Lesson 17: Serving Others

(Love Through Action)

Lessons From Acts

You Teach Me

1Th 4:9-10 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you,

for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all

Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;

Ga 5:13-14 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Command

Ro 12:10-13 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Command

1Jo 3:17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Command

• Acts 2:41-47– Sold their possessions and goods, and divided them

among all, as anyone had need. (Virtually Strangers)

• Acts 4: 32-37– They were of one heart and one soul– Neither did anyone say that any of the things he

possessed was his own; but they had all things in common.

– No one lacked because …– Barnabus

Examine the Early Disciples

• Needy widows (Acts 6)

• Relief to the brethren in Judea (Acts 11:29)

• According to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, ( 2 Cor. 8: 2-3)

• It is superfluous for me to write to you; (2 Cor. 9:1)• God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:6-7)

• Better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)

Examine the Early Disciples

• Two keys1) Faith in God

2) Attitude toward money (possessions)

• God designed us to obtain true happiness from helping others.

• You can have everything in life you want if you just help other people get what they want. -- Zig Ziglar

How did they do this?

• Acts 4:36-37 – Barnabas sells his land– Why does one own land?

• God has made us a promise– Matthew 6:25-34 (key verse 33-34)

• Our ability to sell possessions and give them away makes us depend on God as in Matthew 6.

• Where your treasure is your heart will be also (Mathew 6:19-21)

Key #1: Faith in God

Investment

• Promise: Be liberal with worldly possessions and have treasure in heaven. Luke 12:33-34

• Future comfort must be in God not retirement account– Remember the rich young ruler– For the love money is the root of all kinds of evil, for

which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Ti 6:10)

Key #2: Attitude Toward Money

• Reality Check– Old beat up truck: easy

– Selling land, cashing out retirement funds, etc…: not so easy

• Why?

Key #2: Attitude Toward Money

• Bearing one another’s burdens isn’t all about money (Gal. 6:1-2)– Food– Phone/Card– Prayer– Attendance at services

How else do we serve others?

• Notice it is also spiritual in nature– I can’t bear your burdens if we’re strangers and I don’t

know your needs.– Jesus washed disciple’s feet– Jesus dying for our sins is a service to us– Taking the gospel to the world is serving– Encouraging each other spiritually to do the right thing

is serving one another

How else do we serve others?

• Don’t do your deeds to be seen by men (Mat. 6:1-4)

• Was this not the issue of the Pharisees? (Mat. 23:11-12)

Warning