Archive for Sunday School serving

Praying as a Means of Serving

By David Bond · Comments (0)
Tuesday, April 21st, 2020

Tucked away in Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth story is a woman named Anna. A widow for almost all of her adult life, the Bible says this about how Anna spent decades of time:

Luke 2:37 (CSB)

…She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.

Anna’s dedication to prayer was counted as service to the Lord. Prayer can be viewed as service in some very practical and important ways.

First, Prayer serves God. When we pray, we aren’t providing God with information that He needs. But we are providing God with interaction that He wants. Scripture is filled with examples of how God invites us to call upon Him, seek Him, ask of Him, and cry out to Him. Because God desires for us to have this dynamic, active relationship with Him, we serve Him when we pray. 

Second, Prayer serves Others. Within His own sovereign authority, God has determined to work through the prayers of His people to accomplish something in another person’s life. In Acts 12, Peter is in prison, but the Bible makes a point to note that the church was praying for him. God miraculously delivers Peter in response to those prayers. We also serve others in prayer by letting them know that we are lifting up their needs to the Father. Many are encouraged to hear that someone else is praying for them.

Third, Prayer is a service to yourself. In 1 Samuel 12:23, Samuel remarks that to fail to pray for the people of Israel would be a sin against the Lord. Praying for others is an act of service to self because it maintains personal holiness, closeness to God, and greater understanding of His will.

Like Anna, when you pray you are serving God!

Written by David Bond, Executive Administrator, Arkansas Baptist State Convention

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3 Ways to Deploy Group Members in Service

By Daniel Edmonds · Comments (0)
Tuesday, September 6th, 2016

Growing-to-ServeWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Ephesians 2:10 is a verse that gets overshadowed by its predecessor (2:9), but it contains an equally powerful message: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” You have heard it said, “We are saved to serve” and that is true. However, in recent years we have exchanged “come, let’s serve the Lord together” for “come on in and have a seat.” People are created to serve and sense that they truly belong when they are serving in and with the group.

WHAT DO I DO?

Inside the Group

A leader is wise to involve as many people in serving inside the group as possible. Teachers, according to Ephesians 4, are not to do ministry for everyone but to equip everyone for the work of ministry. If a person is given a service to perform during the group time, they are more likely to be present and on-time.  If nothing is expected of them, then attendance becomes optional. Think of as many possible tasks that can be done: set-up team member, greeters, care leaders, fellowship leaders, host/hospitality leaders, and so forth. Seek to involve everyone.

Through the Group

Hopefully, you will begin to have group members leaving the group to start a new group or to serve in another age group ministry in the church. Groups should consider these people as missionaries serving beyond the group. Seek way to serve these missionaries. It may be serving in their place when they are on vacation or cannot be present. It may be serving them by making provisions for their new ministry. Your missionaries should see their former group as people willing and ready to serve them.

Beyond the Group

It is wise for every group to look for service opportunities for members in the church, in the community, in the city, and beyond. Mission service projects tend to unify the group and focus it on being a Great Commandment/Great Commission ministry. Look where group members go and are engaged beyond the group, are there ways the group can serve in those areas? For example, if group members have children that are involved in a recreational sports league, how might your group serve and minister to others who are involved. The Great Commission reminds us to make disciples as we go and wherever we go. So, go and serve.

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Daniel Edmonds is the Director of the Office of Sunday School and Discipleship at the Alabama State Board of Missions

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Group Life, Mission
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