DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS

MONDAY - VERSES: Acts 8:27-35 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God for His providential help to find someone to serve. Take time to think of those you could serve and how you could serve them. Ask God to help you make the time to follow through with a specific act of service that you can and should do.

TUESDAY - VERSES: Acts 16:9-10 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God for wisdom in finding someone you can serve by sharing Christ with them. Think of people you know who have shown interest in spiritual or religious things in the past. Consider how you could bring the gospel to them.

WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Luke 12:35-40 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask for God's help in being a faithful servant who will be found serving when the Lord returns. Pray for strength when it is hard.

THURSDAY - VERSES: Matthew 8:9; 10:24-25; 25:24-30; John 13:12-17 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God for help learning what true service really is and the will to practice it.

FRIDAY - VERSES: Luke 22:24-27; Luke 10:38-41 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God to help you have the right attitude while you serve. Ask for courage to serve in a society that looks down on servants and measures success by how many are at their beck and call.

SATURDAY - VERSES: Matthew 25:31-46 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank God for the opportunity to serve Him through serving others. Pray that you will see every chance to serve as a chance to serve the Lord and that you will serve as though it is the Lord you are serving.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. At least daily read over this material and read or sing the song.

2. Place the scripture in a prominent place where you will see it often throughout each day.

3. Look for ways you can serve someone throughout the day.

4. Pray for God's help in being willing to serve.

5. At the close of day write down the ways you have served that day.

6. Plan to tell the class, next week, an example of how you practiced serving and what happened as a result of your service.

7. Or tell the class how you could have served but did not during the week.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN WEEK 3

SERVE ONE ANOTHER

SCRIPTURE - Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

COMMENT - We are free in Christ but we need to be careful not to selfishly use our freedom to satisfy our own desires, but instead we need to lovingly serve others.

SONG - THE SERVANT SONG

Make me a servant, Lord, make me like You; For You are a servant, make me one, too.

Make me a servant, do what You must do To make me a servant;

make me like You.

THOUGHTS

With great emotional fervor in the limelight. You know how eagerly I speak for You at a Women's Club. You know my genuine enthusiasm at a Bible study. But how would I react, I wonder, if You pointed to a basin of water and asked me to wash the callused feet of a bent and wrinkled old woman day after day, month after month, in a room where nobody saw and nobody knew?

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When the slow-moving clerk in a small store was not around one morning, a customer asked the owner's young son, 'Where's Eddie? Is he sick?'

"Nope, he ain't workin' here no more," was the reply.

"Do you have anyone in mind for the vacancy?" inquired the customer.

"Nope! Eddie didn't leave no vacancy!"

We smile, but the statement which characterized Eddie applies equally to many in the church today. In serving Christ they are so weak and colorless that if they left the community their absence would scarcely be noticed.

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There are a lot of Christians who are doing nothing. But there are no Christians who have nothing to do.

A story is told of Jesus and His disciples walking one day along a stony road. Jesus asked each of them to choose a stone to carry for Him. John, it is said, chose a large one while Peter chose the smallest. Jesus led them then to the top of a mountain and commanded that the stones be made bread. Each disciple, by this time tired and hungry, was allowed to eat the bread he held in his hand, but of course Peter's was not sufficient to satisfy his hunger. John gave him some of his.

Some time later Jesus again asked the disciples to pick up a stone to carry. This time Peter chose the largest of all. Taking them to a river, Jesus told them to cast the stones into the water. They did so, but looked at one another in bewilderment.

"For whom," asked Jesus, "did you carry the stone?"

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Fred Somebody, Thomas Everybody, Peter Anybody, and Joe Nobody were neighbors, but they were not like you and me. They were odd people and most difficult to understand. The way they lived was a shame.

All four belonged to the same church, but you would not have enjoyed worshiping with them. Everybody went fishing on Sunday or stayed home to visit with friends. Anybody wanted to worship but was afraid Somebody wouldn't speak to him. So guess who went to church - uh, huh - Nobody. Really, Nobody was the only decent one of the four. Nobody did the visitation. Nobody worked on the church building.

