The Joy In A Life Of Sacrificial Serving
Joy Comes From Living A Life Of Sacrificial Service
Jordan Hill
May 23, 2021 48m
Are you actively serving in your church? This inspiring message reminds us that true joy is only found in Jesus, and when we truly give our lives to sacrificial service we can then experience that kind of joy. Video recorded at Grapevine, Texas.
TranscriptionmessageRegarding Grammar:
This is a transcription of the sermon. People speak differently than they write, and there are common colloquialisms in this transcript that sound good when spoken, and look like bad grammar when written.
This is a transcription of the sermon. People speak differently than they write, and there are common colloquialisms in this transcript that sound good when spoken, and look like bad grammar when written.
Jordan Hill: [00:00:12] It's great to be here today to preach God's word. And I just want to say this too, I am so excited that we're just able to worship God together. It is just such a gift and I pray I will never forget it, that we get to gather together and worship God. Like I love the fact that I get to see so many faces that I haven't seen in quite a while. I mean, that's just a gift from the Lord. Can we not just, like, praise God for that? I get it, this is a huge gift.
Jordan Hill: [00:00:44] So I've got the privilege and honor to kind of close our quick portion of we're talking about this idea that there's actually joy in serving. Arnaldo lead us last week, he did such a great job of just taking us through this idea about there's joy in service over self. And when I have the privilege to do today, is to just call us to get our eyes on this idea that there's actually joy in a life of sacrificial serving. Now, you might hear that and go, that sounds backwards, the idea of actually sacrificing is me giving something up. So there's no way that there is actual joy in living a life of sacrificial serving.
Jordan Hill: [00:01:28] Well, what I'm going to [inaudible] to you is just, there is with three things. This is my whole sermon today, so spoiler alert. Right. And I want you to write these down, I want you write these down. There's joy in that because I belong, there's joy in living a life of sacrificial serving because I'm needed, and there's joy and sacrificial serving because it's my turn. That's it, that's the three points. Now there's a lot more to it, so don't go leaving just yet, right? But there's joy in living a life of sacrificial serving.
Jordan Hill: [00:02:07] See, that is what God has called us to, to not just simply serve and check off a box, but that our entire lives...Here at 121, we're about leading people to live for Jesus Christ, that's not just on a Sunday, that's not just on a Tuesday morning life group, it's every day 24/7, 365, and that's essentially what he called us to do, right? Yeah. There's joy in serving, and I want you to serve on Sundays. But there's real joy in life, and what God has called us to is this idea that our entire lives should look like laying down our life, giving up of our entire life, saying it's all yours, God, I'm going to serve no matter where you call me, no matter what you've called me to do, I'm going to lay it all down. So that's what I'm just positing to you today.
Jordan Hill: [00:02:58] So we're going to be in Romans 12, if you have your Bibles, it'll be in there. If not, we're going to have some verses on the screen. We're at this place in Romans 12 where Paul has been writing this letter to all believers that are in Rome, Jews, Gentiles. He's writing to these believers; he's trying to pull them all together to get them all on the same page. And where we're at, we're at this place in Romans 12 where he's just come off of...You can almost break up Romans into almost basically like two sections, basically 1 through 12, and then 12 and beyond.
Jordan Hill: [00:03:30] That's kind of what he's saying, so he goes, I'm laying out all that Christ has done. And so we're at this spot now, Paul has basically just said this. He said, the unrighteous have no excuse, he said when you judge someone, you condemn yourself, that no one is righteous before the law because all have sinned. Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness; therefore, we rejoice and hope for while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and grace far more abounds. We were baptized into Christ's death, and we were raised to life with him, so now nothing can separate us from the love of God. For we're co-heirs with Christ, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Oh, the depths, and the riches, and the wisdom, that is God. To him, be all glory and honor, and through him, and by him, and to him, are all things forever and ever. Amen. OK, so that's Romans 1, basically, through 11:36.
Jordan Hill: [00:04:32] And so now we're at this place here and Romans 12 where he said, so based off of all of that, "Therefore, I appeal to you brothers, by the mercies of God” All of those mercies that I just said, "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." See, we're calling people today, and this time God is calling us, he's had us kind of put a pause for what we had planned, because what God is saying is, church present your whole bodies to me as a living sacrifice, that is your spiritual worship. Yes, we worship God with lifted hands and singing beautiful songs, but we also worship him by getting our hands in the mud and serving each other. That's what God has called us to.
Jordan Hill: [00:05:33] So there's joy in serving because there's joy in actually giving up our entire lives. Why? Because God has given us his son. You see, you will never understand that there is actually joy in life, in living a life of sacrificial service, until you understand what Jesus Christ has done on the cross to save sinners. So now that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, that he has taken all of your sins and all of my sins, and he's paid for them all on the cross. So now, you and I, for those who put their faith and trust in that, are folded in and how he's given us new clothes, and a new righteousness, that only can be found in him. You will never fully understand that God has called me to a life of sacrificial service until you understand what he has given you.
Jordan Hill: [00:06:27] So if that's you today, if you are not there, if you have not accepted the gospel and to believe as true that God gave up his son for you, I would implore you now, today, believe, believe, be baptized, and let's get serving together. It doesn't matter, we've got our really beautiful baptism is broken because the pipes, it doesn’t matter, we can still dunk you, you saw the trough out there. So let's go, if that's you, let's go, I would implore you to believe.
Jordan Hill: [00:07:04] So now what Paul is saying here is, if you're in Christ, live a life of sacrificial service remembering what he's done for you on the cross. Don't just serve to get pats on the back from Ross, or me, or anybody else on staff, who cares what I think? And that's not going to be what really motivates you, live your life in such a way that you remember what Jesus has done on the cross, and there you'll find true joy.
Jordan Hill: [00:07:36] See, you'll find real joy in the fact that we are one, we actually all belong together in the body of Christ. Go with me to the text, 12:3, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function." So, as in one body, see, Jesus Christ makes us members of each other together. This isn't a rogue warrior situation when you're in the body of Christ, if you're in Christ, you're a part of a greater body. And so there's real joy in actually serving each other because we're in it together, we are interconnected. And hear me, we are interdependent upon each other, that is who we are in Christ.
Jordan Hill: [00:08:33] The Bible, over and over and over again, uses the example of believers being a body, being a body. We see this in scripture in First Corinthians 12:12-31, Romans 12:4-5, Ephesians 4:15-16, Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:20-23, Ephesians 3:6, Colossians 2:18-19. Ephesians 5: 23 and 30, First Corinthians 1:10, First Corinthians 6:16-17, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 4:4-7, First Corinthians 12:26. Do you get the picture? I'm speaking really fast because there's a lot there. Over and over and over again, what Paul is saying, what God is saying, is you're a part of something, you're a part of something, you're a part of something, you're a part of something, you and I belong together. It doesn't matter that you don't know her, and she doesn't know you, we're all interconnected and that's an amazing thing. And it's God's good, right design that when the body acts as the body, it screams to the world that there's something greater out there.
