Pastor Rob Carlson: 
"Why Should I Give My Life to Serve Others?" 
Series: It's Your Serve
Sunday, August 17, 2003 

Matt. 20:28--Jesus did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life... 

John 20:21--...As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 

Mark 10:43-45--...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

WHY SHOULD I GIVE MY LIFE TO SERVE OTHERS? 

1. I was created for service. 

Eph. 2:10-For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

2. I am saved for service. 

2 Tim. 1:9-(Jesus)...saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace... 

3. I've been called to service. 

Gal. 1:15-But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace... 

I Cor. 1; John 20:21; Phil 3:10 

4. I've been gifted for service. 

I Peter 4:10-Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (See also verse 11.) 

5. I am commanded to serve others. 

Matt. 20:26-28--...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-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. 

6. Serving proves I belong to Christ. 

Rom. 7:4-So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 

John 15; Eph. 2:8, 9 & 10. 

7. My church family needs my service. 

I Cor. 12:27--Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (See also verse 7.) 

8. Serving others is the way to serve God. 

Col. 3: 23, 24-Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 

9. I serve because I owe everything to Christ. 

Rom. 12:1-Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 

10. I serve because service makes life meaningful. 

Mark 8:35-For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 

I Cor. 15:58--Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

11. I will be held accountable for my service. 

Rom. 14:12-So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. 

12. I serve because it will be rewarded for eternity. 

Matt. 25:23-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 master's happiness! 

John 12:26-Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 

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