Serving Together

Exploring what it means to be together as a community, as seen in the book of acts. (Acts 2:42-47)

Sermon Outline

”Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)

Before Christ We Were Prisoners

• Prisoners to the sinful nature that ruled in us (Galatians 3:22)
• Prisoners to the law (Galatians 3:23)

In Christ We Are Free (Galatians 5:1,13)

Four Perspectives We Bring To Galatians 5:13

1. “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge your sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love, if it’s not too hard or requires too much of me.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
2. “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge your sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love, when you get around to it.” (Matthew 21:28-31; James 1:22)
3. “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge your sinful nature; rather, serve God in love.” (Colossians 3:23; 1 Peter 4:11)
4. “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge your sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love, and don’t worry if anyone knows it was you or not…”

• Self-serving service versus self-less service
  • Self-serving service is concerned with the “big deal”
  • True service embraces any opportunity
• Self-serving service is concerned with external rewards
  • True service is content in hiddenness
• Self-serving service is concerned with reciprocation
  • True service neither expects or seeks a response (Philippians 2:3)

Responses

• First Serve List
• S.H.A.P.E. Assessment (Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Open Up:

• When you first moved away from home, what did “freedom” mean to you? Free to do what? Free from what?

Dig In:

1. Read Galatians 5:1-15
   1. What do you think it means to be “free in Christ”?
   2. How have you seen Christian Freedom Abused?
   3. How can verses 6 and 13 help prevent this type of abuse?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
   1. Who has been given spiritual gifts?
   2. Who are they from and what is their purpose?
   3. How does the diversity of gifts given serve to unite us together as a body?

Live It Out:

1. Which of the 4 perspectives shared on Galatians 3:15 do you want to see either less of or more of in your life? (for example: I don’t want to let obstacles derail me from serving like the first one, or I want to serve more with the attitude of serving God not man like the third one)
2. Where are you currently serving or considering serving?