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The Things I s i o n Implementing onp e M i s Want to Try G r o u

Jesus is our Example
Jesus called them together and said, You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:42-45).

session 8
serving faithfully

Jesus is our Focus

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:34-40) Serving is sacrificially giving your time, talents and treasure to advance the lives of others in a meaningful and tangible way: 1. Our belongs to our Commanding Officer: 2 Tim 2:3-7 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs

2. Our are to be invested: Matt 25:14:30 Master, you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more

3. Our the poor

comes from the King: Luke 14:12-14 When you give a banquet, invite

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How do I get involved in serving?

1. Learn about , prayerfully consider which ones God may have given you and discuss it with others that know you well who can guide you. Discovery takes place in spaces like these small groups. And confirmation comes from small groups watching and partnering with you in doing the work of the ministry. 2. Start Small! Help with little needs; pick up trash, clean after group, help with a move, etc.

Practical Areas to Serve in Church in the Boro:

Sunday Meeting (communion setup and take down, cleanup, etc.) Set-Up Team (setup and tear down of meeting room) Assimilation Team (greeters, hosts, assimilators) Worship/Sound Team (audio/visual team, praise and worship team) Early Childhood Ministries: Busy Toddlers, Kidmo Lil K Administrative Help (phone calls, filing, emailing, errands, tasks, etc.) Building and grounds (lawn maintenance, building maintenance, Sunday cleanup) Church website (maintenance of church calendar, media, sign ups, forms, graphic design) Job development (liaisons between CitB and local businesses to develop job opportunities for those in Church in the Boro, as well as outside; development of job skills, e.g. applying, interviewing, follow-through, etc.) Life Mission Groups (coordinators, leaders, and co-leaders) Mercy Ministries (caring for the poor and needy) Creative team (marketing, advertising, publicity for Sundays & events)

Take a few minutes together and use the My Service Interests form following this
session to indicate where you would like more information.
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Giving Generously
Giving is Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops (Proverbs 3:9) The principle of giving is seen with Gods people throughout the Bible: the Law, believers tithed: Cain & Abel (Genesis 4), Abram (Genesis 14:20), Jacob (Genesis 28:20-22). The in the Old Testament holds a profound promise for those who obey God in giving: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it (Malachi 3:10). The ministry of Jesus fulfilled the Law so that the tithe is no longer the standard. (The tithe before the Law eventually became the national economy under and during the law. Therefore, when Jesus fulfilled the Law, the tithe was no longer necessary.) There was a new economy under the gospel, and it was raised from 10% to 100%! Read Matthew 13:44 together. What did the man who found the treasure in the field sell to buy the field? Read Matthew 13:45, 46 together. What did the man who found the pearl sell in order to buy the pearl? Read Luke 18:18-23 together. What did Jesus say the rich young ruler must do in order to have riches in heaven? Read Mark 10:28-31 together. What did Peter say he had left behind to follow Jesus? Read Mark 12:41-44 and/or Luke 21:1-4 together. Why did Jesus make a big deal about the widow who came to the temple to give? Read Luke 19:1-10 together. How much did Zacchaeus give back when he decided to follow after Jesus?

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The New Testament Teaches

Read 2 Corinthians 8:1:15; 9:6-15

Generous Giving

Here are the biblical measures of grace-filled giving among Christians in the local churchand among local churches. 1. Grace-filled giving is a to the grace God gave to us in the gospel. like the gospel gave to us. , and not just good-intentioned.

2. Grace-filled giving responds by giving to the 3. Grace-filled giving is always

4. Grace-filled giving is NOT measured by the that seem to hinder us from giving. It always far the intensity of the circumstances from of which we give. 5. Grace-filled giving is not dependent upon your 6. Grace-filled giving is measured by such an abundance of cant help yourself. or lack thereof. that you just

7. Grace-filled giving is a privilege that is measured by our for opportunities to give, and even begging to be able to do more. Grace-filled giving is a privilege. 8. Grace-filled giving is measured by you give (yourself, first and foremost) and what you give it (the vision and mission of the leadership). 9. Grace-filled giving is measured by a constant striving to 10. Grace-filled giving is always done according to your 11. Grace-filled giving is not measured by 12. Grace-filled giving is cheerfully willing to go 13. Grace-filled giving sows in in abundance. 14. Grace-filled giving sows in 15. Grace-filled giving reaps a in giving. and willingness. , but by genuine .

today to have provision tomorrow. because it produces a faith to

and not in harvest.

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What is the difference between giving and offerings? 1. Giving is what we do regularly to provide for the of the ministry (e.g. elders salaries, overhead, etc.). An offering is everything I give above and beyond my regular giving. 2. Over and above his regular giving, Barnabas sold money to the church in Acts 4:36-37. and gave all the

3. The goal for every Christian is a life of : Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their moneytell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Where should I give?

1. : Scripture teaches us to give to the local church where youre committed (See Acts 2:45 & 4:32-35). The local church is to be the primary vehicle for training and equipping disciples of Jesus. Our tithes and offerings allow the local church to carry on and expand the work of Gods kingdom. 2. : As a church, Church in the Boro hopes to ultimately give 10% of its regular giving to Newfrontiers. Our giving practically engages us in apostolic ministry and church-planting here in the United States and around the world. Offerings taken at Newfrontiers conferences often go toward new church-planting initiatives.
To see how the offerings function and where they go within Newfrontiers, visit www.newfrontierstogether.org, and watch the video on the front page entitled You are Newfrontiers Offering Video 2010.

3. : From time to time, we will be asked by Newfrontiers leadership (or sense from the Holy Spirit) that we should take an offering for our brothers and sisters in another part of the world that is struggling economically. (An offering was taken up last year for Zimbabwe.) At other times, we may take up an offering just to practice generosity beyond our borders!

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Session Eight Assignment:

1. Investigate your spiritual gifts using a variety of tools available.
Spiritual Gifts Test: (For Adults and Youth) http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/ LifeWay Spiritual Gifts Survey: http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/ lwcF_MYCS_030526_Spiritual_Gifts_Survey.pdf. Ephesians 4 Ministries http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1

Ministry Tools Spiritual Gifts Test Inventory: http://mintools.com/spiritual-gifts-test.htm

ChristiaNet Spiritual Gifts Test: http://www.christianet.com/bible/spiritualgiftstest.htm

2. Pray and think through your current financial involvement with Church in the Boro. Are you giving at least ten percent of what God has given you? If not, why not?

What needs to change in your life so that you can begin giving generously? If so, what could you change in your life to challenge yourself to give even more generously?

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