COMMITMENT TO THE SERVICE OF CHRIST IN THE NEW YEAR, January 6th, 2019

Posted by on Feb 1, 2019 in Sunday School |

serve-him-hands-672x372

CENTRAL THOUGHT:

Each believer is called to play a specific role in the body of Christ.

 

TEXT: Romans 12:1-8; John 13:14-15; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 18-21

 

INTRODUCTION

When God saved us, He did so for a purpose.  It will be a mistake if we take our faith as a mere observance of religious ‘rituals’.  Our Christians faith is a call to a practical life consisting of duties and privileges.  Each believer is called to commit  in worship and service.  To be committed is to be consciously obligated or impelled to do things that are of positive value to the system.  To serve is to discharge some duties or functions that will be of benefit to someone or to a system.   It is to contribute reliably to the welfare of the whole.

Each new season, in this case, the New Year presents an opportunity for evaluation, stock taking, planning, projection, consolidation, vital decisions and perhaps some fresh start.  It is also a time to be resolute on our conviction and beliefs in all areas of life.  Our commitment to  the service of Christ is not an exception. It is a time to make a self-evaluation of our previous services, and also a time to make firm decisions on how we can function more effectively in the house of God.  It is the duty of every believer to complement our profession of faith with practical service.  It is ungodly not to be involved with either the major or the minor duties in the church all year round.  God is interested in your talent and service in this New Year, and indeed every year ahead.

 

LESSON OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study are:

  1. To explain the phrase ‘commitment in the service of Christ’.
  2. To discuss how the body of Christ functions.
  3. To identify how Christ demonstrated commitment.
  4. To list some possible areas of service as Christians.
  5. To identify traits of a committed life.
  6. To state the rewards of being committed.

 

BIBLE TRUTH

Q1.  EXPLAIN THE PHRASE “COMMITMENT IN THE SERVICE OF CHRIST”.

The Christian Faith is an invitation from God to

an individual to quit sin and accept the

work of grace accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ.  The objective of the Christian calling is to live in faith and obedience to the word of God and to promote the kingdom of God in our personal lives and the community.  It is to walk in the footsteps of Christ in holiness and service for the good of the body of Christ.

Commitment in the service of Christ means to be obligated to the objectives for which we were saved.  It is to completely pledge ourselves to do the will of God at all times sincerely.  It is to give worthy attention to kingdom business as a matter of urgency and necessity during personal  reckoning. It is the absence of laziness, procrastination, laxity, and withdrawal in our attitude to the work of God.

Q2.  HOW DOES THE BODY OF CHRIST FUNCTION?

The body of Christ is made up of many members, each with very unique and divinely ordained roles.  No one can be overlooked in function, and the effects are mutual to all.  The contribution of each member aggregates to define the health of the entire body.  The parts are not engaged in rivalry but function to complement and sustain each other.  There is unity of purpose.  That is how the church functions.  Each believer has a unique talent and function in contribution to the welfare of the whole church.  All are forms of ministrations that glorify God and attract His blessings.  There is no room for envy or strife to undo one another.  The success of one is the success of all, and the pain of one is the pain of all.

Q3.  HOW DID CHRIST DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT? John 4:34, 9:4

Commitment as a concept begins and ends with our service on earth.  With this in mind, Christ saw commitment as mandatory and as a matter of urgency.  It is the food of the spiritual man and there is limited time to demonstrate it.

Jesus Christ understood His mission on earth very clearly, which is the first ingredient of commitment.  Then He was focused on it, so as to accomplish it.  He was passionate about it in that He invested all available resources, including His life on it.  He persevered with great determination in the face of stiff opposition, with eyes set on the prize and not the pains.  He left an example of unsurpassed humility in service and paying the ultimate price for a worthy cause.

Q4.  WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO US TO SERVE GOD AND HUMANITY NOW IN OUR LOCAL CONGREGATIONS?  Ephesians 4:11-15

There is this wrong assumption among many that service to God covers only preaching, teaching and prayers.  The truth is that Christian service encompasses all efforts geared towards winning people into the kingdom of God and making them abide in the Lord.  These activities may be spiritual duties or physical efforts put in to encourage worship and holiness.  Some of the available areas of service are:

  1. Ministerial service of rightly dividing the word and prayers. Ephesians 4:11, e.g. preaching, teaching, counseling, praying.
  2. Exercise of spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
  3. Exercise of talents and skills like singing, drama, evangelism, etc.
  4. Gender-based groups such as men’s fellowship, women’s fellowship, youth fellowship, teenagers, couples forum, bachelors and spinsters’ fellowship, children’s ministry, etc.
  5. Educational and skills acquisition services to believers.
  6. Welfare of ministers and missionary support services.
  7. Visitation, evangelism and follow-up units to attend to new members.
  8. Security, crowd control and traffic management services.
  9. Church sanitation and beautification services.
  10. Provision of technical expertise in the use and maintenance of machines, equipment, electronics, and other church instruments.
  11. Provision of health and first aid services and information to believers.
  12. Attending to the welfare of members.
  13. Care for widows and orphans.

The believer should make himself available as an instrument of service to the body of Christ in at least one area.

Q5.  WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE THAT SOMEONE IS COMMITTED IN A CHURCH OR CHRISTIAN GROUP?

There are basic characteristics that show commitment to the service of a believer.  Some of them are:

1) Participation: He is available always at the point of service.  He is also mindful of the time of the activity.  His participation is not seasonal but consistent and punctual.

2) Determination: A committed believer derives inspiration and drive from God.  He is not influenced by the negative attitude of others.  Neither is he discouraged in the face of difficulties.

3) Responsible and Accountable:  A committed believer recognizes leadership.  He takes his duties with joy and presents the necessary report or feedback to leadership.

4) Sacrificial: A committed believer is willing to pay the price in service, which may be in cash, kind or comfort (time, leisure, privacy).  He does it as unto the Lord, who rewards every good work.

5) Humility: A committed believer sees every opportunity to serve as a rare privilege provided by the grace of God.  He accepts it with gratitude, functions as an instrument and gives all glory to the one who deserves them, to God.

Q6.  ARE THERE REWARDS TN BEING COMMITTED? Matthew 24:45-47; Hebrews 11:6

Commitment in the service of God attracts great reward from God.  These rewards are both earthly and eternal for any faithful service.  God will not forget any labor of love, Hebrews 6:10.  The believer who serves God faithfully will receive a full measure of joy, peace, and fulfillment in this world.  He will also enjoy material provisions and security.  There is the assurance of eternal life where the crown of righteousness awaits such a one, and he will have power over nations.

To the believer, commitment serves as a check to sin and Satan in this world.  To the church commitment by individuals breeds unity and promotes growth in the body of Christ.  The needs of the saints are attended to and much glory is given to God.  Commitment will make our light to shine before men, and our good works will make them glorify God.

 

DAILY LIVING APPLICATION

Service to God and humanity is both a duty and a wonderful privilege.  God has called every believer into a life of utility and service.

In this season let us make firm decisions to offer better service to God and to the body of Christ.  None of us should be mere spectators in our congregation.  That area of deficiency, that area of need in the church could be your calling.  Prayerfully commit yourself to practical service in this New Year and live to witness the testimony.

 

MEMORY VERSE

Hebrews 6:10 – “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”