Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to
the wishes of those I serve.
vs. Self-centeredness
Used with permission of Character Training Institute,
www.characterfirst.com
I Will:
Put others ahead of myself,
Find a
way to help, not a way to hide,
Be ready
when I am called,
Be glad
for the chance to serve,
Check
with the right person before I make commitments.
“Availability is simplifying our daily
needs so we are ready and able to serve those whom God brings to us.”
(Power for True Success)
“UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU”:
Our goal at CFM for 2012 is to use Scripture to build Christ-like character in
us and our families. With each
monthly quality, we will also learn the definition and a memory verse.
Hopefully, these Scripture helps will assist you in getting started, but
God will also give you additional ideas, Scriptures, and applications.
We hope you will share them with us, so we can pass them along to others
through our website, www.christianfellowshipministry.org.
May Christ work powerfully in each of us as we seek to become like Him!
MEMORY VERSE:
“I have no one else like him,
(Timothy) who
takes a genuine interest in your welfare.
For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ”
(Philippians 2:20-21). Each month,
we will learn together a scripture passage that focuses on Christ-like
character. Repetition each day will
make this an easy and do-able task; other helps are to write it on a card and
carry with you or place around your home, make a poster, etc.
Discuss the things God says to you in this verse (for example, whose
interests are to always be our priority?).
Families:
What an awesome responsibility to lead your children to be Christlike!
Ask God to lead and empower you to be available to train your children in
the model of Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
1. Be an example of
Christ-likeness, “You shall
love the Lord your God…and these words which I command you today shall be in
your heart” (v. 5-6). Share
with family members things that God is teaching you in availability and
opportunities you have had to show the quality.
2. Commit to a regular time of
sharing God’s Word and prayer, “You
shall teach them diligently to your children” (v. 7).
Choose a special time and place (such as morning around the breakfast
table); keep it short and simple.
Your commitment to be available at this time will be vital.
Some starter ideas for a plan could be:
a.
Get to know Jesus by reading the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
this year. Since it is short and
full of action, you could start with Mark, thought to be the first gospel
written. Before reading a passage, go over the definition of availability and ask family members to see
who Jesus was available to in this scripture and what happened because He was
available. Ask each to share what he
has seen. Pray together.
Involve each family member in an age appropriate way in reading, sharing,
praying, and even singing!
b.
Choose scriptures from the gospels (some are included in the helps below
on “Always Available Jesus”) that give examples of Jesus’ availability.
Print them on individual pieces of paper, then fold and put in a bowl.
Each morning, pray that God will lead you in which one to read, then have
a family member draw one. Go over
the definition of availability, then ask everyone to listen to the scripture
being read, watching for who Jesus was available to and what happened when He
was. Since God “chose” the
scripture for the day, be watchful for ways you can be available in the same way
Jesus was. Give a time to share
God-encounters.
c. Each week, focus on one of the
five “I wills” as ways to build Christ-like character.
The helps below give you some starter ideas.
Be alert to other scriptures God will give you in your own personal
devotional times.
d.
Character Sketches,Volume II, has a
section on availability,
taught in four practical areas (one per week) through an animal and a Bible
story. Each day, you could also
share how Jesus was the example of that:
1. Serving my family first before I consider other needs or wants
(Luke 2:51-52).
2. Refusing to be deterred by deceptive distractions (Luke 2:41-50,
4:1-13).
3. Rejecting ambitions that hinder us from being where we are
needed (Luke 10:38-42, John 7:1-9).
4. Standing by a task until it is fully completed (John 17:1-5,
19:30).
3. Be alert to the golden
teaching moments throughout the day,
“…talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you
lie down, and when you rise up” (v. 7).
As you spend time with your family (including your wife) be alert to
availability training opportunities.
For example, when a family member has to decide about an activity, ask,
“How do we decide if this is something God wants us (or me) to be available
for?”
4. Make it visual, “You
shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between
your eyes. You shall write them on
the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (v. 8-9).
Make or even better, have your children make posters, tent-cards for the
table, etc. that have the quality, its definition, the memory verse, or other
things you want to remember about availability.
How about a “praise center” on your wall or refrigerator where a family
member writes out a praise for someone else who exhibited availability?
Some of these could also be displayed at
the church building to encourage others.
