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• Jesus said that he did not come to be served but to serve—but why did he break into this impromptu speech on servanthood?
• James and John wanted the seats of honor in heaven, but Jesus told them they would have to drink the cup he drank and that was not for him to grant.
  - Mark 10:35
• Jesus Christ wants to make it crystal-clear to his disciples, who are following him, that they are to put others first and serve them.
• The New Testament says very little about this world going to church, but it says a whole lot about the church going to the world—that's our responsibility.
• Transition: There are four reasons why we should serve.

• The foundation of unity is humility.
• Matthew 23:11–12
• We should look for ways to use our gifts wherever we are—service can build unity within our neighborhoods.

• Service can build relationship because it is an expression of grace to someone else.
• We have to have eyes and ears that are always on the lookout and always listening for whatever needs might arise in our neighborhood.
• When we serve, we realize how much we need each other.
  - 1 Peter 4:10
• We each have gifts we can offer to others.

• Illustration: Albert Schweitzer said, "Example is not the best way of teaching. It is the only way of teaching."
• Over the Last Supper, the disciples were arguing over who would be the greatest, so Jesus put servanthood into action.
  - Luke 22:24–30
• John 13:1–17
• Since his words had fallen on deaf ears before, Jesus told his disciples they would be blessed if they did as he did.
• Illustration: Stone leads the congregation to believe for a moment that they are all going to participate in a foot-washing service.
• The thought of washing others' feet—and of allowing them to wash ours—targets both our pride and our fear of being vulnerable.
• Serving is not glamorous, so we should leave our dignity at the door when we go to serve others.
• The people around us will begin to see our resemblance to Christ when we serve.
• Illustration: Richard Foster says, "There is a difference between choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant. When I choose to serve, I retain control about who I serve and when I serve. But when I choose to be a servant, I have given up all rights and all control."

• If you serve with an attitude of love, and if you sense that Christ is the one who is receiving the glory out of this, then you can accomplish much and will earn the right to be heard.
• Illustration: Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words."
• When we begin to serve others, we will never be the same.
• Jesus lives in your neighborhood; he lives in the form of that person who needs to be touched and served by you.
  - Matthew 25:40
• Illustration: Stone shares the story of his quadriplegic uncle, Greg, and a church volunteer that blessed Greg by serving for a week at a handi-camp.
• You will never know how much your service can impact others until you humbly pick up a towel and a basin of water and you begin to wash feet.