Uniting Through Serving: Building Relationships and Legacy
Summary
### Summary
This summer, we are witnessing God's transformative work in our lives, homes, and communities. Our current series, "Unite," emphasizes the importance of unity, which cannot be achieved alone. We are designed to unite with God and each other. As we prepare for the fall, we will delve into the book of Acts, aiming not just to understand it but to live it out together through daily devotions, life groups, and weekend messages.
Today's focus is on uniting through serving. Our recent mission trip to Honduras exemplifies this, where our team conducted four VBS events, impacting over 550 children. This mission work, supported by our international partners, continues to foster relationships and spread the gospel. Our next mission trip is to Cambodia, and we encourage everyone to consider participating in these life-changing experiences.
Serving is our calling, and it strengthens our relationships and unity. God works simultaneously in our hearts, homes, church, and city. We must shift from cultural Christianity to biblical Christianity, recognizing that God blesses us so we can bless others. Mentoring is a crucial aspect of this, as it involves sharing our knowledge, skills, and faith with others.
We explored biblical examples of mentoring, such as Jethro mentoring Moses, Moses mentoring Joshua, and Elijah mentoring Elisha. These relationships highlight the importance of passing on wisdom, empowering others, and fostering a deep relationship with God. Mentoring connects generations, ensuring that the faith and wisdom we receive are passed on to future generations.
We are called to be like Jesus, leaving a legacy of people we have developed to trust and serve God. This involves intentional relationships, building others up, and encouraging them to do the same. The vision of the kingdom is about relationships, unity, discipleship, and reaching those who don't know Jesus. We must reject cultural Christianity and embrace the biblical model of following Jesus and living out His teachings.
### Key Takeaways
1. Unity Through Serving: Serving together strengthens our relationships and unity. It is our calling to serve God and others, and as we do so, we grow in our faith and impact our communities. Serving is not just about fulfilling tasks but about building deeper connections with God and each other. [03:51]
2. Mentoring Across Generations: Mentoring connects and reaches different generations effectively. By sharing our experiences, wisdom, and faith, we ensure that the next generation is equipped to carry on the mission. This intergenerational mentoring fosters a sense of continuity and growth within the church. [07:14]
3. Empowering Others: Like Jethro advised Moses, we must recognize our limitations and empower others to take on responsibilities. This involves careful selection of trustworthy individuals and providing them with the necessary support and training. Empowering others leads to greater unity and effectiveness in ministry. [09:36]
4. Depth with God Leads to Direction: Developing a deep relationship with God is essential for effective mentoring and leadership. Moses and Joshua's example shows that spending extended time with God provides clarity, direction, and the strength to lead others. This depth with God is foundational for any fruitful ministry. [14:20]
5. Intentional Legacy: We are called to be like Jesus, intentionally developing and discipling others to trust and serve God. This involves building meaningful relationships, encouraging others, and ensuring that the faith and wisdom we have received are passed on. A legacy of discipleship and service is a testament to our faithfulness to God's calling. [32:07]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - Introduction to the Series "Unite"
[01:41] - Prayer and Opening
[02:27] - Mission Trip to Honduras
[03:10] - Upcoming Mission Trip to Cambodia
[03:51] - The Importance of Serving
[04:26] - God's Work in Our Hearts, Homes, Church, and City
[05:09] - Shifting from Cultural to Biblical Christianity
[05:56] - Mentoring and Its Impact
[07:14] - Mentoring Across Generations
[08:06] - Jethro's Advice to Moses
[09:36] - Empowering Others
[11:13] - The Dangers of Overloading Ourselves
[14:20] - Moses Mentoring Joshua
[20:12] - Joshua's Hunger for God's Presence
[24:27] - Finding Faithful, Available, and Teachable People
[28:02] - Elijah and Elisha's Relationship
[32:07] - Be Like Jesus and Leave a Legacy
[36:02] - Paul's Mentorship of Timothy
[38:01] - Examples of Mentorship in Our Church
[41:48] - The Strength of Unity in the Church
[42:56] - Practical Steps for Mentorship
[46:12] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 18:17-21 - Jethro's advice to Moses about delegating responsibilities.
2. Exodus 24:12-18 - Moses and Joshua on Mount Sinai.
3. 2 Kings 2:8-9 - Elijah and Elisha crossing the Jordan and Elisha's request for a double portion of Elijah's spirit.
