SERVE: Week Four

Called to Serve the World

It may seem kind of weird to you, but I think Halloween is the perfect time of the year to talk about Serving the world. On this one night every year we can retreat into our homes, lock the doors, turn off the lights, and hide from the world, or we can very simply express love for our neighbors through the giving of a bunch of candy! This Sunday we will connect with Jesus as we examine the little and the big ways in which we can live out our faith through serving the world around us. I invite you to take a few minutes to watch the video, read the Scripture below, and then reflect on the questions. I look forward to joining with you to worship Christ this Sunday!

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14

Questions for Reflection:

1. What do you think it looks like to be “free” in Christ today?
2. How do you use your freedom to serve others? How have you used it to serve yourself? 

SERVE: Week Three

Body Health

This week I have been in Seattle, Washington, for advanced training on the Dinner Church. While here we have experienced two dinner churches and been blessed to see what a Christian community can do when they are working together to serve God, each other, and the world around them. Over the next two Sundays we will hear some of the stories of these few days. I invite you to watch the video (I’ve thrown in an extra for your enjoyment) read the scripture and then spend a few minutes reflecting on the questions below as you prepare for this Sunday.  

See you Sunday!

Romans 12:3-8

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. ⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

Rom. 12:6    In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does the local church look like the human body?
2. What happens when one of our body parts is not working right?
3. What does it feel like when everything within your body is going well? 

SERVE: Week Two

Laity Sunday

This weekend we will be celebrating that God calls all of us into ministry as we celebrate Laity Sunday. I am so excited that Mike Herzberg and John Adams will be sharing with us how God has worked within their lives and from their stories we will identify ways God is working in our lives as well as discover new ways that we can serve.

As you prepare for worship this week, I invite you to watch the following video, read the scripture passage and then reflect on the questions below.

1 Peter 3:15-16

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Reflection Questions:

1. What does it look like to worship as Lord of your life?
2. How does this call of worship connect with explaining our hope in Christ?
3. What would it look like today to live your life in a way that is ready to give others a clear hope of you as a believer?

Serve: Week One

When I was a kid, my mom always gave my brother and me chores around the house so that we could “contribute” to the family! At the time, I did not see how doing the dishes helped me “contribute.” Today, I am able to look back and realize that my mom’s call for us to serve was very important to giving us a sense of value within our family and allowed us to mature in our faith. Over the next four weeks we are going to be talking about the spiritual principle of service and we are going to find ways to plug in both within the community as well as outside of the community to be active in our participation of community living and so that we can reflect the love of Christ for the world around us.

Please take time to watch our short video, read the scripture passages and reflect on the questions below. 

Scripture:

“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.”

Mark 10:45

“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 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 20:26–28

“The greatest among you must be a servant.”

Matthew 23:11

Reflection Questions:

1. What does Jesus’ call to serve others look like today, in the 21st century?
2. How can we live out service to others today?
3. What would be some of the benefits to serving others?

World Communion Sunday

“Sent”

This weekend we celebrate one of my favorite Sundays of the year, World Communion Sunday. While not an old tradition, beginning in the 1930’s, I believe World Communion Sunday is very important. This is a day when we remember that all over the world Christians, who do not look like us, sound like us, or even believe the exact things that we believe are joining together with us to share the common meal of Jesus Christ. Today we need to remember our focus on the humility of our Christian walk and Jesus’ call that his disciples will show their faithfulness to the gospel by our love for one another. 

As you prepare for worship this weekend, take a few minutes to watch the video, read the scripture and think through the reflection questions below.

John 20:19-22

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. ²⁰ As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! ²¹ Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” ²² Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

Reflection Questions:

1. When Jesus came to the disciples they are huddled in a locked room, afraid. Why do you think they are described in this way?
2. How does Jesus’ call to “be sent” stand in contrast to how they were described above?
3. What does being sent look like today?