I don't know about you.

But I notice that I think our human condition seems to come with a real longing to fit in.

Maybe to find our tribe is a phrase commonly used.

I actually believe this is a God-given gift.

Not for us to fit in.

But for us to be fitted in.

By him.

He has the place and space for every one of us to serve.

To be fitted in to his good, good plans as we seek to serve him.

And this letter is to all God's holy people.

Not to some of them.

To all of them.

I'm just going to start by reading this poem which I love.

It's by someone called Gerard Kelly.

It's Spoken Worship.

And I'd like to use it as an invitation to us all to stir our hearts this morning with expectancy

of what God might want to say and draw our attention to.

It's called Fit Me In Somewhere.

Fit me in somewhere in this giant jigsaw God.

Somewhere in this work of art you're working.

Select a space my shape can fill.

And with a puzzle maker's skill

let my contours find their fit without contortion.

Teach me which patch I am God

in this cosmic quilt you're quilting.

Show me where my square of selfhood is of use.

Let the colourful complexities of the pattern that is me

find their purpose in the placement that you choose.

Show me my position God

in this group photograph.

Stand me where you want me to stand.

Put me next to whom you will.

Make me stand for good or ill

precisely in the place your plan demands.

Tell me what I am God

in this body you are building.

A tongue to taste, a nerve to serve, an ear to hear.

Give me grace

not to be gracefully the parts I'm not called to be

and to play with elegance the roles I'm given.

Fit me in somewhere

in this giant jigsaw God.

Somewhere in this work of art you're working.

Weave your wonderful tapestry

until the twisted, tangled threads of me

surrendered to your artistry

form an image that is beautiful to see.

I guess this speaks to me of our calling

to serve our living God every day.

I wonder what comes to mind for you

when you think of serving.

If I'm honest, the first thing that came to mind for me

was a disastrous, short-lived career as a waitress.

A silver service waitress

where I was taught how to use like two spoons

to serve things whilst you're holding about 12 platters

at the same time.

I know.

And my most vivid memory

is me trying to deliver a roast potato

between two spoons

onto the plate of a very smartly dressed gentleman

and actually just watch it kind of shoot,

hit the plate

which was already full of gravy

and yes, land in his lap.

It was short-lived.

It wasn't my calling.

We talk a lot about serving in church community

and I wonder how often our minds just jump

to that being like a job on a rotor.

Really, really important for us to fully function

as a functioning, welcoming community.

We've all got our part to play,

every single one of us.

But I guess what I'm most curious about

is when I look around this room

and think of those that aren't here today

and beyond these walls,

the servant heart of people I see who follow Jesus

is an inspiration to me.

And as we mature and journey

in our own Christian discipleship,

because if we've chosen Jesus,

that is the journey we're on,

we have opportunities to learn more

of who we are as servants of Christ.

We heard in John's word today,

whoever serves me,

whoever serves Jesus,

must follow me,

must follow him.

Following Jesus means being a servant.

So we're going to unpack this in three parts,

exploring who we serve,

exploring why we serve,

and exploring how we serve.

So, just a little question to get you started.

Who do you serve?

Who do you serve?

I was asking myself this question.

If who or what we serve

is the first main motivation

in our getting-out-of-bed lives,

who or what do we honestly serve?

As Christians,

just like Paul,

we are called to serve Jesus first.

This God,

who as Martin

has reminded us this morning,

is a healer,

a provider,

and is

our peace.

That's who we serve.

Jesus,

who showed true humility

when he set aside all his rights

as God of this universe,

all his privileges as God,

and came to be human,

and walked on this earth

just like we do.

And he lived a life of obedience

and loyalty to his father God.

In Psalm 25,

David cries out to the Lord,

Show me your ways.

Teach me your ways, Lord.

Guide me in your truth.

Teach me,

for you are my God

and my Saviour,

and my hope

is in you

all day long.

To be a servant of Christ

means to place him

at the very centre

of our lives,

to get to know him

through his word,

through the Holy Spirit

at work in our lives,

fellowship with one another,

and follow his teachings.

And in doing this,

we learn to serve

just like he served.

But why?

Why be a servant of Christ?

In the job I do,

I work for a Christian charity,

we talk a lot

about knowing our why.

Knowing our why

means we have

a far greater chance

of actually making

something a priority

and working for it.

Jesus himself

exemplified this servanthood

through his ministry,

and we are to do the same.

