Serving

Written by Josiah Gerdes

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Is Serving a Spiritual Practice?

You may be wondering to yourself, “Is serving really a spiritual practice?” While it may not be what initially comes to mind when one thinks of spiritual disciplines, it is a vital discipline for our life in Jesus. When we serve, we lay down our own desires and ambitions ____. This practice of self-denial is core to Jesus’ teachings on becoming a disciple of His Way (Matthew 16:24). As with any other spiritual discipline, we practice serving so that Christ may be magnified in our lives and His love may be visible in all we do.

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Scripture

Before beginning this practice, take a moment to read the scripture below.

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:40

Tips on Serving

• Practice serving in a time and a place where only God will see. It can be easy to find ourselves serving to be seen. (Matthew 6:3)
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• Serve your church community on Sundays or throughout the week.
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• Pray to see whether there is someone in your life that Jesus is leading you to serve in some way.
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• Think about what needs you have seen in your community or city. If there are any needs that stand out to you or nag at you, this may be the Spirit’s invitation to you.

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Questions

Return to this question after reading the practice. Take your time thoughtfully answering the question. You may want to write down your answers, ponder them quietly or even talk about them with someone else.

1. What area in your life can you make sacrifices in to serve others right now? It may be time, resources, or something else God has given to you.

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