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Serve like Jesus

Learn service through humility, fair organization, gifts and practical action.

1. 1. Read and discover - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   John 13:1-17

   ¹ Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

   ² During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

   ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God and was going to God,

   ⁴ arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist.

   ⁵ Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

   ⁶ Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

   ⁷ Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”

   ⁸ Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

   ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

   ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”

   ¹¹ For he knew him who would betray him; therefore he said, “You are not all clean.”

   ¹² So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?

   ¹³ You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am.

   ¹⁴ If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

   ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you.

   ¹⁶ Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him.

   ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Jesus washes feet and offers his example to the disciples; service challenges hierarchies based on superiority.

   Reflect

   • What makes the teacher’s gesture surprising?

   Put it into practice

   Take on a caring task that often goes unnoticed.

   Next lesson →

2. 2. Christ’s humility - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Philippians 2:1-11

   ¹ If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,

   ² make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

   ³ doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

   ⁴ each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

   ⁵ Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,

   ⁶ who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

   ⁷ but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

   ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.

   ⁹ Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name,

   ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,

   ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Paul confronts rivalry and conceit by pointing to Christ’s self-giving; humility cares for others without justifying imposed humiliation.

   Reflect

   • Which community problem introduces Christ’s example?

   Put it into practice

   Step back to recognize another person’s contribution.

   Next lesson →

3. 3. Organizing fair care - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Acts 6:1-7

   ¹ Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.

   ² The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.

   ³ Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

   ⁴ But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”

   ⁵ These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,

   ⁶ whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

   ⁷ The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   A complaint about unequal distribution leads to new responsibilities; the community listens and reorganizes service.

   Reflect

   • What happens when an overlooked need becomes visible?

   Put it into practice

   Hear a complaint without dismissing it and seek a concrete improvement.

   Next lesson →

4. 4. Different gifts, one common good - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   1 Corinthians 12:4-11

   ⁴ Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

   ⁵ There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.

   ⁶ There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all.

   ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

   ⁸ For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

   ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

   ¹⁰ and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages.

   ¹¹ But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Paul attributes different gifts to the same Spirit and directs them toward common benefit; diversity does not justify rivalry.

   Reflect

   • How can different gifts benefit the whole community?

   Put it into practice

   Recognize and support another person’s ability without competing.

   Next lesson →

5. 5. Hearing and doing - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   James 1:22-25

   ²² But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

   ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;

   ²⁴ for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

   ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   James compares hearing without acting to forgetting one’s face; a mature response joins attention and practice.

   Reflect

   • What does the mirror comparison teach about hearing the word and putting it into practice?

   Put it into practice

   Turn one teaching read today into a specific action.