Jordan Hill: [00:09:39] I mean, what a low bar it is now that just in society we stand out and we're actually nice to each other, that's bananas. That just simply being nice is like, wow, what's different about you? I'm not talking like good old Southern hospitality, nice. But like the stuff when snow or ice-pocalypse, whatever you want to call it, happens. That was one of the most proud moments of my life serving and being a part of this body when it was just like needs were just getting met like that. I didn't have time to try to, like, connect some people because you've already been connected in. That's the body being the body. I love the fact at that time, my son Knox was like three or four months old, and like, we praise God had power, but if we didn't, we would have been in trouble. We've got a little three-month-old, we would have been in some serious trouble.
Jordan Hill: [00:10:37] So I texted like four people, and they're like, yeah, come on, we got you. It was amazing that like seven other people texted, and like a handful of others called me and were just like, hey, just checking on you guys, we know you've got Knox. Are you OK? Yeah, hey, we're kind of tight here, but listen, if it goes out, we got you, come on. And that wasn't just for me, that was for everybody, that's the body being the body, taking care of each other, laying our lives down for each other. Do you know that there are 50 plus one another commands in the Scripture, not suggestions, where it says to love one another, pray for one another, encourage one another, have all things in common with one another, greet one another? You see, while we have a very private faith, a personal faith with God, that personal faith always plays itself outward when we serve each other. That's what Paul is saying right there, your spiritual worship is you belonging. And what's better than actually being a part and belonging to a group of people? That is like the number one need of almost everyone, whether you're a little kid to an adult, just belonging.
Jordan Hill: [00:11:50] See, when you're in Christ, you're not alone. And my goodness, I mean, if 2020 taught us nothing, it's the fact that life is pretty awful when you're by yourself. But see, you're not in Christ, we're made one, one body. OK, so why doesn't the body look like that? And why doesn't the church at large, my goodness, and I love this place, but why sometimes don't we, why sometimes don't we, at 121, look like that? One word, pride. Pride.
Jordan Hill: [00:12:32] See, let's go back here to the text, that is what Paul sitting right here, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." See, Paul is saying here, now, hey, go inward, check yourself, find the pride and make sure that it's not keeping you on an island by yourself because pride isolates you. If our pride could talk, it would say something like this, I don't need you, I'm good, I don't need anybody. Man, think about culture today, do you want to get ahead, you better figure out how to step over people. Pride isolates us. See, we know Paul is talking about pride when it comes to keeping us from being the body that God has called us to be. Because they're in verse 4, the next word after verse 3, is the word, for. So in other words, he's saying it like this, he's saying for, don't be prideful and self-centered, for, you're not alone, for, you're not your own, and for, you and I are in this together, so check yourself.
Jordan Hill: [00:13:58] See, pride isolates us, but pride also does a funny thing where it elevates us. Pride says I'm the center of the universe, everything works around me, all lights will turn green because I'm driving, everyone will merge when I'm getting on the interstate. We don't say that. but we live our life in such a way. How many times have you been in like a parking lot, like a Kroger, or a Target, and you're trying to find a parking spot and you keep passing spots because you're trying to get closer, even though your wife is telling you just park right there, just park? And I'm like, no, no, I can get us closer. Has that ever happened to you? It's happened to me obviously. And then it's like you see a spot and that's it, there's my spot, I'm about to be right. I knew I could get closer. And you go to turn in, and there's a shopping cart, and then you just want to punch your steering wheel. What is that, if not pride? I don't care that I'm supposed to take my cart back, I don't care that there's probably this high school kid that's making like eight bucks an hour who's got to run out in the rain to get all the rest of the carts and jam them in together, I'm at my spot and I leave the cart. That's pride.
Jordan Hill: [00:15:32] And my goodness, pride seeps its way into the church. How many times do we come in here like, oh, the coffee is just a little bland? Oh, the lights are a little too bright. Oh, the lights aren't bright enough. Oh, we need more smoke, ew, we need less smoke, that church over there has more smoke. This church is real...As if you're the one we're supposed to worship. Wait a second, you're asking me to serve in babies. Listen, I've done the baby stage, they're out the door, I'm not wiping, I'm not changing diapers. Forget that, I've already paid my dues, you're telling me you want me to serve in students. Do you know how moody they are? You are, too. See, pride constantly elevates us, and what Paul was saying, by the grace given each and every one of you, look to the cross because at the cross, whether you're a king or you're a peasant, we're all equal. It doesn't matter who you are, we're all on the same level. So that's why he's saying so, therefore, link-up, because Christ has made us one. See, there's real joy and life in serving alongside brothers and sisters because Christ paid for that. So check yourself, because we're all one.
Jordan Hill: [00:17:10] See, and then there's real life and joy in living a life of sacrificial service, hear me, because you're needed. You are gifted, you were given the Holy Spirit, the same dynamite power, the rose Christ Jesus from the dead is now at work in you, and here me, you are needed. Let's go back to the text, verse 4, "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function." Did you catch that? The members do not all have the same function. What he's saying right there is, when you show up, you actually have something to offer. When you come in here to serve, you have something to give, God has given you something.
Jordan Hill: [00:18:03] And we can see when you go on and look at First Corinthians, even more on the body analogy in First Corinthians, Paul is talking about this idea of can the hand say to the foot, I don't need you. And what he's saying there is simply this when he calls you to a body, he calls you there because that body is lacking something, and he's given it to you. So for our context, think about 121, you're here right now because God wants to see us flourish and be the church that he has called her to be. And it won't happen unless you get off the sidelines because you have something that we need. What's better than that? We get to live our lives in a sacrificial way because we're gifted, and we're needed. What's better than that?
Jordan Hill: [00:19:00] I used to hate all the time, I used to coach college baseball and I'd be recruiting kids and they would go, and they would commit to a school that had like for example, they had like there's a shortstop and they've got like eight shortstops. And you're like, dude, three of those guys are draft picks, and you ain't one. I mean, you will one day, but you're not yet, you're not playing. No, I've got to coach, I'm going to be the guy, and then in like a year and a half, they would transfer out. Do you know why? Because they just sat. And yeah, they got some cool gear, but they got bored.
Jordan Hill: [00:19:33] So if you're new here at 121, I'm so glad you're here. And you probably got a mug, it's a great mug. A lot of former members are like, I never got a mug. And I'm like, yo, verse 3, check your pride. It's a great mug, it is. But how many mugs do you have? Do you know what's better than a coffee mug? Being needed, having an impact, leading people to live for Jesus Christ, that is better than a coffee mug.
Jordan Hill: [00:20:19] And so I'm so thankful that God has now said, hey, pause a second, the minor prophets are awesome and it's been an awesome series, but we got to be reminded of what the church is. And hear me, if you're here, you're needed. I love how God wires the body of Christ, he wires it in such a way, did you catch that, they don't all have the same function. We operate differently because whenever I need something, he primarily gives it to you to give to me. So if I'm in danger of falling into sin, he encourages you to exhort me back into where I should be. When I am trying to see what does God have for my life, what direction should I go? He gives you the capacity through prayer, to then give me great guidance that would have me go to where God would entertain me to go. I love that.
