Serving Others Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck July 17, 2021

Blog Serving Others

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Doing Church With A Heart To Serve

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

How do you serve others?

Most churches have service events of some kind. Some have a few ongoing service opportunities. However, what if service was something built into the very DNA of the church? What if, instead of occasionally stopping our regular routine to serve others, serving others WAS our regular routine?

This was the basic question of a book I read, “Barefoot Church” by Brandon Hatmaker. Brandon pointed out that far too often serving others in the church is more about those who are doing the serving than those who are being served. However, the Bible is full of references to serving others. Jesus Christ, himself, said:

“…the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

Jesus Came to Serve Us
Jesus came to serve us, the broken, sinful, rebellious people that we are, even to the point of dying on the cross that we might be forgiven and saved. He didn’t require that do anything for this great blessing. It was solely Jesus acting in grace and compassion, giving us the ultimate gift.

Through faith in Jesus, we are not only saved but also brought to life. This new life in Jesus is not like our old life. Through the power of God we, now, can love and serve others. We do not do this to earn anything before God, but rather as a response to what God has already done for us.

How can you serve someone today?

How can you serve in a way that asks nothing from the person you are serving, but simply shows love to them because Jesus loved us and Jesus loves them? I encourage you to look for a way to make serving others a part of your regular life. Why not start, today?

Serving with Faith Lutheran Church
At Faith Lutheran Church, we want serving others to be a part of the DNA of the church. One way we are doing this is through Growth Groups. Growth Groups within the church are able to find specific areas of service which they can be passionate about, be it mentoring kids, helping the homeless, visiting the elderly, caring for the sick, or whatever you feel passionate about. These small groups can then engage in their specific type of service on a regular basis.

Another way we do this is through church-wide service opportunities. The pandemic made it difficult to serve others for a while, but with life returning to normal, we will be getting back to having service projects and outreach activities as a regular part of church life. I hope you’ll be a part of it.

Dear Jesus,

You came to serve us, though You are God of all and we did not deserve it. Help me to serve others with the same humility and compassion You have shown me.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck April 1, 2021

Blog Maundy Thursday, Serving, Serving Others, Washing feet

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The Greatest Servant

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,

‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’

Jesus answered him,

‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.’

Peter said to him,

‘You shall never wash my feet.’

Jesus answered him,

‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’

Simon Peter said to him,

‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’

Jesus said to him,

‘The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.'”

– John 13:3-10a

What are you not willing to do for others?

A while back, Melissa accidentally dropped a necklace down the drain in our bathroom sink. I knew that it was still retrievable thanks to the p trap in the pipes below the sink. I had a decision to make. Do I serve my wife and get the necklace or not? I knew it wouldn’t take much effort, but I also knew what I would have to dig through and the smell would be vile.

Not the Proper Order of Things
Jesus continued to serve and teach His disciples right up to His last day. The way He taught them on this final Thursday flipped everything on its head. A servant should have washed all of their feet. If there wasn’t a servant, then the least of the disciples should have done it.

There’s no indication there was a servant and it’s not until after Jesus starts washing feet that it even occurs to Peter that he should have washed Jesus’ feet and, even then, Peter doesn’t seem to offer to wash anyone else’s feet. Would he really offer to wash Andrew, his brother’s feet?

A New Way of Doing Things
Jesus wasn’t just being nice. He was also teaching. His message is pretty clear.

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.’” – John 13:12-17

What are you willing to do for others?

Lent is a season of sacrifice and service as we prepare for Good Friday and Easter and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice. He came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a sacrifice for many. Yet, it’s not just in Lent that we are to serve each other, to serve the least. May we serve and sacrifice for many, also.

Dear Jesus,

You deserve for us to serve You, yet You came and served us. Help us to love our neighbor with that same sacrificial love.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

The Higher You Go, the Lower You Should Be

Kurt Steinbrueck October 1, 2020

Blog humility, jesus, Leadership, Servant, Serving Others

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The Higher You Go, the Lower You Should Be

“Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!” – Isaiah 10:1-2

What do you think is the greatest thing about having power?

If you were king of the world, what would you like best?

Not having to cook?
Not having to do laundry?
Being able to tell people what to do?
Commanding armies?

These can sound pretty good. I know I wouldn’t mind never cleaning a toilet again, but what if I told you there was something better?

The Rich and Powerful Are Blessed, Right?
We tend to look up to those with wealth, fame, and power. We figure they are the ones who are blessed because they have what so many desire. The disciples seemed to think this way. After an encounter with a young rich man, Jesus told His disciples that it is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:17-31).

This threw the disciples for a loop.

“And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, ‘Then who can be saved?’” – Mark 10:26

It’s not that having money is evil, it’s just that we tend to put money above God. That young rich man wasn’t willing to give up his wealth for eternal life!

Similarly, when the disciples were arguing over who would be the greatest among themselves in the Kingdom of God, Jesus told them that if they want to be great, they must become the least (Matthew 20:20-28). Even Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, came to serve.

“even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

There’s nothing inherently wrong with fame, wealth, and power. It’s how we use it.

Do we put it above God or do we use it to serve God?
Do we use it to selfishly lord over people or do we use it to serve others, especially those who can’t return the favor?

You and I may never be a president or congressman, but we may be put in positions of authority, perhaps at work, perhaps as parents, perhaps as a coach, etc. Let’s use the authority to serve justly.

Thankfully, we have a God who is just, who cares for the poor and oppressed, and who died for us sinners.

