School of Practical Christianity

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School of Practical Christianity
Session 3
ATTITUDE
SERVANT
Sunday, 3rd May 2009
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Definition of a Servant
2 Peter 11a Simon Peter, a servant and apostle
of Jesus Christ
Slave
Bondservant
Origin Law of Moses Deuteronomy 1512-15
12 If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells
himself to you and serves you six years, in the
seventh year you must let him go free. 13 And
when you release him, do not send him away
empty-handed. 14 Supply him liberally from your
flock, your threshing-floor and your winepress.
Give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.
15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the
LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give
you this command today.
Cheerful Service
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Definition of a Bondservant
16 But if your servant says to you, I do not
want to leave you, because he loves your and
your family and is well off with you, 17 then
take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into
the door, and he will become your servant for
life. Do the same for you maidservant.
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Quick Definition of A Bondservant
Absolute
Obedience
Love
Loyalty
Surrender
Security
Permanently
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The Bondservants of Christ
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The Attitude of a Bondservant
Matthew 2025-28
25 You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord
it over them, and their high officials exercise
authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead,
whoever wants to become great among you must be
your servant, 27 and whoever wants to
be first must be your slave - - 28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many.
diakonos
doulos
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The Attitude of a Bondservant
Matthew 2514-30
14 servants 19 servants 21 His master replied.
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have
been faithful with a few things I will put you
in charge of many things. Come and share your
masters happiness!
Luke 1248b Everyone to whom much is given, of
him will much be required and of him men commit
much they will demand the more.
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The Attitude of a Bondservant
Luke 177-10
7 Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or
looking after the sheep. Would he say to the
servant when he comes in from the field, Come
along now and sit down to eat? 8 Would he not
rather say, Prepare my supper, get yourself
ready and wait on me while I eat and drink after
that you may eat and drink? 9 Would he thank the
servant because he did what he was told to do? 10
So you also, when you have done everything you
were told to do, should say, We are unworthy
servants we have only done our duty.
No Exaltation
No Pride
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The Attitude of a Bondservant
Romans 12 11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual
fervor, serving the Lord
The first command to be a bondservant is to serve
(v doulos) the Lord which is just as important as
having zeal and being fervent in spirit.
Its not something for mature Christians to
strive for when weve mastered everything else
Jesus told us to do.
Its for everyone who bears the name of Christ.
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The Attitude of a Bondservant
Speaking of the name of Christ, lets consider
Philippians 25-7
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not
consider equality with God something to be
grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the
very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness.
Yes, Jesus Himself became a duolos, a
bondservant.
If He can lower Himself that far, it should even
be easier for us - - we dont have as far down to
go.
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What is the Opposite of Bondservant?
Even a slave-owner should be a servant. Ephesians
65-8 tells slaves to obey and respect their
masters, and serve them wholeheartedly. Verse 9
says, And masters, treat your slaves in the same
way.
The master must meet his slaves needs and take
care of them hes responsible before God for
their well-being.
From a Christian point of view, a master is a
kind of servant.
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What is the Opposite of Bondservant?
Jesus, our ultimate Master, said He came not to
be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many. He is Lord of all, but when He
was among us, showing us by example how we should
live, He was a bondservant.
An elder should not be lording it over those
entrusted to you, but being examples to the
flock (1 Peter 53).
So an elder is also a bondservant.
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What is the Opposite of Bondservant?
Servant
Selfish
Natural part of the human condition
What can I do for you?
What can you do for me?
At Your Service!
At My Convenience!
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Are you a Servant at the Core?
The servant-leader is servant first It begins
with the natural feeling that one wants to serve,
to serve first. (Robert Greenleaf)
Undergirding every role that we are called to
play, is a servant.
Christ took upon himself willingly the form of a
servant.
That is the call for all who would seek higher
service in the Lordit is a call to servanthood
in greater degrees.
The message is simple. It doesnt matter what
role you play - teacher, preacher, minister,
elder, deacon, usher, greeter, brother, sister,
husband, wife, mother, father - we are all called
to be servants at the core.
Are you a servant at your core?
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The Key to Servanthood
John 1512 My command is this Love each other
as I have loved you.
With love, it becomes a natural thing, as much an
expression of our relationship with Christ as
worship or prayer.
If we love Him, well love others, and if we love
others, well be concerned for meeting their
needs.
Jesus gave everything to meet our greatest need.
He asks us to give a little to meet the needs of
the people around us.
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In Raising Children .
Proverbs 226a Train up a child in the way he
should go
OBEDIENCE
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In Looking for a Life Partner ..
Servant
Selfish
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The Test of Servanthood in Church
Ephesians 416 From Him the whole body, joined
and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part
does its work.
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The Test of Servanthood at Home
God has given each of us the perfect place to
learn to be a servant at home.
Help wash dishes Iron clothes Sweep the
floor Teach from the Bible Tell story to impart
value Converse intimately with each other Praise
your son / daughter Help with homework
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Be a True Servant of Christ
From Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends
A true servant Knows that all assignments are
actually from GodWill be quick to
volunteerConsiders his assignment
importantTakes ordersDoes not desire to have
authorityWill do what others do not or will not
doEnjoys meeting needsDoesnt need
recognitionWill voluntarily serve without
payDoesnt seek higher statusWill do more than
is required
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Be a True Servant of Christ
Does not have his own selfish ambitionsWill
serve anyone even those who others dont like
to serveIs willing to be treated like a
servantDoes not seek the big and important
assignmentsWill serve with a joyful
attitudeWill put his whole heart into each
taskThinks of others before himselfDesires that
his master receives the creditDesires that God
receives the glory
Ephesians 67-8, Serve wholeheartedly, as if you
were serving the Lord, not men, because you know
that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever
good he does, whether he is slave or free.
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In Closing .
1 Peter 51-4
1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow
elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one
who also will share in the glory to be revealed
2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your
care, serving as overseersnot because you must,
but because you are willing, as God wants you to
be not greedy for money, but eager to serve
3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but
being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief
Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of
glory that will never fade away.
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