Jordan Hill: [00:21:26] See, we get to, as a body, supernaturally meat needs. So when you're serving, you're not just like, oh, being a really good person, or you're just like really being funny, or if you're opening up God's word, it's not just because, oh, you're so brilliant, it's the Holy Spirit illuminating your mind and empowering you to, like, speak, and preach, and teach, the word of God that would shape and mold hearts around your dining table if you're in a life group, or to shape and mold young hearts if you're serving in kids. That's incredible. See, we all have an opportunity to meet needs supernaturally. Why? Because you've been gifted, you've been called, and you're needed.
Jordan Hill: [00:22:14] So why don't we view ourselves that way? We tend to not, we tend to think, oh, I can never do that, I can't do that. I would be willing to bet many of us don't serve because we're still carrying around guilt and shame from sin that would keep us sitting on the sidelines. We want to get up and we want to get in, but then we just hear the accuser, we hear the enemy say, you can't do that, sit down. You're not worthy enough to serve, sit down. And we just go, oh, you're right, you're right, I can never do that. I love the vision in Zechariah 3, he's given a vision by God in it. And it says here that, "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him." OK, so picture this, Zechariah gets a vision, Joshua, Joshua is about to be named the high priest and there's Satan right there saying, are you kidding me? Are you kidding me, God, look at this man, there is no shot that he can be the high priest, look at him, he's filthy, look at all the sin in his life? And notice what happens next, "And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” Can you picture it? See, that was a picture of what was to come, and it's a picture of our life in many ways, a picture of what Jesus has done on the cross.
Jordan Hill: [00:24:32] See, many of us don't serve because we keep looking back on our sin, and we keep listening to the lies of the accuser, there’s no way you can actually serve and help marriages, look at your own marriage. Oh, you want to try to step up and free high school students from the sin of pornography, do you remember what you were like when you were a student, you can't do that. We're forgetting the gospel, we're forgetting of the fact that I was a sinner, but now by the grace of God he has paid for all of my filthiness, he's taken all of my sin, and he's put it on the cross and then he left it buried in the grave. It's Galatians 2:20, that says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me." So hear me, that old me is dead and gone, dead and gone. It doesn't matter what the accuser says, because every time he tries to accuse me of something, the Lord is right there saying, get out, I paid for that.
Jordan Hill: [00:25:48] So step up, and serve, and live your life sacrificially because Jesus paid for it, he paid to free us up from the bondage of sin and shame. I mean, my goodness, I made my wife mad a couple of times this week, we kind of got after it a little bit, I hate that. And say guilt and shame would want to tell me, keep your mouth shut, Jordan, you don't get to preach this week. But then I'm reminded of the gospel, and I'm reminded of the fact that, do you know what, I may not be perfect, but I don't have to be, Christ already was. So hear me, hear me right now, please hear me, stop letting your past sin define your future, it's paid for, leave it dead. You've been freed up to then lay your life down. You're gifted and needed and clothed in Christ, you're clothed and righteousness. What's better than that? What's better than that?
Jordan Hill: [00:27:07] So he's saying, OK, we lay our lifestyle sacrificially because we're one, like, that is our spiritual worship. We're now one in Christ, we're now gifted and needed. And then he says here in verse six, so let us use them. Let us use the gifts that he has given each and every one of us by his grace. Hear me, it's your turn, it's your turn to be prayerful, it's your turn to serve God and to meet needs miraculously in this day and age, it's our turn. And too many times, we're punting on our destiny. See, we have been made a royal nation, a holy priesthood, that's who we are in Christ. And what's incredible is this, I think we often forget this, when we serve, we're not just simply serving.
Jordan Hill: [00:28:16] I think we forget about the fact that Ephesians 6 tells us that we are actually at war, we're at war. Ephesians 6, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.", Ephesians 6:12. See, brothers, sisters, guys, we're at war right now. We're not just serving, we're actually, every time we serve, we actually are engaging in spiritual warfare and we're battling in the heavenly's. We have a purpose with our life, you cannot live this life without purpose. And I'm telling you right now, if you're in Christ, that's your purpose. If you're not in Christ, your purpose is to worship Christ. And if you're in Christ, your purpose is to wage war, get in the fight.
Jordan Hill: [00:29:16] So, when you're serving, and I'm super thankful we're having this great serve interest lunch after this service today, so you can just pack up and head on upstairs and there will be great food, to see all the needs that we have here in this body. But hear me, you're not just going to be serving to check something off your list, when you're serving, you're actually engaging in warfare. If you're serving in Creation Land, you're not just holding babies. What you're actually doing is holding a child and you're praying that salvation will come early for that child, while simultaneously freeing up a new parent who is tired, feeling like a failure, wondering what is going on in their life? You're freeing them up to have about an hour and thirty minutes, where they can worship undistracted, and they can hear the gospel and be reminded that in Christ they're not failures. I mean, I'm a new parent, if you've been a parent, you've been there. That's what you're doing if you're serving in Creation Land. If you're serving in kids, you're not just babysitting fourth and fifth graders. What you're doing is equipping these young minds, equipping them with tools that they can take onto the battlefield, that they can take into middle school, where, my goodness, is it not getting darker and harder for them? That's what you're doing. If you're serving in students, you're not just hanging out with them, trying to learn all the cool new lingo, which it's not really cool anyways. What I love, a lot of students now think, oh, check out fashion-forward, we are. It's like it's the 70s fashion back over again, heads up from the 80s come back, I thought we learned from that mistake. You're not just trying to be really cool, and check it out, I'm on TikTok.
Jordan Hill: [00:31:21] How many of us still have wounds from when we were in high school? The teen suicide rate is through the roof, and you have an opportunity to reach out and say, I know you don't feel heard, I know you don't feel loved, I know you don't think you have any value. I'm right here, yes, you do, come on, let's go. That's what you're getting to do. If you're serving in worship and creative tech arts, like you're not just keeping a camera steady, you're actually allowing the gospel to go out from this building into different homes, into different cities, into different states. Do you know how I know that? My grandparents back in Memphis, Tennessee, have been able to worship with us since the start of Covid. My grandparents have been faithfully serving at a church for over 50 years, and when Covid hit and everything got shut down, their church didn't have the capability to actually have a service. My grandparents, who've been serving so long, got to for, a season, worship with me. And they got to hear truth, so if you've held a camera, I personally just want to thank you, that's what you're getting to do.
