Jeremy Hoover

Amidst temptations to lead by control, manipulation, and coercion, godly leaders know that God calls them to serve others because it is their duty to God.

Sometimes we view each other as the "necessary evil" that gets in the way of our loving God. When we view each other this way, passages like Hebrews 10:24-25 that exhort to continue meeting together are understood slavishly, as a way to obey God.

But when we realize that God expects us to love each other as brothers and sisters, and to keep on doing so, we learn that we need to encourage, serve, and mentor each other. We're called to more. We're called to love better.

In this sermon, I examine how encouraging, serving, and mentoring each other will transform our relationships with other believers, and with God. I also look at a simple concept called Life Transformation Groups and how these small, biblically-focused groups can help us achieve all three...and the transformation that God desires for us.

Sometimes we think God's will is so mysterious that we doubt we'll ever find or understand it. But the bible is clear that God's will is both findable and understandable. We understand God's will in the gospel that provides us hope and teaches us to live sacrificially like Jesus, we experience his will in prayer and in spiritual growth that provides knowledge of him, and we express God's will when we bear fruit by serving others in love.

Jesus requires us to serve the least of his brothers and sisters if we desire to truly serve him. In this sermon, from Matthew 25:31-46, I look at five themes that emerged from my meditation on this text that are related to doing to others "as unto Christ."