Rhythms of Grace – Week 9 & 10 Six Weekly Service 30 March 2025 Jesus called out, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” Matthew 11:28–29 (The Message) Study by: Ivan Cooper Sermons can be viewed on the Hope Valley Church YouTube Channel 1. Look Back Sharing Our Journey | 10–20 minutes Praise, Thanks and Reflection Invite people to share in response to one or more of the questions below. It can be done as a whole group or in subgroups. It can also involve a worship song. What are you thankful for? Where have you seen God at work? How has God used you? How have you gone living out God’s Word since our last gathering? Where have you struggled to follow the way of Jesus? Where and with whom have you witnessed to the love and good news of Jesus? What is one benefit of being in a Life Group for you? Pray In prayer, capture the things you have shared above after also inviting people to share any personal needs for prayer or support. 2. Look Up Opening God’s Word | 20–30 minutes Setting the Scene The late A.W. Tozer lamented the idea of living with a divided life, viewing activities as either secular or sacred. He believed the apostle Paul’s instruction to “do all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) invited the possibility of making every act of our lives a service and total surrender to God. It is a call to transform our view of worship—to make it a lens through which we see our entire life—becoming a living sacrifice in response to God’s grace. It is not necessarily what we do as service that matters, but our heart posture and the ‘why’ behind it. Question for discussion: How has someone served recently? What was the outcome? (As you think about this, consider where the use of that person’s skill and resources came in and where their motivation came into it.) Read: Romans 12 In this chapter, Paul fleshes out the link between the two greatest commandments, according to Jesus: love God with everything you are and love your neighbour as yourself. To live out one means to live out the other. The other thing to remember as you read Romans 12 is that “love” in the Bible is “what you do and why you do it,” not what you feel. Discussion Questions: What first caught your interest or stuck out to you as you read this passage? Or what question do you still want answered? What do you think are the challenges of living a life of loving service for others, as Paul outlines in this passage, and what are the rewards? Paul outlines some of the heart issues that come up when serving others. What are the motivational issues you or others will face in serving others? As the family of God, we are one body with many parts. We are each given different gifts according to God’s grace. Share a time that one of your gifts has complemented another believer’s differing (or similar) gift in serving another person. How were you better together in a way that you couldn’t serve on your own? 3. Look Forward Living Out God’s Word | 10–20 minutes All our daily labours can become service and worship to our King. May our hearts be made new and pure as we seek to please our Saviour with our lives offered as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13), in things big or small, noticed or unnoticed, grand or ordinary. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 Choose a way to develop the habit of service in your life… If you haven’t already done so, go to PATHWAYS on the Hope Valley Church Website or via Belong in the Hope Valley App. Once in Pathways, click on “Onboarding” and step through the process. In particular, do the online SHAPE test which helps you understand your God-given shape for serving. Join one of the many ministry teams at Hope Valley Church (e.g. coffee/hospitality, grounds/maintenance, cleaning, prayer, worship, life groups, mums & bubs, kids, youth, playgroup, online, young adults, women, men, seniors, mentoring, music/dance, basketball, welcome, admin, international, missions and more!) → Send an email to hello@hopevalleychurch.com.au or fill in the “Join a Team” form in Pathways. Intentionally embrace your daily work, parenting, and family engagement as service and worship to God. Look for ways to bless or serve someone this week. Donate meals/grocery items to the church kitchen for those in need. Sponsor a child through Compassion Give to our church or mission partners. Build or improve your skills/talents through training for service. Something else? Pray Break into 2s or 3s to pray: Pray about/invite/bring someone to one of our Easter services. Pray about/invite/bring someone to Alpha. Pray that we could follow the example of our Saviour who came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). Contacts If you would like more information or further help please contact: scott.button@hopevalleychurch.com.au