B.L.E.S.S. - Are You Wearing a Crown or an Apron?

British Association for the Advancement of Science
Analogy 1 (Failure to Shift)Lord Kelvin in 1900: "Nothing new to be discovered in physics now." (Just before Einstein!)

Analogy 2 (The Old Way)The world believes: The higher you rise (power/wealth), the more you can leverage people to serve you.

Paradigm Shift: noun ~ a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions

Jesus reverses this misconception, turning it on its head.
Shift FocusFrom a CROWN

John: 13:1-5 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

John 13:6-8 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

The Mandate to Serve
John 13: 8-11 Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus set an example for us to follow: Serve as we have been served by Christ.

The Message is Simple: We have to serve.

Challenge
In a world that values being served, we must choose to serve one another.

Matthew 20:26-28 Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

B.L.E.S.S.: Prayer --> Listening --> Eating --> Serving --> Sharing

Challenge: Are you wearing a Crown or an Apron

Matthew 20:26-28 Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Love was the motivation for Jesus to set aside his crown and pick up the apron.

We serve because we have experienced this love—it has been lavished upon us.The Outcome If we practice this lifestyle of blessing and serving, we can change the world.