Ephesians 3:1-13

Will you serve the Lord, not yourself?

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” - Mark 9:35

The Servant Motif

The word servant occurs 57 times in the New Testament. It refers to the role we are to assume as Christians. Also, serve occurs fifty-eight times in the New Testament. 

Jesus said we must be last of all and servant of all.

Paul, “I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of His power” (Eph. 3:7).

True joy means giving up our rights and preferences and serving everyone else. That’s what church membership means as well.

A Survey That Said a Lot

10 dominant behavior patterns of members in most churches.

1. Worship wars.
2. Prolonged minutia meetings.
3. Facility focus.
4. Program driven.
5. Inwardly focused budget.
6. Inordinate demands for pastoral care.
7. Attitudes of entitlement.
8. Greater concern about change than the gospel.
9. Anger and hostility.
10. Evangelistic apathy.

The Mind of Christ

Philippians 2:5–11, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.” So what did Jesus do?

* He “did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.”

* “He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave.”

* “He humbled Himself.”

* He became “obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”

We are to be servants. We are to be obedient. We are to put others first. We are to do whatever it takes to keep the unity in our church. Then you will have discovered the joy of being last.