How Do I; Love and Serve Others

Well, welcome everybody, come on, welcome Bayside, bienvenidos a todos, welcome to everybody. Okay, so we are one church in many locations, so Palmetto, West Bradenton, Bayshore Gardens, Fruitvale, Bee Ridge, Hardy County, Lakewood Ranch, North River. As we join each other, let's just praise the Lord that we're connected. Come on, come on that church. We join you, they join us. What an honor to be here. My name is David and I get to be part of the team here at Bayside and I get to serve under the leadership of Pastor Randy and Amy and the team. And every so often I get to come and teach God's Word here on this platform. And what an honor it is to serve under a group of people who truly, truly, truly want to follow God as revealed in His Word, as He leads us by His Spirit. And to be a people who are just normal people. So if you're a guest, if you're watching and you're checking this place out, we're just normal people who want to follow what God says and put it into practice in our daily life. So let me pray as we open God's Word and we're so glad you're here today. Lord, thank You that even as we join together wherever we are, Lord, by the power and the unity of the Holy Spirit, we are one body. And Lord, I thank You that we have Your Word that has stood the test of time. Your Word has been revealed to be true. So Lord, I pray, Holy Spirit, would You use Your words to challenge, rebuke, correct, encourage. Lord, so we be the people that just don't only turn up and watch and see it as a weekend thing, but Lord, I pray that will transform our life. In Jesus' name, Amen. Every so often, I get the privilege, actually the honor, that our missions department asks me to go with a couple of their leaders, either Matt or EJ, to go and look at places that we may as a church partner and take short-term mission trips. It would be a place where maybe we go, we check it out, we pray, we see what's going on, and then we pray and we say, okay, Lord, this could be a place that we as Bayside could partner with them and see what God is doing. So this week, I had the privilege, it was on the books, to go to Aboka in the Bahamas. Now, I know what you're thinking. How many of you want to come with me? It's not where you go on your trips, okay? That's not where we went. We arrived on this island, the island of Aboka, Marsh Harbor, and in 2019, Hurricane Dorian hit. It was a high Category 5, over 200 mile an hour winds, that sat on the island for 48 hours. For those of us who live in Florida, and we know what it's like to have hurricanes. Now, I imagine half the island was obviously evacuated, but those who stayed, that's the people we were talking to. The trauma is still evident. The destruction is still there.

You know, the people we were chatting with, praying with, you know, they're going in, they're talking, they're building houses, they're helping the schools. One of their leaders is a guy called A.T. A.T. was with us as we were chatting to some of the, we were hearing some of the stories. A.T. is like a skinny white guy with dreads. Like the guy, you could see him interact and talk to people, and I'm like, there's something different about this guy. As we sat in the car, in the van, I asked him, I said, what's your story, A.T.? He said, I grew up in church. I heard about Jesus. I had my coffee. I went to the youth ministry. I knew of Jesus. Then I started to make decisions that are outside of what God would guide us to life, and I got to a point where I was on a bed of suicide. I had made plans to take my own life. Then I went to a small group, and David, for the first time in my life, I saw and I experienced the love of Christ. It so captivated my heart that I said, if Jesus did that, and if Jesus calls us to love, Jesus, I belong to you. He served in Cambodia, helping girls from the sex trade. He, him and his wife are now five children, are helping families that have gone through devastation. And I kept asking him, why? He says, because I belong to Jesus. Jesus told me to follow him, but he didn't tell me I had to fix someone's life. He just told me to follow him. And as I follow him, Jesus fixes people's lives. I just thought, what a heart. He said, it's because Jesus loved me. Jesus loved me. The Bible tells me, and therefore I'm just obeying. We are, actually there's tables all across our campuses with short-term missions, and I want you to stop by, pray, and see if the Lord will guide you to something like that. Today I'm going to tell you up front, it's a hard message. We're in a series, how do I? How do I? Last week, study the Word of God, and our pastor, Pastor Randy, he did so well, giving us tools so that

