Start a Servolution!

STORY: Loving to Serve

I’m not a great tennis player. I’m not even a good tennis player. When I used to own a tennis racket, I mainly went to the court to chase balls. Often, I didn’t even keep score. When I started researching the SERVE series for CBN, I thought about serving in tennis. My imagination got the best of me, and I thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if there is such a thing as love serving love?” So, I looked up how to score, and sure enough, technically, if both sides had zero points, the server could yell out, “Love serving love” and then swat the ball across the net. I know, I know. They might just say “Love all.” Well here’s the cool thing, when it comes to serving people, whether we say one or the other, it means the same thing. When we love, we serve. When we serve, we love. They go hand in hand.

STUDY: Let’s Serve Others

Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest. (1 Samuel 2:11 NLT)

• What is one way we can serve the Lord?
• Is there a way you can assist your minister?

The work of the Levites was to assist the priests, the descendants of Aaron, as they served at the house of the Lord. They also took care of the courtyards and side rooms, helped perform the ceremonies of purification, and served in many other ways in the house of God. (1 Chronicles 23:28 NLT)

• What are some of the ways the Levites served?
• Does this give you any ideas for how you might serve your church or community?

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 NLT)

• Why did Jesus come to earth?
• What does serving and giving up your life have to do with each other?
• How can you be Christlike regarding your serving?

Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:24-27 NLT)

• How is being a leader in Christ’s kingdom different from being a leader in the world?
• What does servant leadership look like?
• How did Christ turn things upside down by serving?

If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. (Romans 12:7 NLT)

• What does it look like to not serve others well?
• What is one way you can improve your acts of service? Your heart of serving?

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13 NLT)

• How is it possible to use our freedom in Christ to serve others?
• What does love have to do with serving?
• Notice the one another in this verse. Who is our one another?

She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good? (1 Timothy 5:10 NLT)

• This passage is describing a true widow in need of help from the deacons and the church. But we can learn from it and apply any virtuous traits to our own lives.
• Are you well respected because of the good you have done?
• Does serving start with your own family?
• Are you kind to strangers?
• Do you humbly serve other believers?
• Do you help those in trouble?
• Are you always ready to do good?

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (1 Peter 4:10 NLT)

• Do you know what your spiritual gift is? If not, research spiritual gift inventory online to see what you learn about yourself.
• Once you know your spiritual gift, ask yourself, “How am I using my spiritual gift to serve one another?” (Keep in mind the one another we identified above.)
• Knowing that your gift is not a personal strength, but an endowment from God to be used for Kingdom work, how can you serve well, allowing His gift to flow through you and thrive?

STEPS: The Serving Solution

1. Identify the reasons you resist serving. Is it pride? Busy-ness? Different priorities? Lack of discipline? Lack of compassion?
2. Pray for God to show you your next serving opportunity. Be on the lookout for needs you are equipped to fill.
3. Pray for those in need. When their problem is on your radar, God often puts the solution on your radar as well.
4. Serve your ministers. Seek an opportunity to serve those who serve God, to encourage them and take a load off.
5. Serve in your church. Ask God to show you how the gift He endowed to you can be used in helping the church function better, for the health of the church, as well as growth. Look for the needs of your one anothers.
6. Serve in your community. Turn your world upside down by leading through serving.

Copyright © 2018 Kathy Carlton Willis, used with permission.