What does it look like to serve? Red Letter Challenge - Week 4
- Aug 4, 2025
- 5 min read
INTRODUCTION:
If you’ve been tracking with us over these last few weeks, you know we have been in a 40 Day Red Letter Challenge. We’ve been challenged to focus on BEING with God before doing for God and what it means to just enjoy our relationship with the Creator. We also just completed a week on FORGIVENESS. So many takeaways like stop throwing rocks and remove our planks from our eyes and Forgiven people, Forgive people!
So, what’s coming this week?
Let me ask you a question: What’s your definition of success? What comes to mind?
We’re trained from a young age to climb ladders and chase recognition.
We are taught to take care of ourselves and look out for “Number One”.
But deep down, many of us feel the tension: We're chasing a version of greatness that leaves us empty—because it was never God's version of greatness to begin with.
Maybe we’ve been aiming at the wrong target.
Let’s look at Jesus. He came
Not as a celebrity… not as a pro athlete… not as a CEO … but as a servant.
Yes. A servant. Today we will look at the heart of a servant.
This leads into Point 1…
POINT 1: Jesus Redefined Greatness
Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
This verse isn’t just a mission statement from Jesus—it’s a direct confrontation of everything the world tells us about power, greatness, and leadership.
1. Jesus Flipped the Script on Status
In Jesus’ day, just like ours, greatness was measured by position, prestige, and power. Kings had servants. Religious leaders had followers. The powerful demanded to be served. But then comes Jesus—God in flesh—and says:
“I didn’t come to be served, but to serve.”
That one sentence would’ve stunned His disciples. And honestly, it should still stun us today.
Jesus redefines greatness by lowering Himself.
The One who spoke the universe into existence wrapped a towel around His waist, touched the unclean, welcomed children, and washed feet. He didn’t claim privilege—He gave it up.
2. He Didn’t Just Preach Service—He Lived It
Jesus wasn’t giving a TED Talk on humility—He embodied it daily.
When the disciples argued over who was the greatest, He didn’t just correct them—He reoriented their entire worldview:
“The greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).
He didn’t tell them to serve so they’d become better leaders. He told them to serve because that is leadership in the Kingdom.
And He didn’t serve to be admired—He served to rescue. That’s why He says He came to give His life “as a ransom for many.” His service wasn’t symbolic—it was sacrificial.
POINT 2: Jesus Served with Humility
John 13:3-9 – Washing Feet
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.
1. Jesus Knew Exactly Who He Was
“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...” (v. 3)
And knowing all of that—what does He do?
He gets up… removes His outer garment… grabs a towel… and stoops to the floor.
The One who deserved to be served became a servant.
2. The King Grabs a Towel, Not a Throne
“He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet…” (v. 5)
Let’s not sanitize this.
This was a disgusting, demeaning task—reserved for the lowest servant in the house. Feet were caked with dust, mud, and animal waste. This wasn’t ceremonial—it was practical and gross.
Yet the King of the universe got on His knees and touched what others avoided.
He didn’t say, “Let me teach you about humility. "He showed them. And in doing so, He redefined leadership and love.
“No position was too low for Him. No task beneath His calling.”
3. Serving Isn’t Glamorous
There’s nothing flashy about foot-washing.
There’s no stage. No applause. No platform. Just a towel… a basin… and the humility to kneel.
Serving like Jesus means embracing the unglamorous. It means loving people in messy places. It means doing what no one notices—and not needing credit for it.
POINT 3: Serving Starts Where You Are
You don’t need a title. You don’t need a stage. You don’t need to have it all together. You just need a willing heart.
One of the biggest lies that keeps people from stepping into a life of service is this: “I’m not ready. We think we need more experience, more knowledge, more time, more training. But that’s not what God is looking for.
1. God Isn’t Asking for Ability—He’s Asking for Availability
All throughout Scripture, God uses ordinary people with open hearts.
You don’t need to be the best—you just need to say yes.
2. The Early Church Was Built on Willing Servants, Not Perfect Systems
In Acts, the early church had no buildings, no budgets, and no strategic planning centers. What they did have was:
Open homes
Open hands
Open hearts
They cared for widows and orphans. They sold what they had to meet needs. They shared meals, shared space, and shared the gospel.
And the church exploded—not because of slick programming, but because of sacrificial people.
As we wrap up, listen to a few more scriptures on serving.
Heb 6:10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
When we serve His people, we are showing our love to God Himself.
1 Pet 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
We are faithful stewards of His grace, when we use the gifts He gives us to serve others.
Heb 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
God is pleased when we make sacrifices for others.
APPLICATION:
Serving doesn’t always look like leading a ministry or going on a mission trip. Often, it looks like:
Praying behind the scenes
Taking a meal to someone who’s had a hard day
Sending a note of encouragement just because
Taking an errand off someone’s plate who is overwhelmed
Taking time for that phone call or that lunch with someone
Meeting that new person or engaging the quiet person
Personal Challenge:
Keep doing your daily reading and challenges! This week we focus on serving! Reply to our 7CC Text feed or Facebook posts anything praiseworthy or prayer needed. Let us know how it’s going! Tell us your stories!