Ministry Sunday 2026 - Sermon Notes | Bible Baptist Church of Ballincollig

I. Introduction (Revelation 4:1,2,10,11)

Revelation 4:1,2 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Revelation 4:10,11 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord*,* **to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Warning - this will not be the most exciting message, because it is not about YOU!
We often think of all that God gives us: life, our families, our health, our salvation, this church, our Bible, answers to our prayers, the Holy Spirit…
But, the Lord Jesus is absolutely worthy of RECEIVING from us…
Glory and honour (all the attention and worship) - like movie stars are given
Consistently honoring and worshipping Him, on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays…
Power / MY power - He is worthy of us giving Him our best strength, not our leftovers, and only our problems, but our BEST
Including MY crowns! My achievements, they are all because of HIM!
Jesus is oh so worthy of EVERY moment of our limited time here being given back to HIM! Our best! Our strengths, our first things, instead of our left-overs!
Revelation 7:11,12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

A. Think of all of creation

This entire, massive universe is not here by accident, or evolution!
Absolutely everything in this universe was and is being created by our God!
And the universe is not dead - it is in motion, and there are planets and stars forming and dying all over [STARRY SKY]
All by the words spoken by God
“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth” - Psalm 33:6

B. All of creation really is not about US!

Some of you need to get off your phones and head outside with binoculars and see all that God has created!
Everything was created for God’s pleasure, not ours
THAT IS THE TWIST
ALL things were created to bring glory and honor and power and attention to Him
All of heaven thinks Jesus is worthy of everything we are and can do
The question is what Is He worth to you?
What is that Jesus is worthy of from YOU?

An hour on a Sunday?
A few thoughts directed at God every once in a while?
A token bit of money in the offering box?

I know what He is worthy of to me!
He is worthy of my LIFE - a servant’s life - no matter what I am asked to do

II. Message

A. We Were Saved To Serve Each Other

Yes, love one another, but more importantly to serve one another out of love!
Not to be blessed, but a blessing, a benefit to someone else! Especially to God

See Revelation 4:11 again, Thou art worthy, O Lord, **to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, **be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
That is the key! Lovingly serve other Christians

It is a choice you need to make! Every day!

Paul said in 1Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Whether you like people or not
Whether people like you or not
I have chosen to serve everybody - to be a servant of all!

B. Serving Means To Go Low

MEANING: To serve means to do the will of another person
Replace the word “serve” with “bless” or “benefit” to get the right idea…
What serving looks like:

John 3:30 He [JESUS] must increase, but I must decrease.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
To do what OTHERS do not want to do
To wash people’s feet - we humble ourselves taking someone’s coat, or offering them tea or coffee
To be pushed to do what YOU normally wouldn’t want to do
To be stepped on, and ignored, and looked down upon as you bless someone
To clean up other people’s messes
And bless people who will never appreciate you or pay you back
THOSE are acts of service by a servant in God’s kingdom

C. We Serve a Different Master Now

We used to serve our BELLY - our own wants

Romans 16:17,18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. **For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
We thought only of what would make us happy

We serve the Lord God now - HE has become our LORD

We seek to make HIM happy with our lives
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” - Joshua 24:15

And we serve broken, messed up people - AS IF THEY ARE JESUS!

People who hurt us - who will mock us - step on us - thinking they will appreciate us, but they don’t
We serve no longer thinking only of our own benefit but also of benefitting other people, all because that is what Jesus did when He stepped down into our selfish world!

By-the-way, EVERYTHING we do now is spiritual - for a different world

Everything we do is for the Lord’s honour, is for the Lord’s kingdom!
There no longer are two worlds you live in: you are light, salt in this world, every minute of every day - NOT just on Sundays or when you are praying! Everything you do matters! IS spiritual!

D. Jesus Is Our Example of a Servant - not of a King

Jesus IS King of kings, but He became a servant, to be our example to serve!

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him” - John 13:14-16
Philippians 2:3-6 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind [WAY OF THINKING] be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Philippians 2:7,8 But *made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself *[FURTHER], and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Think about all the ways that Jesus SERVED PEOPLE

He sat and ate with sinners, encouraging them, drawing them to God
He touched the lepers, risking His health for their healing
He taught and then feed the 5,000 men - that took a lot of time
He made time for little children
He met a need at a wedding in Cana
THAT is how Jesus served God
He did God’s will every moment of every day of His earthly life as a servant, not as a king! (He did not fly First Class! He walked everywhere!)

What are you NOT willing to do?
By-the-way, whatever you do, God promises to help you! (Philippians 2:13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

E. We Are Called To Be The Servant of All - No Snobbery

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, **let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Matthew 20:25-27 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
What a flip! A twist! A contradiction!
The greatest battle that ought to take place in your home and in this church is the fight to serve the people who gather here and minister to them and honour them above yourself

F. Serving Is Our Best Lifestyle

God’s greatest people loved being known as “a servant of Jesus Christ!”

Romans 1:1 Paul, **a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:” - Philippians 1:1
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting” - James 1:1

What are you striving to be? a Doctor? Lawyer? Preacher, Astronaut, Engineer, Politician, Movie Star, Musician, Footballer? Mother, Father, Grandfather?
You’re nothing without a servant’s heart. All those things are nothing if you do not have a servant’s heart!
But… if you serve, you will always be a success in God’s eyes!

G. God Honours Servants, Not Successful, Powerful People

Matthew 25:21 Well done, thou good and faithful servant
John 12:26 if any man serve me, him will my Father honour
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Does any of that mean anything to you dear friends? Or are you only living for now?

H. Serving Is Hard

Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered [WEIGHED DOWN] about much serving, and came to him [JESUS]**, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Who told you it will be easy being a servant?