we can learn how to grow and feed and mature spiritually. So that we can go and study the passage, and wrestle with the passage, and learn how to be, feed for ourselves. So you're not just coming on a Sunday and hoping that this guy with an Irish accent teaches me something. Because if you just want the apple that I'm bringing you today, and you don't feed in the Word through the rest of the week, you're going to be very hungry. But if every day, a daily fearful walk with God, there's a, there's a growing up, there's a maturing that happens. And our pastor started that, how do I study the Word of God? And today I'm, there's a practical Christianity. It's how do we put this into practice? It's how do I love and serve others? To give you the context of the passage that we're going to read together, I want to take you to that passage in John 13. And the context is that the, the writer of this is an eyewitness to the events of Jesus. He is, he has been with Jesus. He has seen Jesus. He's, he's heard what he's done. He's writing things off. And actually the book of John, the Gospel of John, gives us the last half is only spending about 24 hours in the life of Jesus. But he spends about a third of the book there. Where we're going to read, it's just before. It's the night before Jesus institutes. It's actually the night of where Jesus institutes the communion, the breaking of bread. He's having Passover with his disciples. The Passover was the celebration of this, of the being freed from Egypt from generation to generation. They had celebrated this. Jesus is celebrating Passover with his disciples. That's the very night he institutes the, the breaking of bread communion. That's the very night that Judas gives him the kiss and betrays him. That's the very night where he stands a

mock trial. That's the very night that he is butchered and crucified by the Romans. That's the very night. The last time, pre-death, that he's with his disciples. So let's read and see what Jesus is talking about. And Jesus is teaching us. So John chapter 13, verse 1. Let's read it together. It says this, before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth and now he loved them to the very end. Notice, repetition of words, observing the passage. It was a time for supper and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with a towel he had around him. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, he's one of the disciples, Peter said to him, Lord are you going to wash my feet? And Jesus replied, you don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will. I love Peter. Peter's like, now! Like I wish the Bible would give us like, and he said this, you know. No! You will never, ever wash my feet. Jesus replied, unless I wash you, you don't belong to me. And this is Peter. Simon Peter exclaimed, then wash my hands, wash my head, wash my feet. I mean, he just went from one extreme to the other. I love this dude. Like, he's like, oh, what? Yeah, well, then do it all.

Do it all, Lord. Jesus replied, a person who has bathed all over does not need to wash except for his feet to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you. For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, not all of you are clean. After washing their feet, he put his robe again, sat down and asked, do you understand what I was doing? You call me teacher and Lord, and you're right because that's what I am. I want you to underline this, I want you to notice this. This is what Jesus, and since I, your teacher and your Lord, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to watch, wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Underline this, highlight this, do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master, nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. And now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. Let me make a few observations as we walk through this passage quickly. First of all, Jesus knew exactly his purpose and his mission. He knew why he was here. We see that his motivation was love, and he was going to love right to the very end. And that meant through the cross. Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him, yet he still washed his feet, even his betrayer. We notice that he was coming with the authority of God. Why? Because he is God. The writers tell us, the eyewitnesses tell us who he was. Jesus removes his outer garments, he picks up, and he starts to wash the feet of the disciples.

Obviously, we read that Peter protests, but realizes that Jesus is teaching them a lesson. A very, very valuable lesson. Later on in that passage, in chapter 13, we read in verses 34 and 35, this is what it says. So now I am giving you a new commandment. This is Jesus speaking at that time. Love each other, just as I have loved you. You should love each other. Your love for each other will prove to the world that you're my disciples. How you guys get along with each other will be a billboard to the world that you belong to me. Jesus models, Jesus commands, Jesus blesses serving and loving one another. It's clear in the passage. And the thing is that he connects the blessing to the way we serve and love one another. If you do this, you will be blessed. So let's look at how Jesus did it. Because for that, I need to take you into a setting and you're like, what's this about washing feet and all this stuff? Well, in those days in Israel, it was a dusty road, muddy road maybe, and they wore the latest sandals. Whatever sandals they made back then. So at the homes, at the homes, there was always either a bucket at the entrance so people could wash their feet on the way in, or if you were a guest, you would come in, recline, and a servant or the lowliest person would wash the feet of everybody else. It was a task that someone did. It was a task that was not very enjoyable. As the young people say, those dogs are nasty. They were having supper, we're told, and they're reclining. And actually what we're told in the book of Luke of what's happening at this time.

