You Were Shaped to Serve God
Newbreak’s Sermon Study Guide is an in-house resource that serves sermon-based Life Groups and/or individuals who want to reflect further on how the message contributes to their spiritual formation. In this week’s study, understand that there is no such thing as a non-serving Christian. God planned in advance what he wanted you to do with your life. What matters in life is not how long you live but how you live. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of your life.
God Shaped You for Service
- Spiritual Gifts
- Heart
- Abilities
- Personality
- Experiences
Your hands shaped me and made me. (Job 10a)
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. (1 Peter 4:10a)
My fourth purpose in life is to serve God by _______________ _______________.
Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve. (Matthew 20:28)
How to Serve Like Jesus
Serving like Jesus means being ______________.
Two blind men shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us.” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. (Matthew 20:30-32)
“If you’re going to be used by God, you have to be willing to be interrupted.”
Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now. (Proverbs 3:28)
Serving like Jesus means being ______________.
Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here. (John 11:41-42)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who gave me strength, because he trusted me and gave me this work of serving him. (1 Timothy 1:12)
Serve the Lord with gladness. (Psalm 100:2a)
Serving like Jesus means being ______________.
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. (John 17:4)
The one thing required of such servants is that they be faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:27)
Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. (1 Corinthians 15:58b)
And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely by rewarded. (Matthew 10:42)
“No matter how insignificant your service might seem to you, God sees it all and rewards it all. In God’s eyes, there is no little service.”
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)
[God] will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers. (Hebrews 6:10)
Serving like Jesus means being ______________.
You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us – in one stroke he became poor and we became rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
Out of sheer generosity [God] put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:24)
You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. (2 Corinthians 9:13)
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and... your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)
Questions for Group Discussion or Personal Reflection
- What new insight did you gain from the video segment? What idea really grabbed hold of you?
- What would our church look like if every member lived by the principle: “There is no such thing as a non-serving Christian”?
- Have you ever missed a ministry opportunity because you were too busy?
- When has an “interruption” in your life turned into a blessing for yourself or another person because you took the time to serve?
- How do you view service and ministry? Is it a duty and obligation, or a joy and privilege?
- Have you ever felt like giving up in a ministry situation? Did you – why or why not?
- Describe a relatively insignificant act of service someone performed for you that turned out to be a really “big deal” to you?
- What do you think of Rick Warren’s statement, “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving”? How have you experienced its truth? How is generosity an expression of love?
- Have you ever prayed the “world’s most dangerous prayer – use me”? What happened?
- Which of the four attitudes – availability, gratitude, faithfulness, generosity – do you need to work on the most? What specifically can you do to become more available, grateful, faithful, and generous in your service?
- Do you know your SHAPE for ministry? In pairs, discuss: your spiritual gifts, your passions (i.e. groups you like to help or causes you support), your abilities, your personality traits, and your experiences (family, educational, church, vocational, painful) and how these insights might affect how and where you serve. What is one thing you can do to serve in your church family? Pray for each other to serve in ways that honors God and blesses others.
Assignments
- Memorize Ephesians 2:10.
- Read Days 29-35 of The Purpose Driven Life. Pick your favorite quote and share it.
- Sign up for our SHAPE class on May 16th by texting SHAPE to 850.265.5231.
- Pray daily for yourself, group members, and church.
- Visit Purpose Driven and read for daily inspiration.