Entrusted "not what we do, but who we are"

1 Timothy 3:8-13
Talk about the structure of our church ands then the structure of the NT church being built for growth.
-Pastor/Overseer - Slide 2 Pray, teach, spiritually guide and correct
-Deacons Acts 6:1-7 Overseers assistants
Slide 2 assist the overseers and serve in the church.
-Ministry leaders Slide 2 In charge of particular ministries.

Tonight we will talk about this servant role, but not the what the who.
Read 1 Timothy 1:8-13
Deacon = servant- when we speak of a servant we automatically ask or think what are they doing?…how are they serving?…what is the act?

This passages does not answer those questions but it speaks about the Character of the servant.

Ride a bicycle ill. Teach someone how to ride a bike w/o actually telling them how to ride a bike. (the important part of riding a bike is the mechanics of riding the bike)

The important part of being a servant(Deacon) is the character.
What you actually do as deacon(servant) is not as important as your character.

Mechanical = religion- People become religious and do things out of habit with no real inspiration or heart behind it. We do this because we have always done this.

The danger is we look at our Christian life as DO DO DO or I don’t do this, this and this so therefore I am Christian.

But Character = relationship, when we have a real relationship with the Lord, who we are becomes altered and it is not about what we do- but what we do then stems from who we are. We are not trying to prove something “I am this because I do this” but it is “I do this because I am this” Ephesians 2:8-10 sums this up


Last week in “picture of you” we ended with…Read Bible, Repent and Pray is how you work on yourself. This applies here as well

So how do you know you are in the right heart condition while you are serving?

ask these Questions

What is my motive?

-To look good
Jesus and the Pharisees White washed tombs

-To promote self
You can do good and step on others while you are doing it.

Our motive should be to do right by the Lord and for the good of others.

What is my focus?

-Selfish plans ( I want to see this done)
-Out of habit (just what I do)

Focus should be Jesus’ fame, Why should Jesus be famous???
This is what He has done…(list)

Focus Should be Heaven
That is where we belong so we should focus on that day. The charge for a Christina when it comes to looking at the future is Heaven, not plans but heaven.



Verse 13 If you serve well, it is curious to me that he says this but does still does not tell they what the service is, how to do it or what good service looks like..

Result:
1. “Gain a good standing” right Character speaks loudly to the people around you. You can work harder than anyone but if you are just a miserable person to be around, it cancels what you have done out.
2. “Great confidence in the faith” Validates our faith. The more we serve with a pure heart and good character the more we realize what our purpose is in life.

Leave you with these two thoughts
-A Christian that does not serve never realizes purpose

-A Christian that serves with impure motives ruin the purposes that called has called us here for.