So Luke gives us a bit more information and he's investigating. As he's asked the disciples, they confess that at that same time, Luke chapter 22, 24 says this, they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. During that Passover meal, as they're all reclining, they're talking about who is the greatest among them. Their disciples are arguing about their role. their dignity, their elevation, their rights, their cup of coffee, their parking lot, their place. They have seen Jesus for three years. They have heard Jesus for three years. Declared that He is indeed Messiah, the Promised One. He is fulfilling all these prophecies. He is doing incredible miracles. He is teaching them. He is God. God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, try you in God. One God in three persons. One in essence, three in persons. One God in three persons. This is the God who spoke a creation into existence. This is the God who walked on water. This is the God who is God. And yet nobody moved to wash His feet. The disciples revealed a selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed, self-promoting, ambitious heart. And Jesus knew that He could never build His church on that attitude. He could never build His church on that heart. So Jesus does something that is so radical, it's so shocking, that it will make you and I uncomfortable of what Jesus is calling us to do. Because this Jesus, knowing that His motivation is love, starts to show what biblical love looks like. Because He gets up and He does the most mundane job. The lowliest of jobs. Because in the kingdom of God, it's not about who's the greatest, and who has the better job, and who has the more education, and who has the most money, or who has the best experience, or who has the biggest church, or who has the biggest, no, no, no. In the kingdom of God, it's someone who serves and loves.

In the kingdom of God, it's the people that literally, the person that gets on their knees, and does whatever it takes to reach other people. I don't know about you, that's uncomfortable. Especially in our western mentality, where it's all about climbing a ladder. Jesus goes down the ladder. And then here comes the challenge. Here comes the problem. Here comes the test. You say you're a Christian? You say you're a follower of Jesus Christ? Okay. This is Jesus speaking. Remember, this is not David speaking. This is Jesus speaking. Verse 14 and 15. And since I, your Lord and your teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. See that word ought? I actually took the tools that Pastor Randy was teaching us last week, and I did a word study, and that word ought, you ought. Some of you in your translations, you should. That word is actually indebted. I am, I owe love to the people around me. Because of what Christ has done for me. Because if my heart has been captured, and I realize what Christ has done for me, I am not a debtor to God. I'm not one that I walk around and, oh, no. It's indebted to show his love to the world.

And he begins with one another. Love does in spite of. Judas was there. He could have said, I'm going to wash the disciples' feet. He washed the disciples of Judas. He washed the feet of the dogs of whatever. You know what I mean. Judas. Love does in spite of. That's practical Christianity. That's adult Christianity. That's big boy, big girl Christianity. That's mature Christianity. Why? Because in adulthood, you take responsibility and initiative. Jesus' motivation is love. We notice his love can be rejected, and I hope you don't ever reject the love of God. But then Jesus goes along and shows us, by doing whatever it takes, when everybody else didn't want to do it, God did. And then he commands us. He says, do likewise. And in that do likewise, I will bless it. So do you want God's blessing in your life? Do you want God to know to open up the heavens and bless in whatever way he wants? Then we are to love sacrificially, selflessly, humbly, without the thought for personal, gain, personal fulfillment, personal satisfaction, just for the sheer joy of blessing somebody else. That is not what I was told in college. That's not what I see in my life, in my life. In a world of promotion, in a world of more, there's nothing wrong with having business, and there's nothing wrong with doing your best. But the heart is, no, no, no, God, I need to love and serve others. So helping your neighbor cut the grass, taking the trash out, whatever, going to visit someone, all is great. I just want to home in, home in, and get practical

