Be A Servant

“One another” community

Single men and women have the greatest opportunity to impact God’s Kingdom on a local and global scale. They are the primary demographic that has the time, money, talents, and options to go wherever and do whatever God and the church need.

There is, of course, a caveat for some who are single moms and single dads. If you are a single dad, your children should always be your focus and you should be content ministering to your precious flock. Other opportunities will come around when your children are grown and gone from home. You will never be able to wind the clock backward to revisit missed opportunities. God is glorified when you love your children as he desires you to love them.

Now back to others who do not have children or whose children have moved out of the house. The first step in being mobilized to serve is recognizing that you are part of something much larger than yourself called the Body of Christ. You are part of a community of believers globally and you are part of a community of believers locally. This step means you have to move from being self-focused to being outwardly focused. This is a process that needs your attention often. But once you realize the need to be outwardly focused, you can see how God needs you and how he has gifted you to complete a vital piece of his incredible Kingdom.

1.21.1 Community

(1)    Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

(2)    Did you know that there are 35 “one anothers” in the New Testament? Let me list just a few for you: love one another; depend on one another; be devoted to one another; wash each other’s feet; rejoice with one another; weep with one another; live in harmony with one another; accept one another; admonish one another; greet one another; wait for one another; and so on and so forth. Isn’t it incredible to know that you were not created to live in isolation and to do life on your own? God created you and placed you in the midst of others so you can walk alongside each other.

As we live our lives in community, we take on many different roles. Life is not always the same; there are ups and downs, twists and turns, both good times and bad. You will be called upon to meet the needs of others as a caregiver, provider, comforter, and even at times a messenger. List some ways God has used you to minister to others.

 

 

When you served others who were in need, did you walk away feeling as if you were the one who received the blessing? I know your answer will probably be “yes.” That is just the way God works. It seems as if the more we live a life of obedience and act according to God’s desire, we are blessed in ways we could never predict or imagine.

Prayer: Thank God for calling you and equipping you to complete wonderful tasks for his Kingdom. Ask God to show you ways you can serve those around you this week.

1.2.21.1.2 Self-focused

(1)    Philippians 2:1-8 (ESV)
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

(2)    As followers of Christ, we should be just that – followers of Christ. We are to imitate Christ in all we say and do. The passage above tells us that we are to be of the same mind and in full accord. We are to also live lives of humility and consider others’ needs and interests above our own.

If you ever find yourself trying to justify focusing on your own needs and desires in life, re-read the passage out of Philippians. What did Christ do? What example did he set for us? What did Christ leave behind when he humbled himself and came to earth to be born as a man? Why did Christ do this?

Christ did this for all mankind. Christ did this because it was part of God’s plan to restore a fallen man with a holy God. It was the only solution to the problem of sin and eternal separation from God. In doing this, Christ set the highest example for us, his children.

As I talk to people who are involved in one tough situation after another, I see that they often focus on themselves and their own problems. Satan uses our propensity to focus on ourselves as a way of distracting us from meeting the needs of others. When we focus on ourselves, we are turned inward and do not notice what all is going on around us. This prohibits us from even noticing the people that God allows us to encounter on a daily basis. On many occasions, when I have counseled people dealing with all types of problems, I  have suggested that they begin to serve others.  I encourage them to take crawl steps and then lead them to walk and run.

Questions:

  1. Dream for a minute with me. What could your Church look like if single men began to focus on others more than themselves?
  2. What is prohibiting this from taking place?
  3. Do you think single men can make a difference at your local church?
  4. Do you think God is calling single men to take a lead in making a difference at your church?

Prayer: Ask God to show you if you struggle with focusing on yourself. It may be that you have great balance in this area of your life. If not, surrender this over to the Lord and allow him to turn your focus from inward to outward.

