Christian Servants

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 97:6-9
• Hymn — Holy, Holy, Holy
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Luther's Small Catechism, Second Article
• Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 14:24-35
• Pastoral Prayer
• Sermon
• Hymn — Breathe on Me, Breath of God
• Benediction — Romans 15:13

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Sermon Title: Christian Servants

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:1-2

I. Christian Servants Serve as Witnesses to the Workplace

A. The master/slave relationship in 1st-century Rome was more akin to today's employer-employee relationship than to 18th–19th century American slavery

1. Slavery in Rome was rarely tied to race or social status
2. Slaves often owned property and could themselves own slaves
3. Many slaves could expect manumission by age 30

B. False teaching within the Ephesian church was distorting the Christian's obligation to serve

1. Greek dualism taught that the material world (including earthly masters) was evil and unworthy of honor
2. An over-realized eschatology led some believers to act as though the fullness of the Kingdom had already arrived, removing any obligation to submit to worldly authorities (cf. 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians)

C. Paul's call: honor those in authority over you in your daily work

1. Ephesians 6:5-6 — obey earthly masters with sincerity of heart, as you would obey Christ, not merely to win their favor when their eye is on you
2. Christians work hard not for the boss's approval but for God's approval, whose omniscient eye sees all
3. 1 Timothy 2:2 — Christians are to lead quiet, godly, and dignified lives in every way

D. The workplace is one of the greatest mission fields

1. Statistics show the average American spends one-third of their life at work
2. A distinctive work ethic — hard work, dignity, respect, refusing to complain — functions as light in darkness and draws onlookers to ask what makes the Christian different
3. Paul's instruction applies to all masters, not just good ones

II. Christian Servants Serve as Witnesses to the Church

A. 1 Timothy 6:2 addresses the specific situation of Christian slaves serving Christian masters within the same congregation

1. Some slaves apparently reasoned that because their master was a fellow believer and brother, they no longer needed to strive to serve him well — his approval was guaranteed
2. Paul corrects this: the shared bond of faith is a reason to serve more diligently, not less

B. John 13:35 — the world will know we are Christ's disciples by our love for one another

1. A key ingredient of that love is respect
2. We tend to take those closest to us for granted, extending less respect to family than to those we are trying to impress
3. Christian love does not lower the bar of respect; it raises it — respect of the highest and most excellent order

C. When the watching world sees believers honoring one another, it testifies to the reality of the gospel community

III. Christian Servants Serve as Witnesses to the Incarnation of God

A. How Christians serve says something about the God they serve and the gospel they hold

1. Matthew 20:28 — the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
2. John 13:1-15 — Jesus washed his disciples' feet, taking the position of a lowly Gentile slave; he commands his followers to do likewise

B. Christians may rightly speak of their civil rights, but must examine what their words and posture communicate to the watching world

1. Do we project that our hope rests in the kingdoms of this world, or in the Kingdom of God?
2. Philippians 2:6-7 — Christ did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant

C. The cross is the supreme witness: two observers, two responses

1. The thief on the cross — Luke 23:42: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom
2. The centurion — Matthew 27:54: Surely this was the Son of God
3. Neither was moved by Jesus asserting his rights, but by Jesus stripped of all rights, serving to the bitter end

D. Application: every Christian — in home, workplace, church, and school — is called to humble, lowly, and often rightless service

1. It is precisely this servant witness that causes the world to look and say, Surely they serve the Son of God