Tag Archive - serving

Accessible for all

February 5, 2010 in Challenges with 15 Comments

On my way home from work this afternoon, I was listening to a sermon series from LifeChurch.tv on the topic of the church being for “Church People” and how this goes against what God wanted for the church. That the church is for the outsiders, and not for the ones that are already inside.

Listening to this topic, I started thinking about what is happening in the cell group where we used to go, and how awesome God is in working through these people to really go out and make a difference in the lives of the needy. The group, with us still included, are going to cook food for the men that sit on the street corners over the weekends, looking for piece jobs. They have work during the week, probably earning about R80 a day, but over the weekend they don’t have work and therefore are hoping that somebody needs a causal worker in the garden over the weekend.

Now, if this person is still sitting on the street corner at noon, the chances are pretty much 90% that they will go hungry for the day.

I am freaked out about the fact that we are FINALLY going to step out as a group of friends to really do something, and stop talking about how we can do what.

Just wanted to keep you on the up and up, and I will post feedback about the day with some pictures on Sunday, but in the meantime, please just pray for this group and for the peoples’ lives we are going to impact.

Throw in the towel

December 1, 2009 in Challenges with 3 Comments

throwtowel

NO, not that way. Let us read John 13 and take it from there

John 13:1-17 (The Message)

Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.

Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"

Jesus answered, "You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."

Peter persisted, "You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!"

Jesus said, "If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing."

"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!"

Jesus said, "If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, "Not every one of you.") After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.

Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

Reading this, and understanding what washing feet meant in Jesus’ time, a chore for the lowliest servant of the household, this passage starts to take a whole new meaning.

According to this passage where Jesus says that if He doesn’t wash Peter’s feet, Peter won’t be able to be part of what Jesus came to do, and that is to SERVE.

We as Christians need to start getting out, and getting sweaty for Christ. We need to start serving people, ALL people. Especially those that would never expect to be served. The orphans and the widows, the needy and the sinners.

Jesus never served in the well off places, but He went into the slums of the times, and ate with prostitutes and tax collectors.

I challenge all of you, and myself, to start putting a towel around our waists and to start serving. Especially over this Christmas period. Why don’t we try and get one demographic of people needing service, and go out and bless them with what they least expect. Let us go out, and preach the name of Christ, and IN the name of Christ, to the people that need to hear it the most.

Serving

August 9, 2009 in Challenges with 1 Comment

So, this morning, on my way to church with my baby girl, I am starting look forward to the amazing worship and another great service, just to come down to earth, BIG TIME!!

Arriving at the baby care, there is no one to look after the kids, and guess who needs to look after the 3 little girls…

Yep, that would be me. At first I was very disappointed, as I was really looking forward to do some worship in the audience, and not being on stage for a change.

On my way home, from church, I realised, that through me serving, I was able to give the other 2 girls’ parents the opportunity to connect with God this morning, and not have to run after their girls the whole time.

Thank you Lord, for keeping me humble and giving me a serving heart, and please, keep it coming…

I am sorry

August 6, 2009 in Challenges with 1 Comment

Last night in home church, I found myself not focussing.

This all due to the fact that I had some expectations, and due to the mix of people that was present, and the level and topic of conversation, was not in line with what I had in mind.

Afterwards I was miffed about the fact that I didn’t get what I wanted, and I packed it off on my wife. Only for her to say, but if you get everything you want, and everybody is on the same level of spirituality, how are you going to teach the people that is young in their faith, what you have learned already?

At that point I dismissed it, and said,  but this is what I want – SELFISH!!!!

This morning, on my way to work, these word of my wife came back to me, and I just realised how true they were.

So, to all I didn’t pay attention to last night, I am sorry, and I will, through the grace of God, try and serve next time I am in the same situation.

Children of Light

July 14, 2009 in Challenges with 3 Comments

While I was putting fuel into my car this afternoon, I opened the Bible that I keep in my car, at Ephesians 4

From verse 17 to verse 32 it speaks of leaving the ways of the Gentiles behind you as a Child of God, and living like children of Light.

The following verses hit home in my current working situation, and it just puts the challenge out there to still be Jesus to people.

17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

Now the following part just hit me right between the eyes, in that no matter what, this is how I must behave

20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Now, my challenge for you guys today are to really go out, and be Jesus to people, especially if you think they do not deserve it…

Switch to our mobile site