El Privilegio Servir a Dios | Pastor Jerry Collins
·35 min·3 clips
A new family's 13-year-old daughter was kidnapped and found dead in the desert days after they accepted Christ.
Pastor Jerry Collins opens the sermon by stating that serving God is a privilege, more blessed than being served. He reads from Ephesians 4, urging listeners to walk worthy of their calling with humility and patience. Collins explains that grace is given according to the measure of Christ's gift for service, and without God, we cannot serve effectively. He shares a personal conviction about daily cross-bearing from Luke 9:23-33, noting that discipleship requires renouncing possessions. The pastor recounts a heartbreaking story: a family new to Christ had their 13-year-old daughter kidnapped on her way to school; her body was found in the desert days later, yet they continued in faith. He contrasts this tragedy with common complaints about serving, emphasizing life's brevity and the importance of storing treasures in heaven. Collins outlines a five-step discipleship path: worship, community, commitment, service, and outreach. He discusses conditions for serving, starting with time—stressing attendance, preparation, and punctuality. The pastor criticizes those who skip church out of laziness, sharing an anecdote about telling his wife he's too tired to preach. He moves to testimony, urging believers to be examples in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity. Collins offers two tests for determining right behavior: whether you'd invite your pastor along and what non-Christians think Christians should do. He addresses modest dress, particularly for women, warning that immodest attire draws attention away from the face and dishonors God. Finally, he talks about serving with treasures, mentioning his own tithing and offering as an example, and notes that their church doesn't misuse funds like some in other countries.
