<p style="text-align: center;">TEXT: I SAMUEL 2:22-36</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">TITLE: HOW AM I SERVING OTHERS--AM I SERVING OTHERS FOR SATISFACTION?</p>
INTRODUCTION

A. Serving Others

1. The Expectation – Mark 10:42-44

2. The Model – Mark 10:45

B. What is a Servant?

1. Servant = diakonos = servant, minister, waiter

2. Servant = doulos = slave

C. We sometimes confuse serving people with satisfying or pleasing them

D. Eli’s sons

1. Stole from the people

2. Stole from God

3. Slept with the women who served at the entrance of the temple

E. Eli’s response:

1. “Why do you do such things?” (23)

2. “It is not a good report that I hear” (24)

F. Eli’s son’s response: They would not listen to the voice of their father (26)

G. When I serve people only to satisfy them…

I POSITION THEM TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT OTHERS (v. 24)

A. Transgress = Overstepping a covenant or command of God

B. Hophni and Phinehas’ actions were causing others to sin against God

1. Regarding their sacrifices

2. Regarding their sexuality

C. When I serve people only to satisfy them, I position them to cause others to sin

I POSITION THEM TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT ME (v. 29)

A. Eli

1. Did not honor God’s sacrifices and offerings

2. Honored his sons more than he honored God (3:13)

3. Eli participated in their sins [v. 29 “to make yourselves fat…]

4. Eli forfeited the honor of God (v. 30)

B. Do I love the praise of humans more than the praise of God? (John 12:43)

C. If I permit it, I will eventually participate in it… (Psalm 1:1-2)

1. If I Walk in the counsel of the ungodly

2. I will Stand in the path of sinners

3. Then, I will Sit in the seat of the scornful

4. Rather, I delight in the law of the Lord, and I meditate in it day and night

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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Challenge for the Week: </strong><strong>That I will take an honest look at my life and determine how I am serving others.</strong></p>