#### Observation Questions
1. What advice did Jethro give to Moses regarding his leadership responsibilities? ([08:06])
2. How did Moses involve Joshua in his spiritual journey on Mount Sinai? ([14:20])
3. What was Elisha's request to Elijah before Elijah was taken up to heaven? ([29:35])
4. How did the mission trip to Honduras exemplify the theme of unity through serving? ([02:27])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for leaders to delegate responsibilities, as seen in Jethro's advice to Moses? How does this apply to modern church leadership? ([08:06])
2. What can we learn from Moses' mentorship of Joshua about the importance of spending extended time with God? ([14:20])
3. How does Elisha's request for a double portion of Elijah's spirit reflect his commitment and desire for God's power in his ministry? ([29:35])
4. How does the mission trip to Honduras illustrate the impact of serving together on community and faith? ([02:27])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current responsibilities. Are there areas where you might be overloading yourself like Moses? How can you delegate or empower others to help? ([08:06])
2. Think about your relationship with God. How can you deepen this relationship to gain clarity and direction, similar to Moses and Joshua's time on Mount Sinai? ([14:20])
3. Identify someone in your life who could benefit from mentorship. What steps can you take to start mentoring them and passing on your faith and wisdom? ([05:56])
4. Consider the upcoming mission trip to Cambodia. How can you get involved, either by participating, supporting, or praying for the team? ([03:10])
5. Reflect on the concept of shifting from cultural Christianity to biblical Christianity. What changes can you make in your daily life to live out this shift more authentically? ([05:09])
6. How can you intentionally build and encourage relationships within your church community to foster unity and discipleship? ([32:07])
7. Think about a time when you were mentored or when you mentored someone else. What impact did it have on your faith journey, and how can you continue this legacy? ([07:14])
Devotional
Day 1: Unity Through Serving
Serving together strengthens our relationships and unity. It is our calling to serve God and others, and as we do so, we grow in our faith and impact our communities. Serving is not just about fulfilling tasks but about building deeper connections with God and each other. When we serve, we reflect the love and compassion of Jesus, creating a ripple effect that touches lives and transforms hearts. Our recent mission trip to Honduras, where our team conducted four VBS events impacting over 550 children, is a testament to the power of serving together. This mission work, supported by our international partners, continues to foster relationships and spread the gospel. Our next mission trip is to Cambodia, and we encourage everyone to consider participating in these life-changing experiences. [03:51]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: Think of a specific way you can serve someone in your community this week. How can you use your unique gifts to build deeper connections with God and others through this act of service?
Day 2: Mentoring Across Generations
Mentoring connects and reaches different generations effectively. By sharing our experiences, wisdom, and faith, we ensure that the next generation is equipped to carry on the mission. This intergenerational mentoring fosters a sense of continuity and growth within the church. Biblical examples such as Jethro mentoring Moses, Moses mentoring Joshua, and Elijah mentoring Elisha highlight the importance of passing on wisdom, empowering others, and fostering a deep relationship with God. These relationships ensure that the faith and wisdom we receive are passed on to future generations, creating a legacy of discipleship and service. [07:14]
2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV): "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
Reflection: Identify someone from a different generation within your church or community whom you can mentor or seek mentorship from. How can you initiate a conversation to share experiences, wisdom, and faith with them this week?
Day 3: Empowering Others
Like Jethro advised Moses, we must recognize our limitations and empower others to take on responsibilities. This involves careful selection of trustworthy individuals and providing them with the necessary support and training. Empowering others leads to greater unity and effectiveness in ministry. By delegating tasks and responsibilities, we not only lighten our own load but also enable others to grow and develop their gifts. This collaborative approach strengthens the body of Christ and ensures that the work of the ministry is carried out more efficiently and effectively. [09:36]
Exodus 18:21-22 (ESV): "Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you."
Reflection: Think of a responsibility or task you currently handle alone. Who in your community or church can you empower to take on this role? How can you support and train them to ensure they succeed?
Day 4: Depth with God Leads to Direction
Developing a deep relationship with God is essential for effective mentoring and leadership. Moses and Joshua's example shows that spending extended time with God provides clarity, direction, and the strength to lead others. This depth with God is foundational for any fruitful ministry. When we prioritize our relationship with God, we gain the wisdom and discernment needed to guide and mentor others effectively. Our personal time with God equips us to face challenges and make decisions that align with His will, ultimately leading to a more impactful and purposeful ministry. [14:20]
Joshua 1:8-9 (ESV): "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Reflection: Set aside a specific time each day this week to deepen your relationship with God through prayer and Bible study. How can this dedicated time with God provide you with clarity and direction in your mentoring and leadership roles?