Once they needed a Sunday school teacher. Everybody thought Anybody would do it, and Anybody thought Somebody would do it. And you know who did it? That's exactly right -Nobody!

It happened that a fifth neighbor (an unbeliever) moved into the area. Everybody thought Somebody should try to win him for Christ. Anybody could have made an effort. You probably know who finally won him: Nobody!

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I know that all of you were saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our church's most valuable members - Someone Else. Someone's passing created a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years, and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than the normal person's share of the work.

Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results. Someone Else can work with that group. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's lips, "Let Someone Else do it". It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the largest givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed that Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing super-human, but a person can only do so much. Were the truth known, everyone expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone. We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? Remember, we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.

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THROUGH ______________ SERVE ONE ANOTHER

INTRODUCTION

I. WHO ARE WE TO _____________?

II. WHAT ARE THE _______________ OF SERVING?

III. WHAT ARE THE _______________________ OF SERVING?

IV. HOW DOES ___________________ COME FROM SERVING?

CONCLUSION

THROUGH LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER

SCRIPTURE - (Gal 5: 13-14) For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

INTRODUCTION

A. FREEDOM IN CHRIST DOES NOT FREE US FROM

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SERVING OTHERS - (1 Cor 9: 19) For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

B. IF WE LOVE OTHERS WE WILL SERVE THEM -1 3:

1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

C. WE MUST LOVE OTHERS AS OURSELVES -

(Gal 5:14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I. WHO WE ARE TO SERVE?

A. ALL BUT ESPECIALLY SERVE OTHER CHRISTIANS - (Gat 6:7-10) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (8) For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (9) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

B. SERVE EVEN YOUR ENEMIES - (Luke 6:27-35) "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (28) "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. (29) 'To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. (30) "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. (31) "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (32) "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (33) "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. (34) "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. (35) "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

C. SERVE THOSE WHO CANNOT RETURN THE FAVOR - (Luke 14:12-14) Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. {13} "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. {14} "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

II. WHAT ARE THE REWARDS OF SERVING?

A. THE SERVANT IS THE GREATEST - (Mark 10:42-45)

But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. {43} "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. {44} "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. {45} "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

B. SERVING OTHERS LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE - (1 Tim 6:17-19) Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. {18} Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, {19} storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

C. SERVING BRINGS JOY - (Heb 12:1-2) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, {2} looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

D. SIMPLE SERVICE BRINGS REWARD - (Mark 9:41)

"For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

III. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SERVING?

A. SERVICE IS SACRIFICIAL - (Heb 13:16) But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

B. SERVE EVEN IF IT BRINGS SUFFERING - (1 Pet 2:19-21) For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. {20} For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. {21} For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

C. SERVING OTHERS IS SERVING CHRIST - (Mat 25:31-
40) 'When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. {32} "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. {33} "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. {34} 'Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: {35} 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; {36} 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' {37} "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? {38} 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? {39} 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?1 {40} "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

D. SERVING COMES FROM FEELING GOOD ABOUT

YOURSELF - (John 13:1-5, 12-17) Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. {2} And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him., {3} Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He 'had come from God and was going to God, {4} rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. {5} After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded... .{12} So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? {13} "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. {14} "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. {15} "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. {16} "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. {17} "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

IV. HOW DOES HAPPINESS COME FROM SERVING?

A. Service Brings Happiness Through Appreciation from Others

B. Service Brings Happiness Through a Healthy Self-image C. Service Brings Happiness Through Satisfaction of Usefulness

D. Service Brings Happiness Through Betterment of Society	E. Service Brings Happiness Through Imitation of Service

CONCLUSION

A. FAILURE TO SERVE IS SIN - (James 4:17) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

B. Will You Be a Sheep or a Goat on Judgment Day? Mt 25

C. Are You Serving Others or Serving Yourself

D. The Only Way You Can Serve God Is to Serve Others

Galatians 5:13

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.