The First Post on Service

Service is a topic that I cannot get away from.  As a follower of Christ, I believe that my truest purpose lies close to the idea of serving others.  Jesus says that if we want to be great in the Kingdom of God then we must become the servant of all.  There is this picture of us emptying ourselves of our ambition and seeing that our place in the world is not to further our personal agenda's but rather to find our place in the bigger picture.  We each have a part to play that can further God's purpose and make the world a better place in the process.

The world is an evil place, or maybe I should say that there is plenty of evil things occurring in the world.  There are children being made slaves so that we westerners can have cheap shoes and clothes.  There are women and children all over the world who are being kidnapped or sold into the sex slave trade by their parents.  All you have to do is read some of the statistics posted by the A21 Campaign to see the reality of this kind of evil at work in the world.

But even with all the wrong/evil in the world, there is hope.  Christ came to give us life; life to the full.  We are his agents on the earth and we can make a difference in his Name.  We can do so by finding ways to serve others.  Some time back I wrote an article on service that articulates the basis of my perspective on service.  But I have a lot more ideas to consider on this topic The following is a list of things I am looking/hoping to cover in the months (years?) ahead.

1. What is service?  What is a servant?  What do we know about the roots of the word used in Greek (Doulos, diakonos, ...)? There are two main ideas in the idea of service
1. One, doulos, is really slavery.  To the Greek mind, this is abhorrent, but the NT uses the word often.  Sometimes figuratively other times to indicate how a person can be owned by or subject to the rule of people, ideas, concepts or sin.
2. The other is the idea of someone who assists.  Like a helper.  This can be for various reasons like love or for wages.  The words diakonos diakonias which have been translated to servant, service or even minister.
   Note: even this is a problem for the Greek mind as Greeks saw themselves as rulers.
2. Who is called to serve and whom are they called to serve?
3. What authority do we look to on this?
1. Scripture
1. What did Jesus say about being a servant and serving others?
2. What did his disciples say about being a servant and serving others?
2. What do our church traditions tell us about service/serving?
3. Life experiences - How have other’s service affected us and how has our service affected others?
4. Who are we to serve?
1. God
2. Others
1. The body
2. The saints
3. Our employers
4. Our family members
5. What does it mean to be the servant of all?
1. How does this relate to being the greatest in the Kingdom?
2. Does serving in a church service count?  How does is rate against other kinds of service?
6. Those serving
1. Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Deacons, Elders and others
2. Each and every member of the body of Christ
7. Who should be paid for service? Why?
1. Professional clergy?
2. Those who have dedicated their life to service?
3. Missionaries?
4. Seminary and Bible school students?
5. elders?
6. deacons?
7. What constitutes full-time service vs. part-time service?
8. Do we still pay those who have retired?
9. Do we pay those with other incomes?
10. Who is to pay?  Is this a matter of tithe or a matter of gifts and offerings?
11. If we receive compensation for our service do we forfeit our heavenly rewards?
8. Scriptures
1. The greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all
2. Don’t seek Titles
3. The Sheep and the Goats
4. The servant it not to ask to come and eat with the master
5. God has made good works for us to do in advance. Eph 3
6. Leadership’s job is to prepare us for works of service Eph 4-11-12
7. Deacons 2 Timothy, Titus
8. Husbands and wives Ephesians 5
9. God prefers our humility to pride - He opposes our pride in fact
10. Christ came as a lowly servant; Humbled himself
11. I would rather serve one day in the house of the Lord than...
12. Jesus washing the feet of his disciples demonstrates becoming the lowly servant
13. We cannot serve two masters - Matt 6:24, Lk 16:13
14. Jesus didn't come to be served but to serve - Matt 20:28, Mk  10:45
15. ,Who is greater the one who serves or the one at the table Lk 22:27
16. ...serving the Lord with all humility and tears Acts 20:19
17. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval - Rm 14:18
18. ... have devoted themselves to the service of the saints... I urge you to put yourself to service of such people 1 Cor. 16:15-16
19. Render service with enthusiasm as to the Lord and not to people. Ephesians 6:7
20. Those who serve as deacons gain good standing 1 Tim 3:13
21. slaves serve their masters diligently with respect 1 Tim 6:2
22. Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Heb 1:14
23. God will not overlook the serving of the saints Heb 6:10
24. ... serve one another with whatever gifts each of you has received
25. Consider others above ourselves

More Thoughts

Service as an expression of:

• Love
• Devotion
• Respect
• Obedience
• Worship

Looking forward to sharing these ideas with you all

In Him,

Alan