VHG – The Running With Horses – Part 3: The Service Excellence

Summary:

The Speed of Service Excellence explores the often-overlooked yet wondrous truth that serving is a means of setting the pace of our world. In a world where many shun the idea of serving, the words of our Lord point us back to the beauty of serving as one of God’s means of identifying greatness in the believer [Mark 10:44]. Serving is also a testament to one’s understanding of friendship [John 15:23], highlighting the relational component of serving, and it is the central job description for those seeking a life of ministry [Mark 10:45]. Wherever we have been called to serve, for some it will be inside the sanctuary and for others it will be in the wider society, our speed to service excellence will surely separate us from others, solidifying our connection to the True Servant Jesus Christ. It is to be noted that serving has many lanes in which we must run to obtain the prize at the end, [1 Cor. 9:24]. Let us consider lanes such as unity, speaking well of others, lifting others, blessing others, covering others’ failures, or living peacefully with others as some of the prescribed lanes in which we must run. Surely a world filled with servants such as these is and will be a better place for all.

Discussion Questions:

• Jesus taught that greatness is demonstrated through serving [Mark 10:44], friendship is displayed through the sacrificial giving of one’s life for another [John 15:23], and ministry is for those who desire to serve and not to be served [Mark 10:45]. Spend some time discussing how we as believers go about demonstrating these countercultural truths among fellow believers and then among non-believers. What are some of the ways that we can serve each other, and what does sacrificing our lives for others look like?
• Scripture reveals many facets of serving others, from speaking well of everyone to blessing everyone to lifting others up; the list of service qualities is extensive. Looking at our list of seven, discuss what God’s church would look like if believers were intentional in their practice of these exhortations and how the world would view a church like this. What is it that hinders believers from the consistent practice of wonderful acts such as unity, speaking well of others, consistently doing good to all people, covering and not exposing the failure of our brothers and sisters, and how do we course correct in this area?