Part 2 - The Good & Beautiful Community - The Serving Community Study by: Ivan Cooper Sermons can be viewed on the Hope Valley Church YouTube Channel. GATHERING / WORSHIP / PRAYER Take a few minutes to catch up with each other and build community. If you have new people present, give time to getting to know each other. Possibly listen to ‘I Speak Jesus’ by Charity Gayle here. Pray that we could grow in love, unity, and service as the precious body of Christ. FOCUS Our series ‘The Good and the Beautiful’ is based on three books by James Bryan Smith. Our focus throughout August is on the third book 'The Good and Beautiful Community’, helping us to know how to live in relationship with others as apprentices of Jesus. SETTING THE SCENE When considering the authority and power structures in this world that seek to rule over others, Jesus said in Matthew 20 that in his church “...it will be different.” Whoever wants to be a leader would need to be a servant and whoever wants to be first would need to put themselves last. Jesus set the example by coming to Earth not to be served but to humbly serve others and give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Love would become the new rule, as we seek the highest good for others. In his book ‘The Good and Beautiful Community’, James Bryan Smith states that "The impact of the church is not measured by its longevity but by its love. Its success is not measured by its size but by its service.” So compassion overcomes conceit, preferring others overcomes personal preference, serving overcomes self-centredness, and faith overcomes the fear of missing out. OPENING GOD’s WORD Warm Up Question: Can you think of a time that you had an experience of good or bad service? Read: Philippians 2 Take turns reading several verses each as a group. What first caught your interest or stuck out to you as you read this passage? What does it look like for Christians to grow together in love, unity, and service? What do you think people discover when they look out for the interests of others, having the same mindset as Jesus? How do these verses challenge you personally to grow in love and service? LIVING OUT GOD’s WORD How can we make time to show sincere love to other believers this week? Where can you use your spiritual gifts to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace? PRAYER Pray that we grow in understanding how wide and deep and long and high is the love of Christ for us; in order that we could show this love to others. Pray that we could find opportunities to use our spiritual gifts to serve others so that they may recognize the love of Jesus. Contacts: If you would like more information or further help, please contact: scott.button@hopevalleychurch.com.au