Message Notes for This Weekend
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8.2.26
Teaching Pastor: Jason Huffman, Lead Pastor
Title: An Example of Service
Big Idea: Jesus does not just tell us how to live; He shows us.
Scripture Reference: John 13
Water into wine - Healing official’s son - Man at the pool - Feeding the 5k - Walking on water - Healing the blind man - Raising Lazarus
13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
1. Timing sets the table.
2. Love is the motivation.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,
3. Circumstances are a doorway.
I Corinthians 16:9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
4. Identity is foundational.
5. Gird yourself with a towel.
5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
6. Understanding is not vital but faith is.
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
7. The blessing is in the doing.
Discussion Questions
Look over these questions before your group time. Write down your answers or ideas for at least a few questions if not all. You may not get to every question during your time, but speak up if you want to talk about one of them in particular. Always try to start with question #1.
Teaching Pastor: Jason Huffman, Lead Pastor
Title: An Example of Service
Big Idea: Jesus does not just tell us how to live; He shows us.
Scripture Reference: John 13
Water into wine - Healing official’s son - Man at the pool - Feeding the 5k - Walking on water - Healing the blind man - Raising Lazarus
13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
1. Timing sets the table.
2. Love is the motivation.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,
3. Circumstances are a doorway.
I Corinthians 16:9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
4. Identity is foundational.
5. Gird yourself with a towel.
5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
6. Understanding is not vital but faith is.
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
7. The blessing is in the doing.
Discussion Questions
Look over these questions before your group time. Write down your answers or ideas for at least a few questions if not all. You may not get to every question during your time, but speak up if you want to talk about one of them in particular. Always try to start with question #1.
- What stood out to you and/or what do you think God might be speaking about from this message?
- Are you more likely to rush ahead of or lag behind God's timing for serving others? Why do you think that is?
- Can you think of a person in your life that is difficult to serve? Without names, what would it take to extend Christlike service to them?
- Does your sense of identity shape the way you approach service or sacrifice?
- The disciples still argued about greatness and were more inclined to call down fire on opponents than to kneel and serve them. In what ways do you see that same impulse in Christian communities today?
- How does viewing your life as a gift and mission from God rather than a possession to protect change how you make decisions about time, resources, and service?