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The Value of Serving (and some ways you can serve another today!)

We've Been Called to Serve

What is service?

Oxford Languages defines service as:  The action of helping or doing work for someone.

It may be safe to assume that we all have an idea of what service is, however, our personal definitions might contain slight variations. One person may think of service as holding the door open for a stranger, whereas someone else may think of it as donating clothing to a homeless shelter. Another person may see service solely as a paid job, for example, a waiter is serving you your food because they are required to. These are all examples of service, and each one is not more dominant than the other. 

Why should we serve others?

When we serve others, we are following in Christ’s footsteps. Christ spent his mortal life in the service of others and we can see this throughout the Bible. When we serve others, we are building ourselves a solid foundation overflowing with blessings, personal growth, enlightenment, happiness, and inspiration. When you serve another, you are adding value to not only the person you are serving but also yourself. You have the opportunity to positively impact someone’s life. This can inspire whomever you serve to pay it forward, which can create a snowball effect of acts of kindness and good deeds. By your simple action, you can create a shift that has the potential to create a constructive and beneficial difference for humankind. 

How do we find time to serve?

With the hustle and bustle attitude of our modern times, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all of our commitments and obligations. Between all of society’s expectations, our expectations from our family, and responsibilities at work, it's no wonder so many of us sometimes feel swallowed up. We can become so encompassed with the tasks of our day-to-day lives, that when we do get a break, we want to spend that break resting, catching up on reading, or enjoying a hobby. “I’m just too tired”, is the universal excuse to why we aren’t doing more. We use this excuse in numerous areas of our lives. However, when we use this excuse specifically as to why we cannot serve another, we are overlooking the expectation of the Almighty. He has commanded us to serve. We should learn to prioritize our time to include acts of service. 

Thankfully there is a myriad of approaches you can take to help another person. Many of these methods don’t need to take a lot of time. Because of this, some deeds can easily be implemented into your daily life. 

A Fistful of Service Ideas

• Walk your neighbor's dog
• Greet others with a nod of acknowledgment
• Listen. Listen with the intent to listen. 
• Clean up any litter you come across
• Do a chore for someone in your household that you normally wouldn’t do
• Hold open the door for someone
• Give sincere compliments
• Smile
• Donate books
• Respond to someone rude with kindness and understanding
• Show your support for someone, even if you don’t agree with whatever they need support with
• Pray for others
• Offer up your seat to someone who needs it more
• Keep your promises
• Write and send someone an uplifting note
• Call an old friend
• Pay off someone's overdrawn school lunch account
• Donate canned goods
• Participate in a community clean up
• Volunteer at a food pantry
• Purchase classroom supplies for a teacher
• Plant a tree
• Cook a meal for someone
• Help an elderly person carry their groceries to their car
• Donate blood
• Donate used clothing
• Pay for someone's gas
• If you notice your neighbor’s trash can isn’t at the curb on trash day, bring it out for them
• Are you walking or driving your kids to school? Maybe you can help a friend out by taking their child too
• Donate make-up and feminine hygiene products to a women's shelter
• Babysit for someone in need
• Set up a small monthly donation to your favorite charity
• Mow someone's lawn
• When you see someone is down, don’t avoid them. Instead, sit with them, talk to them, and let them feel your love and concern
• Donate an old wedding or prom dress to make angel gowns
• Help kids with their homework
• Clean up old headstones
• Return someone else's shopping cart along with your own
• Help your neighbor with their gardening
• Volunteer at the library
• Cuddle a newborn, volunteer at the hospital to cuddle newborn infants
• Play games with people at retirement centers
• Purchase someone a book
• Pay for the person behind you in line (it doesn’t matter where you are!)
• Knit beanies and donate them to a cancer center
• Treat your new co-worker to lunch
• Teach a music lesson
• Clean a pregnant person's house
• When you see a group of people taking a photo, offer to take the photo so everyone in their group can be included
• Read to people in the hospital
• Hug someone who needs a hug
• Leave a small gift and note of gratitude for your mail delivery person
• Return store items you’ve decided not to purchase to their original spot
• Hold the elevator door open
• Be someone’s cheerleader
• Collect diapers and donate them

As you can see, serving others is a multifaceted venture. There is no correct or incorrect way to serve someone. There is no way which is better than the other. Do what you can with what resources you have to show your love and support for those you come into contact with. It doesn’t matter if they’re someone you’ve known your whole life or a stranger on the street. When you see an opportunity to nourish another individual, do so. You never know the monumental footprint a simple act can leave.

-Torrance Church of Christ

365 Day Bible Reading Challenge

Have you ever taken the time to read through the entire Bible? All 66 books? In any case, if you have it is always valuable to read it again, and if you haven’t, there’s no better time to start than now. 

We have broken up the chapters from every book into weekly segments so you can easily follow along with the reading. From there, you can split up the chapters to read according to best fit your schedule. Example: you know you have more time available on Mondays so you choose to read more chapters on that day. Maybe you don’t have time to read on Wednesdays, consequently, you need to read more chapters on a different day. We suggest breaking the weekly chapters up so you can read something every day, nevertheless, if that is not possible, it is key to disperse the chapters to match your busy life. We want you to enjoy your studies in order to attain paramount insight into the gospel and teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ. We don’t want the reading to be stressful or burdensome. 

If life gets in the way and you fall behind in your reading, that’s alright. Pick up from where you left off. Over time your persistence will create a habit. We can all use more healthy habits. 

Come along with us and accept this challenge. Tackle reading the Bible chapter by chapter. You have nothing to lose, in fact, just the opposite. You only have infinite blessings to gain.

