Over the last couple of months, I have been writing about 10 questions that we as a pastoral staff would like for you to know the answers to. This week, we come to question #8: why is it important that you serve?
First, let me say that we have MANY opportunities for you to serve at Swift Creek. Let me mention some of these:
Weekly Opportunities to Serve:
- Connect group teachers, prayer coordinators, social coordinators, etc.
- Choir and praise band (if you have a passion for worshiping through music)
- Ushers
- First Impressions Team (greeters)
- Safety Team
- Wednesday night Equipping class teachers
- Awana leaders
- Preschool teachers and volunteers
- Children’s ministry: teachers; Children’s Church workers
- Student ministry leaders
- Friends Ministry
- Various ministries, such as Grief Share and Divorce Recovery
- Church library
Other Opportunities to Serve:
- Vacation Bible School
- Special events, such as Fall Festival
- Young at Heart
- Mission trips and other mission endeavors, such as local missions, Chesterfield Food Bank, and Disaster Relief
- ESL
In other words, there are many places to serve at Swift Creek. And there are many other ways to serve that are not listed. But let me ask you another question: Why should you serve? Let me give you three reasons you should serve.
1. Jesus
When we serve, we are following the example set by Jesus. Matthew 20:28 says that Jesus “came not to be served but to serve…” If you want to be like Jesus, then you must serve and have a servant’s heart.
2. Journey
God has gifted us all to serve in some kind of way. As His followers, He has given us spiritual gifts, passions, abilities and personalities to serve. All of this was given to us, not to hoard all of those good things, but to use them in service to the Lord and others. It’s all part of the special journey God has called each one of us to. For some it’s serving as a missionary; for others, it’s serving kindergarteners. But we have all been given special gifts to serve. If you want to discover what God has put you on this planet to do, start serving!
3. Joy
There is a connection between obedience (which serving is obedience to God) and joy. Simply put, God has designed it so that when we obey Him we experience joy. When you serve in the area of your giftedness, you will have joy. 100% guaranteed!
Ephesians 2:10 states “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Church, let’s be like Jesus and serve. And while we’re at it, we’ll experience the journey and the joy God has in store for us!