Jordan Hill: [00:32:58] If you're serving in hospitality, or like on the parking lot team, you're not just like standing by in a corner and waving hi to people as they're coming in, or waving people into a parking spot. I'm here, my wife and I are here right now, because somebody welcomed us at the parking lot. See, we were looking for different churches, and we were bouncing around and we wanted to give our lives to a church, we were kind of just attending one church and we just felt really guilty about that because we're not really doing anything, we've got to do something with our lives. I was coaching college baseball at [inaudible], so we came, and we visited 121. In fact, my wife had visited a couple of churches several times, and my wife visited two churches, and no one said hi to her. If you know my wife, I'm sorry, that's hard to do, that's hard to do, no one said a word to her. And so we were just praying and we're asking God, God to show us, show us, we want to give our lives to a body of believers. And so we found 121 Community Church because we wanted a community, and we thought, OK, well, it's in their name, so, I mean, it has to be important to them, right? So we then showed up, and we showed up an hour and 30 minutes early, which, if you've been at 121, it's like, dang, that is way early. And we're praying and we're asking God, make it known to us, Lord. And it's like we said, amen, my eyes are still closed, and I just hear a (knocking on the window), I look up, and there's Lloyd Sawyers right there at the window. And he just goes, are you guys going to come on in? And Lloyd is walking us around, and he's introducing us to people, and we're just getting this opportunity. And then if you've known Lloyd, which, om my gosh, I miss him, I'm so thankful he's in a lot better place than we are. If you knew Lloyd, all of a sudden, he starts crying and we're like, oh my gosh, we're crying, and then he's praying for us and we're like, oh yes, absolutely. And like, we sat down, we sat down, like, right over here. And it was like I turned to Allison, and I was like, OK, we have to come here now, right? And then DBU just played A&M and there was like a guy behind us who, in like kind of like the greeting time, just like he somehow, we made a connection, like he somehow, I think he was at the game. We lost, DBU lost that game to A&M, and I'm still bitter about it because we should have won. And then like, we connected and then like he went to the DBU website, and he found my email and he gave my email to Ross, Ross then reached out to us, and then Ross connected us into a life group, like that's how we ended up here. Then I started serving in students and I just continued to feel this call, and that God was saying, hey, you're doing some great stuff in baseball, but it's time, let's go pastoral ministry. I'm here, we're here, my wife and I are here because of that, we just dedicated our son. We're here. Because while Lloyd was outside, he would even tell you he was having a really rough day, and he just prayed and he said, God help me to get outside myself. And then a single car pulled into a parking spot, so Lloyd got up off the bench, and he came, and he knocked on our window and he invited us in.
Jordan Hill: [00:36:38] You're not just serving, you're engaging in spiritual warfare and you're taking ground on the enemy that we want to keep us from being the people of God that God is calling us to be, that's what we're getting to do, that is real joy in this life. So hear me, go attend the luncheon that we're going to have after, but if you're just trying to check off a list, don't come, don't come. But if you want to give your life over in service for something greater than yourself, come join us, get in, because there's nothing better than that. It's our time, and I don't want to look back and go, man, I missed my chance. I had an opportunity, but I missed it. I don't know why, I missed it because I wanted to watch more Netflix. I missed it because you know what, I wanted to get my kid in part of his like tenth baseball team. You can praise God for that, I mean, I hope your kid has a better career than I ever did. But I'm telling you, there's nothing better than grabbing your son or daughter and serving alongside each other, there's nothing better than that.
Jordan Hill: [00:38:16] Now, many of you might be hearing me today and you go, Jordan, I hear you. But that, you don't know what I've been through, I mean, I have just given all I can give for the last year and a half. Or I used to serve and then, man, I just poured myself out and feel like I got nothing back. What I would say to you is this, hear me, yeah, it's going to be a little difficult, but it's worth it. It's worth it, hear me, nothing in this life that is easy is really worth it. Everything that can be difficult makes us better, and we find real joy because it's worth it, it's worth it. It's worth continually showing up day in and day out, serving in students, so that you know what, when they're in college, they come back. And they come up to you and say, you know what? Thank you, thanks for pouring into me.
Jordan Hill: [00:39:36] I'm reminded of a quote from Lord of the Rings. If you're familiar with the story, there's this one passage where Frodo, he's been given the ring of destiny, and he just he's broken down because of all the just the weight and the burden of carrying it. And he's got his best friend, Samwise Gamgee, and at one point, Frodo says, I just can't do this anymore. I just can't do this anymore, it's not fair, it's not fair that I've got to carry this, it's not fair, I can't do it anymore. And Sam says, "I know, it's all wrong. By rights, we shouldn't even be here, but we are. It's like the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered, full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you don't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy, how could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?" Is that not now, I mean, is that not now? And he goes on and he says, "But in the end, it's only a passing thing, a shadow. Even the darkness must pass, a new day will come, and when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if we were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now, folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something, and that there's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for."
Jordan Hill: [00:41:39] See, I know it's been hard. I know it's been hard for a lot of us. But hear me, I've read the end of the Bible, I know what is to come. You see, there's coming a day when there's a member from every tribe, and a member from every tongue, of these nations will be all gathered together around the throne of God. And it says in Revelation 5 that there's actually a myriad, and a myriad of angels, and thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of them. And we're all sitting there together, and we're beholding Christ, and we're saying, worthy are you oh, Lord God, to receive glory and honor and power. Just picture it, just the heavenly host singing together, holy, holy, holy are you Lord. That is coming for us, and so I know it's hard, but hear me, there's coming a day where somebody that you serve will be standing right there worshipping with you for eternity. You and I are going to be there because somebody shared the good news with us.
Jordan Hill: [00:43:05] The folk in this story, do you realize all the apostles, all the disciples, of Jesus died in brutal ways? Brutal ways. But they would say it's worth it. Why? Because they had to get the gospel out. Paul here, in one of my favorite passages in the Bible, Paul in Second Timothy 4:7, at the very end of his life, he's all alone, he's all alone, everyone had abandoned him. He says, "Notwithstanding, the Lord stood by me. Everyone deserted me, and then he said, I fought the good fight, I finished my race, I kept the faith." And what was his faith? To get the gospel to the Gentiles, to get the gospel out. You and I are here in Grapevine, Texas because men like Paul gave their life to get the gospel out. You and I are here because Jesus hung alone on a cross. It's worth it.
Jordan Hill: [00:44:21] And what I'm trying to call us to today, is the same thing that God's trying to call us into, get in the fight. Get in the fight because there's nothing better than living your life with purpose, and that is sacrificially serving one another for the glory of God. So I don't know what that looks like for you, but I know this, you belong, you're needed. Hear me again, you're needed, and it's your turn. Man, let's wage war together, don't underestimate the impact that God can have using you, just one life. Oh, what's better than that? Hear me again, you belong, you're needed, it's your turn, let's go get it.
Jordan Hill: [00:45:44] Father God, I thank you so much for what you've done on the cross for us. God, I thank you that you saved a wretch like me. You've taken a group of people, people who so often forget your goodness, forget your truth, we're so prideful and you've clothed us with righteousness. I thank you, Lord, that you've made us one, so now we're never alone when we're in the body of Christ. God, I thank you that you've gifted us, and you've given us a chance to make an impact. I pray, God, that you will just continue to embolden us, to help us get over any fears we might have, I pray that you will just get rid of any shame or guilt that the enemy wants to constantly bring back up. Father, thank you for what you're going to do in this body. And we know, God, that you can do far more abundantly than all that we ever ask or think. Oh, God, we love you.
