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Consumerism is the undeniable blood that
pumps through American veins. My
veins and your veins. It’s how our economy
functions.
Every kind of consumable; from food, to clothing,
to entertainment and experience, is all
geared to work for me. And, if it doesn’t suit me,
I will go to the place down the street. It is so prevalent in our
culture that we hardly even notice it anymore
- it accompanies us everywhere.
Even church. The Consumer Mindset says: “What’s in it for me? Are enough of my needs being met? Is
this style my preference?”
The Contributor Mindset says: “Is what
is happening benefiting others? Is this honoring God? Whose needs can I
meet? I have gifts that God wants to use.
I want to serve God and others.” Yes, our
culture may be dominated by consumerism,
but for the follower of Jesus, we should be more known by our
contribution.
Consumer vs. Contributor
Spectator vs.Participator
Serve us vs. Service
Dear brothers, what’s the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren’t proving it by helping
others? Will that kind of faith save anyone?
If you have a friend who is
in need of food and clothing, and you say to
him, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay
warm and eat hearty,”
and then don’t give him clothes or food, what good does that do? So
you see, it isn’t enough just to
have faith. You must also do good to prove that
you have it.
Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is
no faith at all—it is dead and useless. (James
2:14-17 – Living Bible)
SO WHY AREN’T WE SERVING?
THE 3 COMMON ROADBLOCKS
Selfishness – We focus on
ourselves
Busyness – We have the
wrong priorities
Complacency – We simply don’t
care
Member have rights, owners
have responsibilities
Are you ready to take ownership
in LifePointe Church?
SERVING PRINCIPLE 1:
I am made to serve!
His purpose was to equip God’s people for the
work of serving and building
up the body of Christ.
(Ephesians 4:13 – Contemporary English Bible)
Christ gave gifts to prepare God’s people for
the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.
(Ephesians 4:13 – Easy to Read Version)
SERVING PRINCIPLE 2:
I am saved to serve!
God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus,
God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good
things he had already planned for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 – Easy to Read
Version)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has
created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 – New
Living Translation)
God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus,
God made us new people so that we would do good works. God had planned in advance
those good works for us.
He had planned for us to live our lives doing
them. (Ephesians 2:10 – International Children’s Bible)
SERVING PRINCIPLE 3:
I am commanded to serve!
Each of you has been blessed with one of
God’s many wonderful gifts to be used
in the service of others. So use your gift well. (1 Peter 4:10 – Contemporary English
Version)
Give yourselves completely to God—every part of you . . . be tools in the hands of God, to
be used for his good purposes.
(Romans 6:13 – Living Bible)
As we grow in our walk with Jesus we should be less of a consumer
and more of a contributor.
Let’s focus on giving rather than taking,
on service rather than serve us and on
focusing on others and not on ourselves. That is exactly that Jesus did when He came to
earth.
Follow my example: Even the Son of Man did not
come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his
life to save many people. (Mark 10:45 – Easy To Read
Version)
God did not put you on earth to live for
yourself. He created you to be
like Christ.(Rick Warren)
THE BOTTOM LINE:
SERVICE: The world needs it!
SERVICE: Jesus deserves it!
SERVICE: You must choose it!
What kind of church would my church be, if all of it’s members were just like
me?
Let’s Pray
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