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Week 15
Viewing Life As a Ministry
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more
abundantly." John 10:10b
Project:
Begin by sharing with the group the insights that
you learned as you meditated on
Scripture this past week. Make a list of the verses that others in the group meditated on, and any insights that would be helpful
for you to remember:
Key Truths:
By applying the lessons we have learned through this Bible study, we can experience true
joy and purpose in life by working for something that really matters: God's Kingdom and eternity!
"Yes, and if I am being poured out as a
drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice
with you all." - Philippians 2:17.
Are you willing to be "poured out" in service for God and others, to further His
Kingdom?
"When you think about Jesus' life on earth, you will quickly see that He focused on His
Heavenly Father and gave Himself in ministry to others. I believe God wants each of us to have this same focus!"
- Lara Bode, "Viewing Life As a Ministry" (The King's Daughter
Vol. 8#4).
"Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus, who... made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant...." - Philippians 2:5-7. "For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10.
How does selfishness interfere with a life of ministry and service?
The heart attitude necessary for successful ministry as well as true joy and fulfillment in serving
is genuine love, both for God and others.
Our love for God has to be our foundation for serving and loving others. Genuine love can only come
from God. His love does not waver depending on the attitude of the one being loved! Ask Him to make you a channel of His love for
others.
Read the following Scriptures and list insights and truths to
apply from each one:
John 15:12
Ephesians 5:1-2
Which do you think genuine love most closely resembles: a feeling or a chosen
attitude?
"If you find that serving others is difficult, ask God to give you a love for those you are
serving. Love makes things a joy!
"Real Godly love meets others’ needs
without having any selfish motive. It is so easy to fall into hoping for
personal reward, to serve so that people will love me or appreciate me or think
I’m such an amazing person, or to expect others to serve me in return for all
the service I am doing elsewhere." - Lara Bode, "Viewing Life As a
Ministry" (The King's Daughter Vol. 8#4).
In what ways can you share God's love with others in your life?
"God is helping me to learn to serve just out of a love for Him and obedience to His calling me
to serve others. He wants to be the only One I seek (see Psalm 27:4). All the things I need (both physical and emotional needs) He
will always be faithful to provide (see Matthew 6:33). But I am told not to seek them for myself, but just to seek first God's
Kingdom and His righteousness." - Lara Bode, "Viewing Life As a
Ministry" (The King's Daughter Vol. 8#4).
Unless genuine love is at its core, even the greatest-sounding ministry is fruitless.
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not
love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have
the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though
I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have
not love, it profits me nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Genuine love involves focusing on others' needs rather than on my own giving. This is absolutely
vital for ministry. Sometimes we tend to serve with the attitude of "Look what I'm doing! I'm part of such a great
ministry!" -- and the focus is me, me, me. Instead we must focus on the needs of the people we are serving -- setting
ourselves aside and laying down our lives for God and others.
Project:
Read through 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 phrase by
phrase, and list specific ways you can show these aspects
of genuine love in your own life.
- "Love suffers long"
- "and is kind"
- "love does not envy"
- "love does not parade itself"
- "is not puffed up"
- "does not behave rudely"
- "does not seek its own"
- "is not provoked"
- "thinks no evil"
- "does not rejoice in iniquity"
- "but rejoices in the truth"
- "bears all things"
- "believes all things"
- "hopes all things"
- "endures all things"
- "Love never fails"
As we do our part to cooperate with God's preparation (as discussed in Chapter
14), and develop a heart of love toward God and others, God will do His part by opening doors of opportunity for us.
Read the following Scriptures and list insights and truths to apply from each one:
Psalm 23:1
Philippians 1:6
God probably will not show you His entire plan of ministry for your whole life all at once! Don't
panic if you don't know the whole way; just obey God today and trust Him for tomorrow.
Read the following Scriptures and list insights and truths to apply from each
one:
Psalm 37:18
Matthew 6:33-34
Even as God begins to use us in significant ministry, His process of preparation and
"pruning" in our hearts and lives will continue. "...every
branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." - John 15:2b.
Realize that ministry is really more of a mindset for life, rather than a specific act like taking a
missions trip. (That is definitely not to say that missions trips are not valuable opportunities for ministry!) But we must learn
to view every day as an opportunity for ministry to everyone with whom we come in contact. Small things like a warm smile for an
elderly person, a kind help for your mom, or an encouraging word for a friend -- all these are ministries as well!
Use whatever small opportunities for ministry that God has given you at this time. It is so sad how
some girls who really want to serve the Lord in some big way are neglecting to serve Him in all the small ways that He has given
them!
God will probably use you in many different avenues of ministry over the course of your lifetime.
While God is at work preparing you for ministry in your adult life (perhaps as a nurse, missionary, mother, lobbyist, musician,
etc.), don't neglect the smaller areas of ministry and service that are before you right now! This can include truly valuable
ministries such as refreshing the hearts of your parents by helping at home, teaching Bible stories to your brothers and sisters
or children you baby-sit, helping in your church nursery, visiting and encouraging the elderly, and much more!
Of course, not every single ministry is one in which God wants you to be personally involved. Here
again, being under authority is key. Seek guidance from your parents and the Lord regarding which ministries and service projects
they think you should be involved with.
List some possibilities for ministry that are in your life right now:
Week 15 memory work: Choose at least one verse from the following list. Memorize the verse(s)
that you think will be the most helpful for you to remember:
- Ephesians 2:10
- Ephesians 5:1-2
- 1 Corinthians 13:1
Courtney walked into her dad's home office.
"Dad, Taiwan. Can we talk about it now?"
He turned his gaze from the computer. "All right."
Courtney sat down and looked at her hands. "Last year you said no. Now I have the opportunity a
second time." She looked up at him, hoping he would understand the vision she had.
"I know I'm only fifteen, but I've grown a lot spiritually this last year. I've really been
helping Mom out. I think this would be so great! I really want to."
"For the same purpose as before? To help the children in Taiwan?"
Courtney nodded.
Dad sighed. "You were impatient with your little brother this morning."
"Dad!" Courtney frowned. "I know I'm not perfect. But he is so hard to get along
with."
"I have a plan," Dad said. "I'm going to say no this time."
Courtney bit her lip.
"For the next year," her dad continued, "I want you to reach out to children in our
family and in our church. And if you demonstrate that you are able to do that well, then I will seriously consider Taiwan for next
summer."
"Consider?" Courtney asked. She had wanted so much more than that.
Based on what you learned today, what do you think of Courtney's dad's decision? How should Courtney
respond?
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