Jordan Hill: [00:47:22] Let's spend a couple of minutes now, and just, let's just spend some time with the Lord. Let him speak his eternal truths to your heart, maybe some of you are just continuing to be reminded of guilt and shame and sin, and I would just implore you, leave it in your seat today, be reminded that Jesus paid for that. Maybe for some of you, you're just asking God, where would you have me sort serve? You've called me here. And lastly, maybe you'll just be reminded of who God is and how he loves you, and he's for you, and how he has made a way for you to live your life in full surrender to him. Let's just spend a couple of moments now with him.
Recorded in Grapevine, Texas.
Jordan Hill: [00:00:44] So I've got the privilege and honor to kind of close our quick portion of we're talking about this idea that there's actually joy in serving. Arnaldo lead us last week, he did such a great job of just taking us through this idea about there's joy in service over self. And when I have the privilege to do today, is to just call us to get our eyes on this idea that there's actually joy in a life of sacrificial serving. Now, you might hear that and go, that sounds backwards, the idea of actually sacrificing is me giving something up. So there's no way that there is actual joy in living a life of sacrificial serving.
Jordan Hill: [00:01:28] Well, what I'm going to [inaudible] to you is just, there is with three things. This is my whole sermon today, so spoiler alert. Right. And I want you to write these down, I want you write these down. There's joy in that because I belong, there's joy in living a life of sacrificial serving because I'm needed, and there's joy and sacrificial serving because it's my turn. That's it, that's the three points. Now there's a lot more to it, so don't go leaving just yet, right? But there's joy in living a life of sacrificial serving.
Jordan Hill: [00:02:07] See, that is what God has called us to, to not just simply serve and check off a box, but that our entire lives...Here at 121, we're about leading people to live for Jesus Christ, that's not just on a Sunday, that's not just on a Tuesday morning life group, it's every day 24/7, 365, and that's essentially what he called us to do, right? Yeah. There's joy in serving, and I want you to serve on Sundays. But there's real joy in life, and what God has called us to is this idea that our entire lives should look like laying down our life, giving up of our entire life, saying it's all yours, God, I'm going to serve no matter where you call me, no matter what you've called me to do, I'm going to lay it all down. So that's what I'm just positing to you today.
Jordan Hill: [00:02:58] So we're going to be in Romans 12, if you have your Bibles, it'll be in there. If not, we're going to have some verses on the screen. We're at this place in Romans 12 where Paul has been writing this letter to all believers that are in Rome, Jews, Gentiles. He's writing to these believers; he's trying to pull them all together to get them all on the same page. And where we're at, we're at this place in Romans 12 where he's just come off of...You can almost break up Romans into almost basically like two sections, basically 1 through 12, and then 12 and beyond.
Jordan Hill: [00:03:30] That's kind of what he's saying, so he goes, I'm laying out all that Christ has done. And so we're at this spot now, Paul has basically just said this. He said, the unrighteous have no excuse, he said when you judge someone, you condemn yourself, that no one is righteous before the law because all have sinned. Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness; therefore, we rejoice and hope for while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and grace far more abounds. We were baptized into Christ's death, and we were raised to life with him, so now nothing can separate us from the love of God. For we're co-heirs with Christ, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Oh, the depths, and the riches, and the wisdom, that is God. To him, be all glory and honor, and through him, and by him, and to him, are all things forever and ever. Amen. OK, so that's Romans 1, basically, through 11:36.
Jordan Hill: [00:04:32] And so now we're at this place here and Romans 12 where he said, so based off of all of that, "Therefore, I appeal to you brothers, by the mercies of God” All of those mercies that I just said, "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." See, we're calling people today, and this time God is calling us, he's had us kind of put a pause for what we had planned, because what God is saying is, church present your whole bodies to me as a living sacrifice, that is your spiritual worship. Yes, we worship God with lifted hands and singing beautiful songs, but we also worship him by getting our hands in the mud and serving each other. That's what God has called us to.
Jordan Hill: [00:05:33] So there's joy in serving because there's joy in actually giving up our entire lives. Why? Because God has given us his son. You see, you will never understand that there is actually joy in life, in living a life of sacrificial service, until you understand what Jesus Christ has done on the cross to save sinners. So now that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, that he has taken all of your sins and all of my sins, and he's paid for them all on the cross. So now, you and I, for those who put their faith and trust in that, are folded in and how he's given us new clothes, and a new righteousness, that only can be found in him. You will never fully understand that God has called me to a life of sacrificial service until you understand what he has given you.
Jordan Hill: [00:06:27] So if that's you today, if you are not there, if you have not accepted the gospel and to believe as true that God gave up his son for you, I would implore you now, today, believe, believe, be baptized, and let's get serving together. It doesn't matter, we've got our really beautiful baptism is broken because the pipes, it doesn’t matter, we can still dunk you, you saw the trough out there. So let's go, if that's you, let's go, I would implore you to believe.
Jordan Hill: [00:07:04] So now what Paul is saying here is, if you're in Christ, live a life of sacrificial service remembering what he's done for you on the cross. Don't just serve to get pats on the back from Ross, or me, or anybody else on staff, who cares what I think? And that's not going to be what really motivates you, live your life in such a way that you remember what Jesus has done on the cross, and there you'll find true joy.
Jordan Hill: [00:07:36] See, you'll find real joy in the fact that we are one, we actually all belong together in the body of Christ. Go with me to the text, 12:3, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function." So, as in one body, see, Jesus Christ makes us members of each other together. This isn't a rogue warrior situation when you're in the body of Christ, if you're in Christ, you're a part of a greater body. And so there's real joy in actually serving each other because we're in it together, we are interconnected. And hear me, we are interdependent upon each other, that is who we are in Christ.
Jordan Hill: [00:08:33] The Bible, over and over and over again, uses the example of believers being a body, being a body. We see this in scripture in First Corinthians 12:12-31, Romans 12:4-5, Ephesians 4:15-16, Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:20-23, Ephesians 3:6, Colossians 2:18-19. Ephesians 5: 23 and 30, First Corinthians 1:10, First Corinthians 6:16-17, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 4:4-7, First Corinthians 12:26. Do you get the picture? I'm speaking really fast because there's a lot there. Over and over and over again, what Paul is saying, what God is saying, is you're a part of something, you're a part of something, you're a part of something, you're a part of something, you and I belong together. It doesn't matter that you don't know her, and she doesn't know you, we're all interconnected and that's an amazing thing. And it's God's good, right design that when the body acts as the body, it screams to the world that there's something greater out there.
Jordan Hill: [00:09:39] I mean, what a low bar it is now that just in society we stand out and we're actually nice to each other, that's bananas. That just simply being nice is like, wow, what's different about you? I'm not talking like good old Southern hospitality, nice. But like the stuff when snow or ice-pocalypse, whatever you want to call it, happens. That was one of the most proud moments of my life serving and being a part of this body when it was just like needs were just getting met like that. I didn't have time to try to, like, connect some people because you've already been connected in. That's the body being the body. I love the fact at that time, my son Knox was like three or four months old, and like, we praise God had power, but if we didn't, we would have been in trouble. We've got a little three-month-old, we would have been in some serious trouble.
