Serve in the Body
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV).
The body of Christ – the church – is beautifully diverse in a number of ways, including the various gifts that individuals have. The variety of gifts allows us to meet a variety of needs. It allows different people to contribute in different ways to the single mission – to make disciples. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, “4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
So why find a place in our church to serve? There are several reasons:
- It pleases God. It’s a matter of obedience and faithfulness with the gifts he has given you. He wants you to use them to serve others.
- It benefits others. In whatever way you serve, someone else will benefit. Our church needs your gifts. We are stronger and more effective when we have more people using more gifts.
- It connects you to others. In a large church, one of the ways to connect with other people is by serving together.
- It will bring you joy. It’s enjoyable to serve others and to serve on a team. As we think about specific events or our overall ministry, sometimes we like to say, “We get to do this together!”
So, if you haven’t yet, I hope you will find a place to use your gifts for the sake of the gospel. You can find a range of options here. It’s long been said at our church that on this gospel ship called Ingleside, there are no passengers; we are all crew! We are in it together, serving each other and advancing the mission together. I am very thankful for your partnership in the gospel!
With the affection of Christ,
