Pastor Tom:  Serving is not an option

Serving is not an option July 31 2016

Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you
once walked, following the course of this world, following the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in
the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived
in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the
body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,
like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, be-
cause of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when
we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with
Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up
with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the
immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in
Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through
faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9
not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 1 0 For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in
them.

Our service to God is not_______________.

Mark 10:42a-45 (ESV) “You know that those who are consid-
ered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But it shall not be so
among you. But whoever would be great among you must be
your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever would be first among you must
be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be
served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many.”

Are you a _____________like Jesus?

How are you doing in the __________ department?

“...dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked,
following the course of this world...” Ephesians 2:1

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk
in them. Ephesians 2:10

God created us in Christ Jesus for _______, __________!

Are you_____ the good works that God

__________ in advance for you to do?

Jesus didn’t avoid his opportunity to”___________ “

 Jesus ____________served.

As God’s redeemed children, we strive to serve in His

kingdom here on earth as a ___________of His

love for us.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through
faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not
a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

It is God’s gift of ____________ through in

Christ Jesus that saves us.

“...for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

As Christians, we are “”to

serve in His kingdom here on earth.