TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:14-15
Read: John 13:12-17
Listen: John 13
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Christians practice spiritual disciplines in concert with the Holy Spirit to deepen our relationship with God and mold us into Jesus’s character. This month’s spiritual discipline is SERVING. Serving helps us grow in our faith and become more like Jesus as we use our gifts and resources to build up Christ’s body (the church). Serving is core to being a Jesus-follower.
Jesus washes his disciples’ feet hours before his death and during a final meal with them. He models humble service and then CALLED his followers to do the same. Jesus’s disciples catch this mission, and the early church is known for serving each other. Peter, whose feet Jesus washed, later teaches believers God has also GIFTED them to serve. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). God gifts believers differently but calls them to use their gifts together as the church community. Paul also teaches Jesus’s followers they are “CREATED in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10b). Jesus re-creates people and gives them a new identity, which includes serving.
We are called, gifted and created to serve through the power of God’s Spirit. We cannot do this on our own. As we step into regular, disciplined serving—God will supply the strength, love and power we need. Serving helps us grow as a Jesus-follower and helps others grow as Jesus-followers, too.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Have you found your place to serve? Ask God to show you where you can grow in the discipline of serving. We have many different places for you to serve at church. The best way to find the right fit is often just to get started. Whether it’s greeting at the door, checking in at children’s ministry, making coffee or something else—find your place to serve here.
2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.
October is SERVING. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