Jordan Hill: [00:10:37] So I texted like four people, and they're like, yeah, come on, we got you. It was amazing that like seven other people texted, and like a handful of others called me and were just like, hey, just checking on you guys, we know you've got Knox. Are you OK? Yeah, hey, we're kind of tight here, but listen, if it goes out, we got you, come on. And that wasn't just for me, that was for everybody, that's the body being the body, taking care of each other, laying our lives down for each other. Do you know that there are 50 plus one another commands in the Scripture, not suggestions, where it says to love one another, pray for one another, encourage one another, have all things in common with one another, greet one another? You see, while we have a very private faith, a personal faith with God, that personal faith always plays itself outward when we serve each other. That's what Paul is saying right there, your spiritual worship is you belonging. And what's better than actually being a part and belonging to a group of people? That is like the number one need of almost everyone, whether you're a little kid to an adult, just belonging.
Jordan Hill: [00:11:50] See, when you're in Christ, you're not alone. And my goodness, I mean, if 2020 taught us nothing, it's the fact that life is pretty awful when you're by yourself. But see, you're not in Christ, we're made one, one body. OK, so why doesn't the body look like that? And why doesn't the church at large, my goodness, and I love this place, but why sometimes don't we, why sometimes don't we, at 121, look like that? One word, pride. Pride.
Jordan Hill: [00:12:32] See, let's go back here to the text, that is what Paul sitting right here, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." See, Paul is saying here, now, hey, go inward, check yourself, find the pride and make sure that it's not keeping you on an island by yourself because pride isolates you. If our pride could talk, it would say something like this, I don't need you, I'm good, I don't need anybody. Man, think about culture today, do you want to get ahead, you better figure out how to step over people. Pride isolates us. See, we know Paul is talking about pride when it comes to keeping us from being the body that God has called us to be. Because they're in verse 4, the next word after verse 3, is the word, for. So in other words, he's saying it like this, he's saying for, don't be prideful and self-centered, for, you're not alone, for, you're not your own, and for, you and I are in this together, so check yourself.
Jordan Hill: [00:13:58] See, pride isolates us, but pride also does a funny thing where it elevates us. Pride says I'm the center of the universe, everything works around me, all lights will turn green because I'm driving, everyone will merge when I'm getting on the interstate. We don't say that. but we live our life in such a way. How many times have you been in like a parking lot, like a Kroger, or a Target, and you're trying to find a parking spot and you keep passing spots because you're trying to get closer, even though your wife is telling you just park right there, just park? And I'm like, no, no, I can get us closer. Has that ever happened to you? It's happened to me obviously. And then it's like you see a spot and that's it, there's my spot, I'm about to be right. I knew I could get closer. And you go to turn in, and there's a shopping cart, and then you just want to punch your steering wheel. What is that, if not pride? I don't care that I'm supposed to take my cart back, I don't care that there's probably this high school kid that's making like eight bucks an hour who's got to run out in the rain to get all the rest of the carts and jam them in together, I'm at my spot and I leave the cart. That's pride.
Jordan Hill: [00:15:32] And my goodness, pride seeps its way into the church. How many times do we come in here like, oh, the coffee is just a little bland? Oh, the lights are a little too bright. Oh, the lights aren't bright enough. Oh, we need more smoke, ew, we need less smoke, that church over there has more smoke. This church is real...As if you're the one we're supposed to worship. Wait a second, you're asking me to serve in babies. Listen, I've done the baby stage, they're out the door, I'm not wiping, I'm not changing diapers. Forget that, I've already paid my dues, you're telling me you want me to serve in students. Do you know how moody they are? You are, too. See, pride constantly elevates us, and what Paul was saying, by the grace given each and every one of you, look to the cross because at the cross, whether you're a king or you're a peasant, we're all equal. It doesn't matter who you are, we're all on the same level. So that's why he's saying so, therefore, link-up, because Christ has made us one. See, there's real joy and life in serving alongside brothers and sisters because Christ paid for that. So check yourself, because we're all one.
Jordan Hill: [00:17:10] See, and then there's real life and joy in living a life of sacrificial service, hear me, because you're needed. You are gifted, you were given the Holy Spirit, the same dynamite power, the rose Christ Jesus from the dead is now at work in you, and here me, you are needed. Let's go back to the text, verse 4, "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function." Did you catch that? The members do not all have the same function. What he's saying right there is, when you show up, you actually have something to offer. When you come in here to serve, you have something to give, God has given you something.
Jordan Hill: [00:18:03] And we can see when you go on and look at First Corinthians, even more on the body analogy in First Corinthians, Paul is talking about this idea of can the hand say to the foot, I don't need you. And what he's saying there is simply this when he calls you to a body, he calls you there because that body is lacking something, and he's given it to you. So for our context, think about 121, you're here right now because God wants to see us flourish and be the church that he has called her to be. And it won't happen unless you get off the sidelines because you have something that we need. What's better than that? We get to live our lives in a sacrificial way because we're gifted, and we're needed. What's better than that?
Jordan Hill: [00:19:00] I used to hate all the time, I used to coach college baseball and I'd be recruiting kids and they would go, and they would commit to a school that had like for example, they had like there's a shortstop and they've got like eight shortstops. And you're like, dude, three of those guys are draft picks, and you ain't one. I mean, you will one day, but you're not yet, you're not playing. No, I've got to coach, I'm going to be the guy, and then in like a year and a half, they would transfer out. Do you know why? Because they just sat. And yeah, they got some cool gear, but they got bored.
Jordan Hill: [00:19:33] So if you're new here at 121, I'm so glad you're here. And you probably got a mug, it's a great mug. A lot of former members are like, I never got a mug. And I'm like, yo, verse 3, check your pride. It's a great mug, it is. But how many mugs do you have? Do you know what's better than a coffee mug? Being needed, having an impact, leading people to live for Jesus Christ, that is better than a coffee mug.
Jordan Hill: [00:20:19] And so I'm so thankful that God has now said, hey, pause a second, the minor prophets are awesome and it's been an awesome series, but we got to be reminded of what the church is. And hear me, if you're here, you're needed. I love how God wires the body of Christ, he wires it in such a way, did you catch that, they don't all have the same function. We operate differently because whenever I need something, he primarily gives it to you to give to me. So if I'm in danger of falling into sin, he encourages you to exhort me back into where I should be. When I am trying to see what does God have for my life, what direction should I go? He gives you the capacity through prayer, to then give me great guidance that would have me go to where God would entertain me to go. I love that.
Jordan Hill: [00:21:26] See, we get to, as a body, supernaturally meat needs. So when you're serving, you're not just like, oh, being a really good person, or you're just like really being funny, or if you're opening up God's word, it's not just because, oh, you're so brilliant, it's the Holy Spirit illuminating your mind and empowering you to, like, speak, and preach, and teach, the word of God that would shape and mold hearts around your dining table if you're in a life group, or to shape and mold young hearts if you're serving in kids. That's incredible. See, we all have an opportunity to meet needs supernaturally. Why? Because you've been gifted, you've been called, and you're needed.
