December 6 – 12, 2008

IMPROVING YOUR SERVE

In this lesson you will learn that being a servant requires an all-out surrender. If you are a servant by choice you will find the reason for your existence.

I. Jesus talked about being a servant – Matthew 20:25-28.

A. Our culture is based on a “serve me” mentality but that goes against what Jesus said in these verses.

B. Verse 26 – “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.”

C. Verse 28 – “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

II. Saved by grace but serve by choice.

A. Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith…” v.8.

B. John 15:14-15 – “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” v.14. We are to submit to God’s control.

III. Be a bondservant.

A. A bondservant is someone who had been a slave, then set free and by choice commits to serve the Master.

B. Romans 1:1 – “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle.”

C. James 1:1 – “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

D. 2 Peter 1:1 – “Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ.”

E. Jude 1:1 – “Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ.”

F. Revelation 1:1 – “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place.”

IV. What does it mean to be a servant of the Lord?

A. Walk away from illegal deals.

B. Take a job that God tells you to take.

C. Give an opportunity to receive Jesus at a work Christmas party.

D. Walk out of a movie that challenges your faith.

E. Read the Bible because of your relationship with Jesus.

F. Work to the best of your ability – be a standard for difference.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Is serving important to you and how often do you think about serving?
• How are you working on improving your serve and doing it with gladness (Psalm 100:2)?
• Where and how are you presently serving?

BE A DOER OF THE WORD

Meditate on this thought, If everyone in my church was just like me, what kind of church would this church be?

SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 20:28 – “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”