He washed his disciples' feet.

He cared for the needy.

He welcomed those

who were outcast.

The list is endless

of what Jesus did.

And he was clear

when he said,

these words are in Mark,

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.

The verses we had this morning

from John

are Jesus talking

about the end of his life,

about him giving his life,

the need for him to die

and be resurrected

so that we may be forgiven

and we may have life.

Jesus reminds us

our why

is not to seek

our own greatness,

but to serve

with love

and compassion.

I think it was

Mother Teresa

who said,

we are called

to be

Jesus' hands and feet

on this earth today.

And being a servant

of Christ

is not always easy.

It requires

sacrifice often,

patience,

and a willingness

to put others

before ourselves.

Yet,

it is through

this loving service

that we grow

closer

to our

Father God.

And we get

to reflect

his love

to this world.

I love the work,

the words

of Henry Nguyen.

I'm just going to read

a little bit

from,

maybe you say

Henri,

I think.

He met

Mother Teresa.

How cool is that?

Quite a few years ago,

he says,

I had the opportunity

of meeting

Mother Teresa

of Calcutta.

I was struggling

with many things

at the time

and decided

to use the occasion

to ask her advice.

As soon as we sat down,

I just started

explaining all my

problems and difficulties,

trying to convince her

of how very complicated

it all was.

And then when,

after about ten minutes

of elaborate explanation,

I finally became silent,

she looked at me

very quietly

and said,

well,

when you spend

one hour a day

adoring your Lord

and never do anything

which you know

is wrong,

you will be fine.

When she said this,

I realized suddenly

that she had punctured

my big balloon

of complex self-complaints

and pointed me

far beyond myself

to a place

of real healing.

how do you serve?

How do we serve?

Serving Jesus

is about listening

for his guidance,

being ready to help

where there is need

and doing so

with a joyful heart.

And this is made

a whole lot easier

if we're not alone.

And how blessed

are we

because Jesus

promised

to never

leave us.

We are never

alone.

We have the advocate,

the Holy Spirit

with us.

We can rely

on him,

his presence

as we serve.

And I love the bit

in Mark 6

where it talks

about Jesus

sending out

his disciples

in twos.

He sent them out

in pairs.

Relationship

and connection

was so important

in the life

of Jesus,

in his ministry.

So we need

to encourage

and support

one another

as we serve.

We are stronger

together.

In Ecclesiastes

it says,

two are better

than one.

Years and years

ago,

some of you

might remember,

we've been

doing our

coaching in

St. Nick's

for years now.

And years ago

we painted

a bench

in all these

beautiful colours

and in gold

we put those

words

for it to be

in the playground.

It's still there.

To remind

children

to extend

friendship

to one another.

The bench

is there

so you can

go to the

bench

at playtime

if you're

feeling a bit

on your own

and it says

two are better

than one.

If either

of them

falls down

one can

help the

other up.

But another

priority of

how Jesus

served

was taking

himself

to a quiet

space

of solitude.

he says

to his

disciples

come

with me

to a quiet

place

and rest.

And

rest.

I wonder

how we might

learn more

of how

to serve

out of

a place

of resting

in God.

Christ's

attitude

in serving

others

reminds us

to renounce

personal

recognition

and merit.

When we

give up

our self

interest

we find

ourselves

serving

with joy

and love

and kindness

and being

blessed

as we

do it.

It is

very clear

in the

life of

Jesus

that laying

aside

self

interest

is

essential

and so

a central

theme

for us

as we

follow

Jesus.

I don't

know about

you but

I think

this one's

quite

tricky

in our

human

condition.

Very

counterintuitive

at times

we feel

like we

just need

to kind

of get

ourselves

sorted

or do

what we

need

first

and then

we can

serve

God.

it doesn't

really help

kind of

living where

we live

in the

way we

live.

There's

literally

signs

aren't

there?

Self

service.

We've

kind of

moved

towards

a culture

where

we're

encouraged

to kind

of just

do

things

for

ourselves.

I'm

just

picturing

myself

stumbling

around

trying to

check out

at the

supermarket

really

wishing I'd

chosen to

go to the

one where

someone could

help me a

little bit.

there's

also those

signs

those sort

of signals

around that

we're moving

more to

that

encouragement

to just

look after

self

first.

The

separation

from one

another.

Become

more

self

reliant.