Cells:
After prayer, choose a topic that God is leading you to use in your cell, but
beware of trying to cover too much material or too many Scriptures.
It is usually better to dig into and
discuss a few Scriptures rather than lightly cover too many.
Leave time available to share
availability opportunities through the past week and to discuss and pray over
questions and issues that arise.
ALWAYS AVAILABLE JESUS:
Since Jesus is the perfect example of character, begin your focus on
availability by discussing how Jesus exemplified that quality.
1. Available to His Father, God:
Since the first sin in the Garden of Eden, God has had a plan to redeem man and
his creation. This redemption required a perfect sacrifice to atone for
sin, a requirement that could only be met by a sinless man. Therefore,
God's own Son, Jesus, made himself available to become man and die for man's
sin. Read Philippians 2:1-11 to see what was required of Jesus as he made
himself available.
Share ways from this passage and others how Jesus perfectly applied the 5 “I
Wills” above:
Jesus put others ahead of himself:
Note the phrases:
“made himself nothing, taking the very
nature of a servant,” “humbled
himself,” “became obedient to death.” Remember that this is the Son of God,
who created and had authority over all creation, yet what was His goal on earth
in Matthew 20:26-28. Why was he able to put others ahead of Himself?
Jesus found a way to help, not a way
to hide:
Note the phrase “found in appearance as a man,” why was this
necessary for him to save mankind? Use
of “himself””
and “taking” indicate that he did it willingly and voluntarily.
Also see John 10:14-18 and Hebrews 10:9-10.
At his arrest, he refused to use his power to call angels to free him
(Matthew 26:52-54).
Jesus was ready when called:
From the beginning of sin in the Garden of Eden, this redemption was
planned, and it occurred in God’s timing.
Galatians 4:1-4 also shows that he was available at the right time.
Jesus was glad for the chance to serve:
Read Hebrews 12:2-3; how could Jesus have joy in such suffering?
How can we have joy in being available to those we serve, even when it
changes our plans or even brings hardship?
Jesus checked with the right person
before making commitments: John
8:27-29 reveals that His availability to the Father included doing the job just
as His Father directed. As he died on the cross, he could say, "It is
finished." He had remained available to the end.
2. Available to people:
Think of times during Jesus’ life when he was available to people, even those
others avoid or when it was difficult.
Available to children: Matthew 19: 13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17.
Why would all three authors of the Synoptic gospels include this event?
Why would the disciples try to keep children away?
How important did Jesus feel children to be (also see Mark 9:37)? How can
we make ourselves available to children?
Available to those looked down upon: In John 4:1-42, how did the Jews see
the Samaritan woman? How would the
Samaritans have seen her? This was really only a rest stop for Jesus and the
disciples on the way to Galilee, why would Jesus take time to be available to
this woman? What was the result of
his availability to her (v. 39-42)?
How can we make ourselves available for these “by the way” encounters that God
gives us? How do we decide when
these “side-track” issues are of God and when they are a distraction?
Available to sinners: In
John 8:1-12, after the accusers left, Jesus made Himself available to the sinful
woman. What was His message to her?
In the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9), note that Jesus was also
“passing through” Jericho but made time for this tax-collector, even to stay at
his house. What was the result of
Jesus being available?
Available to crowds: During the time of Jesus’ popularity, crowds
constantly sought him, which required a lot of Jesus and allowed little rest.
Even when he tried to get away with his disciples, the crowds found him.
In Mark 6:30-34, what was Jesus’ response?
What was his motivation for being available to them?
Available at inconvenient times:
Why do you think Nicodemus came to Jesus at night (John 3:1-22)?
What indicates he was a true seeker?
What does John 19:38-42 seem to indicate resulted from Jesus’
availability to Nicodemus?
Since a Christian’s “attitude should be
the same as that of Christ Jesus”—how can we be available like Him?
Read Philippians 2:1-4 to see how each of these commands would increase
our availability (for example: be
tender and compassionate, work with those that have the same spirit and purpose,
do nothing out of selfishness or conceit (not self-centered), see others as
better than yourself, etc.)
3.
Available to us:
Just before Jesus returned to heaven, he gave a commission and a promise to all
his followers; read Matthew 28: 18-20 and discuss the difference it would make
for us to realize that He is always available. In addition to sending the
Holy Spirit, an always available help, he is now an advocate for us before the
Father. Read Romans 8:34 and Hebrew 7:25 to see when he is available to
intercede for us. Does God’s
omnipresence seem a threat or a reassurance?