1.2.31.1.3 Other-focused

(1)    1 John 3:16-18 (ESV)
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

(2)    Romans 12:9-10 (ESV)
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

(3)    The passage from 1 John really hits you square between the eyes, doesn’t it? Jesus Christ “laid down his life for us!” How amazing is that? The king of kings and the lord of lords stepped out of Heaven, was born of flesh as a baby, lived a blameless life, was crucified on a cross, was buried in a tomb, and rose from the grave. Why? For us.

The second part of verse 16 is just as telling. In the same manner as Christ’s example, we are to lay down our lives for our brothers (gender inclusive). How? The answer is found in verse 17. We are to lay down our lives for one another by meeting the needs of one another. When our brothers and sisters in Christ have needs, we don’t say, “I’ll pray for you” if God has equipped us to meet that need. Of course not.  We meet that need.

As you meet the needs of others, allow God to receive the glory. I will never forget a friend of mine who was really great at meeting the needs of others. The downside was that every time he served someone else, he picked up the phone and called someone to tell that person what good deed he had just done. His actions were correct but his motives were wrong. In situations like this, when we take the credit for our good deeds, our reward will only be on earth. When we do things with the proper motives and desire God to receive the glory, our reward is both here on earth and awaiting us in heaven.

Questions:

  1. In what ways has God equipped you to meet the needs of others?
  2. What resources have God given you that you can use to serve others?
  3. What experiences have you gone through in your life that can be used to encourage others?

Prayer: Pray that God would move you to open up your heart, life, and resources to meet the needs of others within your community.

1.2.41.1.4 Gifted

(1)    1 Peter 4:10-11 (CEV)
10 Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.
11 If you have the gift of speaking, preach God’s message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.

(2)    What if I gave you a very special gift for your birthday one year and you just carried it around with you? People around you noticed you carrying the gift on your side and were curious as to whether or not you would ever open it. Day after day, week after week, people needed you to use what was inside that gift box, but day after day, week after week, you never did. The gift that I gave to you would be wasted, wouldn’t it?

When you trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you were given a gift. In fact, each of us was given the same gift: the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit manifests itself (or shows up) inside our lives through our spiritual gifts. We are to use these spiritual gifts for God’s glory as we serve the Body of Christ, the Church.

At my church, you often hear about S.H.A.P.E. If you have never heard the term, let me explain it to you. S.H.A.P.E. stands for:

Spiritual gifts

Heart

Abilities

Personality

Experiences

I believe that God does not make mistakes; that means he didn’t make a mistake by forming you just the way you are. You have been given specific spiritual gifts, a heart, abilities, a personality, and all kinds of experiences that God desires to use to strengthen his Church. Believe it or not, God can use every single part of who you are for his glory!

Question: Do you know what gift you are carrying around that God has given you to use to strengthen his Church? What are the ways that you are using your spiritual gifts? Do you notice other men around you who are not sure of their spiritual gifts and are therefore not using them? (If you are not sure about what your spiritual gift is or what your S.H.A.P.E. is, attend the next C.L.A.S.S. 301 on campus. You will leave knowing your spiritual gift and your S.H.A.P.E).

Prayer: Thank God for using you. Thank God for not giving up on you. Thank God for forgiving you and for having a purpose for your life. Ask God to show you how he desires for you to use your S.H.A.P.E. today.

 

 

1.2.51.1.5 Needed

(1)    Ephesians 2:8-10 (CEV)
8 You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own.
9 It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.
10 God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

(2)    As we discussed in the previous reading, we all are gifted by God. Why? We are gifted because God planned good works for us to do and we need the gifts to do them. If we do not use the gifts that God has given us, then the works that he planned for us will go undone. The amazing truth is GOD NEEDS US!

Now God obviously doesn’t need us in the same way we need him, but, instead, he needs us by his design. I can’t think of a greater honor than to be needed by God, can you?