There will never be enough people helping you serve - you will often feel alone, and overwhelmed, and forgotten
Making meals, sweeping floors, hoovering, washing dishes - HARD WORK!
Did you know preaching is HARD to do? Not yelling, not giving opinions, but faithfully declaring Bible truth, line upon line, precept upon precept
Did you know pastoring is hard?
Did you know working with addicts is hard?
Did you know soul-winning is hard?
Teaching children is hard work?
Planning our evangelistic events is hard?
Praying is hard!
Blessing people is hard work!

The devil doesn’t want you and me to do ANY of that!
And neither does your flesh!

Serving is the only way to pleasing God
Any other way makes life about YOU!

So, Expect Hardships, Storms, and deep tiredness - that’s okay!

Listen to the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews*:* *[*SOUGHT TO KILL ME]
Acts 20:33-35 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities [I WORKED A JOB SO I COULD SERVE OTHERS]**, and [MINISTERED] to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and **to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Even to the point of exhaustion!

Don’t only do things in ministry because it is fun, or easy, or convenient
And DON’T let whatever you may have to go through discourage your commitment to serving
God’s will is NOT for us to be a success, or happy, or popular, but to be faithful just doing God’s will! No matter the cost to you or me!
Prepare to be hurt, burned out, greatly disappointed, frustrated at people
And even frustrated at God sometimes, like Job was - wondering WHY God is allowing us to go through such hardships when we are tryiing so hard to do what is right!
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; [NOT JUST PERSECUTION BUT HARDSHIPS]” - Philippians 1:29

I. Don’t Leave Serving To The Few

Acts 6:1-4 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Some are leaders in a church, but ALL are servants, especially the leaders!
Every church has needs
And every church has people who can meet those needs
Just… Don’t leave the work to the few…
By-the-way. It IS okay to NOT be good at something - as long as you are serving, and not performing!

III. Just Know This…

A. I must NOT do all the work (Ephesians 4:7-12)

I love planning, praying, preaching, doing the announcements, leading the singing
But I should not! YOU should!
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [WHY?] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” - Ephesians 4:7-12
God gave ME to you and your family:

To prepare you and you to do the work of the ministry - the Gospel ministry
So that THIS body of believers is edified and built up and made strong
And so that Jesus Christ is pleased, not us!

More of you need to step up, man up, grow up and start serving WITH me
Because… Jesus is worthy!

B. YOU are the body of Christ (1Corinthians 12) here in Cork

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” - 1 Corinthians 12:27
A church exists like a living body, not with individual people, but parts of a whole - the body of Jesus Christ on earth right here, today!

Some of you are strong hands, and fingers, and thumbs
Others are the eyes
Some are the mouth, the ears
Others are the feet, or shoulders
All part of a local group of people acting as one body, serving the Lord

“,13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” - 1 Corinthians 12:12
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Did you notice?

All of us believers here are “Members in particular” - Every person has a part that they provide - EVERY Christian - not just the confident ones!
The Lord brought you here - Planted you here
You are gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve

Jesus expects you and me:

To work together with other Christians as a body - a team (not independent)
To do easy things, simple things, small things
But also to do heavy lifting, hard things, big things
NOT constantly criticizing and complaining - so easy to do
But serving one another out of a heart of LOVE
Galatians 5:13-15 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another*.* For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
You have been made free, so you can serve the right Master
Instead of being Complainers, and Fault finders, hyper critical
Not to lead at first, but to go as far down as possible and start helping people
Oh that SERVING and loving the brethren would become your lifestyle
When serving is only when it’s easy or convenient, you are missed like a missing shoe - you’re like a dislocated shoulder, a numb hand, a deaf ear, or a blind eye!

We All Need to Do Something and just Serve!

IV. Areas in church where you can start helping

The Welcome Ministry (Tony) - taking attendance, greeting, welcoming
The Coffee and Tea Hub
Soul-winning (Bill Daunt) when we start up in February or March
Visiting - so many need just a friendly visit, an encouragement, a Hello text!
Teaching - (Trevor) helping teach Children, Teens, Men’s meetings, etc - I and Stewart and Betsy, and Cindy, and Trevor need helpers!
Discipleships
Ensemble/choir (Christopher) singing
Playing a musical instrument (Gleb)
Multimedia
Cleaning and setup every week
Preaching
Evangelising on the streets in Cork City
Praying - making prayer for the needs of people your ministry
Missions - start caring for the needs of our 8 missionary families
Healing Hearts
Giving
Maybe all you can do is give to the building fund to help us buy the building across the street
Maybe all you can do is be a blessing and a servant by giving away your money to Missions and evangelism, and the needs of people
Transportation
Child Protection Officers
Building and Construction
Organising and Planning Events
Ladies fellowships
Church dinners
32nd Anniversary as a Church - it is a miracle that our church exists!
Men’s Camp - Rebuilding What Our Enemy Has Ruined
Bible Club - Kids Under Construction - also learning about Nehemiah
Patrick’s Day Parade
Our Mission’s Trip to Hungary in October!

A. Just serve! As you would to your Saviour - to the BEST Friend you could ever have!

Just do SOMETHING! Something MORE than sitting in a chair on a Sunday
Do what you can, so someone else is helped, blessed, made happy, taken cared of, taught, matured, fed, protected, loved, mentored…

V. Conclusion

I hope you enjoy church - the fellowshipping, the preaching, the coffee, tea, scones, teaching, cleanliness, the evangelism, the praying, the singing
But I want Jesus to enjoy our church more!
So, Where will YOU help this year?
You won’t serve and love the brethren without a new heart yourself!