1) Listen to Podcast
2) GG Questions
02/23/2019
Saturate: Who are we? Servants
Matthew 25:31-36
Read Portuguese Translation Here
1. The Upside-down King : The OT is full of prophecies of the future, coming ‘rightside-up’ King (Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45), and only hints at His ‘upside-down’ mission (Isa. 53:3-6; Zech. 9:9). List all the ways Jesus “came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45) you can think of. Why was this so offensive to the Jews (1 Cor. 1:23)? How does the fact that we serve a crucified King change everything (John 19:3, 14-15, 19)?
2. We, His Servants : After washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus taught them, “you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). This was a powerfully, identity-shaping event. In your own words, explain this ‘servant identity’ we have been given by Christ. What does it mean that the gospel calls us into a servant relationship toward God and those he puts around us ( in theory and in practice! )? What does Matthew 25:35-40 teach about the recipient of our acts of service?
3. Servant Wrought Transformation : Vanderstelt encourages us to get practical – what would Jesus saturation look like in our city? Imagine the kingdom fully present in the Bay Area, in Pacifica, all things that are not as they should be set right (Rom. 8:19-23). What is being done and what more can be done ( by you, perhaps! )? Start by considering your place of employment, whether you’re a CEO, a stay-at-home parent, an artist, or whatever, what would it look like if you saw every workday as a worship service (Col. 3:18-4:1)?
4. Humble Servants : What is your gut reaction to the term ‘servant’? If it’s a negative reaction, what cultural influences have made it negative in your mind? How did humility characterize Jesus’ life (Phil. 2:3-11) and how should our new identity in the gospel as ‘servant-kings/queens’ lead us to greater humility (Mark 9:35; 10:42-45)?
