At Morning Star Baptist Church, our mission is to Love God, Love People, and Serve the World. This week’s sermon, “Serve Others,” delivered by Pastor Theron Jackson, challenges us to view service not as an optional extra, but as the clearest evidence that Christ is truly at work within us.
Main Point: Spiritual Fruit is for Others
Drawing from Luke 13:6-9 and Mark 10:35–45, Pastor Jackson reminds us that spiritual fruit—kindness, generosity, compassion—was never meant to be hoarded. “Fruit is never for the tree,” he says, echoing Jesus’ teaching that greatness in God’s kingdom is not about status or platform, but about service. As Jesus put it, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NIV).
Why Serving Others Matters
The heart of the message is this: When God transforms us, the transformation should spill over into the lives of others. We are blessed to be a blessing. Just as the fig tree is cultivated not for its own benefit, but for others to enjoy its fruit, so too are we called to let what God grows in us become nourishment and hope to those around us.
Practical Steps: How to Start Serving Today
Pastor Jackson gives us practical ways to live out this calling:
See Others: Service begins when we truly see the people around us—their needs, hurts, and hopes. “Before you can serve somebody, you’ve got to see somebody,” he says. Ask God to open your eyes to those who may feel invisible.
Stoop Low: Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, performing the task of the lowest servant. Sometimes service means laying down pride and doing what seems beneath us, simply because someone needs it.
Sacrifice Will Be Required: Real service often costs us—time, comfort, convenience, even pride. But as Pastor Jackson reminds us, “If it never costs you anything, eventually you ought to ask yourself, are you actually serving?”
Start With What You Have: Don’t wait until you have “enough.” God can multiply small offerings—like the boy’s lunch in John 6—into extraordinary blessings. Your little is much in God’s hands.
Action Steps This Week
Look for one person you can help today—whether it’s a meal, a phone call, or simply listening.
Reflect: Who have you stopped “seeing”? Ask God to help you notice those who need encouragement.
Offer what you have, even if it doesn’t feel like much. Trust God to use it.
Do something for someone who cannot repay you. True service expects nothing in return.
Conclusion and Prayer
Serving others is the mark of a disciple and the evidence of a heart changed by Christ. As we step out in faith, may God multiply our small acts of love for His glory and the good of others.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving us and giving us the perfect example of service in Jesus. Open our eyes to the needs around us. Give us the courage to stoop low, the willingness to sacrifice, and the faith to surrender what we have to You. Use us to bless others and let our lives bear fruit that brings hope, healing, and joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Join us next week at Morning Star Baptist Church as we continue to discover what it means to follow Jesus. If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs hope today!
Looking for ways to serve? Visit our website for opportunities to get involved.