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Serving God
- Why serve?

The materials in this thread are a cut-down version of our Pegs and Holes course, which is designed to help discover how and in what arena we should serve the Lord. Firstly though, it may not be obvious why we should serve at all.

 This thread (Serving God):
  1. Why serve?
  2. available on application
  3. available on application
  4. available on application
  5. available on application

God has served us

Read 1 John 4:9-10 -
9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

What would the consequences have been for us, if Jesus had chosen not to serve us by becoming human, and dying on the cross?

In the Bible love is always practical, and never just an emotion. To love involves service. Is this something we are comfortable with?

 

God has commanded us to serve

Read Matthew 4:10 -
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
(In this verse, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13.)

We are to serve God.

At the heart of God's relationship with mankind is the commandment which Jesus said summed up all the Law & the Prophets: see Matthew 22:37-40 (known as the 'Great Commandment') -
37Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

We serve so as to love God and be of help to one another. In many places the Bible speaks of the primacy of worshipping God and giving Him glory.

 

Service builds up others

The second part of the Great Commandment concerns helping others. Use of gifts for service builds up and strengthens the body of believers. Read Ephesians 4:11-12 -
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

 

Jesus left the work of the Kingdom on earth in our hands

Read Matthew 28:18-20 -
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

This is known as the 'Great Commission' (a commission is something we are sent to do). These are the things Jesus had been doing, and as He went back to heaven, He left His followers the task of carrying on the work.
How quickly would Christianity die out if no-one served like this?

Look at John 14:12 -
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

What do you think about this idea that we do what Jesus did?

 

Any questions?

If you have any queries, or comments, then e-mail us and we'll get back to you

IF YOU WISH TO CONTINUE with the remaining topics in this thread, to discover how God has equipped you to serve and in what areas, please e-mail us. Our Pegs & Holes course may be followed by extension, but works best where there is some feedback and assistance.

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