Service

  • Leading by Example

    Ephesians 6:9

    President Dwight D. Eisenhower once observed that “leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” Good leaders do not lead by maintaining uncertain, ever-changing standards or by demeaning ...Read More

  • Lifting Up the Rod

    Exodus 17:8–16

    Do you ever pray for someone in ministry? It could be any ministry from a pastor, to a missionary, to a husband and wife ministering to their children, to a Sunday School teacher. If you do not already do this ...Read More

  • Lights to the World

    Philippians 2:14–15

    Since we are already lights to the world in Christ Jesus, we can, by His Spirit, show forth the glory and goodness of God in line with the Father’s plan. We will fail from time to time and need ...Read More

  • No Favored Parties

    Colossians 3:25

    We can be tempted to make excuses for our behavior based on our backgrounds or conditions in which we find ourselves. But we must always remember that the Lord requires righteousness from us no matter our condition, and we must ...Read More

  • Paul’s Commendation of Timothy

    Philippians 2:19–20

    Paul’s sending of Timothy illustrates his great love for his congregation and is an example that Christian leaders will especially want to follow. It is good to appoint and send others on one’s behalf to help those under ...Read More

  • Paul’s Gratitude for the Philippians

    Philippians 1:3–5

    God does not save us to be lone ranger Christians, but He expects us to partner with other believers in order to send forth the gospel. There are a multitude of ways in which we can support our churches, parachurch ...Read More

  • Paul’s Love for His Audience

    Philippians 2:17–18

    Our love for those who minister to us should be part of what motivates our obedience to the Lord. As we grow in holiness, we help to show our pastors, Sunday school teachers, and other church leaders that their labor ...Read More

  • Paul’s Love for the Philippians

    Philippians 1:7–8

    In many ways, it is easier to pray or to give to various churches and ministries instead of doing both. How often do we pray for other believers and gospel defenders without responding to their need for financial support? How ...Read More

  • Paul’s Stewardship

    Ephesians 3:2

    Greatness in the kingdom of God is not measured by how many people serve us but in how we serve others. Yet using our gifts to benefit others is not always easy, and we need divine grace to sustain us ...Read More

  • Paying the Cost

    Philemon 19-20

    In Philippians 2, Paul calls us to follow the example of Christ and put others ahead of ourselves. We seldom consider how our decisions and behavior will be regarded in the community of believers, but this should not be. Instead ...Read More

  • Perpetual Gratitude

    Ephesians 5:20-21

    Servanthood is the path to greatness, not the position we hold or the degree of authority that we have been given (Matt. 23:11). Even those who are in authority over people — including husbands, executives, and parents — must submit to ...Read More

  • Power to Minister

    Acts 1:8

    If you are a Christian, you have already received the Holy Spirit, and you have the mind and ability to serve God and His church. We all may not be ordained to specific church offices, but all of us who ...Read More

  • Serve One Another

    1 Peter 4:10–11

    Peter does not give us an exhaustive list of gifts here; he gives two broad examples that encompass many of the specific ones listed elsewhere in the New Testament. What are your spiritual gifts? Do you have particular talents that ...Read More

  • Serving Earthly Masters

    Ephesians 6:5–8

    Tomorrow we will discuss in greater detail the proper roles of servants and masters. We note today, however, with Matthew Henry that “service, performed with conscience, and from a regard for God, though it may be to unrighteous masters, will ...Read More

  • Serving One Master Alone

    Matthew 6:19–24

    Money itself is not evil, for it is possible to be wealthy and serve God. However, it is all too easy for us to think we are serving God when we are really serving the “stuff” of this world. The ...Read More