Day 1- PAUL

At the beginning of his life, Paul was living for himself. After believing in Jesus, Paul lived for God. He wrote these words to the believers in Philippi while in prison for sharing the gospel in Rome. Read Philippians 1:20
What was Paul not ashamed of? Who did Paul want exalted in his body?
How does this desire take humility? How does this desire take self-control?
Read Philippians 1:21-26
What was Paul’s view on life and death? Did Paul view his life as living for himself or God?
When Paul wrote these words, he was in prison, faced with death. If he got out (which he did this time), was he going to live his life for himself or others?
Re-read verse 25. What did Paul say he was going to do for others?

Day 2- BARNABAS

Before Paul believed in Jesus, his name was Saul and he murdered Christians. When Paul first started sharing the gospel, the disciples were scared of him and wouldn’t associate with him until Barnabas stepped up.
Read Acts 9:26-27
What did Barnabas do for Paul? Did it take guts for Barnabas to stand up to Paul?
Was it the right thing to do? How was Barnabas selfless?
Read Matthew 7:12
Did Barnabas do for Paul what he would have wanted done for him?
How can you do for others what you would want done for you?
Is there anyone that you need to stand up for? Think about this… what would you want someone to do for you? How will you have to be selfess to stand up for this person?
Read Ephesians 4:29
How did Barnabas encourage his fellow disciples? How did his actions help Paul, his brother in Christ? How did his selfless actions help the mission to share the gospel?
How can your words be encouraging? How can your words lift others up (including those who have bad reputations)?

Day 3- THE GOOD SAMARTIAN

Jesus tells a story about a man who selflessly helped another. Read it and learn from the Good Samaritan’s example today.
Read Luke 10:30-37
What happened to the man on the road? Who were the two men who passed by?
Write down what God’s Word tells you about them.
List all the things the Samaritan did for the man.
Just to give you a little background to this story, a Samaritan was a person who was a mixed race. If you were a Samaritan you were half Jewish and half Assyrian. Because of this, the Jews viewed Samaritans as outcasts. The man who was robbed and left for dead was Jewish. The Samaritan was helping the very man who probably hated him.
Read Matthew 7:12 and Matthew 5:44
What do you learn about being selfless from the good Samaritan?
How did he love his enemies? Did the Samaritan do what he would want others to do for him? How can you be good to those who persecute you? How can you help those in need?

DIG DEEPER

There is a true story of a man who lived a selfless life and it showed in his response to losing everything he had. His name is Job and if you have a free Saturday afternoon, you should sit down and read what happened to him and how he chose to selflessly trust God with his life and circumstances. You can read about it in the book of Job in the Old Testament.

Day 4- RUTH AND BOAZRuth was a young lady who gave up her life to become a part of God’s people. Ruth was not an Israelite by birth. She married an Israelite when her husband moved to her country, Moab. Sadly, Ruth’s husband died. Ruth had the opportunity to go back to Israel with her mother-in-law and be a part of God’s people or stay in Moab where the people didn’t follow God. In Israel, Ruth would be an outsider and it would be very uncomfortable for her. So she gave up her life and went to live in Israel.
Read Ruth 1:1-16
Ruth was giving up the security the world provided by following Naomi and claiming God to be her God. It would have been easier to stay and gain all the temporary earthly things her country had to offer. Ruth gave up her life for God. She even gave up earthly things. She and Naomi were so poor she had to pick up leftover harvested food, which is the same thing as dumpster diving today.
Read Ruth 2:2-3. How does Ruth give up her life for God?
How does Ruth selflessly serve her older mother-in-law? Ruth was a foreigner living in a foreign land. Do you think life was uncomfortable?
Is being selfless sometimes uncomfortable? How can you learn selflessness from Ruth? How can you give up earthly security and things for God?
How can you serve your family members?

Day 5- APPLY IT.

Memorize Philippians 2:3-4
Make a list of how you can be selfless in these different areas. As you write down things, take note on ways you need to humble yourself or be self-controlled to make it happen.
How can you be selfless in your relationship with God? with your family? with your friends?
How can you be selfless with people at your school or your athletic team?
How can you be a selfless leader?