Read these scriptures about God’s omnipresence and relate it to his
availability at any time and anywhere:
Deut. 4:39; Psalm 139:7-12; Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:27
HOW AVAILABLE?
A quote by George S. Patton, "Always do more than is required of you,"
is a principle found in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Read Matthew 5:38-42
to see the areas where Jesus said to do more than is required. Do we make
ourselves available to do more than is required?
However, we cannot be available to everyone and everything.
“You have jurisdiction in your own priorities, but you do not have
jurisdiction to change the priorities of those to whom you answer” (Availability
bulletin, Series 2). Therefore, to
be available to the one you are serving, you must not discard his/her priority
to fulfill your own or someone else’s. Share how this conflict of availabilities
is a real challenge in our lives.
In I Kings 13, how did a young prophet from Judah violate this principle by
discarding God’s instructions to follow the invitation of another prophet?
Are we ever sidetracked from what God has said by another respected or
successful person who says, "God said..." or by what may be successful for
another “expert”? How was the ministry of the man from Judah cut short?
Do good causes ever get us sidetracked from what God has told us or from what
are our God-given priorities? What
are the consequences?
KINGDOM MINUTEMEN:
Ask someone in your family or group to report on the Minutemen of the American
Revolutionary War (or see Availability, Series 2 bulletin, p. 4-5). Or
have them write up an “I am a Minuteman” monologue.
They were "farmers, shopkeepers, and other common Americans who were
available..."but they were vital to our fight for independence. (Or ask a
person in a military reserve unit such as National Guard or a volunteer fireman,
etc, to share how he/she has to remain available at all times.)
Consider what made the Minutemen effective and how that principle relates
to our being Kingdom Minutemen:
1. They were ready to respond at a moment's notice. They had
their equipment in place as well as their resolve, ready to lay down their own
"schedule and priorities" to assemble for the fight. In what ways can we
be ready for a call to serve in the
2. They were available for training. In the years before the
war began, Minutemen had to be available for training two to three times a week,
often in tedious duties, to learn the skills and procedures that made them able
to be ready for a real need. It was
a big commitment, but the job required it. What would have happened
if they had decided to train when the Redcoats were already marching their way?
Years later, Abraham Lincoln expressed the same need for readiness:
"I will prepare and some day my chance will come." In the
One goal at CFM for the year 2012 is to encourage people to complete the
Foundations and Spiritual Authority courses; could you be available to take the
class or to mentor someone else through the lessons in your home?
3. They stayed available in spite of frustration. Think of
what frustrations the Minutemen must have encountered.
They were outnumbered, out-skilled, and out-resourced by the mighty
British army. They had to
leave their homes, businesses, farms, and families in order to be available and
often under hard conditions. They
had to provide their own equipment. What
have been some of your frustrations when you have made yourself available?
How are we to respond when things do not go as planned? Is the Kingdom cause big
enough for you to overcome them?
BE READY:
"Be prepared" is the motto of the Boy Scouts, taken from their leader, Lord
Baden-Powell. If there is a Boy Scout in your family or cell, have him
share about their motto and what things they are training for now, so they can
be prepared for the future. Availability is not just standing around in
the shadows, waiting to be asked. What things are we to be ready and available
for in the
1. The future:
Matthew 24:44, parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, Revelation
19:7
2. For service:
Luke 12:35-40. Are you ready
and waiting for your Master to knock?
What will be your reward?
(II Corinthians 9:2; II Timothy 2:21; Titus 3:1, I Peter 5:2.
3. To give:
II Corinthians 8:1-15, 9:1-5.
This passage talks of two churches ready to make their money available
for use in the Kingdom through Paul:
Macedonia and Corinth. Learn
from their example about willingness to give and how to do it wisely.
4. To speak up for Christ:
I Peter 3:15-16 How does setting apart “Christ as Lord” affect our
availability? How can we “always be
prepared” to give an answer for our hope in Him?
AVAILABILITY EXAMPLES:
II Cor. 8:16-24:
At times, people are available but their usability is limited.
In this passage, three men were sent in a delegation to
Titus (v. 16-17, 23): had a common
concern, was willing and enthusiastic, took initiative and had proven himself to be a
partner and fellow worker.
