Sabbath School Study Week 3
Joy in Serving
Introduction
This week in just a couple verses we have three new ingredients. Interestingly the fact that there is so much for us to learn in a couple verses is an example of the entire lesson. Sometimes the littlest things in life can make the biggest
difference. One little piece of sand or
dirt can ruin an entire plate of spinach.
A kind word can completely change an otherwise difficult day. Spending a moment with Christ can transform us. As we study this week I want to challenge you to really focus on the little things. Just a small short word, a moment, a thought, a kind gesture. Little things can make a huge difference.
Chapter
2:1
Therefore
if you have encouragement from being united with Christ, if comfort from his
love, if common sharing in the Spirit, if tenderness and compassion…
I have
left out a very important word in the scripture you just read. Read it again and then read it from your
bible.
- What word is missing or what word did I take out? _________________________________________
- How does it change what the verse is saying? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- It may be a very tiny word, perhaps one we would not stop and pay much attention to but it is quite significant in the book of Philippians. Now re read it several times the way it is:
Therefore
if you have any encouragement from
being united with Christ, if any
comfort from his love, if any
common sharing in the Spirit, if any
tenderness and compassion,
This chapter of Philippians is
about joy in serving. Here Paul starts
right off by giving us what we need first.
Before we serve others he askes if we have any…..
Any
___________________________________
Any
___________________________________
Any ___________________________________
Any____________________________________
and ________________________________________
Where do these come from?
______________________________________________________________.
JOY:
INGREDIENT # 5 Christ First!
Christ first. Simple , Obvious? Paul is getting ready to ask the people of Philippi to serve one another, to be unified, selfless,
focused on others. Yet the order in
which he speaks with them makes our joy ingredient. Going to Christ first is how we have what is
necessary to serve. It is what we
experience with Him that gives us the
tools to serve those around us. If we
fail to go to him, then we have nothing to give!
****** HERE IS THE EXCITING
THING!!!!!!! We don’t need much… just ANY!
MUCH is not required to start in the process of serving.
This is like the 5 loaves and 2
fishes story in John 6: 1-14. Jesus took
the ANY and made it much! If you have
any experience with Jesus, any moments where you knew his love was present,
ANY, ANY, ANY then you have enough to serve.
ACTION: Go to Christ First
Start each day with Christ!
If you can’t say yes to the questions in verse 1 then stop. Stop and pray over those questions. Ask God to show you when and how you have
received them in the past, in the present, or ask him to please gift you those
things. Jesus is longing to give you
that and so much more. Beg him,
earnestly ask Him and you shall receive! Stop trying to do it all yourself, stop trying to give before you have accepted HIM! Let Him be for you FIRST!
Christ first- then minister to each
other.
1. It makes no sense to go on a
road trip on an empty tank of gas and
only after returning from the trip, fill up the car. You wouldn’t get anywhere you wouldn’t be
able to take the trip. Yet somehow we
often get caught in the trap of, service or trying to do for others, having a
spirit of one, not being selfish etc. without FIRST going to Christ.
2. The example of a tank of gas
doesn’t completely work here, because there is a miracle taking place. Just as Jesus multiplied the 5 loaves and two
fishes, he doesn’t ask that we have lots of comfort from his love, or lots of
tenderness and compassion, it says ANY.
Just a dab will do ya! You don't need a full tank, you just need any of Christ.
This doesn’t mean we don’t need to
continue to seek and soak up all we can.
See this is simply saying we don’t have to be the pastor or have all the
answers, or be a life long strong steady, have it all together Christian, to
share what we have. If we have just two
tiny fishes, and five small loaves we can let him use that. We can take the ANY and he will turn it into
what is needed for being one in spirit and of one mind.
- Do I have any encouragement from being in a relationship with Christ?
- Do I have or have I had any comfort from his love?
- Do I have any common sharing in the Spirit?
- Do I have any tenderness and compassion?
JOY:
INGREDIENT # 6
Be
“ANY+” centric
Be “ANY+” centric?
This little word can have a powerful impact on what lens we are looking
through. This little word can give us so
much joy when there is so much going on in our lives that should rob us of
joy.
In this sinful world we tend to focus on the “ANY(-)“ We talk about how one rotten apple spoils the
entire bushel. You could say one wrong
note takes a musical cord from beautiful to terrible! We are familiar with “ANY(-)“ it is the ANY+ that we have a hard time
with.
So what is it to be “ANY+” centric? Well in this passage Paul is asking if they
have had any experience with God, any relationship with Jesus. ANY+ centric, is focusing on the tiny little
anything positive that may exist.
So let’s say you are struggling at work. Is there ANY +positive things going on at
work. Notice it isn’t a lot, just any
will do. Any successes, any joys, any,
any any,. If you do have any than you
have a starting place, you have a place to rest, you have a place to think
on. Maybe you are struggling with your
health. Is there any +positive things associated with your health, are you
any better, any good moments, any small improvements?
ACTION:
- This week as you come upon areas in your life that you are struggling with, write down any and all “ANY+” that you can find.
- Anytime you find yourself being “ANY-“ stop and reverse it to a positive.
- Make a point to do it everyday! For every challenge, for every success, keep being, keep practicing, being “ANY+ Centric”
JOY:
INGREDIENT # 7
Be one
Chapter
2:2-4
ACTION: MAKE MY JOY COMPLETE
Look at the list below. This week write out what these mean and how you can strive to be... For example, in your marriage, how can you strive to be more like minded, have the same love.... value your husband more than yourself? As you work with people in the church how can you be selfless with no self ambition. What would that look like. This week as you face challenges in relationships at home, work, or church, apply this list.
- Be like minded______________________________________________________________
- Have the same love__________________________________________________________
- Being on in spirit_____________________________________________________________
- Being of one mind____________________________________________________________
- Be selfless, no selfish ambition or vanity____________________________________________
- Value others more than self_____________________________________________________
- Keep the interest of others first.__________________________________________________
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