God really did create a beautiful circle: We need him to complete our lives; he creates good works that he needs us to do; and we have to rely on him to work in us and through us to complete those very works. When you look at it, you could ask: “Why doesn’t God just do everything himself? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier?” The long and short of it is that God could do things more easily and quickly by himself, but that isn’t his plan. God allows us to participate with him to fulfill his purposes. How amazing is that!

Questions:

  1. What does God need you to do today?
  2. Are there works that he planned for you to do today?
  3. Have you gone before the Lord to ask him?

Prayer: Ask God to lead you to complete his good works, which he planned for your life. Thank God for allowing you to participate with him in fulfilling his purposes.

1.2.61.1.6 Expressed

(1)    Luke 8:14 (AMP)
14 And as for what fell among the thorns, these are [the people] who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked and suffocated with the anxieties and cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not ripen (come to maturity and perfection).

(2)    John 14:24 (AMP)
24 Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me.

(3)    OK, I have to admit there were times when I was growing up when I didn’t always do what my parents asked. I vividly remember a few Saturdays when I would be watching TV on the couch and my parents would walk through and ask me to do something. I would say, “OK” and then go back to watching TV. A few minutes later, they would walk back through and say, “I thought I asked you to do ________?” My reply would be, “You did.” Their reply would then be, “Then why haven’t you done it?”

Simply hearing is not enough, is it? No, we have to do. Living a life that brings honor and glory to God is a life of obedience. In order to be obedient, we have to both hear and do. Maybe I should really say listen and do. There is a difference between hearing and listening. I can hear lots of things but never listen to them. It happens all of the time. But to be obedient, we have to listen and do. It’s action.

Needs are all around you, and God is calling you to meet some of them. Needs exist in your local church, in your small group, in your group of friends, and in your family.

Questions:

  1. What will your response to God be today?
  2. Will you listen to what God is saying to you today?
  3. Will you then do what God is asking?
  4. When God is stirring in your heart and you know you are being asked to extend yourself and meet the need of someone around you, will you do it?

Prayer: If you have heard God but haven’t listened to him, maybe this would be a good time to be honest before the Lord by confessing this. Ask the Lord to continue to use you and give you the strength you need to not be just a hearer of the Word but a doer of the Word!


Week Four Small Group Discussion Guide

Connect

Use this as check-in time. What were you thinking about on your way to meet together? Follow up with your group and update them on what you discussed in your last check-in time.

Grow (Discuss the following Scriptures, quotes, and questions from your readings.)

Begin looking for your next small group study. It’s already week four of this one, and there is only one more week left!

  1. List some ways in which God has used you to minister to others.
  2. Will you listen to what God has to say to you today?
  3. Will you then do what God is asking?
  1. If you ever find yourself trying to justify focusing on your own needs and desires in life, re-read the passage out of Philippians. What did Christ do? What example did he set for us? What did Christ leave behind when he humbled himself and came to earth to be born as a man? Why did Christ do this?
  2. Do you think that single men can make a difference at your church?
  3. 1 John 3:16-18 (ESV)
    16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
    17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
    18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
  4. In what ways has God equipped you to meet the needs of others?
  5. What resources has God given you that you can use to serve others?
  6. God really did create a beautiful circle: We need him to complete our lives; he creates good works that he needs us to do; and we have to rely on him to work in us and through us to complete those very works. When you look at it, you could ask: “Why doesn’t God just do everything himself? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier?” The long and short of it is that God could do things more easily and quickly by himself, but that isn’t his plan. God allows us to participate with him to fulfill his purposes. How amazing is that!
  7. Needs are all around you, and God is calling you to meet some of them. Needs exist in your local church, in your small group, in your group of friends, and in your family.
  8. What will your response to God be today?

Serve

What opportunities do you have to serve within your local church?

 

Share

Have someone go to your local church and visit the P.E.A.C.E. or missions site. In what ways can your small group impact the world around you personally, locally, globally?

 

Worship

Appoint someone in your group to write down your prayer requests and then to follow up each week and record the way in which God answered your

 

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