Week 2 - We Serve
Day 8 - 14
Day 8 - we serve
Jesus demonstrated sacrificial service in His life and ministry. Everything He did was oriented toward seeking the good of those around Him. READ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 REFLECT -What does the word ‘ransom’ make me think of? How does this relate to Jesus? -When I look at how I spend my time, how often is my time focused on myself? How much time is spent sacrificing ‘my’ time for others? -How does it play out for me to seek the good of those around me? Is this on my radar? GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for Jesus and the example of sacrifice and service that His life showed. Lord, please make me more like you and give me the desire to serve those around me, in my home, my church, and my city. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen. ___ We SERVE in 3 places: the home, the church, and our city. We will spend the next 6 days looking at serving in each of these contexts.
Day 9 - we serve...at home
Serving others begins with making ourselves intentionally aware of the needs of those around us. This begins in the home, as our most significant relationships exist within those walls. READ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4) REFLECT -How aware am I of my family’s interests? Am I mindful of their needs and desires? -How can I regularly be intentional about looking for ways to seek the good of those in my home? -What things do I need to stop doing in order to be able to start serving my family better? GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for my home and the people you have blessed me with. Please illuminate the areas where I am not serving those in my home and grant me the humility to do something about it. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen.
Day 10 - we serve...at home
Love is said to be a feeling, but according to Scripture, love is primarily an action. Jesus is the perfect example of love and we can follow His lead in how to care for and serve those in our home. READ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 REFLECT -Do my actions in my home look like what love IS? i.e. patient, kind, not envious, etc? In what areas do I struggle when it comes to showing love? -Do I serve my family in love even in times when I’m feeling frustrated, or otherwise? How can I call upon God for help and follow Jesus’ example? -What does unconditional love in the home look like? Am I gracious, putting my needs and feelings second to serve my family? GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for your love and for your son Jesus as the example of perfect and sacrificial love. Convict me of the ways I do not serve in love in my home or those closest to me. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen.
Day 11 - we serve...at church
God has uniquely gifted each of His children and called us to serve together on mission. Our mission doesn’t simply mean “out in the mission field,” but includes the context of the local church. We are called to serve where we worship. READ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11 REFLECT -Am I aware of my strengths and spiritual gifts? If not, who can I talk to about helping identify what these serving gifts might be? -What does it mean to be a good steward of “God’s varied grace?” -Do I struggle with finding contentment in the areas where God has gifted me? Do I trust that He wants to use me for the “common good” of the church? GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for the ways you have gifted me and uniquely made me. Please empower me to understand my gifts better and serve confidently in the local church with your people. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen.
Day 12 - we serve...at church
The church is not a business or a corporation. Rather, the Bible describes it as a body, with every part contributing something unique and valuable as part of a functioning, healthy, whole. READ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 REFLECT -Do I believe that God has empowered me in the Spirit to contribute something unique and specific in His church? -Do I realize that without my regular, serving presence, the church is lacking something vital? -Have I found a place to put my God-given strengths to use in my church? Am I serving regularly on a team? GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for my local church and the gift that it is to be with your people on a regular basis. Help me see how to use my gifts to serve in my church in order to give you glory, advance your gospel and grow the church. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen.
Day 13 - we serve...in the city
When we think of the term “live outward” we often think of large-scale outreach opportunities such as THX (our Thanksgiving day event). But serving the city is a daily pursuit, a way of life. Although at times it may feel mundane or ineffective, serving our neighbors, schools, teammates, coworkers, etc is an essential part of following Jesus, serving as He served. READ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 REFLECT -When I think of serving outside of my church and home what comes to mind? Is this something that I take part in regularly? -What are the barriers to serving my city and how can they be overcome to love those outside of my circle? -How does my service in the city give glory to God? What does it look like to “let my light shine?” GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for Jesus who is the light of the world. God help me to shine that light to those around me but also to those outside of my comfort zone and in my city. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen.
Day 14 - we serve...in the city
Loving our neighbor does not mean just those who physically live on our street or in our building. We are called to love those around us, even when it feels uncomfortable and sacrificial. Jesus sought out the lowly and the sick and oppressed and served them without hesitation. READ For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 REFLECT -When confronted with evidence of pain or injustice, am I moved to do something about it? -If asked the question ‘do you love your neighbor as yourself?’ what is my response? Do I know who to identify as my neighbor? -What does it look like for me to use my Christian freedom to serve? GUIDED PRAYER PROMPT Dear Lord, thank you for loving me. Thank you for seeking me out in my lowest and darkest moments and loving me still. Guide me to those around me and in my city who need help and soften my heart to help however I can. Use me to be your hands and feet here on Earth where you have placed me. In your name we pray, Amen.