Day 5: Intentional Legacy
We are called to be like Jesus, intentionally developing and discipling others to trust and serve God. This involves building meaningful relationships, encouraging others, and ensuring that the faith and wisdom we have received are passed on. A legacy of discipleship and service is a testament to our faithfulness to God's calling. By investing in others and helping them grow in their faith, we create a lasting impact that extends beyond our own lives. This intentional approach to discipleship ensures that the message of the gospel continues to spread and transform lives for generations to come. [32:07]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: Identify one person you can intentionally disciple and invest in this month. How can you build a meaningful relationship with them and encourage them to grow in their faith and service to God?
Quotes
1. "Serving is our calling. Serving together strengthens relationships. And unity grows. The more we serve. We've been highlighting four different ways that God works at the same time. In our hearts. In our homes. In our church. And then also in our city. God not just wants to work one hour, one place, one building, one day as we gather. But it really begins in our hearts. And then the environment spiritually in our homes." [04:26] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God is the source of all of our blessings. And he blesses us so that we can bless other people. The first half is to acknowledge that what God gives us, he blesses us. And we thank him. We praise him. We lift up our hands. We give him the highest praise for all God gives us. But if that's all of your vision, then your vision is just going to be stuck and small." [05:09] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Mentoring is at the core of unity. A lot of people say, unity sounds great. What do I do? Serving together, uniting, mentoring, passing along what God has given to us. There's three truths and three different sets of relationships in this message. The first is mentoring connects generations. Generations and reaches generations well. It's both. Two things. When we mentor the different generations, aren't you glad our church, we have babies that fill up the nursery, and we have those who have their eyes set on 100 and are getting close, and everyone in between." [07:14] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Can we all admit we have blind spots? And sometimes our spouse is going to be the primary one. Sometimes it will be in our life group, a friend, a mentor. Someone's going to see what we don't see and have the courage to say, this is not good. This could be better. And bring a suggestion, bring a recommendation. Aren't you grateful for people who actually bring recommendations?" [08:52] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Nothing will tire you more than doing what God's called other people to do. And when you're stuck in that rut, sometimes you say, well, this is what I've always done. This is what everyone else is doing. I'll just keep doing all the extras because no one else, well, no one else is, and then underneath it, no one else is quite as talented as me. No one else is desiring this as much as me. No one else is as faithful as me." [11:13] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You impress people from a distance, but you impact up close. You impact up close. It's not gonna happen in a cave. Go to where Elisha is. And there's a call to serve. Elisha is wealthy. Lot of land, wealthy family. What does he do? He no longer is he gonna have the equipment. No longer is he gonna have the animals. The Moravians traveled across the world to serve Jesus, and when they finished their journey, you know what they did? Burn the boats, because we're not going back." [28:33] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Be like Jesus. That's our calling, to be like Jesus, and leave a legacy of people you have developed to trust and serve God. I use the word developed. You could also use the word discipled, synonymous. Leave a legacy in your life of people who are trusting and serving God, and God has used you to encourage, empower, train, build up these people. And you look at Jesus who ascended into heaven, and he poured his life into those three, and then those 12, and then there's over 70, and you see how intentional he was with his legacy." [32:07] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Go deep with God, abide with Jesus, and then pass along. Help others do the same. The kingdom math is multiplication. Don't just help someone, help someone to help others in the same way. Don't just give a handout, train them up how they can fish, and not just that they fish, but now they teach other people how to fish. Don't just teach someone how to pray, or someone how to share their faith, or someone how to read the Bible. Encourage them to now go train someone else how to do that." [37:29] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "The strength of this church will come back to uniting with God first, and then how well we unite and strengthen and encourage each other in relationships. And that's what we all choose together. It goes beyond a program. And I wanna share this too. Don't miss the context as we close here. Don't miss the context here. That there wasn't a lot of sitting around at coffee shops and talking a good talk. I've got no problem with meeting up at a coffee shop and talking about faith. That could be part of it." [41:48] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "My prayer in all this is that it's refreshing. My heart in all this is that we're going to soar. And I don't know any way to soar other than to come back to Jesus, come back to the Bible and just say, let's follow Jesus together. Let's do it not the way it's typical in American Christianity today. Let's do it the way Jesus did it. Let's do it what he said in his word, because I don't know, what do you think would be better? The way Jesus said to do it or what the committees these days are talking about around the nation?" [43:56] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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