READ | SERMON NOTES
BACKGROUND
On 7th & 8th Jan 2017, we launched Wesley Discipleship Model with these components: Worships God, Emulates Christ, Steward God’s Gifts, Loves Others, Evangelises the World and Yields to the Word. In Wesley, we believe that as a disciple of Christ, we love, we share, and serve Christ.
There are 2 Definitions of Catalyst:
- Chemistry – a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster without being changed itself. (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
- Catalyst refers to ‘for something’ a person or thing that cause a change.
The 5 catalysts through which Christ can transform us are as follows: Significant Circumstances, Scriptural Obedience, Scriptural Relationships, and Sacrificial Services.
SACRIFICIAL SERVICE
1 John 3: 16-18 (NRSV)
v16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
v17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
v18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
We focus on the word Sacrificial because it is an important quality description concerning our services. There are countless opportunities to serve God but our approach and our attitude determine the difference between them, and the value we put on the need to serve God.
Definition of Sacrifice: An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. ( www.lexicon.com online dictionary)
There is a choice of giving up something for something more valuable and it is a question to ask ourselves. It can be a daily activity that we make a choice one over another and happening all the time.
So how do we know if our sacrificial service is not self-serving, self centered, selfish sacrifice? It is through the Word of God and looking at the example of the life of Christ. We can also test this considering these factors:
1. Timeliness
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. (Galatians 4: 4-5)
Timeliness is important. It takes time for us to develop our relationship with God so we will serve Him at the appointed time.
2. Response
It is our way responding to God’s love, mercy and grace. Luke 7:40-48 says –
Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
In this passage, we see Jesus’ explanation to the host and guests- it is the woman’s action that expresses her great gratitude, and love, experiencing forgiveness of sins that HE values. It is our grateful response to Jesus that causes us to give sacrificially and freely.
3. Humility
Philippians 2: 3-8
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
These verses speak of the humility that our Lord Jesus displayed and His Word to the disciples that as Lord he came to serve, and not to be served. Humility is an important factor to serve God sacrificially, that shows our desire to serve God.
4. Submission
Hebrews 5: 7-9
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…
Here we see Jesus’ reverent submission to God.
5. Cost
Any sacrificial service will always be a cost to us. We see how David while desiring to find a place to worship God, He would not offer anything that will not cost him nothing. It must cost us something, and we need to do it in a joyful manner.
6. Imitate
Hebrews 6: 10-12
For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
There are many examples for us to imitate, but the most supreme is our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why in Matthew 11: 28-30 (NLT) Jesus tell us this.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
John the apostle addressed his audience in 1 John 3: 18 as little children, and want them to emulate the heart of Jesus Christ who gave Himself on the cross. He continued that if we see our fellow brothers in need and not share anything, we lack love and are not true disciples of Christ.
Today we recognise countless needs, beyond our ability to meet all of these but if we are willing to share our worldly possessions, we can see the wonderful work that it can bring to them. During this pandemic, we see many precious souls turn to God. These people see God’s love, and are touched. They surrendered their life to Christ. Let us continue this journey, to seize the moment and time that God has created for us, to serve sacrificially and selflessly from our heart so we can rejoice with the heavenly host for these saved souls.
C – H – R – I – S – T
Cost – Humility – Response – Imitate – Submission – Timeliness
(Sermon Notes by Caesiapeah Lim)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Is “laying down our lives for one another” a practical injunction or mere ideal? (v.16)
2. On the scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the most satisfying), how satisfied are you with your current ‘sacrificial service’? If your satisfaction level is low, what are some of the things that are holding you back in your service?
3. The antithesis of ‘sacrificial service’ is ‘self-centred/selfish service’. Please share ways to guard against it.
4. Is there area of ‘sacrificial service’ you sense God is calling you to continue or newly embark on in this new year?
5. What is your most important take-away from this sermon?