to us, to Bayside. How does that look like to us in Bayside? And to do so, I want to illustrate, I want to use an illustration. And to do an illustration, I want to ask if you can bring the box art, and then I just need a few volunteers, like you guys, front row, come on, come on, front row, come on here. Yes, you two, my sister, yes, you're, no, no, no, you two, yes, you're pointing, yes, yes, come on. Come on, I need a few more, yes. I mean, you guys in the balcony, sit back, relax, enjoy your cup of coffee, okay? Just because I need, okay, there's a, Bernard, grab a few more up there. Devin, come here, come here, okay. All right, good, come on, come on, come on, yes. Some of you are like, oh, don't worry, and like, don't do something that is going to embarrass me, okay? Just stand there and do it, okay. Chandler, jump up there, okay. And you jump up there, too. And then the two of you try to lift the box. Do your best, sister. There's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's things there. Go for it, do your best, okay. Oh, okay. All right, is that hard? That's really hard. Okay, tell you what, come on, more helpers, you two, get off. No, you get up there. You jump up, you jump up, you've got a skirt on, so go on this side. Okay, she's got a dress on, we'll put it on the backside, okay? Okay, all of you, you three at the back, just stay there, don't do it, we're just, okay, come around here, pick it up, okay. One, two, three, up you get together as a team. All right, oh, okay, was that easier? What was easier, was that easier for you? Oh, that's great, because carrying people, making coffee before the sun rises, so we all have coffee for free in our campuses, it's love, love does, in spite of, you know, in spite of what I feel. Okay, now, you've already been doing that, you get off now, let's, you go on there, and the rest of you, all of you, help, all of you, help. You're going to lift, you're going to lift, all of you, all of you. Now, you're with your husband, that's right, you can put it here, okay? Everybody together, one, two, three, up you get. Oh, it's a lot easier when there's more people doing their thing, but you know what? It's quite tiring to do this all the time, so you put it down. Another five people, come up here, just, just another five people come up here. You're all like, no, one, two, three, four, five, come on. Dev, come on, Dev, come, I actually can see you, I'm calling you out. Okay, let's do this, you get up here, what, what, what do you do for a living? Sales. You do sales, what do you do for a living? You're a mom, oh, okay, what do you do for a living? You what? Rent jet skis, great, what do you, uh, you know, you don't want to tell me what you're doing, that's okay.

Pools. Pools, okay, all right, all of you jump in, jump in, the people who already did it, just give yourself a break, and all the new people, come on, grab the other side, okay? So, hey, we need you there, okay, good, imagine, team one, okay, team A, one, two, three, work together, one, two, three, okay, see how you need, oh, put it down, I'll tell you what, you jump on again, you jump on again, I'll tell you what, you jump on again, you jump on, you jump on here, yes, you, you jump on there, yes, you, you jump on there, you see, the more people there is, the more people we can carry, are you with me? And you see, we've got sales, we've got, we've got moms, we've got people, we've got pastors, we've got everybody doing their job, I, actually, you need someone, go lift them, oh, look at that, easy, or what, is that easy? Is that easy? Why? We can carry more people when more people are involved, and, and, and guess what? Because there was more people, some people could participate, and some people could rest, and some people could participate, and some people could rest, you know what happens to the body of Christ when we actually live this way? Guys, you can all sit down, and thank you for all smiling, being nice to each other, well done, you see, love does, in spite of, you know what? Love prepares classes for children, so that your brats, I mean children, can hear about Jesus. Love, love takes a couple that's going through a marriage heartbreak, and they sit with them, and pray with them, because love does, in spite of what I want to at that time. And love does, because in a parking at our campus, these guys, before the sun sets up, before the sun comes up, these men and women are out there making sure that you and I don't kill each other, in spite of some of us don't listen to them. Love does, in a church like ours, where I may sacrifice what I want a little bit to put money aside, so maybe I go on a short-term mission to help people like A.T. And maybe love does by being part of a prayer team that I don't know why the Lord wakes you up

