Faith and Servanthood

This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church Los Angeles on August 10, 2025.

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. (James 2:17 NLT)

Faith and servanthood is a topic that is central to our lives as Christians.These two concepts are deeply intertwined. You cannot have one without the other, not in the way that God intends for us.Our faith isn't meant to be a passive belief; it's a living, breathing force that calls us to action. And that action is servanthood—the humble act of serving others as Christ served us.

This internal change directly impacts how a person lives their life. The "race to accumulate more for ourselves" gives way to a desire to be "used by God for His purposes." This means that daily decisions, from how time is spent to how money is used, are filtered through a new lens: "How can I honor God with this?"

Scripture Reading

James 2:14-26 NLT [14] What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? [15] Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, [16] and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? [17] So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. [18] Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” [19] You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. [20] How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? [21] Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. [23] And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. [24] So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. [25] Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. [26] Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Scripture Text

James 2:17 NLT [17] So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Today, we want to talk about another topic that is central to our lives as Christians: faith and servanthood. These two concepts are deeply intertwined. You cannot have one without the other.  Our faith isn't meant to be a passive belief; it's a living, breathing force that calls us to action. And that action is servanthood—the humble act of serving others as Christ served us.

We know from Hebrews 11:1 that "faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." 

It's the conviction that God is real, that His promises are true, and that His love is unending. It's about  seeking God's guidance, reflecting on His Word, and aligning our priorities with His will. It's the daily decision to trust in His plan, even when it doesn't make sense to us.

Hebrews 11:6 NLT says it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

A strong faith acts as a catalyst for internal transformation.  A transformation that fundamentally changes a person's priorities and worldview. This change isn't a superficial adjustment, but a deep-seated shift that redefines what a person values and how they perceive their role in the world.

When faith in God becomes the core of a person's identity, their perspective naturally shifts away from a self-centered view. The pursuit of worldly success—such as career advancement, accumulating possessions, or gaining social status—loses its central importance. This isn't to say these things become unimportant, but rather that they are re-evaluated in light of a higher purpose. A strong faith reveals that true and lasting fulfillment doesn't come from these temporary external achievements, but from an internal connection to something and someone that is eternal.

Instead of striving to build a personal kingdom, the focus turns to serving God's kingdom.

As Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount Matthew 6:31-33 NLT [31]  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ [32] These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. [33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

A person starts to see their job not just as a means to a paycheck, but as a platform to exhibit integrity, kindness, and hard work. Their possessions are viewed as resources to be managed wisely and used to help others, rather than as symbols of personal success. Their status is not a source of pride, but an opportunity to influence others positively and humbly.

This internal change directly impacts how a person lives their life. The "race to accumulate more for ourselves" gives way to a desire to be "used by God for His purposes." This means that daily decisions, from how time is spent to how money is used, are filtered through the  new lens of "How can I honor God with this?"

Ultimately, a strong faith transforms a person's life from a mission of self-gain to a mission of self-giving, reflecting a deeper and more enduring purpose than what the world can offer.

A strong faith will inevitably lead to a desire to serve. As our text scripture, James 2:17, says So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Our faith finds its purpose and its proof in our actions.

Jesus Himself modeled this perfectly. He, the King of kings, and Lord of lords,  came not to be served, but to serve. In Matthew 20:28, He tells us, For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Think about that. He washed His disciples' feet, a task reserved for the lowliest of servants.  Look at this from;

John 13:1-5 NLT [1] Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. [2] It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. [3] Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. [4] So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, [5] and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

He also healed the sick, 

Jesus heals a man who is lowered through the roof by his friends, first forgiving his sins and then telling him to pick up his mat and walk. This story in Mark 2:1-12, highlights Jesus' authority to forgive sins as well as his power to heal.

He healed a woman with a chronic bleeding problem. A woman who had been suffering for twelve years touches the hem of Jesus' garment and is instantly healed. Jesus turns to her and says, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."  That encounter is recorded at Luke 8:43-48,

He healed a blind man near Jericho Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus is leaving Jericho, a blind man calls out to him for mercy. Jesus restores his sight, and the man immediately follows him, glorifying God.

He fed the hungry, 

After a crowd has been with Jesus for three days and has nothing to eat, Jesus takes seven loaves of bread and a few small fish, gives thanks, and feeds approximately 4,000 people, with seven baskets of leftovers. That is at Mark 8:1-10.

Jesus also spent time with the outcasts of society. 

As recorded at John 4:1-42,  Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at a well. At the time, Samaritans were despised by Jews, and a man speaking to a woman he didn't know in public was highly unusual. Jesus breaks both social and religious norms by engaging her in a deep conversation. He reveals his identity as the Messiah and offers her "living water," transforming her life and leading her to share the good news with her entire village.

In another instance there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a wealthy and despised tax collector. In those days in Israel, tax collectors were considered social pariahs and traitors by their fellow Jews because they worked for the Roman government and often extorted money from people. Zacchaeus  was so eager to see Jesus that he climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus stops, sees him, and invites himself to Zacchaeus's house for a meal. This visit changes Zacchaeus's heart. He promises to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he has cheated four times over.  Read about in Luke 19:1-10

Then there was the woman caught in adultery who was brought to Jesus by the Pharisees and scribes, who intended to stone her according to the law of Moses. That encounter is in John 8:1-11. Jesus, rather than condemning her, kneels down and writes in the dirt. He then says, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." One by one, her accusers leave. Jesus, left alone with the woman, tells her, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." This act demonstrates Jesus's mercy and grace toward a person who had been publicly shamed and outcast.

Jesus showed us that true greatness in the Kingdom of God isn't about power or prestige; it's about humble service. As Galatians 5:13 tells us, we are called to "serve one another humbly in love.". Let's read it;

Galatians 5:13 NLT [13] For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 

So, what does this look like for us today? Servanthood isn't always about grand gestures. It's often in the small, everyday acts like listening to a friend in need, offering a helping hand to a neighbor, volunteering your time, or simply showing kindness to someone who seems overlooked. It's about seeing the people around us through the eyes of Christ and responding with love and compassion.

Faith and servanthood are a beautiful cycle. 

Our faith in God fuels our desire to serve, and as we serve, we see God's hand at work, which in turn strengthens our faith. It requires us to constantly ask ourselves: "Where is God calling me to serve today?" and "Are my priorities aligned with His will?"

It’s a way of life. It’s about committing to a strong foundation in faith and then allowing that faith to move us to action. It’s about remembering that the greatest joy we can experience is found not in seeking our own fulfillment, but in giving ourselves away in service to others.

I encourage you today to reflect on your own life. Is your faith alive and active? Is it leading you to serve those around you? Let's pray for the strength and guidance to live lives that truly reflect both our faith in God and our commitment to serving others.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the message we've heard today, reminding us that faith is not just a belief, but a call to action. We are grateful for the example of Jesus, who showed us what it means to live a life of servanthood—reaching out to the outcasts, healing the sick, and feeding the hungry.

Help us to move beyond simply hearing Your Word and to actively live it out. Open our eyes to the needs of those around us, and give us the courage to serve with humility and love. Guide us to align our priorities with Your will, so that our lives may be a reflection of Your grace and compassion.

Strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus's example, not just with big gestures, but in the small, daily acts of kindness. We pray that our faith would be made visible through our service to others.

In Jesus's name we pray, Amen.