REAL HOPE: WEEK 2

WE SERVE WITH HUMILITY FROM THE HEART

John 13:4-10, “So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’  Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’  Jesus answered, ‘A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean...”

Washing their feet shows leadership with humility.  The disciples were very confused. They still thought that Jesus was going to set up his throne here on earth and set himself up as King of the earth and they were all jockeying for position.  They all wanted to be his right hand man.

Peter says, “I’m not going to let you wash my feet!”  Jesus tells him that if he doesn’t that he wont’ have any part with him.  Peter’s says then I’ll take a bath!

Jesus concern was not hygiene but holiness.

Jesus was trying to help them get their eyes off of themselves and their eyes on others and God’s purpose for their life.

Leaders wake up every day thinking of other people.  Followers wake up thinking about themselves.

Humility – “Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude or spirit.” Webster

A Short Course on Human Relations:

The least important word:  I

The most important word:  We

The two most important words:  Thank You

The three most important words:  All Is Forgiven

The four most important words:  What is your opinion?

The five most important words:  You did a good job?

The six most important words:  I want to understand you better.

Jesus had all of the power but He modeled humility in his leadership style and his humility ultimately led him to the cross and God exalted him!  

Phil 2:5-11, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Hindrance - Self Centeredness and Pride.  If we would stop worrying about what other people think of us and stop complaining about everybody and everything around us and start serving with humility God will exalt you and give you opportunities that you could never accomplish on your own.  

What is hindering you from serving with humility?

WE SERVE WITH A PURPOSE

John 13:12-17, “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.  ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (NIV)

Jesus modeled for them how to serve others and he tells them to go and do the same.

Many people define leadership as the ability to achieve a position, rank or title.

Do you want a Title or Towel?

Jesus had a different definition.  He said it is appropriate to call me teacher because I am but the master is not greater than the servant and the first will be last and the last will be first.  He said a towel is more important than a title.

The purpose was for the disciples to now go and serve others in practical ways.  After Jesus returned to heaven the followers of Jesus had to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to serve others.  

For example Peter needs humility when he speaks to the Sanhedrin and the Religious doubters.  As they plant churches and face resistance and angry people that want to kill them they will need to continue to have a combination of boldness and a humble heart.

Do you have a purpose to your life?

The purpose is ultimately that all would know Jesus as our personal Savior and share the Good News of God’s love.  That as we serve others they would see God shinning through us. As one person said, “To Know God and Make Him Known.”

Matthew 20:28, “… The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Here are some ideas of how you can serve single parents this week:

• Offer to mow the lawn of a single parent in your life

• Volunteer at the iChoose Pregnancy Center

• Ask to cook dinner for a family with a single parent

Next week we'll be serving Single Parents. We'll be partnering with the iChoose Pregnancy Center to donate the following items.

This Sunday, we will be bringing the following items to bless our first responders:

• Gatorade

• Protein Bars

• Gum

We want to hear how you guys are serving! Send us pictures and stories at [email protected] and use the hashtag #C3RealHope on your posts!