Opening Prayer: Almighty God, as I open Your Word today, bless my thoughts and give me deeper knowledge and understanding in my heart I pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Read: 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

Reflect: Paul is defending his value to the church in this passage, how does it still apply to lay people in the church? Is it only because Paul is an apostle that he becomes all things to all people, or is it a normal Christian duty? How do you need to change your identity in order to share Christ with the people around you?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “We Are Called to Be God’s People”

We are called to be God’s people,
Showing by our lives His grace,
One in heart and one in spirit,
Sign of hope for all the race.
Let us show how He has changed us,
And remade us as His won;
Let us share our live together
As we shall around His throne.

We are called to be God’s servants,
Working in His world today;
Taking His own task upon us,
All His sacred words obey.
Let us raise, then, to His summons,
Dedicate to Him our all,
That we may be faithful servants,
Quick to answer now His call.

We are called to be God’s prophets,
Speaking for the truth and right;
Standing firm for godly justice,
Bringing evil into light.
Let us seek the courage needed,
Our high calling to fulfill,
That we all may know the blessing
Of the doing of God’s will.

Closing Prayer: But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Amen (1 Timothy 6:11-12 NIV)