Group Notes | February 18

Difference Makers: To Send is to Serve, To Serve is to Give, To Give is to Love
February 18, 2018
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

Open:

Doing something kind for someone—especially one who has hurt you, or even hates you—is very difficult, isn’t it? If you can think of an example, share how you felt after serving.

Recently we have focused our hearts and our minds on how we can be “Difference Makers” in the lives of people with whom we come into contact. We have learned that sharing our story of salvation, discipling someone who has accepted Christ so that they, too, can share their story, and serving are all “non-negotiables” in God’s plan for our lives. Let’s continue our ending thought from last week on our responsibility to serve.

Focal Passages: Gal. 5:13-15.

Discuss:

TO SEND IS TO SERVE

Serving is an antidote to selfishness

  1. Read Gal. 5:13. Some forms of freedom a Christ-follower is saved from is freedom from our past (2 Cor. 5:17), and freedom from the power of sin (Rom. 8:2, 6:11-14); can you think of others? How can one abuse those freedoms (read Rom 6:1-2)?
  2. Why would God warn you not to use your freedom for yourself, but to serve others? Name some reasons you hold back from serving others.
  3. Was selfishness a reason listed? Will you share if there are feelings of selfishness in your life? What happens when you begin serving someone else? Can the two feelings reside together in your heart?

Serving is a picture of God’s command

  1. Read verse 14. Give some examples of how much you love your own self. How does this go with Eph. 5:29?
  2. In the opening, you saw that God commanded you to serve one another; what must be your attitude as you undertake this (14b) and why?
  3. Read verse 15. What are some examples of “biting and devouring” each other? How can this destroy you, your testimony or your service?
  4. 6:2 lists a way you can serve: what are some others?
  5. When you serve others, what happens to your own Christ-like spirit? Read Heb. 5:14; how is that like making your spirit stronger?

Serving keeps us together

  1. You probably thought of someone in the opening discussion that has made a negative impact on your life; what are practical ways you can serve this person, differently than you might serve someone you are trying to win for Christ? Read Titus 3:1-3. Would you impact your world if you followed these few verses?

 

Close

It is very easy to think of taking a short-term missions trip, until, on reflection, you grow uncomfortable thinking of insects, dirt, food you haven’t experienced, and bathrooms. Then a feeling of “maybe sometime” comes. Being comfortable in your safe area becomes more important than ministering to others. Who are you putting first?

Perhaps the person next door has been an antagonistic neighbor: always finding something about the way (or frequency) you mow your yard, or allow your children to yell, or how you leave outside lights on at night. You decide to build an invisible wall between the two of you, waiting until he goes into his house before enjoying your yard. Who are you putting first?

The truth is, it’s not easy to serve, unless it’s someone you know, or like, or are comfortable with. But none of those requirements are in the command from God, are they? Everyone who calls himself a child of God is commanded to serve others, particularly those who are your “enemies” (Matt. 5:43-44). And God understands our emotions and says start by “pray(ing) for” those people. Service can take many forms, and prayer should be at the top of the list. Pray God would open doors that you can serve often and effectively, and that it would be with an attitude of love.

Key Verses: Gal. 5:13: For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (NKJV)

 

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