Together and Outward: Fellowship, Service, Giving, and a Rule of Life

What You Will Learn

• Describe fellowship as a discipline of shared life
• Explain service and giving of time, talent, and resources as disciplines of love, without pressure
• Explain the purpose and parts of a Rule of Life
• Draft a realistic personal Rule of Life for your setting

Lesson Notes

Fellowship

Some disciplines are practiced together. The first believers, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (Acts 2:46). Fellowship is sharing life with other believers.

Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:24–25). Inside, fellowship may be chapel or an approved Bible study; after release, a local church and small group. Fellowship is a discipline because showing up takes effort.

Service

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (Mark 10:45). Peter wrote, As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another (1 Peter 4:10). Every woman has gifts to serve with.

Service inside can look like helping a newcomer learn the routine, reading to someone, tutoring, or encouraging a discouraged sister. After release it might be greeting at church or volunteering in a re-entry ministry.

Never trade, carry items, or run messages against facility rules, and serve from rest, not to prove yourself.

Giving: Time, Talent, and Treasure

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Scripture also says, if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not (2 Corinthians 8:12).

Giving is not only money. Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee (Acts 3:6). Time (listening, praying, visiting), talent (skills, encouragement, teaching, art, cooking), and treasure (money or goods) all count.

No pressure, ever. No one in this course or this program will ever ask you for money. Giving does not buy God's blessing. Caring for your family and your basic needs is responsible stewardship. After release, any financial giving to a church is between you and God, as you are able. A discipler never asks those she disciples for money, gifts, or favors.

A Rule of Life: Trellis, Not Cage

A Rule of Life is a simple written plan for the rhythms of your spiritual life. Think of a trellis that helps a vine grow upward, not a cage that traps it.

A simple Rule of Life has three parts:

• Daily: small practices (for example, a short Scripture reading, a breath prayer, three thanks at night).
• Weekly: fellowship, worship, a Sabbath rest window, a time of service, a longer time of quiet, a group meeting.
• Seasonally: a monthly or yearly practice (a review of your journal, a day of reflection, an optional non-food fast).

Make it realistic for your real setting inside and after release. Start smaller than you think. Include a grace clause: what you will do when you miss (I will not quit; I will begin again at the next meal or the next morning). Review and adjust it as life changes.

Key Terms

In-Class Activities

Gift Inventory

List your time, talents, and abilities under three headings: Things I do well, Things others thank me for, Things I enjoy doing for others. Then write two ways you could serve with them inside (within the rules) and two after release.

Rule of Life Sketch

Draw three boxes: Daily, Weekly, Seasonally. Using the disciplines from Modules 1–5, write two or three realistic practices in each box for your current setting. Under the boxes, write your grace clause. Trade with a partner and ask: Is this realistic? What could be smaller?

Assignment: Final Project Draft: My Rule of Life

Draft Part One of your final project (see the Final Project section). On one to two pages:

• Daily, Weekly, Seasonally: include at least six disciplines from this course across the three sections.
• When and where: name realistic times and places in your setting.
• After release: how your rule will change.
• Grace clause: what you will do when you miss.
• Accountability: who you could ask to review it with you (by role: chaplain, mentor, small group).
• Include 1 Timothy 4:7 and Matthew 11:29–30.

If you include fasting, it must be non-food unless you have medical clearance and follow facility rules.

Graded with the Module Assignment Rubric.

Reflection Journal

First Peter 4:10 says every believer has received a gift to share. What gift has God given you that you have been afraid to use or thought was too small? Who might be blessed if you shared it?

Prayer focus: Thank God for the gifts He has given you, and ask Him to help you build a simple rhythm of life that keeps you close to Him and open-handed toward others.

Such as I Have

A man who could not walk asked Peter and John for money. Peter answered, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee (Acts 3:6). He gave what he had, and it was more than money could buy.

Many women in re-entry have little money. That is not a barrier to giving. Time, talent, and treasure all count. You can listen, pray, teach someone to read, help a newcomer learn the routine, or encourage a discouraged sister. No one in this program will ever ask you for money, and giving never buys God's blessing.

Dee noticed a new woman on her unit who cried every night. (Dee is a composite example.) Dee could not give her anything; the rules did not allow it. But she could sit at the same table at lunch, show her the schedule, and invite her to chapel. Months later that woman said Dee's welcome was the first time she had felt seen.

A Rule of Life gathers these practices into a simple rhythm: daily, weekly, and seasonally. Make it smaller than you think. Write a grace clause for the days you miss. Then let it be a trellis that holds your life toward God and toward others.

Think About It

1. What time or talent could you give this week? ______________________
2. Where is God inviting you into fellowship? ______________________
3. What is the first line of your Rule of Life? ______________________

Daily Devotions for Week 5

Good Stewards

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.— 1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)

Every believer has a gift to share, and every gift matters.

Reflect: What gift has God given you?

Pray: Lord, help me use my gifts for others.

Do: Use one gift to help someone today, within the rules.

Not Forsaking

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.— Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)

Fellowship takes effort, but we are not meant to grow alone.

Reflect: What keeps you from gathering with other believers?

Pray: Lord, plant me among Your people.

Do: Attend chapel or a study, or encourage one believer today.

To Minister

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.— Mark 10:45 (KJV)

Jesus came to serve. Service is following His steps.

Reflect: Whom could you serve quietly this week?

Pray: Jesus, give me a servant's heart.

Do: Do one hidden act of kindness.

A Cheerful Giver

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.— 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)

Giving is free and joyful, never forced.

Reflect: What could you give with a glad heart?

Pray: Lord, make me a cheerful giver.

Do: Give an hour of your time to someone.

A Willing Mind

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.— 2 Corinthians 8:12 (KJV)

God looks at the heart, not the size of the gift.

Reflect: How does this verse free you?

Pray: Lord, I offer what I have.

Do: Write your Rule of Life grace clause.