What brought you to the Service Practice? What are you hoping to see God do in your life through it, and what is one question you would like to explore along the way?

Share about a time when someone loved you by meeting one of your practical needs, whether big or small. What made that experience memorable for you?

What stood out to you from the teaching? What feelings came up for you as you listened?

In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus says we recognize a tree by its fruit. Tina suggested we may sometimes be using the wrong thermometer to measure our spiritual health. How have you typically measured yours, and how is that the same or different from Jesus' metric of love expressed through service?

The Pharisees were devoted to Sabbath, prayer, and Scripture, yet Jesus saw something different in their fruit. What does their story show us about the difference between the how and the why of a practice?

Jesus said, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve," and then he washed his disciples' feet. In John 13:34 he calls love a new command. What makes his love different from other forms of love? And how do 1 John 4:19 and John 15:5 shape the way we understand where our love comes from?

When you think about living more deeply into Jesus' vision of service, what is your primary feeling? Excitement? Feeling overwhelmed? Inadequacy? Something else?Reflect

Think about the different ways Jesus loved people in the Gospels. Which examples of his love most challenge or confront you?Reflect

If you surveyed your life, what are your guiding criteria for who you consider worthy of your love and service? Is serving someone you know well easier or harder for you than serving someone unfamiliar?Reflect

Tina said that moments when we feel like we are failing at a practice can become invitations to grace. Where do you notice impatience, selfishness, or reluctance to be inconvenienced in yourself, and what might it look like to bring that to Jesus instead of trying to sweat harder?Reflect

Reflect on where you are right now when it comes to practicing service. What could it look like for you to start where you are?Apply

This week's practice is one act of service for someone in your family or relational circle, not a stranger, done without announcing it. What do you plan to do, and what inner or outer barriers might make it hard? How could you address them?Apply

For a reach exercise, consider serving somewhere in the church, ideally far from the stage, such as children's ministry, early setup, facility care, greeting, or cleanup. What might you try, and who are the overlooked or vulnerable people near you that you could love up close?Apply

Set aside 5 to 10 minutes to journal before we meet next week. Where did I feel resistance? Where did I feel joy? Where did I most experience God's nearness? How might your private time with Jesus shape the way you serve others?Apply