We continue this week in our Who We Are sermon series, seeking to understand the Biblical basis for our vision here at FPC. We have previously considered our identity as a Christ-centered fellowship of believers from Hebrews 10:19-25, our devotion to true worship from Revelation 4:1-5:14, and our commitment to discipleship by studying Matthew 28:16-20. This week we pursue a greater understanding of our calling to serve Christ by serving one another in love.

Servanthood is God’s Life and Love in Us Made Visible to Others Servanthood, especially toward the people of God, is rooted in the transformed hearts of believers. John, in his letter, points this out by drawing a stark contrast between believers, that is disciples of Jesus, and nonbelievers. The disciple of Christ loves his fellow believers, his brothers, because God’s love abides in him (v. 17). God’s love abides in us because of Jesus who, by his death and resurrection, has made his people to be children of God (3:10) and has caused us to pass out of death into eternal life (3:14-15). The nonbeliever does not display the fruit of servanthood toward the people of Christ, because they are like Cain, abiding in spiritual death and showing the fruit of hatred toward Jesus and his followers.

When we lovingly serve one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, our identity as children of God and disciples of Christ is made evident not only to ourselves and to our fellow believers, but also to all people who will know we are Christ’s by our love for one another (John 13:34-35).

Servanthood is Seen through Brotherly Love John is focused here on a servanthood that is seen in love for one’s brothers, that is for fellow believers. This is not because John is saying we should ignore the needs of nonbelievers. No, elsewhere in the Scriptures it is clear that, when there is opportunity, we should be ready to serve all people, seeking to meet their needs. We will look at that some more next week when we consider our call to personal evangelism. But here, John calls us to a particular focus on serving one another within the Church. It is our brothers and sisters in Christ whom Jesus died to save. If Jesus loves our fellow believers that much, and his love abides in us, then how can we close our hearts toward them? The answer, of course, is that we cannot.

Ultimately, to love other believers is to love Jesus himself. One of the ways Jesus repeatedly said his followers could be identified was by their servanthood toward his disciples who proclaim the gospel. For example, in his teaching on the final judgment, Jesus foretold how he will separate the people of all nations as a shepherd separates sheep from goats (Matthew 25:31-46). He will “know his sheep” by their service toward the “least of these” his brothers (Matthew 25:40). Compare that teaching with his previous word in Matthew 10:40-42, where he told his apostles that those who received them with service would also receive him and that they would never lose their reward for serving his “little ones” a cup of cold water. This teaching begs for us to consider our personal and corporate commitments to serve and support one another, our ministry staff, our missionaries and church planters, and the ministries of FPC in general with our time, talents, and treasures.

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1 John 3:16-18

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Servanthood is Seen through Sacrificial Love Just as our love for our fellow believers flows from Christ’s love within us so too does our power and willingness to sacrificially love and serve our brothers and sisters flow from him who laid down his life for us (3:16). This kind of love is selfless and humble. In Christ we lay our lives down for others by saying “no” to our own desires, our very life even, so that somebody else may have life. The love of Christ within us helps us to count others as more significant than we count ourselves (Philippians 2:3-8).

It is possible for us to “do church” for more selfish reasons. There are those who come to church seeking to exert worldly power, to acquire the importance of a position, and to claim a moral or social prestige amongst their peers. To come in this way is to come looking to be served rather than to serve. This is not the way of Christ, of course. Not at all, for he has taught us a far more excellent way. The way of selflessness through humble service to God by loving others (see Matthew 20:25-28).

Is your chief approach to the Church that of a consumer or a beneficiary, looking to be served by “the Church”, or do you see yourself as a fellow servant, one brother or sister amongst a family of believers who are ready to sacrificially love

one another? May the love of Christ in us continually transform our hearts that we might sacrificially serve others as we have been served by Jesus through his death on the cross.

Discussion and Application 1. Did you learn anything new, or gain a deeper understanding about something, from this portion of God’s Word?

2. Why is love for our fellow Christians through acts of service so important?

3. In what ways is it possible to “serve” in the Church without being selfless or humble toward Christ and our brothers and sisters?

4. How can we help each other to tests our hearts’ motivations for serving Christ and one another in the Church?

5. How can this call to serve Jesus and our brothers and sisters in Christ transform your thinking about: (1) Giving financially to the Church? (2) Serving as a Sunday School teacher, singing in the choir, or helping with some other ministry when asked? (3) Serving others over and beyond FPC programs through our personal and family ministries of vistation, hospitality, and so on?

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