Dear Jesus,

You are the King of kings and Lord of Lords. You are the almighty God. Your glory extends to the heavens. Who is man that you should be mindful of him? Yet, you are. You are holy and just, yet gracious and merciful. Thank you for caring for the least. Help me to also serve the least and seek justice for the oppressed.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck July 31, 2020

Blog Blessings, Service, Serving Others

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Blessing Bags

Are you having trouble making ends meet?

The impact of the coronavirus is more than just on our health. It has affected many people’s finances and livelihoods.

We would like to help.

This Sunday (Aug 2) at 12:30pm near the entrance to Foam Flower Blvd we will be giving out what we’re calling, “Blessing Bags.” These are bags filled with paper towels, groceries, and toilet paper.

The Blessing Bags are free and just our way helping out and letting you know someone cares.

You can simply show up on Sunday, but supplies are limited. To ensure you will receive a Blessing Bag, fill out the form below and request a Blessing Bag in advance.

Thank you and God bless!

PS – This form is just for the blessing bags. You will not be put on a mailing list.

Kurt Steinbrueck May 23, 2020

Blog love others, love your neighbor, Serving, Serving Others

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Doing It For Their Good

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” – Romans 15:2

Who can you show love to today?

Romans 15 encourages us to please our neighbor. In other words, we should be kind to them and love them.

Why?

We don’t do it for their praise or so they owe us one. We do it because it helps them and builds them up. We do it because God first loved us and so we can share God’s love with them. We do it because God loves them.

This is a pretty simple verse and I’d like to keep today’s devotional simple as well. God showed you love for your own good and He continues to build you up in Christ. This frees you to love others as Christ loved you.

Take a few minutes and think about who you can show love to today. Then do it. Write a note of encouragement. Help them out in some way. Whatever it is, do it just to show them love and encourage them.

Heavenly Father,

You have loved me more than I can even comprehend. Help me to love others.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck April 29, 2020

Blog humility, Putting Others First, Serving Others

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The Beauty of Putting Others First

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:5-8

Have you ever had someone set aside what they wanted so you could have what you wanted?

It feels nice, doesn’t it? We like what we like and we like to have what we like. Giving up what we like hurts in some ways. However, it can also feel good.

Philippians 2:5-8 tells of the wonderful selflessness of Jesus that led to our salvation. This passage always makes me feel small and petty. Here, we’re talking about Jesus, God, the one to whom all glory, honor, and praise belong. He humbled himself for us. Then, I think of all the times I, just a regular guy and sinner to boot, insisted on having my way rather than looking out for the needs of others.

God is asking us to do what He did in how we relate to others. That last part is important.

This Is About You and Others, Not You and God.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:“

When it comes to your relationship with God, it’s all about what Jesus did. This humility and caring are about how you relate to others. So, we don’t say, “I insisted on my way, maybe I’m not a Christian.” Rather, we say, “I am a Christian saved by grace, so I’m going to try to humble myself and care for others.”

Caring for others

God created us to live in relationship with other people. These relationships come in all shapes and sizes from marriage to casual acquaintances, but there are some similarities between them. We are to love others and that means looking out for the needs of others.

Sometimes that means giving up what we want for their sake. This doesn’t mean that we lose who we are, but rather we are attentive to the needs of others.

“Why does everything have to be ‘us’? Is there no ‘me’ left? Why can’t there be some things just for me? Is that so selfish?” – George Costanza (Seinfeld).

That’s a quote from the 90’s TV show, Seinfeld. The character, George, was struggling with what it would mean to be married. When I marry couples this is one of the messages I love to give, not the Seinfeld quote, but the concept of looking out for the needs of others.

I tell the husband, you love your wife and take care of her needs. Then I tell the wife, she should love her husband and take care of his needs. It’s a beautiful system when we do it right. When we look out only for our needs and wants, we may still get what we need, but that need is met through pride and selfishness. When husbands and wives look out for each other’s needs, they get what they need, but that need is met through humility and love.

This isn’t just the case for marriage, but for any relationship. The intimacy of the relationship changes as well as the boundaries and commitment, but we still love our neighbor.

How can you humble yourself and show love to a family member?
How can you humble yourself and show love to a neighbor?
How can you humble yourself and show love in the church?

Dear Jesus,

You humbled Yourself, though You are Lord of all. Help me to humble myself and love others.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck February 24, 2020

Blog Commandment, love, Loving God, Serving Others

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Do You Love God?

Do you love god?

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:37-39

How do you show your love for God?

We have a lot of ideas about how we show God love. We praise Him. We thank Him. We Pray. We read the Bible. We proclaim His good works. We often think we have to do something overtly God-oriented.

Did you know that one of the biggest ways we love God is by loving our neighbor?

That’s right, when we help our neighbor fix their car or give them a ride or bring them a meal, we are showing love for God as well as love for them. There’s a reason 7 of the 10 Commandments are related to how we treat others.

We are all God’s creation. When we care for others we are caring for God’s creation.
God loves your neighbor. When we love our neighbor we are showing them the love of God and loving like He loves.
God provides through nature and people. God provides, but He doesn’t typically do it supernaturally. He does it through nature, such as rain falling, crops growing, and, yes, people caring for other people. When we provide for the neighbor, we are working as God’s hands to provide for them.

So, love God…by loving your neighbor.

Heavenly Father,

You have loved me more than I can ever fully know or appreciate. I thank and praise you for Your love. Help me to love my neighbor as You love them.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Serving Others

Doing Church With A Heart To Serve

Doing Church With A Heart To Serve

The Greatest Servant

The Greatest Servant

The Higher You Go, the Lower You Should Be

The Higher You Go, the Lower You Should Be

Blessing Bags

We would like to help.

Doing It For Their Good

Doing It For Their Good

The Beauty of Putting Others First

The Beauty of Putting Others First

Do You Love God?

Do you love god?

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL