4/21/2026 Weekly Bible study message

Weekly Bible study message about serving Jesus 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 1:01

Hello, friends, and welcome back to the Lifeline Church Peterstown Podcast. Or welcome for the very first time. I'm so glad we're you're here. Today we're spending in the next few minutes on one of the most life-giving truths in the Bible. Christ has a plan for every single one of us. And that plan is not complicated. It's to know him, love him, and serve him with everything we got. Right where we already are. No matter your age, your job, your season of life, or your past mistakes. Jesus has a purpose for you today. And the beautiful part, serving him isn't some extra burden he piles on top of you all, your already busy schedule. It's the very thing that makes every part of your schedule meaningful. We're going to walk through four simple arenas where every follower of Jesus can serve him faithfully in the church, at home, at work, and anywhere else our feet take us. We're also going to talk about serving Jesus matters so much, not because he needs us, because we want desperately to walk in good works. He prepares us in advance for us. Ephesians 2.10. Christ's plan for everyone. Let me start with the foundation. Jesus didn't come on earth to just to die on the cross and rise again. So we could have a get out of hell free card. And when we live however we want, his plan for every person who trusts in him is summed up in his two commands he gave us. Love the Lord with all love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength, and your love for neighbors as yourself. It's Mark 12, 30 through 31. That's the plan. Everything else flows through those two loves. Think about the Great Commission in Matthew 28, 19 through 20. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. That's not just for a full-time missionaries or pastors, that's for every follower of Jesus. And here's the encouraging part. God has already equipped you. Ephesians 2 10 says, For we are his workmanship. He created in Christ Jesus good works, which God created or prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. You are not an accident. The skills, the relationships, the daily routines you have right now, God prepared good works to happen right there. Your life is not waiting for a room, uh waiting room for heaven. It's a mission field today. I love how Jesus put it in John 15 5. I'm the vine, you are the branches, whoever abides in me and in and in him bears much fruit. From apart me you can do nothing. Serving Jesus is simply natural overflow of staying connected for him. It's not about striving or it's about abiding. Why serving Jesus matters so much? Before we talk about how before we before we talk about how, let's talk about why why this is worth rearranging our lives around. First, Jesus said, Jesus Himself said, if you do not love me, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. That's John 14 15. Obedience is the language of love. When we serve Him, we're saying, Jesus, you are worth it. Second, serving Jesus is how we experienced abundant life. He promised in John 10 10, the moments I felt the most alive are the moments I was pouring myself out for someone else's someone else in Jesus' name. Third is how the world sees Jesus, sees Jesus that Jesus is real. People don't read the Bible as often as they read our lives. When a coworker sees you working with integrity, when your kids see you loving your spouse well, and when your neighbor sees you drop everything to help, that's the gospel with skin on. Fourth, there is no there is an eternal reward. In Matthew 25, 21, he says, Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master. I don't know about you, but I want to hear those words. And finally, serving Jesus keeps our hearts soft. And the moment we stop serving, we start drifting. Serving is the antidote to spiritual numbness. Serving Jesus in the church. Let's get practical first. First off, the local church. The church is not a building, it's the family of God. And every single member has a role. And 1 Corinthians 12 12 says, for just as the body uh for just as the body is one, it has many members, so is it with Christ. Practical ways we can serve in church. Um we can use your gifts. God's God we've got a ministration, help with church calendar, hospitality, be the first one to greet newcomers, teaching, volunteer in children's ministry or small group, mercy, visit the shut ins. Show up consistently in a world of flaky commitments. Be the reliable person who shows up early and sets up the chairs or stays late to pray with someone who sphoe that's with someone speaks volumes. Serve the leaders, pray for your pastors, encourage the volunteers. Send a text. I'm grateful for you. Give generously time, talent, and treasure. Remember, the church doesn't exist to serve you, you exist to serve the church, so the church can serve the world. Service serving Jesus at home. Your home is the first and most importantly important ministry. Husbands and wives. Ephesians 5, 22 through 25. Love and respect each other in the way that Christ loves the church. That's radical service. Parents Deuteronomy six seven. Talk about Jesus with your kids all day long at the dinner table in the car at bedtime. You're discipling the next generation. Kids, honor honoring your parents, that's service too. And Ephesians 6, 1 through 3. Singles or empty nesters. Your home can be a lighthouse. Host a Bible study. Invite the lonely over for a dinner. Make your home a place where people can meet Jesus. One of the most powerful things you can do at home is simply pray together as a family every day. It takes five minutes and changes everything. Serving Jesus at work. Work is not a necessary evil, it's a holy calling. Colossians three twenty three through twenty four. Whatever you do, work heartedly as the for the Lord and not for men. You are serving the Lord Christ. Practical ways that we can do this at work is work with excellence and integrity, even when no one is watching. That's worship. Treat your coworkers like people treat your co-workers like people ge like people just died. Listen to them and ask, how can I pray for you? Look for opportunities to go the extra mile. Stay up late to help a struggling colleague, mentor, or a new hire. Share your lunch with a guy who forgot his. If you're the boss, lead with humility and generosity. If you're the employee, serve cheerfully. Your workplace is your mission field. You may be the only Bible some people ever read. Serving Jesus anywhere else. Everywhere else is where adventure really happens. And your neighborhood, shovel snow for the widow next door. Invite your neighbors to a cookout. Pray for the people on your street by name. In the grocery store, in the gym, in the coffee shop, smile and make eye contact. Ask how can I pray for you today? You'd be shocked how many people say yes. In your city, volunteer at a food pantry, join a community, cleanup, support local missions. Online you can use social media for encouragement and truth, not compact comparison and outrage. On vacation on and on the road in the airport, every place is a place to represent Jesus. The early church did not have buildings or programs, they just lived on the mission everywhere they went, and the world was turned upside down in Acts 17 6. In closing, friends, here's a bottom line. Christ's plan for you is simple. Abide in Him and serve Him wherever you are and whatever you with whatever you have. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to have it all together. You just have to be available. Today, ask the Holy Spirit to show you one specific way you can serve Jesus this week in church, at home, at work, or wherever you go. Then do it. The joy that follows will surprise you. Thank you for listening. Please like and share and comment. Please join us on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. in person or at Lifeline Church at Lifeline Church Peterstown or on live stream on YouTube or Carla Bragg's Facebook page. We have Lifeline Kids every Sunday morning. You can also join us at 6 on Wednesday evenings for men and women's small groups and kids and youth also on Wednesdays. On Friday evenings, starting at 530, is celebrate recovery. Thanks for listening and God bless.