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Time for Others
The following Bible study was written as a one hour breakout study for a women’s retreat. It was
written to elicit discussion and sharing of practical ideas on how to make time to serve our Lord
by serving his people. It was written by Kate Tiefel and Jennifer Barcenas of Abiding Word
Lutheran Church in Houston, TX. The theological content was reviewed by Martin Luther
College Professor Lyle Lange.
A Time for Others
1.
Why should we make time to serve others?
Read the passages below and answer the question: Where does our motivation and strength for
serving come from?
1 Thessalonians 1:3
1 John 4:19
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
2 Corinthians 9:8
Ephesians 2:8-10
What are some false and worldly motivations for service that you have used on yourself or
heard from others in the past? “I/You should serve because….”
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“Oh, faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, so that it is impossible for it not to be constantly doing
what is good. Likewise, faith does not ask if good works are to be done, but before one can ask, faith has
already done them and is constantly active….This the Holy Spirit works by faith, and therefore without
any coercion a man is willing and desirous to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer
everything for the love of God and to his glory, who has been so gracious to him. It is therefore as
impossible to separate works from faith as it is to separate heat and light from fire.” (Martin Luther, from
the Formula of Concord)
What words does Luther use to describe faith and the believer?
How does your perspective on serving others change when you realize that God-given faith
inspires and carries out your good works for you?
In light of all of this, how can we strengthen our desire to serve? Where should our focus be?
2.
What does serving others look like?
Share a story of a time when you were served, helped, or encouraged – in a big or small way.
How did it impact you (spiritually, emotionally, and/or physically)?
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Read Matthew 25:34-40. What pictures of service does Jesus give us?
Our service to others can take many forms. We can take advantage of more opportunities by
thinking of “service” more broadly. With a partner, brainstorm at least 20 different service
opportunities. Think about including the following types:
Church-organized service
Service using mail or e-mail
Self-organized service
Service to youth
Service for under $5/over $5
Service to the elderly
Service that takes 5 minutes
Service to church leaders
Service that takes an hour or more
Service to the preschool
Service to a stranger
Service to the school
Service to a close friend
Service to a new member
Service to a missionary
Service at your workplace
Service you can do over the phone
Service to the community
3.
Discover who am I? What opportunities do I have to serve in the church?
We should discover our strengths and talents. It’s through these gifts we’ve been given that we
can help serve in the church. See Romans 12:4-8
What are my abilities?
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How am I using them?
Do I have any undiscovered or undeveloped abilities?
“No service in itself is small, none great, though earth it fill but that is small which seeks its own
and great that does God’s will” Anonymous.
To help discover areas of service that match your personality, abilities, and stage of life,
brainstorm with your partner which service opportunities fit best fit for:
Introvert
Worker
Extrovert
Teen
Teacher
Retiree
Encourager
Other
Mother
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4. Discuss challenges faced when serving, and how we handle these challenges.
What temptations/excuses, and challenges have you faced when given the opportunity to
serve?
“Some Christians have not seriously tested their capacity; they go on rather haphazardly trying
to fill needs only as they are recognized, rather than evaluating their God-given potential and
planning their ministry according to God’s plan for them….Others attempt too much as they pour
a gallon of work into their pint-container lives; they fill jobs others ought to be doing…never
enjoying their pace” (p. 79, Christian Stewards).
Read Galatians 6:2-10.
How have you responded to these temptations and challenges? Where do we get our energy
and encouragement to serve?
Spending time with the Word and Sacraments
Through prayer
From others
Read Hebrews 10:23-25
Bible Verses
1 Thessalonians 1:3
3
We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted
by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all
died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died
for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 9:8
8
And God is able to make all grace abound in you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you
need, you will abound in every good work.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Matthew 25:34-40
34
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to
eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes
and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the
righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to
drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see
you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Romans 12:4-8
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same
function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We
have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in
proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let
him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let
him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
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Galatians 6:2-10
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is
something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can
take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own
load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not
be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful
nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will
reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if
we do not give up. Therefore as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those
who belong to the family of believers.”
Hebrews 10:23-25
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how
we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some
are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another---and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.”
Additional Resources
Werning, Waldo J., Christian Stewards: Confronted and Committed. Concordia Publishing House: 1982.
Harrison, Matthew C., Christ Have Mercy: How to Put Your Faith In Action. Concordia Publishing House:
2008.
Lange, Lyle W. Sanctification: Alive in Christ. Northwestern Publishing House: 1999.
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