Cultivating a servant hea! in a self"h world
Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Martha and Mary - servants of note!
3. Where does it go wrong?
4. How can we cultivate a serving heart
5. Practical Application
6. Conclusion
Introduction:
* Women are designed to be helpers, friends, nurturers( Gen 2: 18; Prov
31; Titus 2 :18)
* We have many opportunities to serve as wives, mothers, daughters,
church members, friends
* We live in a fallen world where selfishness is promoted and the concept
of ser vanthood is per verted
How do we serve others in a way that is glorifying God? 2. Martha and Mary ser vants of note!
"While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named
Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who
also sat at the Lord's feet and was listening to what He said. But Martha
was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, "Lord, don't
You care that my sister has left me to ser ve alone? So tell her to give me
a hand."
The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset
about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right
choice, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42 HCSB)
( Holman Christian Standard Bible)
- Good intentions derailed with one bad
decision after the other, resulting in Martha
feeling anxious, over whelmed and resentful
- Can you relate?
- Calvin's Chardonay
- How do we " do it all and not be
over whelmed"?
3. Where does it go wrong?
(a) Difficult circumstances:
- Martha's circumstances ?
- Our fallen world, our fallen bodies and the result from sin influences us in many ways and robs
us often from the joy of serving
(b) Heart attitude :
- Martha's heart attitude?
- Wrong thought patterns fuelling her heart attitude?
4 key issues cultivating the wrong heart attitude:
(1) Wrong understanding of what ser ving means
- 1 Cor 13:3
(2) Wrong understanding of trials
- 1 Peter 1:6-7; Rom 8:28; James 1:12
(3) Wrong priorities/decisions when executing the plan to ser ve
- Eph 5:15-16
(4) Selfish ambition - Phil 2:3
3 common sinful attitudes flowing
from selfish ambition:
(a) "I deserve" (pride)....... showing fruit of blaming, bitterness,
anger,hostility, slander.
(b) "I must" (fear of man/ legalism).........showing fruit in fear,
anxiety, insecurity, bewilderment
(c) "I want" (lustful desires)..............showing fruit in impatience, lack
of true hospitality, envy, strife, overwork, lack of joy, depression.
Reflect and discuss
- Write down circumstances/ triggers/ situations that trip you up, making you feel
overwhelmed, frustrated, misunderstood, anxious, resentful when you have to serve
others
- Identify specific heart responses
- Discuss in groups
4. How can we cultivate a serving heart
( a) Change our circumstances? (b) We need to change our hearts!
Group discussion:
What specific changes could Martha make
that would result in the right heart
attitude?
4 key issues cultivating a servant heart attitude:
(1) Understanding what godly servanthood means
(2) Handling difficult circumstances in a Godly way
(3) Right priorities/decisions when executing the plan to
serve
(4) Put off sin and put on a servant heart
(1) Understanding what godly ser vanthood means: - Love fuels a ser vant heart
- Serving cannot be done in one's own strength, it is flowing from faith in Christ
(2) Handling difficult circumstances in a godly
manner:
(A)Accept and acknowledge God's hand in
accepting trials!!!
7,1
,
:4
9
circumstances- er 2
J
(B) Bloom where you are plantedPs 37:5
(C) Concentrate on God's promises
(D) Do what is useful
:28
8
m
Ro
Math 20:26-28d
(E) Eliminate sinful patterns
(F) Focus on God's sanctifying work in you
(G) God is faithful when people fail you
20
,
4
om
R
.
11:3
3
3) Right priorities/decisions when executing the plan to serve
C.S. Lewis describes the Martha
problem and the solution this way: " It comes the very moment you
wake up each morning. All your
wishes and hopes for the day
rush at you like wild animals. And
the first job each morning consists
simply in shoving them back; in
listening to that other voice, taking
that other point of view, letting that
other, larger, stronger, quieter life
come flowing in"
Principles for prioritising
correctly:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Rise early
Sit still
Sit and plan
Consider people
Plan to depend
dependance on God to equip you to serve
(4) Put off sin and put on a ser vant heart
Put off sin
Rash words, outbursts of anger
Put on a servant heart
Self- control
Grumbling
Rejoicing, thankfulness
Resentment
Forgiveness, kindness
Worry
Trust in God, peace
Self- sufficiency
Dependance on God to equip you to serve
Self centred
Good works
God- orientated
Faith
5. Practical Application
-Choose t wo areas from identified lists In which you can personally grow
- Write down action plan: steps you want to take to change
Group discuss ion:
* share
* give tips
* pray together
* plan to be accountable / encourage each other
6. Conclusion
(a) God wants us to serve others, specifically in our
role as women
(b) Our circumstances and our sinful heart attitude
will often make it difficult to serve lovingly (c) We need to cultivate a servant heart so that we
can glorify God when serving, by: - understanding serving means loving God and
others
- handling difficult circumstance in a godly manner
- prioritising and making God- orientated decisions
to serve effectively
- putting off sinful attitudes and putting on godly
attitudes
Martha served, Mary loved.... only one is the better portion
May God grant us all % grace to serve Him lovingly at every o&o!unity we 't.
May we all be able to be a blessing to o)ers and so adorn % Go*el of Ch+,.