Transcript “FITLY FRAMED” Session #7 Serving With Love This series was written by the General Home Missions Director, Rev.

“FITLY FRAMED”
Session #7
Serving With Love
This series was written by the
General Home Missions Director,
Rev. Carlton L. Coon, Sr.
BIBLE PERSPECTIVE
 “Now
therefore ye are no more strangers
and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with
the saints, and of the household of God;
{20} And are built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone; {21}
In whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy temple in
the Lord: {22} In whom ye also are
builded together for an habitation of God
through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
REVIEW OF PAST LESSONS
 Why
we are to serve: to glorify God and
edify others.
 How we are to serve: according to our
passion, motivational gifts, and
temperament.
 Motivational gifts are to be used in
interdependent relationships within the
body of Christ.
 We discussed the motivational gifts found
in Romans, identified the gifts in action,
and learned that gifts are affirmed by the
body of Christ.
OVERVIEW OF SESSION 7
 Tonight
we are going to explore the
concept of serving with love, which is
essential to the first concept we taught
on serving interdependently.
 We will do this by looking at the results
of serving without love, identifying the
differences between servility and
servanthood, and applying the
principles of servanthood to actual
ministry situations.
SERVING WITH LOVE
I
Corinthians 12 concludes with the
words: “And now I will show you the
most excellent way” (I Cor. 12:31)
 I Corinthians 12 lays the theological
foundation for ministry because it
deals with how God designed the
church to function as the body of
Christ.
I CORINTHIANS 13
I
Corinthians 13 is often referred to as
the “Love Chapter.”
 I Corinthians 13 is written in the
context of ministry, not marriage.
Love is presented as the context in
which we are to serve one another. It
could be said like this: serving in any
way is good, but serving with love is
more excellent.
KINGDOM IMPACT?
 Motivational
gifts expressed without
love do not reflect who God is and do
not have a KINGDOM IMPACT.
 The love that God is talking about
here is the “agape” kind of love. It’s
the selfless kind of love that seeks the
other’s best interest.
I CORINTHIANS 13:4-8
 “Love
is patient, love is kind. It
does not envy, it does not boast, it
is not proud. It is not rude, it is
not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no record of
wrongs. Love does not delight in
evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.”
MOTIVATED TO SERVE
 Let’s
look at our motivation for serving.
Are you motivated to serve out of
servanthood or servility?
 We are to serve with love.
 Servility: serving without love (duty)
 Servanthood: serving with love (desire)
 Jesus makes an interesting statement in
Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your
light shine before men, that they may see
your good deeds and praise [glorify] your
Father in heaven.”
SERVILITY VS SERVANTHOOD

Using your student handouts,
fill in the blanks as we discuss
the differences between servility
and servanthoood.
VISIBLE SERVANTHOOD
 Jesus
said, “By this all men will
know that you are my disciples, if
you love one another” (John 13:35).
 Visible servanthood is a testimony
to the reality and presence of God.
 What does love have to do with it?
EVERYTHING!
HUDDLE GROUPS
 Form
a huddle group with three
other people:
1. Each person discusses one aspect
of servanthood (serving with love)
that you would like to concentrate
on.
2. Identify one practical step you can
take toward it.
SESSION SUMMARY
 We
learned the results of serving
without love, and discovered that
there is no kingdom impact.
 We identified the differences
between servility and servanthood.
 And finally, we applied the principles
of servanthood to an actual ministry
situation, and identified one aspect of
servanthood to concentrate on and a
practical step to take toward it.