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WEEK 4 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

October 6, 2024

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Introduction:

God gives us purpose for our lives. Pastor Rick Warren, who wrote The Purpose Driven Life said this: “What On Earth Am I Here For? “We are not saved by serving, but we are saved for serving.” You have been shaped to serve God and bless others when you do.

Bottom line: You were created to serve.

Something To Talk About:

Romans 12:1-2 encourages Christians to be “living sacrifices” for the Lord. That is accomplished when we start living for the Lord and doing what He wants us to do. One of the things the Lord wants His disciples to do is to serve others. Consider the following three things:

  1. Seeing: The difference between helping when asked and taking the initiative is not just a matter of being reactive versus proactive. It’s a fundamentally different way of seeing the needs of others. Waiting until I am asked to help others demonstrates that helping others is not really my priority. After all, I think about and work toward the definition of a priority without needing to be reminded. If helping the needy is truly a priority, the needs of others become more visible to us. We are paying attention and actively looking for ways to help. In Genesis 18, Abraham sat outside his tent during the hottest time of day so that he wouldn’t miss any travelers who might benefit from a place to stop to drink and have a meal. To be a part of God’s people, we must be like Abraham, proactively seeing the needs of others so that we can offer help even before we are asked.
  2. Sacrifice: When was the last time we sacrificed a piece of our happiness or comfort for the sake of helping someone else or spreading the true message of the gospel, i.e., love? The truth is, most of the time, we are so wrapped up in our hobbies, social engagements, careers, etc, that we hardly think about the welfare of others. Even when Jesus was hungry, tired, or ready to get alone and pray, when He saw a crowd, He had compassion on them and ministered to them (Matthew 14:13-20). Jesus calls on us to sacrifice our wants and needs for our people the way He did for us (Ephesians 5:2). We are not sacrificing our wills, plans, and dreams to a God who has less satisfying plans for our lives. We are not surrendering a happier, better life for something less boring or meaningless. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” God has plans greater than we could ever ask or imagine in store for us if we will lay down our dreams to make space for His.
  3. Service: Serving others involves more than simply our actions. Instead, it involves our hearts and attitudes towards each other while we serve; it involves love. Once again, we can look to Jesus as an example for this. He did not serve begrudgingly but instead showed true humility and love while he helped people from different backgrounds and social standings. Opportunities to serve are all around us. It’s easy to find them when we are at home, doing someone else’s chore, or fixing someone a special meal during a hard week. But God gives us plenty of opportunities to imitate Him outside our houses too. We can hold the door for a mom pushing a stroller. Help a neighbor rake their yard. Or offer to get someone a refill while at a restaurant. God will put someone in our path whom we can serve today. We have the responsibility and the opportunity to show the love of Christ by serving other people. In other words, saved people serve people so that served people can become saved. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Your devotion to God is illustrated, demonstrated, and authenticated by serving others.  Agree or disagree?
  2. What is your definition of servanthood?
  3. What hurdles do you have serving others?
  4. What must you do, beginning today, to acquire the authentic heart of a servant?
  5. Are there people you know who have needs but haven’t asked for help? What can you do to be proactive about the needy near you?
  6. Are you willing to help someone even when it’s inconvenient for you?
  7. Do you view serving as a privilege? Yes or no, and why?
  8. What area of service appeals to you in the church? What is stopping you from serving?
  9. What must you do, beginning today, to acquire the authentic heart of a servant?
  10. What in this message stands out to you?

Take one thing home with you:

Serving will leave a legacy: Nobody who leaves a great legacy lives a selfish life. Jesus told us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The world preaches a different message, but if you understand your eternal inheritance, you will be more generous with your earthly inheritance. Your life will be about serving others with your time, talents, and treasures. He wants us to invest in others for His and their sake. Be a blessing to others this week. The greatest legacy left on this earth started about two thousand years ago and still lives on today.  Jesus came to this earth and lived a life worthy of praise. His legacy brought freedom and redemption for all the generations to come. Your legacy can change lives, it can change the course of future events, and it can even change the world.