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Introduction:
A New Year means new beginnings, and even though you desire to move forward, it can sometimes feel like you have fallen short of your goals and expectations. Whether it seems like life’s circumstances are piling up, your mind can’t get through a mental block, or your emotions are paralyzing you, you can pick yourself back up and move forward this year.
God can help you align your focus so that you can take your spiritual growth to the next level.
“The Lord helps all who fall; he raises up all who are oppressed.” —Psalm 145:14
This collection will help you reset your priorities for the new year. This collection of talks will include:
January 5th/8th Lifting Your Prayer Time
January 12th/15th Lifting Your Discipleship (Dr. David Nelms, TTI)
January 19th/22nd Lifting Your Bible Study
January 26th/29th Lifting Your Serving
February 2nd/5th Lifting Your Generosity
February 9th/12th Lifting the Vision: Super Vision Weekend
Text: Romans 12:11 (CSB, New Testament)
Today’s Takeaway: We are here to serve, not to be served.
Week 4 - Lifting Your Serving
I.
SHOULD WE FERVENTLY SERVE JESUS?
A.
“… Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38This is the greatest and most important command. 39The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” —Matthew 22:37-39
“Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.” —I John 3:18
B.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” —Romans 12:1
“I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry” —I Timothy 1:12
C.
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — 9not from works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” —Ephesians 2:8-10
D.
“If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” —John 12:26
“… Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.” —Matthew 25:21
E.
“In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’” —Luke 17:10
“But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” —Acts 20:24
II.
CAN WE FERVENTLY SERVE JESUS?
A. Serve with an attitude of
“… All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —I Peter 5:5b
“It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” —Matthew 20:26-28
B. Serve according to God’s
“… I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. 6“But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” —Acts 9:5b-6
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:2
C. Serve with your spiritual
“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” —1 Peter 4:10-11
D. Serve with God’s
“We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.” —Colossians 1:28-29
E. Serve with a focus on
“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” —Hebrews 12:1-2
CONCLUSION: What steps do you need to take to lift your serving?
DEEP DIVE QUESTIONS:
Are you serving God? Why?
Read Matthew 20:26-28. Discuss the paradox of the last being first and vice versa
Have you taken the Spiritual Gifts test on our Serve Page?
How can you LIFT your serving this week?
Upcoming Events at City United
1. NEXT 2023 Annual Offering: We are a contagiously generous church! November 1, 2022 - February 28, 2023
Be praying about how you can make an impact locally and globally through our NEXT Annual Offering. As we enter our second year of our church’s 5-year vision, we will be laser-focused on what is NEXT for us, staying outreach-focused and intentional on reaching people for a more significant Gospel impact in our community, New England, and around the world. For more information on our 5-year vision, visit www.cityunited.church/future. Over this next year, we will be focused on enlarging, equipping, encouraging, and executing a flexible plan to make a significant Kingdom impact. For more information on the ministry initiatives that this year’s annual offering will fund, visit www.cityunited.church/next.
2. Next Steps Open House February 5, 2023, 11:45am - 1:00pm
Are you new to City United Church? Are you ready to start serving at City United? Do you want to learn more about how you can get connected to the mission and vision of our church? If so, plan on joining us at our Next Steps Open House. During this 1 hour on-campus meet-up you will have the opportunity to meet some of the staff and leadership of our church, hear about how we got started and why we do what we do, and hear about ways you can get connected and be a part of what’s happening here. Lunch is provided! To RSVP, visit cityunited.church/events, choose “Next Steps Open House,” click “Register Now” and complete the form.
3. BCNE Disaster Relief Training – February 10, 5pm & February 11, 2pm: FEMA certification included!
This 2-day training will give you the necessary skills to deploy locally and nationally to bring not only assistance to those experiencing hardship and tragedy but to be a light for Christ in a hurting world. The Event begins on Friday, February 10th at 5pm. Attendees must be 18+ years of age and bring a driver’s license. Basic training and how-to-share-your-faith training will begin at 6pm and run till 9pm. These two Friday night trainings must be attended to participate Saturday. On Saturday, February 11th at 8am, you will receive classroom and hands-on training in whichever of the specific disaster relief trainings you have chosen. Lunch will be provided Saturday and is included in the $25 registration fee. Choose from these trainings: Flood recovery, chainsaw, disaster assessment, shower trailer, and administration. Register online at cityunited.church/events and scroll down to this event.
4. Super Vision Weekend February 9-12 - Wear Your Favorite Sports Jersey to Church
It’s 2023, a new year, a fresh start, a time to refocus on our biblically-focused vision which pushes us to do more with what God has entrusted to us. Come hear the God-given vision for our church as we gather on this Super Bowl Weekend. Wear your favorite sports jersey, and get ready to hear about the BIG things God has ahead for our church.
5. Guatemala 2023 Team Meeting: February 19, 11:45am-12:45pm
If you are part of the 2023 Guatemala team whether in-country or at home, join us for this meeting. We will meet upstairs in Room 1 in Building 3 immediately after the 10:30a.m. gathering. If you have any questions, please email Alyssa Eaton at alyssa@cityunited.church.