Service tips

Things to know when entering the service

Lambs among wolves - The need for a shepherd

Luke 10:3 NASB95

3 “Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

Lambs are very approachable animals

Peaceful, calm, reserved

Wolves are instinctual, aggressive, and vicious

While a lamb is approachable, there are some things you need to know about being a lamb

They are low on the genius scale

they get lost easily

they need constant oversight and guidance from a shepherd

How do we reconcile the mismatch…It’s all in the shepherd

Cyril of Alexandria

New Testament III: Luke Disciples Survive among Wolves with Christ as Their Shepherd

How can one so peaceful conquer the savageness of beasts of prey? “Yes,” he says, “for they all have me as their Shepherd: small and great, people and princes, teachers and students. I will be with you, help you, and deliver you from all evil. I will tame the savage beasts. I will change wolves into sheep, and I will make the persecutors become the helpers of the persecuted.

Learning to be content

Luke 10:7–9 NKJV

7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

In a time where we have such easy access to see so much, learning to be content with our own provisions is becoming extremely difficult.

There is always something better out there and the pursuit of the next best thing is endless and empty

Pursuing what is better can blind us from the work that needs to get done!

We can overlook the service (ie. the individual) in our pursuit for what is better or more comfortable.

You win some, you loose some

Luke 10:16 NKJV

16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

Not all will respond to the message of the gospel. It is part of the nature of free will. For anyone to have a love relationship with God it must be freely chosen.

Learning how much to push and pursue and when to back off is an art gained with wisdom and time.

St. Paul gives us a good rule of thumb with respect to the effort we must put into the service of others.

1 Corinthians 9:20–22 NKJV

20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

We must pursue and pursue hard after those set before us in our service. But even to that end, we will not win them all, but we must meet them where they are at, within the limits set by god to protect us.

Serve for your salvation

Luke 10:20 NKJV

20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Any success in ministry can easily go to our heads.

recognition in service

good comments

attention from others

more responsibility and influence

The Devil can use these vices to tear us down.

Those are misleading and can steal from us the real reward, our salvation.

New Testament III: Luke Disciples Not to Rejoice in Apostolic Honors

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: To rejoice only in the fact that they were able to work miracles and crush the herds of demons was possibly likely to produce in them the desire of arrogance. The neighbor and relative of this passion constantly is pride.