Celebration of Discipline:
The Discipline of Service - "The grace of humility"
(Downloadable Word document)

"As the cross is the sign of submission, so the towel is the sign of service"

"Jesus did not come as a servant in spite of the fact that he is God; he came precisely because of the fact that he is God." For Jesus servant hood and Godhood were one and the same.

Bill Hybels - "The way up is down. In God's Kingdom we descend into greatness!"
John Ortberg - "The primary reason Jesus calls us to servant hood is not because other people need our service. It is because of what happens to us when we serve". (p.108)
Henri Nouwen - "our greatest fulfillment (true joy, happiness and inner peace) lies in giving ourselves to others"

Mandate
Jesus taught his first disciples that the secret to becoming great is to become the servant of all. "If I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." John 13:14,15.
Is this mandate to be taken literally or figuratively?

What does service have to do with humility?

What does Jesus example teach us about humility?

Motivation
What freedom is to be gained through the discipline of service and how? (p127)

What is the distinction between "choosing to serve" and "choosing to be a servant?

What is the difference between self-righteous service and true service?

Methods:
"It is one thing to act like a servant it is quite another to be a servant".
"Service is not a list of things we do, though in it we discover things to do".
"Service banishes us to the mundane, the ordinary, the trivial".
Service to be service must take form and shape in the world in which we live.
Do the above statements reflect your idea of service?

Service of hiddenness - Hidden service crucifies our need for recognition ("fatal blow to pride"). We learn to be content with the approval of God when we practice hidden service. Is this form of service a way we learn humility?

Service of small things - "Large tasks require great sacrifice for a moment; small things require constant sacrifice." Practicing the service of small things helps us keep our focus on our service and not on the reward. It reminds us that service is a daily practice.

Service of guarding the reputation of others - the discipline of holding one's tongue; "speak evil of no one" (Titus 3:2). Guarding the reputation of others is a deep and lasting service (p. 136).

Service of hospitality - "practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another" (1 Pet 4:9)
What would this service involve or look like for you?

Service of listening - the most important requirements of listening "are compassion and patience". Having all the answers is unnecessary, in fact, often knowing the answers are a hindrance to listening, "for we become more anxious to give the answer than to hear".

Service of common courtesy - the purpose of common courtesy is "to acknowledge others and affirm their worth". Foster says this service "is sorely needed in our increasingly computerized and depersonalized society" (p. 137). What are some of the common courtesies we can share daily?

Service of bearing the burdens of others - "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2). "If we care, we will learn to bear one another's sorrows". How is this done?

Service of being served - Peter's refusal of Jesus washing his feet was not an act of humility, but rather it was an act of pride. (p. 136) It is both an act of submission and service to allow others to serve us. Is it difficult for you to graciously be served?

Service of sharing the Word of God with one another - "We are dependent upon one another to receive the full counsel of God". What has been your experience(s) in sharing a Word from God with someone else?

Give this prayer a try sometime in the next few days: "Lord Jesus, I would appreciate it so much if you would bring me someone today whom I can serve."