Session Recap:
How have you been applying what you've learned and your action plan(s)?
- If you haven't, what has hindered you?
- How do we overcome it this week?
Ask:
What is the purpose of serving? Why is serving a big deal in the kingdom of God?
Teaching Time:
Jesus’ example when it comes to serving is simply amazing. He was fully God, in the flesh. He could have appeared to our world any way He wanted. He could have set himself up and exalted himself while he was here. Yet, he chose to become a servant, to give His life completely as a ransom for many. What Jesus was doing was setting an example for us. Like it says in Philippians 2, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant. In his last act with his disciples before being betrayed he washed their feet. We believe that this lifestyle is one that disciples of Christ are to abide in. We live to serve others, to be an example of Christ’s love to the world. A true disciple will worship God for who he is and we also believe that a disciple will be a servant. This is a key component of what we believe here at Connection Church.
Application:
Read Philippians 2:1-11
- What does this teach us about being a servant?
- What do v3-4 teach us about the motivation of our service?
- Why does Jesus care about our motivation in serving?
- What was the mindset of Christ? How can we learn from it?
Read John 13:1-17
- What does this teach us about being a servant?
- How would you respond if Jesus were to wash your feet?
- Would you have washed Judas’ feet? Why does Jesus?
- How is humble service a picture of the gospel to an unbelieving world?
Read Mark 10:35-45
- What does this teach us about being a servant?
- Who did Jesus say would be the greatest in the kingdom?
- How would your life change if you truly believed the greatest thing you could do is serve?
Read Galatians 5:13
- What does this teach us about being a servant?
- What does it look like to indulge the flesh rather than humbly serve and love others?
Read 2 Cor 5:14-15
- What does this teach us about being a servant?
- What compels us to serve God? How do we resist living for ourselves?
Where do we get it wrong?!
- People see serving as something to do, not a person to become.
- People see serving God as a “have to” duty not a “get to” privilege.
- People miss the connection between our heart and our service. Our willingness to serve is an incredible indicator of our heart before God.
- People base their ability to serve on their own ability, repute, or experience rather than trusting the Spirit in them.
- People feel disqualified to serve God because of their past. God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
Action Plan:
- What is one area of your life where you can become a better servant?
- What are some steps to begin taking to help you in becoming a faithful servant? (Ex. Start serving at church, having a servant’s heart at work, serving your spouse...)
Useful Tools
Lessons from Jesus on how to serve others
Back to Session 10: What is true and proper worship?
Go to Session 12: what it means to be a missionary