Jordan Hill: [00:22:14] So why don't we view ourselves that way? We tend to not, we tend to think, oh, I can never do that, I can't do that. I would be willing to bet many of us don't serve because we're still carrying around guilt and shame from sin that would keep us sitting on the sidelines. We want to get up and we want to get in, but then we just hear the accuser, we hear the enemy say, you can't do that, sit down. You're not worthy enough to serve, sit down. And we just go, oh, you're right, you're right, I can never do that. I love the vision in Zechariah 3, he's given a vision by God in it. And it says here that, "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him." OK, so picture this, Zechariah gets a vision, Joshua, Joshua is about to be named the high priest and there's Satan right there saying, are you kidding me? Are you kidding me, God, look at this man, there is no shot that he can be the high priest, look at him, he's filthy, look at all the sin in his life? And notice what happens next, "And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” Can you picture it? See, that was a picture of what was to come, and it's a picture of our life in many ways, a picture of what Jesus has done on the cross.
Jordan Hill: [00:24:32] See, many of us don't serve because we keep looking back on our sin, and we keep listening to the lies of the accuser, there’s no way you can actually serve and help marriages, look at your own marriage. Oh, you want to try to step up and free high school students from the sin of pornography, do you remember what you were like when you were a student, you can't do that. We're forgetting the gospel, we're forgetting of the fact that I was a sinner, but now by the grace of God he has paid for all of my filthiness, he's taken all of my sin, and he's put it on the cross and then he left it buried in the grave. It's Galatians 2:20, that says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me." So hear me, that old me is dead and gone, dead and gone. It doesn't matter what the accuser says, because every time he tries to accuse me of something, the Lord is right there saying, get out, I paid for that.
Jordan Hill: [00:25:48] So step up, and serve, and live your life sacrificially because Jesus paid for it, he paid to free us up from the bondage of sin and shame. I mean, my goodness, I made my wife mad a couple of times this week, we kind of got after it a little bit, I hate that. And say guilt and shame would want to tell me, keep your mouth shut, Jordan, you don't get to preach this week. But then I'm reminded of the gospel, and I'm reminded of the fact that, do you know what, I may not be perfect, but I don't have to be, Christ already was. So hear me, hear me right now, please hear me, stop letting your past sin define your future, it's paid for, leave it dead. You've been freed up to then lay your life down. You're gifted and needed and clothed in Christ, you're clothed and righteousness. What's better than that? What's better than that?
Jordan Hill: [00:27:07] So he's saying, OK, we lay our lifestyle sacrificially because we're one, like, that is our spiritual worship. We're now one in Christ, we're now gifted and needed. And then he says here in verse six, so let us use them. Let us use the gifts that he has given each and every one of us by his grace. Hear me, it's your turn, it's your turn to be prayerful, it's your turn to serve God and to meet needs miraculously in this day and age, it's our turn. And too many times, we're punting on our destiny. See, we have been made a royal nation, a holy priesthood, that's who we are in Christ. And what's incredible is this, I think we often forget this, when we serve, we're not just simply serving.
Jordan Hill: [00:28:16] I think we forget about the fact that Ephesians 6 tells us that we are actually at war, we're at war. Ephesians 6, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.", Ephesians 6:12. See, brothers, sisters, guys, we're at war right now. We're not just serving, we're actually, every time we serve, we actually are engaging in spiritual warfare and we're battling in the heavenly's. We have a purpose with our life, you cannot live this life without purpose. And I'm telling you right now, if you're in Christ, that's your purpose. If you're not in Christ, your purpose is to worship Christ. And if you're in Christ, your purpose is to wage war, get in the fight.
Jordan Hill: [00:29:16] So, when you're serving, and I'm super thankful we're having this great serve interest lunch after this service today, so you can just pack up and head on upstairs and there will be great food, to see all the needs that we have here in this body. But hear me, you're not just going to be serving to check something off your list, when you're serving, you're actually engaging in warfare. If you're serving in Creation Land, you're not just holding babies. What you're actually doing is holding a child and you're praying that salvation will come early for that child, while simultaneously freeing up a new parent who is tired, feeling like a failure, wondering what is going on in their life? You're freeing them up to have about an hour and thirty minutes, where they can worship undistracted, and they can hear the gospel and be reminded that in Christ they're not failures. I mean, I'm a new parent, if you've been a parent, you've been there. That's what you're doing if you're serving in Creation Land. If you're serving in kids, you're not just babysitting fourth and fifth graders. What you're doing is equipping these young minds, equipping them with tools that they can take onto the battlefield, that they can take into middle school, where, my goodness, is it not getting darker and harder for them? That's what you're doing. If you're serving in students, you're not just hanging out with them, trying to learn all the cool new lingo, which it's not really cool anyways. What I love, a lot of students now think, oh, check out fashion-forward, we are. It's like it's the 70s fashion back over again, heads up from the 80s come back, I thought we learned from that mistake. You're not just trying to be really cool, and check it out, I'm on TikTok.
Jordan Hill: [00:31:21] How many of us still have wounds from when we were in high school? The teen suicide rate is through the roof, and you have an opportunity to reach out and say, I know you don't feel heard, I know you don't feel loved, I know you don't think you have any value. I'm right here, yes, you do, come on, let's go. That's what you're getting to do. If you're serving in worship and creative tech arts, like you're not just keeping a camera steady, you're actually allowing the gospel to go out from this building into different homes, into different cities, into different states. Do you know how I know that? My grandparents back in Memphis, Tennessee, have been able to worship with us since the start of Covid. My grandparents have been faithfully serving at a church for over 50 years, and when Covid hit and everything got shut down, their church didn't have the capability to actually have a service. My grandparents, who've been serving so long, got to for, a season, worship with me. And they got to hear truth, so if you've held a camera, I personally just want to thank you, that's what you're getting to do.