Jesus'

service is

different.

in

serving

him

we are

called

to love

him

first

and

love

our

neighbours.

Love

him

first

body

mind

and

spirit

and

then

love

our

neighbours.

In

following

him

we are

to be

alert

through

the

gift

of the

Holy

Spirit

to

where

God

is

at

work

to

notice

where

God

is

at

work

and

join

in.

In

the

reading

today

it

says

whoever

serves

me

must

follow

me

and

where

I

am

my

servant

will

also

be.

Let's

be

where

Jesus

is.

It

really

was a

privilege

to be

with

Sally

yesterday

morning

to spend

time

hearing

about

Chris's

life

and

it

occurred

to me

over

and over

as she

was speaking

and I'd

been preparing

for this

morning

that the

man she

described

truly

was

a

servant

of

Christ.

Jesus

was first

in his

life

and

serving

him

was

his

daily

motivation

in

life.

In

Galatians

5

where it

speaks

about

the

fruit

of the

Holy

Spirit

in the

message

version

it

says

what

happens

when we

live

God's

way

it

invites

us

to be

curious

and to

notice

and then

it

lists

it

says

we

find

ourselves

involved

in

loyal

commitments

not

needing

to

force

our

way

in

life.

I

wonder

are

we

am I

in a

place

today

where

we

are

awake

and

alert

enough

in

our

faith

to

notice

his

call.

Are

we

ready

to

serve

from

a

place

of

utter

reliance

on

him.

Lots

of

you

know

that

I

was

a

teacher

for

12

years

Pete

and

I

met

teaching

I

just

thought

that's

what

I

would

keep

doing

I

loved

it

and

then

I

had

a

very

clear

call

it

was

the

first

time

I

think

it

had

happened

in

my

life

really

that

I

recognized

it

as

a

call

from

God

to

work

for

the

church

and

in

exploring

that

someone

gave

me

this

verse

from

1

Thessalonians

he

who

calls

you

is

faithful

and

he

will

do

it

and

I

to

this

day

I

can

remember

that

kind

of

and

breathe

the

one

who

calls

me

the

one

who

calls

you

to

serve

him

is

faithful

and

he

will

do

it

he

is

with

us

every

step

of

the

way

so

as

we

come

to

the

end

I'd

like

to

just

draw

our

attention

to

the

words

of

Paul

at

the

beginning

of

his

letter

and

he

says

grace

and

peace

to

you

grace

and

peace

may

we

strive

each

day

to

be

faithful

servants

following

Christ's

example

and

embracing

the

opportunities

to

serve

others

but

with

the

grace

and

the

peace

that

God

gives

this

grace

is

the

powerful

difference

in our

lives

as

servants

of

Christ

so

I'm

just

going

to

finish

with

another

piece

of

this

spoken

worship

and

it's

called

this

grace

I'd

like

to

invite

you

to

see

it

as

a

prayer

if

you

would

like

to

or

just

a

space

to

reflect

on

perhaps

what

you're

noticing

God

is

stirring

in

you

this

morning

so

I'll

just

read

it

and

then

we'll

just

have

a

time

of

quiet

as

the

group

then

come

back

to

lead

us

in

our

final

worship

this

grace

we

have

been

given

is

enough

when

the

mountains

set

before

us

won't

move

by

faith

until

by

faith

we

start

to

climb

it

is

enough

when

our

cry

for

heaven's

miracles

ring

hollow

like

a

doorbell

howling

through

an

empty

house

it

is

enough

when

from

our

waiting

rooms

of

weakness

we

say

yes

yes

to

pressing

on

it

is

enough

when

we

have

reached

the

end

of

our

energies

and

face

the

end

of

ourselves

but

can't

yet

see

the

end

of

our

task

it

is

enough

enough

to

know

that

you

have

loved

us

enough

that

we

are

called

before

all

time

enough

that

every

fingerprint

is

valued

enough

that

you

remember

every

name

so

we

will

embrace

this

grace

and

turn

our

hearts

to

face

grace

we'll

make

each

home

a

place

of

grace

and

we'll

drink

from

your

wells

we'll

speak

out

your

words

and

we

will

live

to

love

you

until

our

lives

are

laced

with

grace

down

dark

and

dingy

alleys

we will

chase

grace

we will

hold

as

something

precious

every

trace

of

grace

and

we

will

celebrate

and

consecrate

this

grace

because

this

grace

we

have

been

given

is

enough