Attacking the Why: Why Serve

Galatians 5:13–15 CSB

For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

Pedagogical Idea: Serving is crucial to the life of a follower of Jesus.

I.) Me

i. Joy Project (Caring for individuals who needed help)

1. Analogy Prop: Bucket of cleaning supplies

II.) We

i. We all have someone that we are able to serve in our lives. We all experience moments that we are servant hearted. We all have moments that we are selfish. The two questions we need to ask ourselves are: How does God seek for us to live this life? Is service really all that important for my walk with Jesus?

III.) God

Galatians 5:13 (CSB)

For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters;

i. What is freedom? (vs. 13a)

1. Other translations will use the term “free will” meaning God has given us the free will to make our own decisions and actions.

I. You are not human robots moving and doing the will of God without any choice.

II. Your actions matter.

i. You can use your life for good.

ii. You can use your life for evil.

2. However, with great power comes great responsibility and we can choose to act in a way that is right or wrong according to the Bible.

Galatians 5:13 (CSB)

only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.

ii. Self vs Others (vs. 13b)

1. When it says “opportunity for the flesh”, it is the war that is taking place every day inside of you.

I. Are you choosing to satisfy your sinful nature? What are your temptations that may take your time or energy away from serving others?

II. What would it look like to spend your time serving others instead of yourself?

2. “Through love” is a Greek word called agapē

I. God pouring into us His love so we can then pour it out to others.

II. Analogy Prop: Container being overfilled

Galatians 5:14 CSB

For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.

iii. What is the “whole law?” (vs 14)

1. What commandments does the Bible give as “law”?

2. Paul says that “loving your neighbor as yourself” can sum up the ENTIRE law, every law ever written in the Bible!

I. Old Testament laws included over 613 rules and customs on how they were to live!

IV.) You

i. If you want to follow God’s ENTIRE law in one simple step, all you need to do is start putting others first and serving them in LOVE that has already been provided to you by God!

V.) We

i. If we all start doing this intentionally, we start to see an incredible ripple effect of an unconditional, Christ-like love taking over our friends, families, and communities. (For Brad and the Joy Project he was able to interact with people that he had never really interacted with at the church, and he was able to bring joy to their lives.)

ii. Serving is crucial to the life of a follower of Jesus.

VI.) Now What (How we can rally together)

i. Impact card

ii. What specific ways can we serve others? [Note]

iii. What is a takeaway for you to better serve others? [Note]