Serving
Why Serve?
Serving is not typically seen as a method of getting people plugged into a church. Oftentimes, serving is only reserved for those who are already plugged in. However, throughout the years, we have found that new congregants who get involved with serving the church and the community early on feel more connected more quickly. This makes sense as serving involves collaborating with others toward a common goal, eating meals together, learning to have fun together and laboring together for a good cause. We’ve learned that those who serve feel far more fulfilled and experience a significantly more profound attachment to the ministry and its vision. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” In fact, it is through service that Christians find community, grow in faith and character, experience joy, and so forth. Testimony after testimony of those who serve faithfully reveal this indelible truth – God designed us to love and to serve Him & others.
But besides that, Jesus teaches that by serving others, we are in a concrete way actually serving him. In fact, what Jesus is essentially teaching is that all Christians are marked by their service to others. We serve because we’ve been served.`
How do I Serve?
Paul teaches that this service is expressed in various ways between believers. He writes in Romans, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” This is not an exhaustive list. Essentially, Paul is teaching that whatever gift you have, you are given it so that you may love and bless others. We are all one body.
The best way to find out how you can serve is by attending our next serving class on April 15, 2012. Class will be offered at 12:15pm and 3:00pm.
