Some of our church people are heading to Boston on a Missions Trip. Boston is different that Palermo. There are more people there. We live in a state where 98% of the people are Caucasian. Boston is a metropolitan area. It is racially diverse. You will hear many different languages as you walk the streets. There are more people in one apartment building than live in all Palermo. Where we all depend on cars to get around, a large number of people don’t drive a car and rely on the T, the rail system, buses and taxicabs to move around. If they need a car, they rent one for the weekend. You will find all sorts of different foods. The people wear a variety of clothing styles. You will see the business people in suits and ties and street people with unshaved beards asking for a handout.

You are going there to talk to people about Jesus. You will not be the first. When Ellen and I were down there a few years ago for the Boston Marathon, we were standing in line to eat supper and a man walked among the crowd preaching the message “Turn or burn.” He preached Jesus and hell. And many ignored him.

What I am trying to say is that things are different there, but they are also the same. These people are real people. The love what they love, they hate what they hate. They all had parents and some have children. They worry about the economy and whether or not they will have a job at the end of the week. They love their wives and children or they don’t. They think about God. They pray.

As you go on this trip you have a problem. The problem is this. How do you work with people who are like you but are so much different? I have three answers for you. First, as you will be there for such a short time, don’t expect to solve this problem. It will be a struggle with you all week. You will learn and make adjustments, but the time is too short to do all that will let you know the culture, relate to these people and understand all that is going around you. So second, if you are not going to fully solve the problem, listen well to those who are training you. They are going to try to fill in the gaps. Everything they tell you will be for a purpose. If they talk about safety issues, it is for your benefit. If they talk about how to approach certain people, they do so because they know and you may not. Your ability to listen and learn with a humble attitude will be huge.

Third, and this is where I want to stay today, go with a proper ministry mindset. What is a ministry mindset? A mindset describes the attitude you use to respond to situations. For example, if someone knocks over your tray of food on your lap, if you are self-centered, you will jump up and say, “Why did you do that to me?” If you have a different mindset, you might listen first. When you hear the other people apologize, you might say, “ That’s all right. I’m sure we can get this cleaned up.” The illustration shows two different mindsets towards the same situation.

So what should your mindset be towards ministry? What is a ministry mindset? A ministry mindset is summarized by the acronym “JOY.” Jesus, Others, You.

Jesus first. When Paul came to the Thessalonian church, this is what he said. “4 We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4, NIV. When persecution came to the early church, “29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!” Acts 5:29, NIV.

Whatever we do and say must meet the test of this first priority. Are we putting Jesus first in our lives?

If we are, it will affect what we say and how we say it. There is no room for putdowns if we are talking to our about people that Jesus loves. Those who find people different than them are apt to make fun of them. “Oh, did you see what that person was wearing? Is that a boy or a girl?” Here’s a lesson I have been taught, but don’t follow as much as I should. We should not say anything to anyone else that we would not say to the person to whom we are talking. And, we should not say anything that we know Jesus wouldn’t approve of. I have to add that because some of us can be cruel to others.

If we put Jesus first in our lives, it not only will affect our speech, but our behavior. Can you imagine these young people who represent Jesus Christ stealing from a store in Boston? You would say, “What hypocrisy.” And you would be right.

So let me ask you a question? Are there any of you who would be embarrassed if other Christian knew what you were doing in your life? This is a serious issue. For if we are going to put Christ first, we need to put Christ first.

Others second. Philippians says “4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4, NIV.

This verse does not say to deny your own interests, but it does tell us to look out for others in what we do.

So what does this look like? It means that if we see someone in the parking lot whose hands are full, we think about them and help them. This means that if we are in a small group and we have things we want to share, we also give time to others to share as well. This means that if we want the end pew and someone comes in, we move over and let them take our seat. Thinking about others’ interests means that in marriage we think about where the other person might want to take a vacation, where they might want to eat, what they might want to do on the weekend.

In ministry it means that we don’t make plans based on our own interests, but think about what will work for the body, the group, the church. Let’s say, for example, that Paul visits a Gentile home. He is a Jewish man and prefers things done in a Jewish manner. Putting others’ interests first means that he will go to the Gentile home, he will eat what is put in front of him, and he will be gracious to them in every way that he can. Why? Because he sees that they are doing what they are doing out of a heart of love and good will.

Our young people who are heading south will find themselves needing to put the interest of others before themselves. This goes from what seat they sit in on the way down to curtailing certain activities because a member of the group cannot participate. It may mean getting out of their comfort zone.

“14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe” Philippians 2:14, 15, NIV.

This verse describes the person who is fighting for them self and not thinking about others. They complain or argue. The negativity drags everyone down. It robs joy. It becomes a bad testimony. Complaining and arguing people do not shine like stars in the universe!

What stops abuse in this situation? What stops someone from abusing someone who is considering their interests as well as their own? The first is priority. Put Jesus first. Sometimes when we think about the interests of others, we discover that their interest is not to honor God, not to serve God, not to love God, not to help people, not to do what is best. In that situation we are under no obligation to help them. There is an order to the priorities.

Yourself third. Jesus. Others. Yourself. What a wonderful way to spell joy.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil 2:4)

Notice the verse does not say that you should not look out for your own interests. Rather, it says you should look not only to your own interests. It says that you should look also at the interests of others.

I will say that taking care of self is important. Jesus often got away from the crowds to talk to his Father, to receive strength and help. One reason that we take care of self is so we have the strength and ability to help others in Jesus’ name.

The question we ask is this: What are your interests? What are you interested in? Are you interested in being noticed or in not being noticed? Are you interested in riches or fame? Are you interested in being popular or liked by someone else?

You may be in trouble. Jesus’ interest was to do the will of God. Paul writes that 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe”

Being blameless and pure, without fault, shining like the stars were all his interests. So there were times he needed to stop and take the personal time to do a spiritual inventory.

Do you remember when Elijah fought the prophets of Baal? The queen wanted to kill him so he runs into the desert. He is exhausted, depressed and suicidal. What does God say to him? He does not ask him to pray or to read his Bible. He asks him to eat and sleep. Then he comes and speaks to him in a still small voice. Elijah’s priorities were straightened out and he was able to continue with a new focus.

Jesus first. Others. Yourself. This spells joy. One result that I hope will be the result of this trip is that our team will come back with joy. There is joy in serving Jesus. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

And that is what we want in this congregation as well. We want people who put Jesus first, others second and themselves third. We want people who serve the Lord with joy.

This joy can be experienced in a fallen, crooked and corrupt world. This joy can be experienced when others cause us great stress. This joy can be experienced when we keep our own priorities in order.

Joy: Jesus, Others, You.