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Celebration of Discipline The Pathway to Spiritual Growth

Celebration of Discipline The Pathway to Spiritual Growth. The Discipline of Service. The cross is the sign of Submission The towel is the sign of Service Who is the greatest? (Luke 9:46-48)

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Celebration of Discipline The Pathway to Spiritual Growth

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  1. Celebration of DisciplineThe Pathway to Spiritual Growth The Discipline of Service

  2. The cross is the sign of Submission The towel is the sign of Service Who is the greatest? (Luke 9:46-48) “You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference” (msg.) Jesus redefined greatness (John13:14,15) An authority of function, not status Service

  3. Service • In service we must experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. Service banishes us to the mundane, the ordinary, the trivial. • Matthew 20 :25-28, the spiritual authority of Jesus is an authority not found in a position or a title, but in a towel.

  4. Self-righteous service comes through human effort. Impressed with the “big deal” Requires external rewards Highly concerned about results True service comes from a relationship with Christ. Impossible to distinguish the small from the large service Rest contented in hiddenness Free of the need to calculate results Self-righteous Service vs. True Service

  5. Picks and chooses whom to serve Affected by moods and whims Is temporary Is insensitive It fractures community Indiscriminate in its ministry (Mark 9:35) Ministers simply and faithfully because there is a need Is a life-style Can withhold the service as freely as perform the service It builds community, it draws, binds, heals Self-righteous Service vs. True Service

  6. Service and Humility • The grace and growth of humility is worked into our lives through service. • Service disciplines and transforms the desires of the flesh. • The flesh whines against service and screams against hidden service. • It strains and pulls for honor and recognition.

  7. Service and Humility • I John 2:16 • “Lust of the flesh” refers to the failure to discipline the natural human passions. • “Lust of the eyes” refers to the tendency to be captivated by outward show. • “Pride of life” is defined as “Pretentious egoism” • The flesh is the deadly enemy of humility.

  8. Humility William Law in his book, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, counsels us to “…condescend to all the weaknesses and infirmities of your fellow-creatures, cover their frailties, love their excellencies, encourage their virtues, relieve their wants, rejoice in their prosperities, compassionate their distress, receive their friendships, overlook their unkindness, forgive their malice, be a servant of servants, and condescend to do the lowest offices to the lowest of mankind.”

  9. Yes…But • “If I do that, people will take advantage of me; they will walk all over me.” • Who can hurt someone who has freely chosen to be stepped on? • We must understand the difference between choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant. • We surrender our rights. We become available and vulnerable.

  10. The Discipline of Service Lesson II

  11. Review • Read John 13:7-15 • The towel is a sign of service • Selfishness hinders service. We must experience the little deaths that lead to authentic servanthood. • Spiritual authority is found in a towel. • Humility is an outgrowth of service. • The flesh is a deadly enemy of humility.

  12. The Discipline of Service • Service is not a list of things we do, but a way of living. • There is more to service than specific acts of serving. • It is one thing to act like a servant; it is quite another to be a servant. • What does service look like in the marketplace?

  13. Service in the Marketplace of our daily lives 1. The Service of Hiddenness. • If all of our serving is before others, we will be shallow people indeed. • Hiddenness is a rebuke to the flesh and can deal a fatal blow to pride. • Hidden, anonymous ministries affect even people who know nothing of them.

  14. Service in the Marketplace 2.The Service of Small Things. • Acts 9:36-42, the service of Dorcas • The ministry of small things is a daily service. • Large tasks require great sacrifice for a moment; small things require constant sacrifice. • Matthew 25:20-23, faithful w/small things.

  15. Service in the Marketplace 3. The Service of Guarding the Reputation of others. • Titus 3:2 • Backbiting is a deadly poison. • The discipline of holding one’s tongue. • Refuse to be a party to the slanderous talk of others.

  16. Service in the Marketplace 4. The Service of Being Served. • John 13:8 • It is an act of submission and service to allow others to serve us. It recognizes their “kingdom authority” over us. • Repayment of service is never an issue • Pride is an enemy to submission.

  17. Service in the Marketplace 5. The Service of Common Courtesy. • Titus 3:2, valuing one another • Words of “thank you” and “yes, please,” letters of appreciation and RSVP responses are all services of courtesy. • Courtesy allows us to acknowledge others and affirm their worth.

  18. Service in the Marketplace 6. The Service of Hospitality. • I Peter 4:9; I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8 • Christians should open their homes to one another. • The stuff of hospitality is not tea, cookies, a napkin; it is a chance to be together and share. Just sit down and talk.

  19. Service in the Marketplace 7. The Service of Listening. • The beginning of love for others is learning to listen to them. • We do not have to have the correct answers to listen well. • To listen to others quiets and disciplines the mind to listen to God.

  20. Service in the Marketplace 8. The Service of Bearing the Burdens of Each Other. • Galatians 6:1-2 • The “law of Christ is the law of love • James 2:8, the “royal law” • Love is more perfectly fulfilled when we bear the hurts and sufferings of each other.

  21. Service in the Marketplace • Weeping with those who weep. When we are with those who are going through, weeping is far better than words. • We must learn to uphold the burdens of others without being destroyed by them. • Matthew 11:30

  22. Service in the Marketplace 9. Sharing the Word of Life with One Another • No individual can hear all that God wants to say. • We are dependent on one another to receive the full counsel of God. • Be careful not to mix your words with God’s Word.

  23. A Prayer“Lord Jesus, as it would please you bring me someone today whom I can serve.”

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