Springs of Life: Serve Like Jesus

25 Jun 2010

by gcadmin

By Tom Hocking

“I am among you as one who serves. . .” Jesus Christ

Chris didn’t immediately stand out among the group of men attending the Focus Retreat at Camp Clear Lake in Washington State in mid-May. The guys were split fairly evenly between seasoned pastors and elders and young men just beginning ministry. Although he has four kids and has been serving since 2007 at the Flying H youth ranch, Chris’ baseball cap and fun-loving spirit placed him clearly in the “newbie” category.

Clear Lake is beautiful and I was deeply refreshed by some seasons of solitude there. But what made the experience unforgettable was the privilege of hanging out for a couple days with that group of Christ-followers-most of whom I had never met before. Chris typified the group with his obsession for kitchen duty. Although he would generally begin eating after the rest of us had gone through the line, Chris somehow was always the first one to begin clearing the tables. After every meal, you would find him in the kitchen doing the dishes-without fanfare, without complaining, and without making the rest of us feel guilty.

I wonder if Jesus would wear a ball cap? Most certainly Jesus would wash dishes. On the night when He said, “I am among you as One who serves (Luke 22:27 NKJV),” Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. I figure dishes are at least two pay grades above feet!

At the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus invited people into his “leadership development program” with the words, “Follow Me (Matt. 4:19 NKJV).” Then, for three years He modeled service-meeting physical needs, preaching the gospel, and setting people free. After all, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, emphasis added). When Jesus concluded His discipleship training, He told those who had watched His life of service to “make disciples.” And what’s the best way to do that? Paul wrote, “I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more (1 Cor. 9:19 NKJV; emphasis added).”

This summer, I hope you’ll join me in an opportunity to develop great leaders. Jesus once said, “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant (Matt. 23:11 NKJV; emphasis added). On July 17, the delegates from the annual Grace Brethren celebration conference and the teens from Momentum will converge on 30 specific neighborhoods in Dayton, Ohio, to assist churches that have invited us to help them as they work together to serve their immediate community in Jesus’ name. I hope you will pray with me that God will revive His church, creating a new generation of redemptive leaders as we bridge generational, denominational, economic, and racial lines to serve others in love.

By the way, Chris is not solely obsessed with kitchen duty! He is also passionate for God and people-both saved and lost. We concluded our focus retreat by praying for two guys-a Canadian and an American-who are about to plant churches in their respective countries. The latter was Chris Carlile-a servant-leader with dishpan hands. May his baseball-capped tribe increase!

(Editor’s Note: The 2009-2011 moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, Tom Hocking, is challenging Grace Brethren churches in the U.S. to unite in a commitment to make disciples through training leaders, planting churches, and adopting holistic ministries. He is the pastor of the Bellflower Brethren Church in Bellflower, Calif.)