- Torrance Church of Christ

How to Gain the Most from Bible Study

Whether you’re reading the Bible for the first time or the twentieth time, it is important to get the most out of the crucial messages which bound each passage. Digging deeper into your studies of the Bible can achieve a better understanding of His word and amplify your personal relationship with our Lord. For some, Bible Study can be somewhat of a daunting task, but we have some tips and tricks to help ease the process and help you feel closer to God. 

What Tools Are Available?

There are an array of tools available to enhance your studies. Let’s take a look at the options.

• Study Bibles- A Study Bible is an edition of the Bible that has additional information in order for the reader to gain further insight into the context. This can include annotations for difficult verses, historical information, biographies, definitions of complex words, and much more. Depending on which Study Bible you are using, it can be an all-in-one option.
• Bible Journals- A Bible Journal is exactly what it sounds like. It is a journal where you write down your thoughts, questions, feelings, and anything else that comes to mind while you are reading your Bible. You can journal by writing directly in your bible, in a notebook, or there are many different Bible Journals on the market. Some of the Bible Journals you can purchase are normal Bibles that are bigger, providing more room for your notes. Bible journaling can be a great way to get creative. Many people decorate their journals, drawing artwork inspired by scripture or passage. 
• Bible Dictionaries- Bible Dictionaries are dictionaries with helpful entries for vital information in the Bible. The entries include specific words, themes, locations, people, and doctrines. It can be an excellent tool to use for reference. 
• Parallel Bibles- Parallel Bibles can be tremendously useful, especially when you are having a tough time understanding a passage. Parallel Bibles are multiple translations built into one book, so you can easily compare and contrast verse by verse, or even word by word if you needed to. This can help you comprehend the nature of the message. 
• Daily Devotionals- Daily Devotionals most often come in a booklet or book form. Daily Devotionals offer a scripture to read once a day, often paired with a remark relating to the scripture. They can be used as an extra utensil to complement your studies.
• Bible Atlas- A Bible Atlas is a compilation of maps for places referenced throughout the Bible. These can be useful when studying the Bible geographically. 
• Bible Concordances- A Bible Concordance is an all-encompassing index of references used in the bible. 
• Bible Commentaries- A Bible Commentary is a series of books that analyze the Bible. They contain interpretations and observations. Bible Commentaries can examine whole books of the Bible, different passages, or individual verses. 
• Apps and Websites- With technology continually growing there is a wide range of different Apps and Websites devoted to helping you with your Bible Studies. Any of the above-mentioned tools can be found online. But if that’s not your thing, that’s okay. One of the most important keys to Bible Study is finding what works for YOU. 

Different Ways to Read The Bible:

You’re ready to read the Bible, the desire to learn more is there, and the motivation to seek a deeper personal connection with God weighs heavily on your soul, but you’re not entirely sure where to start. Does this sound familiar? Luckily, there are so many different ways to dive into your reading. 

• Cover-to-Cover- Read the Bible from beginning to end. 
• Chronologically- Read the Bible in chronological order of the events and stories throughout it. 
• By Topic- Read the Bible by focusing on passages and books that pertain to a specific topic.
• Geographically- Choose what to read based on a geographical location of your liking. Once you’ve finished a location, you can start another.
• Book-by-Book- Pick any book you’d like to read. Once you’re finished, simply pick another book.
• Cross-References- Pick a keyword and read passages that regard your word. Cross-reference your keyword and read the passages which relate.
• Character Study- Choose a person in the Bible you’d like to research. Read chapters and verses that apply to them.

You can try any one of these approaches, and if one doesn’t feel right, that’s okay. You can go ahead and try another one. It doesn’t matter which technique you use as long as you are attaining a better understanding of His words. 

Some Methods Used to Maximize Bible Study:

Here are some methods you can use to ensure you are getting the most out of your studies.

• Use the SOAP Method- SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. With the SOAP Method, you first choose your scripture. During your reading, take note of any observations that stand out to you. Ponder how you’ll apply these observations to your life. Be sure to end your studies with a prayer. 
• The Sword Method- While you’re reading a passage, imagine you’re holding a sword with the tip pointing up toward God in Heaven. The handle is aimed toward you, a person, man. The sides of the sword are sharp, they cut. With this method, the sides of the sword represent cutting through life. As you read your passage, ask yourself the following questions. 
• Tip Pointing Toward God: What did I learn about God?
• Handle Pointing Toward Man: What did I learn about man?
• Left Side of the Sword: Is there a sin to avoid? Is there a promise to claim?
• Right Side of the Sword: Is there a command to obey? Is there an example to follow?

• The HEAR Method- HEAR stands for Highlight, Explain, Apply, Respond. This method is akin to the SOAP method. Highlight anything that stands out to you. Explain what this passage means to you. Apply it to your life. Finish by responding to the passage. The best way to respond is with a prayer.
• The Journalist Method- For this method, pretend you are a journalist. Ask yourself the classic journalism questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

Additional Tips:

• Pray before your studies. Invite the Spirit and ask for guidance. 
• Look for keywords.
• Use color-coding when highlighting passages.
• Set aside a specific time to study your Bible.
• Read to learn, to seek out the context. Don’t read for the purpose of reading. Read to benefit from the message.
• Don’t skip or leave out any books. There is vital wisdom to be learned throughout the entire Bible.
• If you are using a Bible Commentary, wait to read it until you’ve read the passages and had an opportunity to create your own reflection. 
• Be patient with yourself. 

Studying the Bible leads you on an enlightening spiritual journey. It enables you to grow closer to our Father in Heaven. Reading the passages can guide you to pertinent answers in your life. 

-Torrance Church of Christ