2nd brother (v. 18-20): had a
good reputation, had been involved in service, had been chosen by Christians,
was a man of
integrity that allowed no criticism.
3rd brother (v. 22): had
proven to be zealous and had a heart for those to whom he was going.
Joshua was a man who was
available to Moses at all times. Read about some areas where he was called
to serve: Exodus 17:9; Exodus 24:12,13; Exodus 33:11, Numbers 13:16;
Numbers 14:1-9. What frustrations would have come with each task?
His availability without any personal agenda led to God's appointing him as
Moses' successor (Numbers 27:12-23). Share times when your availability
led to a greater blessing than you had ever thought of. Let's respond with flexibility and
wholeheartedness, knowing that God has great things in mind for us.
Mary and Joseph:
When the angel appeared to Mary with news that would change all her
plans, what was Mary’s answer in Luke 1:38?
Many questions must have crowded through her mind, but her answer was one
of availability. Joseph’s life was
turned “upside-down” as well by this sudden change of plans; however, when the
angel appeared to him in a dream, how did he show his immediate availability in
Matthew 1:24-25?
Isaiah:
In Isaiah 6, God called this OT prophet through a majestic vision in the
temple. When God asked, "Whom shall
I send? And who will go for us?" What was Isaiah’s reply in v. 8?
Read vs. 9-10 to learn what his call involved; would this gloomy
perspective have affected your availability?
Vs. 11-13 answered Isaiah’s question about how long he had to be
available? However, because he was willing to be available, God gave him
great visions of the coming Messiah that would help generations to come.
Do we spend time listening to God so we can hear His call? Is our
attitude, “I will be available for any call from God”?
Share areas where your group members see pressing needs and then pray
that God will lead each one to the place where they need to say, "Here am I.
Send me!" Also, see Isaiah's commitment to making his family available for
God's purposes: "Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me.
We are signs and symbols in
Esther:
Esther’s presence in the king’s palace was not by her own choice;
indeed, it was probably not a very welcome prospect to be married to a ruthless
king whom you had never met or to be in a harem and not available to pursue your
own life and dreams. However, when
her people, the Jews, were threatened with extinction, Mordecai called upon her
to risk her own life and position to save them.
Esther 4:10-11 reveals that Esther understood the gravity of what was
asked, but later agreed to be available to do it –vs. 15-16.
Has your availability ever been requested in an area that you knew
presented danger or little likelihood of a good outcome?
What influenced her decision?
Your decision?
David:
I Samuel 17 tells the story of David and Goliath.
For 40 days, the Philistine giant, Goliath, taunted the armies of
David’s mighty men:
II Samuel 23:8-39 tells of the exploits of David’s mighty men.
In vs. 13-17, three men made their own schedule and priorities secondary
to the wishes of their king? What
excuses could they have given to discount David’s longing?
How did they find a way to help, rather than hide?
What danger to themselves did their availability bring?
Samuel:
As a boy, Samuel served in the temple under Eli, the priest.
Eli was judged by God for scorning God’s standards by letting his sons
dishonor God, so Samuel’s authority was not a shining example of a Godly leader.
In I Samuel 3, when Samuel heard God’s voice, he thought it was the voice
of Eli, who was very feeble. Three
times, the boy Samuel ran to Eli to see what he wanted.
How did Samuel’s availability to his earthly authority teach him to be
available to God? How does that
principle work in our lives?
Good Samaritan:
Have individuals in your group share ways they volunteer and make a list
of them in order to encourage the influence you have through being available to
serve. Also share the rewards of
volunteering; does it counteract self-centeredness?
Read the account of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. Contrast
the self-centeredness of the priest and Levite with the availability of the
Samaritan. What did it cost him to volunteer? "Go and do likewise."
Little boy:
Sometimes our resources seem so insignificant in meeting a great
need, so we fail to make them available.
In John 6:1-15, what was a little boy’s lunch compared to the need of
5,000 people? But God’s power
multiplied it when he was available to give it, risking hunger himself.
What a story this little boy had when he went back home!
Timothy:
His story in the Bible begins with Acts 16:1-4; what was required for
this young man to be available to serve Paul?
Do we allow our children to be available for the Lord’s work, even if it
means leaving home? What do you
think these parents and grandparents did to prepare him for this?
