Branded: #3 The Heart of a Servant

Notes : https://drive.google.com/open?id=1UYwZZzZKYQVZeefCA0XuSW6Ndx4FDkVr

BRANDED – 3

The Mark of a Disciple

 

Matthew 20:20-24 NIV Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

 

 

Matthew 20:25-28 NIV Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

#3 Mark of a Disciple: The Heart of a Servant

 

1. The world we live in is all about position and power, the Kingdom of God is about service and sacrifice.

 

Why is something Jesus so clearly said so frequently ignored and avoided?

Everyone has an excuse.

 

Luke 14:16-18 NKJV Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses.

 

2. There are three common excuses for not doing what we know God wants us to do.

 

Luke 14:18 The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’

 

Too busy: I just don’t have the time.

 

Luke 14:19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’

 

Have to work: I have too much to do.

 

Luke 14:20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

 

Family demands: I have a lot going on at home.

 

3. There is a big difference between a volunteer and a servant. 

 

Volunteering is an action.  Serving is an attitude.

Volunteers focus on what they give.  Servants focus on what Jesus    gave.

Volunteers often keep score.  Servants make sacrifices.

Volunteers are time sensitive.  Servants are need sensitive. 

Volunteering makes them look good.  Serving makes God look good.

Volunteering is about convenience.  Serving is about commitment.

Volunteering makes people feel superior.  Servants learn humility.

Volunteers are good at me.  Servants are good at we. 

 

4. Most volunteers have never been taught the right heart.

 

This is why one of the most frequent sayings of former church attenders is, “I used to volunteer.” They were never taught to be servants.

 

5. Every servant knows, “When you serve, you lose the right to think about yourself.”

 

 

 

 

 

My excuse is _______________.