During the January series we're looking at 5 areas of our spiritual life in which each of us must take personal responsibility.

-January 3rd we covered the study of God's Word and the skill of Bible Reading.
-January 10th we looked at the need to seek God's face in which we looked at the skill of prayer.
-January 17th we learned why we should Share God's Message and the importance of the skill of witnessing to others about our faith in Jesus.

We've also kicked off a year long Bible study plan called The Great Ones in which we read 1 or 2 key chapters a week. A bible study booklet that aids us in this reading plan can be purchased in CJ's for $2 each.

The 4th area of our spiritual life that needs work is developing a passion and capacity to Serve God's People.

When you think of the word "servant" what comes to mind?
Maybe one of TV's best maids, butlers, or nannies?

A good definition of a biblical servant is "someone who sees the needs of others and responds using their spiritual S.H.A.P.E. with a sense of excellence, and does so for the glory of God and the good of man."

Jesus came into this world and modeled the essence of servanthood.
Matthew 20:28b

As Christians we were all created, saved, and called to serve in some capacity.
Ephesians 2:10
It doesn't matter if you have a position or title when you serve, most serving is done informally. What matters is why and how you do it!

Our text this morning is found in Acts 9:36-42.
Here we find a Christian who epitomizes what it means to be a servant. Throughout the story we actually see a number of people who also display the attitudes and actions associated with servanthood.

Background:
The early church has been growing by leaps and bounds since the resurrection of Jesus. The followers of Jesus had left Jerusalem and gone throughout the Middle Eastern world telling others about the Lord.
In Acts 8 and 9 we see people like Philip and the apostles John and Peter witnessing. In addition, we see the conversion of Saul into the apostle Paul. This has a profound impact upon the followers of Jesus. Acts 9:31

In Acts 9:32-35 we read of the Apostle Peter traveling from Jerusalem to Lydda or as it's also known, the city of Lod. While there, Peter healed a man by the name of Aeneas and the news traveled throughout the city and coastal region-the plain of Sharon.

In Acts 9:36-42 we learn about a woman by the name of Tabitha (Hebrew) or Dorcas (Greek). The meaning of her name is "gazelle" which is an emblem of beauty and grace.
She lived in the costal city of Joppa/Jaffa, know as Tel Aviv today.

Tabitha was a...

BELIEVER -
Acts 9:36a
Tabitha was a disciple which means "a student and follower of someone". She was slowly developing skills and knowledge to become the person the Lord wanted her to be which was a servant to both God and man.

One simple truth:
1. God knows everything about us - our location, our faith condition, and our name. What single word do you think God would use to describe you today?

GIVER -
Acts 9:36b
She was using the three T's of Time, Talents, and Treasures to bless others. She gave, not to earn approval from God and men, but out of her gratitude to the Lord for what He had done for her and in recognition of His Lordship in her life.

Two simple truths:
1. How we manage our resources God has entrusted to us and how we treat those in need, demonstrates our true spiritual condition. (Galatians 6:7-10; 1 John 3:17)
2. If our faith is real, then it will affect our lifestyle. We will increasingly develop a generous lifestyle of the three T's (Time, Talents, Treasures).

INFLUENCER -
Acts 9:39b
Tabitha had tried to meet the needs (emotional, physical, and spiritual) of others. Scripture tells us we should influence those in the church and in our surrounding towns as a way of giving evidence for our faith and demonstrating the reality of God.

Three simple truths:
1. We can’t meet the needs of everybody, but we can meet the needs of somebody!
2. Each of us have a limited time frame in which we can influence others for God.
3. The influence of our lives will impact others; either for this earth, for eternity, or for both.

If we are to grow in our ability to Serve God’s People (in our church and community), then we must continually develop the skills of serving and involve ourselves in opportunities to do so.

The following are servant skills that each of us can work on this year:

1. Look in the mirror and tell me if you see a wholehearted servant – someone who gives simply for the joy of pleasing God and helping people.

2. Look within and confess your selfish streaks to the Lord as sin and ask Him to create a servant’s heart that cares about others.

3. Look around you every day and identify needs that you can meet and people whom you can serve.

4. Look for opportunities to serve in your church and community.

5. Look at what God has entrusted to you and begin to live a generous lifestyle.

6. Look ahead to the end of your life and commit to being the person you want others to remember and the one Jesus will welcome into Heaven.

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

Sunday, January 24 - James Berry
Monday, January 25 - Elizabeth Wix
Wednesday, January 27 - Erin Stephens
Thursday, January 28 - Gary Hogle
Saturday, January 30 - Chris Webster