Our memory verse is taken from Philippians 2:19-24, where Paul praises
Timothy’s availability; how did this young man prove himself to be sent out in
ministry without Paul? Where do you
think Timothy learned to not be self-centered?
COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS:
Many people would like you to be
available to them or their cause, so how do we decide when to say yes?
Note in the definition that we are to be available to those we are to
serve. Often we are available to
others in ways that negate our availability to God, to employers, to our church
and cell, and to our families. How
often do our schedules and outside commitments give us little time to be
available to our spouse/children? One way to guard against this is to
communicate well with those we serve.
Use the three topics from a Character First! bulletin to explore ways to
improve:
1. Updates: What time in your day is given to "catching up" with a
spouse or children about what is going on in their lives, their struggles,
their dreams, and even what they are going to do that day? Meals at a "family table"
(plus preparation and clean up) are a great time to do this in a friendly way.
Parents, set the example by sharing from your own life and asking questions.
Unfortunately eating together regularly (without TV) is a very uncommon event in
many households, and it must be made a priority by those in authority. How
can we accomplish this? Consider the "golden moments" of communication in
Deuteronomy 6:7 and ask yourself if you are available to your family at those
times: when you sit at home, when you are traveling, when it is bedtime, and when
you get up.
2. Accessibility: No matter the age, family members need to know
where you are and how to get hold of you. Are there times during your
day/week when you can always be accessible to your spouse so communication can
be improved? Do you check with the
family calendar before committing to “availability” to others?
3. Visibility: "Being there" for each other in the family includes
both physical and emotional visibility. Communication cannot always be at
specified times, so others need to see you available.
Is your schedule so packed that you seem unapproachable or
“uninterruptible”? Is our busyness really a directive from our Lord Jesus?
Remember that to a child (and others,
too), love is spelled T-I-M-E!
Discuss ways these three areas can lead to better communication within our cell
family?
MANAGE TO BE AVAILABLE:
Begin with an object lesson using a sliding-pieces puzzle that has one open
space. Or, if you can locate a number of these puzzles, give them to families or
individuals in your cell meeting to try to work out. Note that the key to
solving the puzzle is using the empty space and moving it around as needed.
How often our time, our finances, and our resources are so committed that we
have no empty spaces to work with. Dr. Richard Swenson has called it
the "margins" of our life because just as a page needs margins to be readable, our
lives need some space to be really successful (Margins). How often do we
respond to a need by saying we are too busy, too strapped for money, etc.?
How can we arrange our schedule or make the best use of our time and
resources in order to be available to those we serve?
Ask cell members to share experiences.
Use some of these questions adapted from The Disciple's Journal (Narrow
Road Publishing) to evaluate your availability:
1. Do people call on me for help or have I directly or indirectly let them
know I am too busy?
2. Have I arranged my priorities in order to be able to say "yes" to real
needs?
3. Am I free from the tyranny of time so I don't have to keep telling
others how busy I am?
4. How am I currently available to use my gifts, time, and resources to
build up the body of Christ?
5. Am I willing to say "yes" to jobs that are beyond me, knowing that God
will give me grace?
6. Am I able to view interruptions as opportunities to meet needs, or do I
allow them to frustrate me?
7. Have I relinquished my own goals in order to pursue God's?
8. Has God won the battle in my life over whose will is going to reign,
His or mine?
GIRAFFE:
By using the online library at
www.characterfirst.com (for bulletin subscribers) the series 3 Character
First! bulletins, or the Character First Education, series 4, curriculum, look
for information about ways the giraffe is available. Discuss them and how
they can help us build this character quality. How does their being
available to each other help them overcome weaknesses? How can we in our
cell family be available to others and also overcome weaknesses and
vulnerabilities? Use the giraffe
coloring pages to be a visual around the home; write out the “I wills” to add to
the display.
OTHER RESOURCES:
The Power for True Success,
Institute in Basic Life Principles, Oak Brook, IL
Character First, Education curriculum,
Character Training Institute, Oklahoma City, OK
Character First the Magazine,
Character First, Edmond, OK
Achieving True Success, (for
families) International Association of Character Cities, Oklahoma City, OK
Character Sketches, Vol. I, II, III,
Institute in Basic Life Principles, Oak Brook, IL
Helps developed by Deanna Guy