Opening Discussion

• How has someone served you in a meaningful way?

Read and Discuss

Luke 17:1a; 7-10

1 He said to his disciples… 7 “Which one of you having a servant tending sheep or plowing will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 Instead, will he not tell him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, get ready, and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did what was commanded? 10 In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’”

• Why does Jesus want his disciples to know this?
• What is the role of the servant in this parable?
  • How does that relate to our relationship with Jesus?
• What is the role of the master in this parable?
  • How does this relate to our relationship with Jesus?
• When it comes to following Jesus what are some of the commands we have been given?
• Why shouldn’t we expect anything for doing what God has called us to do?
  • On the other hand, what do we get in return for following God?
• What are some ways we might expect something from God for doing what He has told us to do?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

9 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

• Why did Paul need to remind the Corinthians that their bodies were temples of the Holy Spirit? (Hint: Why do we need that reminder every day as well?)
• What does it mean that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?
  • How can we live that out each day?
• How does the phrase, “you are not your own” go against modern culture?
  • What might be some things that bother people about that phrase?
• If God bought us for a price, who owned us before God purchased us?
• Why is there no middle ground of us owning ourselves?
• What are some ways you can honor God with your body?

Apply it!

• What’s one thing you can do this week to live as a servant of Christ?
• How can you remind yourself daily of the duty we owe to Jesus?
• Who can help you to do these things?

Memorize it!

Luke 17:10 “In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.’”

Prayer TACOS

Thank the Lord for purchasing us with the price of His own life

Adoration- worship the Lord for allowing His presence to dwell in us

Confess to those times that you have thought you were your own master

Others- Pray for someone you know who is living life like they are their own master. Ask the Lord for insight into how to share with them about His love and why He is a better master.

Self- Pray that you would die to yourself daily and let the Lord lead you to do your duty each day for Him

Closing thoughts

When people are encroaching on his job and doing things the wrong way, I have a co-worker who says, “I am the captain!” To which his boss replies, “But I’m the admiral.” While this is done jokingly, in the real world, we all struggle with wanting to be our own boss.

When we feel someone is trying to tell us what to do or control us, we have a tendency to say, “I’m the captain.” We want to feel in control, like we are calling the shots. But there is always someone standing over us saying, “Good for you, but I’m the admiral.”

So when Jesus busts on the scene and says that we are all slaves, but we get to choose our master, part of us wants to fight against that. We want to be in charge, we want to be the masters of our lives. But unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Jesus calls us to a different way of living, to live like He did on this earth, in complete submission to God.

Every word, action, thought, and passion is done in submission to God’s will for our lives. This is no easy task. But the reminder that we are God’s temple, the dwelling place of God Himself, can help us to do the duty that Jesus calls us to. Our service to God, the Master, isn’t done out of anger, hatred, or obligation. It’s done out of love. Love because He bought us at a price and rescued us from bondage to sin.

So we don’t serve the Lord to earn something from Him, He’s already given it to us. We don’t work for the Lord so that He owes us something in return; as if we could pay back the price He paid for us. No, we work for the Lord because we love Him and want others to know that love. So may we serve Him faithfully and when we are done be able to say as the servant in Jesus’ parable said, “We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.”