The way to joy is to serve other people, no matter who they are, no matter if they deserve it. Find someone to serve—and do it! It’s the way to joy!

November 18-19, 2017

Introduction and offering:

ILL: Who went to the Garth Brooks concerts last week? I heard it was great. I also saw that last Saturday, before he did two shows, he joined coach Mark Few and the GU men’s basketball players for a clinic for underprivileged kids. “One of the most important things I’ve done in my life, other than be a father, is this right here,” Brooks said. Coach Few described Brooks as “really a genuine, humble guy…a servant.” Of course, Mark also said, “shame on you and Laina for not knowing any Garth songs…unAmerican!” Hey, I know a Garth song: “Two Pina Coladas!” Totally American!

Garth Brooks is a servant. He’s a Big Deal, but not too proud to serve underprivileged kids, or visit a fan in the hospital. It made me a fan!

This is part 2 of our series, “JOY: the Outward Focused Life.” The way to joy is to live Jesus first, then put others ahead of yourself: Jesus, Others, You. Jesus taught His followers that the way to greatness was serving: be the servant of all. He modeled that Himself by coming not to be served, but to serve, and by giving His life to bring us back to God. Jesus came to serve. Perhaps no other story captures this as beautifully as the one we’ll read today: the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. We’ll start by reading and unpacking the story, and then I’ll focus on three important takeaways from the story.

Offering here:

This story takes place on the last night of Jesus’ life—Thursday night in the upper room, the site of the Last Supper.   Here is the story:

John 13:1–17

1 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.

It