“Like the One who Serves ”:

1. “Like the One who Serves”: The Imitation of Christ for Real People

2. Passion for the glory of God Passion for the good of others Patient endurance of hardship Willing denial of self How We Should Imitate Christ: Four Practical Priorities

3. [H]e was certainly the highest example of one who wished to give everything, asking nothing in return, and not caring what creed might happen to be professed by the recipient. I am sure that if he were living here now among men, he would bless the lives of many who perhaps have never even heard of his name, if only their lives embodied the virtues of which he was a living example on earth; the virtues of loving one’s neighbour as oneself and of doing good and charitable works among one’s fellowmen. Mahatma Gandhi, “What Jesus Means to Me,” 1941

4. A Common Perspective on Imitating Jesus • Most non-Christians have deep respect for Jesus, especially his passion for selfless service to people in need • Therefore most non-Christians sense that we should imitate Jesus’ example of doing good for others • But often this is divorced from the larger perspective that Scripture provides regarding who Jesus is, what he does, and what it means to embrace him as bothSavior and Example

5. It is proper to imitate Christ by extending the kingdom over which he alone reigns. • Luke 7:20-22 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?'" 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

6. It is proper to imitate Christ by inviting others to receive gifts which he alone can give. • Acts 5:30-31 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. • Luke 24:45-47 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

7. It is proper to imitate Christ by combatting powers that he alone can conquer. • Luke 4:35-36 …And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!" • Luke 22:31-32 31 ¶ "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

8. It is proper to imitate Christ by doing extensively what he does intensively. • Luke 6:6-10 6 ¶ On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored.

9. A Key Mark of Christlike Passion for the Good of Others: Hospitality • What do the following images say about our culture’s views of hospitality? • Who is showing hospitality? • Who is receiving hospitality? • What is being assumed?

15. Christlike Hospitality • Luke 19:5-10 "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Not: welcoming people into a home But: welcoming people into a family Turning strangers into “brothers” and “sisters” A heart for “strangers” and “aliens” An eye for insider-outsider boundaries