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SERVANT LEADERSHIP - John 13:1-17

Turn in your bible and read John 13:1-17.  What a beautiful picture of a servant leader!

NBA coach Pat Riley wrote about the "danger of me."  He said,

"The most difficult thing for individuals to do when they're part of a team is to sacrifice.  It's so easy to become selfish in a team environment.  To play for me.  It's very vulnerable to drop your guard and say, 'This is who I am and I'm going to open up and give of myself to you.'  But that's exactly what you've got to do.  Willingness to sacrifice is the great paradox.  You must give up something in the immediate present - comfort, ease, recognition, quick rewards - to attract something even better in the future."

What's true on the basketball court is true in all of life.  Serving others can be tough; expending your energies and resources in the interest of others can be exhausting.  Yet the most effective leaders are servants.

Nobody demonstrated this better than Jesus on the night prior to His crucifixion.  Alone with His disciples in a room in Jerusalem, Jesus did the unthinkable.  When there was no servant to carry out the custom of foot washing, Jesus assumed the role. The Master became the servant!  The greatest and most high became the least and the lowest.

Jesus was able to do this because He was secure in Himself.  He knew who He was and where He was going (vs. 3).  But Jesus also served His disciples because He loved them (vs. 1).  While these two reasons would be adequate in and of themselves, the Lord had another reason for His actions.  When He finished washing the disciples feet, Jesus told them He had set them an example to follow (vs. 15).  The Lord didn't tell them to do what He had done.  He commanded them to do "as" He had done.  They weren't to become full-time foot-washers, but rather full-time servers of men and women.  They were to be servant leaders!

Are you a follower of Jesus?  Do you desire to be His disciple?  Then make a commitment to do as He did and expend your energies in service to others.

TIM HAWKINS - CLETUS TAKE THE REEL!

Go10Walk - Walk for the World

Make plans now to experience a life-changing commitment to missions through a three month (April - July 2010), 2500 mile walk for the world!  

What is the Go10Walk?  The purpose is to challenge young people to consider their role in reaching the nations with the Gospel in their generation. The year 2010 is the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Free Will Baptist missions program. Laura Belle Barnard was sent out as our first missionary to India in 1935.

To commemorate this event, we are challenging Free Will Baptist young people to a life-changing commitment. They will be asked to commit to walk a 10-mile segment of a 2,500-mile course. Teens will also commit to a 40-day prayer and devotional journey in preparation for the walk.

Go to the Go10 website and pick your day to walk! For more information click here.

LET NO ONE LOOK DOWN ON YOU!

 No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.—1 Timothy 4:12

Timothy was a sincere young man who earnestly desired to serve the Lord. Yet certain weaknesses in Timothy's life hindered him from serving God confidently.

1. Timothy was very young to be a religious leader, and apparently some doubted his abilities.

2. Timothy had a tender nature and was sickly (1 Tim. 5:23).

His was an unfavorable beginning for a young minister of the Gospel in an age of persecution!

Therefore, Paul urged Timothy not to allow his youthful insecurity to blunt his zeal and faithfulness in doing what God had told him.

Rather than arguing with those who criticized Timothy, Paul urged him to live as an example of godliness.  Paul advised Timothy to live a life that was so spotless in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity that his life could serve as a model for others in the church to follow. Timothy's life was to be the evidence that God had called him.

God looked beyond Timothy's youth, timidity, and physical weakness and saw his sincere heart.

As you seek to follow God's will, you may identify with Timothy. Perhaps some things about you seem to disqualify you from serving the Lord effectively. You may be sensitive because you are a new Christian or because you come from a sinful past. Perhaps you have little education or money or social status. You may have previously experienced failure in your service for God.

Don't allow this to intimidate you from following God's will. Your area of weakness may be God's means of demonstrating His strength (2 Cor. 12:9). Allow God to demonstrate His call upon you by transforming your life into a model of Godliness.

D6 FAMILY TAKE HOME STUDY

 
The D6 family theme for week 11/01 through 11/07 is "hope."

Each Sunday at Victory Church I will be sending families home with a "D6 Family Take Home Study" which correlates with the D6 theme of the week and the weekly message I share.  This is a great way for families to interact together spiritually, thus helping you to become D6 families! (For those who may not be familiar with D6 - click here.)

Below is this week's D6 Family Take Home Study:

1.  As a family, share some stories this week of seemingly "hopeless" situations you have found yourself in.  Also, share how the Lord answered your prayers and brought you through that particular situation.  KEY: Christian hope grows out of faith.

2. As a family, explain the purpose of anchors to your children.  Then share that by placing our faith in Christ we have "anchored" our life in Him.  Therefore, we are safe and secure in Him!  When the storms come on the sea, the sailors are safe because they have their anchors secure in the rocks.  Reassure your family that when the storms of life come your way, you are safe because you have placed your "hope" in Christ and He is our anchor!  KEY: Christian hope is an Anchor.

3. As a family, read the words of the old hymn "My Hope Is Built." KEY: Christian hope is a Person - Jesus Christ.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Sing-a-long! Now click here and "sing" together as a family this old hymn.