Be One, Make One – Part 8 Loving people: Selfless Service and Sacrifice: Letting Christ Recenter Your Life
Be One, Make One – Part 8
Loving people: Selfless Service and Sacrifice: Letting Christ Recenter Your Life
INTRODUCTION
Jesus didn’t come to be served but to serve—and He calls us to follow in His footsteps. Selfless service is not natural—it’s supernatural. It’s not the way of the world, but the way of the cross. This life of sacrificial love is a response to what Christ has already done for us, and it’s only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us.
In this study, we’ll explore what it means to:
1. Serve others without seeking status,
2. Sacrifice without expecting anything in return, and
3. Become truly selfless—where Christ is at the center, not ourselves.
⸻
PART 1: WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OTHERS (NOT LIKE THE WORLD)
Overview:
The world tells us to pursue greatness, status, and applause—but Jesus redefines greatness as serving others. Kingdom service starts with humility. When we know what Christ has done for us, we don’t serve to be seen—we serve because we’ve been transformed.
⸻
Key Scriptures:
• Mark 10:43-45 – “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”
• Luke 22:26-27 – “…the greatest among you should be like the youngest… I am among you as one who serves.”
• Romans 12:10 – “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
⸻
What Is the Text Saying?
• Mark 10:43-45 – Greatness in the Kingdom is found in being a servant, not a ruler.
• Luke 22:26-27 – Jesus models leadership through humility and service.
• Romans 12:10 – Serving others starts with valuing them more than we value ourselves.
⸻
Discussion Questions:
• How do you struggle with the desire to be seen or praised when serving?
• What does true Kingdom greatness look like in your context (church, home, work)?
• Where might God be calling you to serve more humbly, behind the scenes?
⸻
PART 2: SACRIFICING WITHOUT PERSONAL GAIN
Overview:
Jesus gave without expecting anything in return. Love doesn’t keep score—it gives, even when there’s no return on investment. True Christlike service is costly and inconvenient. But when our love flows from His love, it becomes a sacrifice of worship.
⸻
Key Scriptures:
• 1 John 3:16-18 – “…Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters… let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
• Luke 6:35 – “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”
• 2 Samuel 24:24 – “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
⸻
What Is the Text Saying?
• 1 John 3:16-18 – Our love should be active and sacrificial, just like Christ’s love for us.
• Luke 6:35 – Loving without return reflects God’s character and sets us apart.
• 2 Samuel 24:24 – True sacrifice is costly and meaningful—it’s not about convenience.
⸻
Discussion Questions:
• When was the last time you served or gave in a way that truly cost you something?
• How does Christ’s example challenge your approach to generosity and service?
• What helps you stay motivated to love when no one notices or appreciates it?
⸻
PART 3: BECOMING TRULY SELFLESS (CHRIST AT THE CENTER)
Overview:
Selflessness is not just doing nice things—it’s about a transformed heart. When Jesus becomes the center of your life, you stop living for yourself. His love shapes your identity, your motives, and your mission. The Holy Spirit helps us shift from self-centered living to Christ-centered surrender.
⸻
Key Scriptures:
• Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…”
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
• Colossians 1:27-28 – “…Christ in you, the hope of glory… so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”
⸻
What Is the Text Saying?
• Galatians 2:20 – Self is no longer the center—Christ now defines who we are and how we live.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – The gospel produces a complete transformation from the inside out.
• Colossians 1:27-28 – Christ in us is the source of hope, maturity, and the new selfless identity we carry.
⸻
Discussion Questions:
• How has Jesus changed your heart and mindset from self-focused to others-focused?
• In what ways are you tempted to stay at the center of your life?
• What would it look like to let Christ fully recenter your identity and priorities this week?
⸻
CLOSING DISCUSSION:
• Which area spoke to you most—serving with humility, sacrificing without gain, or becoming truly selfless?
• What’s the biggest obstacle to living with Christ at the center of your daily life?
• How is the Holy Spirit prompting you to grow in this season?
⸻
CLOSING APPLICATION:
Let this week be marked by love-in-action:
• Serve – Choose one act of service this week that pushes you beyond comfort or recognition.
• Sacrifice – Give something meaningful without expecting anything back—a gift, time, or effort.
• Surrender – Begin each day with this prayer: “Jesus, be at the center of my life today. Holy Spirit, help me live from love, not self.”
⸻
NEXT STEPS:
In the next session of Be One – Make One, we’ll move into Forgiveness and Patience—discovering how God’s grace enables us to extend mercy, endure offense, and remain deeply rooted in relationships that reflect His love.
⸻
Would you like this packaged into a small group booklet or as part of a discipleship journal PDF? I’d be glad to help with that next.