INFUSION JOY IN SERVING

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1 WELCOME & SHARING: Love People Extravagantly As part of the time of welcome and fellowship, ask your group to consider what kind of things you would want to put in your final will and testament for your children as encouragement for their lives. In other words, what are some of the most important life messages you would like to leave your children and their children one day? Explain why. Philippians 1:21 (ESV) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. FAMILY NEWS: Up-&-Coming Events Our Harvest Volunteers are invited to a night of entertainment, pudding, celebration + thanksgiving Mon, 12 Nov PM PLEASE SAVE THE DATE PRAYER & WORSHIP: Love God Extravagantly Consider using the worship songs in Session 3 on the Harvest Live DVD recording. You can also read the following Scriptures as encouragement during the time of worship: Proverbs 16:7; Romans 8:8; Romans 15:1; Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:4 and Hebrews 11:6. Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 1

2 WORD & DISCUSSION: Impart Victorious Lifestyle THE JOY OF SERVING IN OBSCURITY! All of us need encouragement in trying times. We need to know that we matter to someone and that what we do is important to others. That s why the Word of God is full of one another scriptures like be at peace with one another, wash one another s feet, love one another, welcome one another, greet one another, care for one another, comfort one another etc. These scriptures show that God intended for us to look after one another with deeds and words of encouragement. However, a very destructive danger lurks when we become dependent on the encouragement and praise of others. This danger comes when we expect the praise and acknowledgement of people around us, especially when we have done our best and given of our best. This danger can become destructive when we do not receive the accolades that we think we deserve or when someone else gets the bulk of the praise that we feel we deserve. That s why we need to constantly examine our motives for serving others as Christians. We have an example in Christ Who found joy in serving in obscurity. He let go of His right to be God and willingly took on the form of a servant of humanity. Philippians 2:7 (ESV) 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. This week we will be looking at THE JOY OF SERVING IN OBSCURITY, which means two things: Firstly, like Jesus we serve God the Father simply because we love Him and know that this is His will for us. Secondly, we serve the world and God s people without expecting any reward from man. May we all find joy in serving Him and may His joy be enough! Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV) 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 2

3 1. By encouraging the Philippians to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, why would Paul use the words but much more in my absence? Does to work out your own salvation mean that you can earn your salvation by working for it? If not, what does Paul mean? (To work out means to live in the consequence of what Christ has already done for us, in other words this refers to the process of sanctification and not primarily to our salvation, which came by grace alone). 2. Ask your group to discuss and explain what verse 13 means and how we are encouraged to live our lives as Christians. (Because God gives us His will and the works we are to do for Him, our best response is to surrender to Him and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.) Who are we pleasing when we surrender to Him and obediently do what He wants us to do? Philippians 2:14-16 (ESV) 14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life,... Luke 17:7-10 (ESV) 7 "Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? 8 Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" 3. Considering the parable told by Jesus in Luke 7, what are some of the things that seem a bit harsh to you and why? Why do you think Jesus told this parable? What was he trying to teach us? How does this parable tie in with Philippians 2:14-16? Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 3

4 4. Jesus says we are the light of the world and that we are to let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to God. Why would the world give glory to God and not to us? Discuss. Does this have to do with the reason / motive of our serving? (When our motive is to please God, then we do our good works of service not to gain approval from man, but only to please God. The world can see the difference!) Philippians 2:19-22 (ESV) 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 5. What are some of the things that are evident in the life of Timothy that show that he was a God pleaser and not a man pleaser? How should this encourage us in our daily serving? MINISTRY& MISSION: Be a Resource to Others& Touch the World Even though we need encouragement from one another daily, there are two real dangers in our Christian walk: That we do what we do to gain the approval of men or that we give encouragement with the motive of getting something in return. The latter is called flattery and does not reflect the heart of our Saviour. Pray for one another that we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord with joy and gladness of heart simply because we are following in the footsteps of Jesus and that His example and encouragement will always be more than enough. Do not neglect to encourage one another, but do so in a manner pleasing to God and without flattery or falsehood. May we find real joy in simply serving Jesus without needing any fanfare! Memory verse: Philippians 2:14-16a (ESV) Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life... Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 4

5 PRAYER FOR OUR CITY & NATION A Reminder to please set your alarm clocks at 12PM daily to remind you to pray for our Nation. Ps. John and the Harvest Eldership Team have extended an invite for all of us to consider coming to our Saturday night Services from 18:00-19:00 during the month of November. The specific focus will be on Praying for our Nation and a Time of Empowering, for us personally, to finish the year strong. Be a part of this call to pray for our Nation and our city. PRAYER POINTERS FOR PE: The Prayer Pointers, which we prayed for our city on Sunday, are: 1. A suitably qualified Municipal Manager with good leadership qualities to be appointed by 1 Jan A suitably qualified CFO (Chief Financial Officer) with good leadership skills to be appointed. 3. Suitably qualified leaders to be appointed to the permanent positions as Executive Directors. 4. Funding for Afcon cup. The event is still underfunded to the extent of approx. R1 million. 5. Kabuso report to receive the attention it should in bringing corrupt perpetrators to book. 6. Teacher s temporary posts need to be renewed in You can follow the updates and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter use the hash tag: #Pray4SANov2012 Taking Ground for Christ & His Kingdom 5