The_Power_to_Make_a_Difference_2025_Piney_Grove_VB.pdf

Devotional

Day 1: Greatness Through Service

In a world that often equates greatness with power, wealth, or status, the true measure of greatness is found in the willingness to serve others. This is a lesson we learn from figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ebed-Melek, who demonstrated that selfless acts of service can have a profound impact. Service is not limited by one's background or resources; rather, it is an opportunity available to everyone. By serving others, we reflect the love and compassion that Jesus Christ showed during His time on earth. Each act of service, no matter how small, contributes to a greater good and brings us closer to the heart of God.

Matthew 23:11-12 (ESV): "The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Reflection: Who in your life can you serve today, and what specific action can you take to show them love and support?

Day 2: Attentive Advocacy

Awareness of the injustices and struggles around us is the first step toward making a difference. Like Ebed-Melek, who was attentive to Jeremiah's plight, we are called to be vigilant and responsive to the needs of others. Advocacy begins with listening and understanding the challenges faced by those around us. Our unique positions in life grant us access to situations where we can speak up and effect change. By using our voices to advocate for justice, we become instruments of God's love and mercy in a world that desperately needs it.

Proverbs 31:8-9 (ESV): "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Reflection: What is one injustice you have noticed in your community, and how can you use your voice to advocate for change?

Day 3: Faith in Action

Hearing and speaking are important, but they must be followed by action. Ebed-Melek not only advocated for Jeremiah but also took tangible steps to rescue him. We are called to put our faith into action, using whatever resources we have, no matter how small, to lift others out of their struggles and make a positive impact. Our actions should be a reflection of our faith, demonstrating the love and compassion of Christ to those around us. By taking action, we become active participants in God's work on earth.

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: What is one small action you can take today to help someone in need, and how can this action reflect your faith in Christ?

Day 4: Love and Sacrifice

The ultimate example of making a difference is found in Jesus Christ, who sacrificed everything out of love for humanity. His life, death, and resurrection empower us to live with purpose, love, and the courage to serve others. Our actions should reflect the love that lifted us from our own struggles, inspiring us to lift others. By embracing a life of love and sacrifice, we align ourselves with the heart of God and become conduits of His grace and mercy in the world.

1 John 3:16-18 (ESV): "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: How can you demonstrate sacrificial love to someone in your life today, and what might it cost you to do so?

Day 5: Strategic Positioning

God places us in specific situations and communities for a reason. Like Esther and the servant girl in Naaman's story, we are strategically positioned to hear and respond to the needs around us. Recognizing this divine placement encourages us to be proactive in using our influence and resources to bring about positive change in the world. By embracing our unique roles, we can make a significant impact and fulfill the purpose God has for our lives.

Esther 4:14 (ESV): "For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Reflection: In what ways has God strategically positioned you in your community, and how can you use your influence to make a difference today?

Sermon Summary

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In this sermon, the focus is on the power of ordinary individuals to make a significant difference in the world, drawing inspiration from the biblical story of Ebed-Melek, a Cushite who saved the prophet Jeremiah from a cistern. The sermon highlights the importance of service, advocacy, and action, emphasizing that greatness is achieved through serving others, as exemplified by figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The message encourages everyone, regardless of their social status or background, to use their unique positions and resources to advocate for justice and uplift those in need. It calls for awareness of the injustices around us and urges believers to take action, inspired by the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Melek demonstrated, true impact comes from selfless acts of service. We are reminded that everyone has the potential to be great because everyone can serve, regardless of their background or resources.
2. Awareness and Advocacy:
Being aware of the injustices and struggles around us is the first step toward making a difference. Like Ebed-Melek, who heard of Jeremiah's plight, we must be attentive to the needs of others and use our voices to advocate for justice. Our unique positions in life grant us access to situations where we can speak up and effect change.

3. Taking Action:
Hearing and speaking are important, but they must be followed by action. Ebed-Melek not only advocated for Jeremiah but also took tangible steps to rescue him. We are called to put our faith into action, using whatever resources we have, no matter how small, to lift others out of their struggles and make a positive impact.

4. The Role of Love and Sacrifice:
The ultimate example of making a difference is found in Jesus Christ, who sacrificed everything out of love for humanity. His life, death, and resurrection empower us to live with purpose, love, and the courage to serve others. Our actions should reflect the love that lifted us from our own struggles, inspiring us to lift others.

5. Strategic Positioning:
God places us in specific situations and communities for a reason. Like Esther and the servant girl in Naaman's story, we are strategically positioned to hear and respond to the needs around us. Recognizing this divine placement encourages us to be proactive in using our influence and resources to bring about positive change in the world.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

**Bible Reading:**
- Jeremiah 38:4-13

**Observation Questions:**

What actions did Ebed-Melek take to help Jeremiah, and what does this reveal about his character?
How did King Zedekiah respond to Ebed-Melek's plea for Jeremiah?
What were the conditions in the cistern where Jeremiah was placed, and how did Ebed-Melek address these conditions?
How does the sermon describe the societal status of Ebed-Melek, and why is this significant?

**Interpretation Questions:**

What does the story of Ebed-Melek teach about the power of service and advocacy, regardless of one's social status?
How does the sermon connect the actions of Ebed-Melek to the broader theme of strategic positioning by God?
In what ways does the sermon suggest that awareness of injustice is crucial for taking meaningful action?
How does the sermon use the example of Jesus Christ to illustrate the ultimate act of love and sacrifice?

**Application Questions:**

Reflect on a time when you were in a position to help someone in need. How did you respond, and what might you do differently after hearing this sermon?
Identify an injustice in your community that you feel passionate about. What steps can you take this week to advocate for change?
Consider your unique position in your workplace, family, or community. How can you use your influence to serve others and make a difference?
The sermon emphasizes the importance of taking action. What is one small, tangible action you can take this week to help someone in need?
How can you cultivate a heart of love and service in your daily life, inspired by the example of Jesus Christ?
Think about a situation where you felt powerless to make a difference. How does the story of Ebed-Melek encourage you to rethink your potential impact?
What resources or skills do you have that you can use to uplift others, even if they seem insignificant? How can you put them to use this week?

Sermon Quotes

"You may think that what you do does not matter, but I implore you to hear Dr. King's words echoing through history: each of us can be great because greatness only requires a willingness to serve others."

"Ordinary people achieve greatness through service. They may not have holidays named after them, but their contributions are engraved in our hearts because they made a difference in our lives."

"God can use us to write a new ending to an old tale. We, everyday people, are strategically positioned by God to make a difference in the world around us."

"We cannot get so wrapped up in our lives that we fail to know what is going on around us. The church cannot be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good."

"We must be willing to be an advocate. An advocate pleads on behalf of another, recognizing that somebody’s life is at stake and somebody needs to say something."

"To make a difference, you must take action. Ebed-Molech took ropes and lifted Jeremiah out of the muck. Use what you have, and take action on behalf of someone else."

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout hatred, good men must commit to love."

"Our challenge is to put aside our own comfort for the greater good because God has given us the power and the assignment to make a difference."

"Because He lives, I have the power to live, power to love, power to serve, and power to make a difference. We can make a difference in the lives of others."

"Go out and serve the world. Go out and be great. Go out and impact the lives of others. Go forth and make a difference. Go forth and turn the world upside down."

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