CBC Winter Retreat

So I got to speak at the Cumming Baptist Student Ministry Winter Retreat and had an amazing time. In between talking about what happens to dead cows(do they stay standing up? and is the milk still good?) I got to speak to the students and adult volunteers about being servants from a different perspective. First we need to remember who we are serving. If we are serving ourselves, people, or possessions we don't have much to live for. But if we are serving Jesus then there is a great reward awaiting us and life will be worth living. Second we need to remember why we serve. We cannot earn God's love, His grace, favor, or forgiveness. When we try we feel like we will never get it and often try to serve to get attention from people(parents, boyfriends, girlfriends, teachers, or anyone that will notice us). The reason we can't earn God's love is because we already have it. He loves the world with all He has and you have His attention and once you know Him you have all His forgiveness. So don't serve as a slave trying to earn something, serve as a child who has everything you need to serve with. Third we need to remember the only way we can serve is if we are connected to Jesus. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Either you are broken and unable to do anything of any value or you have been healed by Jesus and are now alive and able to serve.

Three Final Challenges to help you serve well:
1. Serve with Joy - Life can be difficult so live it with joy.
2. Be known for being different - Don't be concerned with the worries of the world set yourself apart by living in the Word.
3. Live Sent - recognize Jesus is sending you to your school, your neighborhood, your workplace, your family just as he was sent to serve and not be served and seek those who are lost.