We will spend the next number of weeks getting into a “mission mindset”. This is valuable as we look forward to our summer mission trip but is also a mindset we should take into our homes, schools, places of work, communities, etc.

This week we stopped to ask “why?”. What do we serve? What is our motivation?

We began with a look at the Scripture.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-8

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave, and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

We had great discussion around humility. We noted that humility is not just about a view of oneself, but how you see others; we must see their importance and care for their interests.

Our ability to do this is rooted in Christ’s example. He stepped off the throne of heaven and died on our behalf. This was certainly out of love for us, but the text notes it was also in OBEDIENCE to God.

When we serve our ultimate motivation cannot be the good we do or the people we serve (although those are good things). Our ultimate motivation has to be obedience to God and being conformed to the image of Jesus.

Here are a few questions we explored to helps us weigh our motives in serving others:

WHY ARE YOU SERVING?

  1. Are you coming as a poverty tourist or as a humble servant?

  2. Are you coming thinking you are their savior or trusting that Jesus is the only one who can save?

  3. Are you coming to feel better about yourself or to share Christ’s love through community partnerships?

  4. Are you coming as an elephant or are you thinking through how your actions affect the community?

  5. Are you coming in to receive praise or to offer all praise back to him?

KEY TAKEAWAY

Uncovering our ‘why’ for serving is essential for effective ministry in the community you are entering. As we read in Philippians, we are to do nothing out of selfish ambition. When we enter communities with a humble attitude and the mind of a servant, we can recognize with excitement the opportunity that we have to be a small yet significant tool in His work of reconciliation and hope around the world!

If you know a student feel free to use these questions to spark some oconversation:

FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS

  1. What is your “why” for serving in the community or mission trip? Has that changed after reading this information?

  2. What are specific parts of Christ’s attitude that you desire to replicate when you serve? How can you enter your week serving alongside a community humbly?

  3. Describe a time when it was difficult to be humble. How did you handle the situation? What would you do differently or the same?

  4. In what situations do you foresee it being difficult to take on this humble attitude when you serve in the community or on mission trip?

Upcoming Events

  • Saturday, April 29 at 9 AM - Bed Build for Sleep in Heavenly Peace

  • Sunday, April 30 at 9 AM - Pancake Breakfast (Student should arrive at 8 AM to prepare)

  • Sunday, May 7 after 9:15 AM Service - Graduation Sunday (Registration for Graduates: LINK)

  • Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30 PM - Mission Trip Parent Meeting (in the Social Hall)

  • Sunday, June 11 at 7 AM - Leave for South Dakota

  • Saturday, June 17 at 8 PM - Arrive Back at Church

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