at three o'clock in the morning to pray for the needs of other people, in spite of my lack, desire for sleep, I turn up. You see, because love does. Why? Because Jesus did. Business guys, moms at home, it doesn't matter. Opening a door, ushering people into their seats, preparing, practicing songs, getting make sure the AC's on, in a body like ours, I mean, just talk to us, this is just Bayside. Love does. Love does means I'm a participant, I'm not just a consumer, because Jesus showed me. Love does. When the campus at the North River four years ago opened up, after being in COVID and we built the building, I said, Lord, how are we gonna reach people? And I was in the book of Ezra, which is in the Old Testament. And in the book of Ezra in the Old Testament, in verse five, there was a passage of scripture there that just captured my heart. The people of Israel were in exile, the temple was in ruins, and a pagan king said to God's people, go back and build the temple to the root, to the true and living God. Imagine a pagan king funding God's temple. And in verse five, it says this, then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin

and the priests and Levites, I want you to notice, underline this, everyone whose heart God had moved, prepared to go up to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. I said, Lord, if you did that in the book of Ezra, would you do it again? But do it now in Bayside. Put it into the heart of the people to build the temple to the Lord. Put it into the heart of the people to be doing their part. Put it into the heart of the people. Notice that the passage doesn't say, everyone whose heart David told, Randy told, your campus pastor told. No, everyone whose heart God had moved. Our prayer today is that, as you see from Scripture, to help us grow up spiritually. Loving and serving one another is a non-negotiable. I adjust my life to God, not Adam to my sport routine, work routine, whatever routine. I told you it was gonna be hard. So my prayer right now is, Lord, Holy Spirit, would you move in the heart of people as you did in the days of Ezra? People who would be prepared to go and build the house of the Lord here. Would you motivate?

Not because of a guilt trip, not because someone said, because I see it in the Word. Motivate it because of the love of God. I know what you're like because I'm like you. In a challenge like this, I feel it. I know the Holy Spirit speaks, and then I walk out of the place, and I go for lunch, and I get distracted. So I wanna get very practical with you. In the sticker that's in front of your seats, that if you're in the front row, you're gonna have to go behind. If you put your phone towards that sticker, there's a very, very simple 30-second message. Hey, I want to know more. I can do something. I want to be part of something that God is doing in this house. So I want you to take out your phone. When I prayed, if the Holy Spirit was ministering to your heart, I don't know where you are. You may be online. Ask the guys online how to get it connected. Because right now, take out your phones and start to fill it. It's just a one. Now listen guys, listen. It's, my heart all this week has been, Lord, I pray it doesn't come across salesy. My job is not dependent on it, okay? But there is a burden within me. Take out your phones and do it. Why? Because you know what? The statistics tell us that 80% of the work in a church is done by 20% of the people. Not a bit of wonder we're exhausted. But I would love when the studies happen about Bayside, when someone decides to reach research Bayside someday, that there will be a little asterisk. There will be a little footnote. Because what happened in Bayside, that is not the same. In Bayside, it was very different. Why? Because most of the people did something. Why? Because they realized that God loves them and they're indebted. So what? I'm a business owner. So we can hold the door. I'm a mom. That's okay. I can do whatever it is. So in that little

sticker, use your phones to just, it takes you 30 seconds and somebody in the team will get to you soon. Why do I say that? Because I remember challenging our campus a few months ago in North River. After the summer, we see this explosion of young people. There were hundreds of young people coming on a Wednesday night. High schoolers. I'm like, oh, this is, this is getting crazy. You know, high schoolers with cars, hormones together. You with me? And I just stood up and I said, hey, if God puts it in your heart, come on, sign up. A few weeks later, I went back on a Wednesday night and all that. And then I see all these adults walking around. They're just the presence of parents in the place. And I talked to one of the guys and he said to me, Dave, it's the best thing I've done. I could be, this, this beats Netflix any day. I'm here watching these young people. My press, I don't do very much, but walk around and over the weeks I've said hi and befriended them and they go through the process and I'm thinking, you know what he said? He said, thank you for letting me see and be part of what God is doing. I was like, what? You are the body of Christ. We are the body of Christ. We are doing just what John 13 said. Jesus said go and do likewise because he loves. I use this illustration and I hope you get it. But if you were coming to my house and you were my guest, I would make your food. No, I lie. My wife would make your food. But I would do the dishes. And if you were a guest in my house, I'd gladly do the dishes.