Jordan Hill: [00:32:58] If you're serving in hospitality, or like on the parking lot team, you're not just like standing by in a corner and waving hi to people as they're coming in, or waving people into a parking spot. I'm here, my wife and I are here right now, because somebody welcomed us at the parking lot. See, we were looking for different churches, and we were bouncing around and we wanted to give our lives to a church, we were kind of just attending one church and we just felt really guilty about that because we're not really doing anything, we've got to do something with our lives. I was coaching college baseball at [inaudible], so we came, and we visited 121. In fact, my wife had visited a couple of churches several times, and my wife visited two churches, and no one said hi to her. If you know my wife, I'm sorry, that's hard to do, that's hard to do, no one said a word to her. And so we were just praying and we're asking God, God to show us, show us, we want to give our lives to a body of believers. And so we found 121 Community Church because we wanted a community, and we thought, OK, well, it's in their name, so, I mean, it has to be important to them, right? So we then showed up, and we showed up an hour and 30 minutes early, which, if you've been at 121, it's like, dang, that is way early. And we're praying and we're asking God, make it known to us, Lord. And it's like we said, amen, my eyes are still closed, and I just hear a (knocking on the window), I look up, and there's Lloyd Sawyers right there at the window. And he just goes, are you guys going to come on in? And Lloyd is walking us around, and he's introducing us to people, and we're just getting this opportunity. And then if you've known Lloyd, which, om my gosh, I miss him, I'm so thankful he's in a lot better place than we are. If you knew Lloyd, all of a sudden, he starts crying and we're like, oh my gosh, we're crying, and then he's praying for us and we're like, oh yes, absolutely. And like, we sat down, we sat down, like, right over here. And it was like I turned to Allison, and I was like, OK, we have to come here now, right? And then DBU just played A&M and there was like a guy behind us who, in like kind of like the greeting time, just like he somehow, we made a connection, like he somehow, I think he was at the game. We lost, DBU lost that game to A&M, and I'm still bitter about it because we should have won. And then like, we connected and then like he went to the DBU website, and he found my email and he gave my email to Ross, Ross then reached out to us, and then Ross connected us into a life group, like that's how we ended up here. Then I started serving in students and I just continued to feel this call, and that God was saying, hey, you're doing some great stuff in baseball, but it's time, let's go pastoral ministry. I'm here, we're here, my wife and I are here because of that, we just dedicated our son. We're here. Because while Lloyd was outside, he would even tell you he was having a really rough day, and he just prayed and he said, God help me to get outside myself. And then a single car pulled into a parking spot, so Lloyd got up off the bench, and he came, and he knocked on our window and he invited us in.
Jordan Hill: [00:36:38] You're not just serving, you're engaging in spiritual warfare and you're taking ground on the enemy that we want to keep us from being the people of God that God is calling us to be, that's what we're getting to do, that is real joy in this life. So hear me, go attend the luncheon that we're going to have after, but if you're just trying to check off a list, don't come, don't come. But if you want to give your life over in service for something greater than yourself, come join us, get in, because there's nothing better than that. It's our time, and I don't want to look back and go, man, I missed my chance. I had an opportunity, but I missed it. I don't know why, I missed it because I wanted to watch more Netflix. I missed it because you know what, I wanted to get my kid in part of his like tenth baseball team. You can praise God for that, I mean, I hope your kid has a better career than I ever did. But I'm telling you, there's nothing better than grabbing your son or daughter and serving alongside each other, there's nothing better than that.
Jordan Hill: [00:38:16] Now, many of you might be hearing me today and you go, Jordan, I hear you. But that, you don't know what I've been through, I mean, I have just given all I can give for the last year and a half. Or I used to serve and then, man, I just poured myself out and feel like I got nothing back. What I would say to you is this, hear me, yeah, it's going to be a little difficult, but it's worth it. It's worth it, hear me, nothing in this life that is easy is really worth it. Everything that can be difficult makes us better, and we find real joy because it's worth it, it's worth it. It's worth continually showing up day in and day out, serving in students, so that you know what, when they're in college, they come back. And they come up to you and say, you know what? Thank you, thanks for pouring into me.
Jordan Hill: [00:39:36] I'm reminded of a quote from Lord of the Rings. If you're familiar with the story, there's this one passage where Frodo, he's been given the ring of destiny, and he just he's broken down because of all the just the weight and the burden of carrying it. And he's got his best friend, Samwise Gamgee, and at one point, Frodo says, I just can't do this anymore. I just can't do this anymore, it's not fair, it's not fair that I've got to carry this, it's not fair, I can't do it anymore. And Sam says, "I know, it's all wrong. By rights, we shouldn't even be here, but we are. It's like the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered, full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you don't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy, how could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?" Is that not now, I mean, is that not now? And he goes on and he says, "But in the end, it's only a passing thing, a shadow. Even the darkness must pass, a new day will come, and when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if we were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now, folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something, and that there's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for."
Jordan Hill: [00:41:39] See, I know it's been hard. I know it's been hard for a lot of us. But hear me, I've read the end of the Bible, I know what is to come. You see, there's coming a day when there's a member from every tribe, and a member from every tongue, of these nations will be all gathered together around the throne of God. And it says in Revelation 5 that there's actually a myriad, and a myriad of angels, and thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of them. And we're all sitting there together, and we're beholding Christ, and we're saying, worthy are you oh, Lord God, to receive glory and honor and power. Just picture it, just the heavenly host singing together, holy, holy, holy are you Lord. That is coming for us, and so I know it's hard, but hear me, there's coming a day where somebody that you serve will be standing right there worshipping with you for eternity. You and I are going to be there because somebody shared the good news with us.
Jordan Hill: [00:43:05] The folk in this story, do you realize all the apostles, all the disciples, of Jesus died in brutal ways? Brutal ways. But they would say it's worth it. Why? Because they had to get the gospel out. Paul here, in one of my favorite passages in the Bible, Paul in Second Timothy 4:7, at the very end of his life, he's all alone, he's all alone, everyone had abandoned him. He says, "Notwithstanding, the Lord stood by me. Everyone deserted me, and then he said, I fought the good fight, I finished my race, I kept the faith." And what was his faith? To get the gospel to the Gentiles, to get the gospel out. You and I are here in Grapevine, Texas because men like Paul gave their life to get the gospel out. You and I are here because Jesus hung alone on a cross. It's worth it.
Jordan Hill: [00:44:21] And what I'm trying to call us to today, is the same thing that God's trying to call us into, get in the fight. Get in the fight because there's nothing better than living your life with purpose, and that is sacrificially serving one another for the glory of God. So I don't know what that looks like for you, but I know this, you belong, you're needed. Hear me again, you're needed, and it's your turn. Man, let's wage war together, don't underestimate the impact that God can have using you, just one life. Oh, what's better than that? Hear me again, you belong, you're needed, it's your turn, let's go get it.
Jordan Hill: [00:45:44] Father God, I thank you so much for what you've done on the cross for us. God, I thank you that you saved a wretch like me. You've taken a group of people, people who so often forget your goodness, forget your truth, we're so prideful and you've clothed us with righteousness. I thank you, Lord, that you've made us one, so now we're never alone when we're in the body of Christ. God, I thank you that you've gifted us, and you've given us a chance to make an impact. I pray, God, that you will just continue to embolden us, to help us get over any fears we might have, I pray that you will just get rid of any shame or guilt that the enemy wants to constantly bring back up. Father, thank you for what you're going to do in this body. And we know, God, that you can do far more abundantly than all that we ever ask or think. Oh, God, we love you.
Jordan Hill: [00:47:22] Let's spend a couple of minutes now, and just, let's just spend some time with the Lord. Let him speak his eternal truths to your heart, maybe some of you are just continuing to be reminded of guilt and shame and sin, and I would just implore you, leave it in your seat today, be reminded that Jesus paid for that. Maybe for some of you, you're just asking God, where would you have me sort serve? You've called me here. And lastly, maybe you'll just be reminded of who God is and how he loves you, and he's for you, and how he has made a way for you to live your life in full surrender to him. Let's just spend a couple of moments now with him.
Recorded in Grapevine, Texas.
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