Service

What is service?

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• Today words like serve, service, and servant are often viewed in negative ways because they describe something difficult and undesirable.
• Service goes back to the very beginning as all of creation was created to serve God.
• Mankind had a unique relationship with God as they had authority and dignity in the Garden of Eden where it was a privilege and delight to serve God.
• Because of the fall of mankind, service is typically not as dignifying and delighting as it ought to be.
• Living in a way that gives glory to God and does good to other people.

Why is service important?

• Serving God is not a job of casual interest. It requires costly service as God is asking for your life.
• “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come home and die.” - Deitrich Bonhoeffer
• Christ himself came to give the greatest example of service.
  
  • Mark 10:45
  • John 13:12-16

• Our service may or may be seen in front of others, but our heavenly Father sees it.
• Every believer is expected to serve.
  
  • We are redeemed so that we can be a δούλος of God (Ephesians 2:10).
  • We serve God not to meet his needs (Acts 17:25).

• Motivated by obedience
  
  • Deuteronomy 13:4
• Motivated by gratitude
  
  • 1 Samuel 12:24
• Motivated by gladness
  
  • Psalm 100:2
• Motivated by forgiveness
  
  • Isaiah 6:6-8
• Motivated by humility
  
  • Philippians 2:3
• Motivated by love
  
  • Galatians 5:13

How do we serve for our own spiritual growth?

• Spiritual gifts
  
  • Given to equip believers to serve God and serve others.
• 1 Peter 4:10-11

• If you are a believer, you have at least one spiritual gift.
• The spiritual gift or gifts that you have is/are to serve it/them for the Kingdom of God.

• Discipline
  
  • Serving is often hard work
    
    • Serving God is a joy, benefit, and blessing.
    • However, service can also be difficult.

What is one thing you can do to improve your service?

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