But if you came to my house and you were part of my family, you're doing the dishes with me. Jesus rolled up his sleeves and washed feet. And the challenge today is how do I, how do I love and serve others? Get involved church. You've been coming around. Actually, I was talking to some snowbirds. They're here for a month, two months, three months. I was talking to a couple. They went through the growth track. They went through our freedom and they said they're part of the, I think it's the safety team up at the campus. And they were saying to me, the time we're here Dave, this is our church. This is our family and we need to get involved. These people are brilliant minds. They have an incredible ministry but they serve. If the God who created the universe could wash dirty feet. What's my excuse? I told you it was going to be challenging. But in the challenge there comes a life. Because as the, as the word that our pastor gave us for this year, come and abide as we abide in his word and we abide by the spirit. Then do not walk away. Be part of what God is doing. Humility serves. And the way Jesus connects us is, the world will know that you're my disciples. The world out there will know how you're my disciples, the way you love one another. So bow your heads and close your eyes for a second of quiet reflection, please. Lord, Lord, forgive me even in the wrestle. Lord, I want to be faithful to your Word and the challenge. But Lord, if you don't put it into the heart of the people, so Lord, we submit to you today. Thank you for you modeling for us what it

looks like to show love. Thank you for modeling for us what it looks like to serve. Thank you for reminding us that as we do this, first of all, you said you were going to bless it. Something happens when we stop thinking about me and start thinking about others. Lord, something happens that you have challenged us. And Lord, those 11 disciples, scared after your death, took your Word and put it into practice. And we stand here today, Lord, thousands of years later, because people loved and served one another through generation after generation, in languages, in tongues. Lord, thank you. So Lord, Lord, I pray that as you've prompted my brothers and sisters, I pray that they will, we'll try to do it as easy as we can. Just a silly sticker on a seat. Going to the Gannett Center. Whatever way it is, Lord. But you may be hearing my voice, and I don't know where you are. You may be sitting in a jail or a prison. You may be sitting in a home, watching it in the comfort of your home. Or you're sitting in a campus setting, or even watching on demand, but you've never given your life to Jesus yourself. You're doing the religious thing. You're hoping that you're ticking a box to make God happy. That's not the God of the Bible. The Bible tells us that, for God so loved the world that he gave his Son. For whoever believes in Jesus the Son will not perish, but have everlasting life. The Bible tells us that the cancer of sin that separates me from God, that no amount of good works, no amount of acting, no amount of giving, no amount of performance will ever, ever satisfy. It's only because of Jesus. So you know how to get right with God. This is the way you get right with God. You believe what he did. You believe what he said. You ask him to forgive you. So no matter where you are, in this moment, I pray this is the most precious moment. That your eternity could be changed. Just talk to God. Tell him. Tell him that you believe who he is. Say, I believe Eeyore. I believe what you did. I may not understand it all, but I start there. Ask him to forgive you. Be the Lord of your life. Let him transform you from the inside out. Talk to him. Ask him to be the Lord of your life. If that is you, wherever you are, if this is the first day, the first time you're

giving your life to Christ, or actually you're coming back to Christ because you've done your own thing for so long, but you know you need to do it God's way, I'm gonna ask you to do something. Would you just raise your hand, wherever you are at the campus, wherever you are in person, just raise your hand right up. Just say, Dave, that's me today. My eternity is changing. I'll give my life to Christ today. Lord, as Ephesians chapter 1 says, seal them with your Holy Spirit. Lord, I pray that they will walk with you. Help us, Lord, and I help them grow in the things of God. Lord, I pray that they will connect, whether it be a prayer team, or the connect table, or the sticker, whatever, whatever way, Lord, that we can connect, so we can let them grow. Help them grow. See them grow. Help them blossom. Awesome. And Lord, for those of us who have been walking with you for a long time, Lord, I pray your hand upon us. Lord, I pray, Lord, that the challenge of your God's work today, may we not walk out of these places indifferent. But Lord, I pray that we will love God and love others in how we serve and love one another. Give us an opportunity this week to show the love of Christ. Give us an opportunity this week to show it and say it to someone. And I pray you will bless us to be a blessing. In Jesus' name, amen.