SAVED TO SERVE: Always serving 1-15-23

SAVED TO SERVE: Always serving 1-15-23

We are saved to serve.

We are trusted servants of God.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (31) is a Canadian born professional football player for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He is 6’ 5” and 321 pounds.

He played university football and attended medical school at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, before being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Duvernay-Tardif opted out of the 2020 NFL season in order to work in the health care system. He returned to Canada to work in a long-term care facility in Montréal as an orderly.

Duvernay-Tardif is only the fourth medical school graduate to play in the NFL.

As a result of his efforts on and off the field in 2020, he was named a co-winner of the Lou Marsh Award, given annually to Canada's top athlete, as well as the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year.

On July 10, 2021, Duvernay-Tardif was named the recipient of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at the 2021 ESPYs for his decision to opt out of the 2020 NFL season to help fight the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Fred W. Penney

"Life is a place of service, and in that service one has to suffer a great deal that is hard to bear, but more often to experience a great deal of joy. But that joy can be real only if people look upon their lives as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness."

Anonymous

I.  WHATEVER YOU DO

The Department of Social Services in Greenville County, South Carolina sent the following letter to a deceased individual. "Your food stamps will be stopped effective March, 1992, because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances."

Richard Crow

‬ ““I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭23‬-‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Do all for the glory of God

B.  Do not cause anyone to stumble

C.  Try to please everyone in every way

D.  Seek the good of the many so that they may be saved

II.  WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART

One Sunday morning the pastor noticed little Alex was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it.

The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning Alex."

"Good morning pastor," replied the young man, still focused on the

plaque. "Pastor McGhee, what is this?"

"Well, son, it’s a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."

Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little Alex’s voice was barely audible when he asked, "Which service, the 9:00 or the 11:00?"

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Christ lives in me

B.  We live by faith in the Son of God

During a recent Sunday worship service, a congregation was singing the worship chorus that goes: "I exalt thee, oh Lord...” A mother of a 5-year-old girl glanced down and realized that her daughter was fervently singing, "I’m exhausted, oh Lord ..."

Today’s Christian Woman, "Heart to Heart."

C.  Motivated by Christ

1.  His love

2.  His sacrifice

III.  WORKING FOR THE LORD

We live in a self-service world.

Self service gas stations.

Self service fast food.

Now you can even check yourself out at the grocery store.

We have totally lost the idea of service in our society today.

Yet Jesus reminds us of the value of service as he humbly washed his disciples feet. And when he is done with this task he tells his disciples "Now that I, your teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet."

James Chandler

““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭31‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Whatever you did

B.  You did for me

Henry Martyn had already done more than his share of missionary service in India by his late 20s when he announced he was going to Persia. Doctors had told him that the heat would kill him if he stayed in India, and the heat in Persia was worse.

Martyn arrived, studied the Persian language and translated the New Testament and Psalms in an amazing nine months. But then was told he must have the Shah’s permission to circulate it.

Martyn traveled 600 miles to Tehran, only to be denied permission to see the Shah. He then turned around and made a 400-mile trip to find the British ambassador who gave his credentials and said, “This is all I can do. You will have to present them yourself.”

Barely able to stand, Martyn rode at night on the back of a mule and rested in the daytime, protected only by a strip of canvas from the sweltering heat. He was received by the Shah who gave permission for the Scriptures in Persian to be circulated.

Ten days later, in 1812, he died in Turkey.

When people get converted to Christ, they begin to serve in the church of Christ. Some, like Henry Martyn, have remarkable gifts and serve in significant ways. Others have more ordinary gifts. Nevertheless, all Christians use their spiritual gifts in service.

A mark of love in the church is ministry. Have you devoted yourself to the service of the saints? Are you serving in ministry?

Freddy Fritz, Final Greetings, 5/25/2012

CONCLUSION

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.