Sunday, May 18

Today we wrap up our study by reviewing our S.H.A.P.E. and look at the important ingredient of passion that can be useful in Serving Others In Love. The Biblical example is from the life of Paul which is found in the following passage:

I want you to know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this jail and not you. There's a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world- the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.
This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generouly gives me.
I want you to realize that I continue to work as hard as I know how for you, and also for the Christians over at Laodicea. Colossians 1:24-2:1 The Message

What do you love to do? (think of school, church friends, family, recreation, etc.)
If you knew you could do any type of ministry and it would be successful, what would you like to try?
In this scripture passage Paul seems crazy to consider suffering as a "sheer gift". Why was he able to have this attitude? What enabled Paul to endure in jail?
After reading this passage what do you think Paul was passionate about?

Are you as passionate about something as much as Paul was? Or does Paul's kind of passion seem like something you might never have?
Paul says that he's trying to do his best with the energy that God gave him. How are energy and passion alike? Different?

The apostle Paul was passionate about preaching and starting churches even when it meant being thrown in jail or killed. (He experienced both) While most of us do not experience this level of passion, we do deeply care about specific issues and we enjoy helping in areas where we feel a sense of passion.
Remember looking at your S.H.A.P.E.? What ministry might you want to get involved because of your particular spiritual gifts, heart, abilities and passion?