Serving – All in

Discovering Your Purpose Through Service

Have you ever wondered if you have something valuable to offer the world? Perhaps you’ve felt that your contributions are insignificant or that you lack the expertise to make a real difference. It’s time to challenge those thoughts and embrace a powerful truth: you are uniquely gifted to serve.

The concept of service is at the very heart of the Christian faith. Jesus himself said, “I have come not to be served, but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many.” This profound statement sets the tone for how we, as followers of Christ, should approach our lives. We are called to model Jesus in our actions, both within the church and in our wider communities.

Mother Teresa, a beacon of selfless service, once said, “Small acts, when done with great love, can change the world.” This reminds us that even the smallest gestures of kindness and service can have a ripple effect far beyond what we can imagine. While we may not be able to change the entire world, we can certainly change the world for one person at a time.

A powerful example of finding purpose through service is the story of William and Catherine Booth, founders of the Salvation Army. In mid-19th century London, William Booth, then a Methodist preacher, was deeply moved by the poverty and suffering he witnessed. Instead of confining himself to traditional church ministry, he felt called to reach out to the marginalized, the poor, the homeless, and the outcasts. Together with his wife Catherine, they began serving these communities by providing food, shelter, and clothing while simultaneously sharing the gospel message.

The Booths’ mission, which led to the founding of the Salvation Army in 1865, beautifully illustrates how faith must be lived out through love and service to others. Their legacy continues to this day, serving as a reminder that our faith is not meant to be passive. We are not saved by our good works, but we are saved for them. How can we make a difference in this world with a heart of compassion that mirrors that of Jesus?

It’s crucial to understand that we serve not to earn God’s love, but because we have experienced it. God’s love for us is not conditional on our actions – He cannot love us any more or any less than He already does. Instead, we serve as a reflection and response to the love we have received. This shift in perspective changes everything about how we approach service.

The apostle Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 4:10-11, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” This scripture emphasizes that every single one of us has been given gifts by God, and we are called to use them for the benefit of others and to glorify God.

The apostle Paul uses the analogy of the body to illustrate how our diverse gifts work together in the church. Just as a physical body has many parts with different functions, so too does the body of Christ. Whether your gift is prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, or showing mercy, you are called to use it to the best of your ability to serve others.

It’s important to recognize that service is not just a duty or an optional extra to the Christian faith – it is an act of worship. Romans 12:1 urges us to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” Worship is not limited to the songs we sing on Sundays; it encompasses our entire lives, including how we use our gifts, talents, time, and resources to bless others and further God’s kingdom.

When we view serving through the lens of worship rather than duty, it transforms our attitude and perspective. It becomes a joyful response to all that God has done for us, rather than a burdensome obligation. This shift can make all the difference in how we approach service and can lead to a deeper, more fulfilling spiritual life.

Serving not only benefits those we help but also plays a crucial role in our own spiritual growth and the building up of the church. Ephesians 4:11-16 describes how Christ gave various roles within the church “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature.”

As we serve together, we grow in maturity and unity. Our individual acts of service contribute to the overall health and growth of the church body. Moreover, as we mature in our faith through service within the church, we become better equipped to reach out and make a difference in our wider communities, making Christ’s love tangible to those around us.

So, how can you discover and use your gifts to serve? Here are three practical steps:

1. Pray: Ask God, your Creator, to reveal your gifts and how He wants you to use them.
2. Seek input from others: Sometimes, those around us can see gifts and talents in us that we may not recognize ourselves.
3. Try different things: Sometimes, the best way to discover your gifts is simply to give various forms of service a try. You may surprise yourself with what you’re capable of!

Remember, Christianity is never just about “me and Jesus.” While our personal relationship with Christ is foundational, it should always lead us into community and service. As we love what Christ loves – His church and the world He came to save – we find our true purpose and fulfillment.

In conclusion, let’s embrace the truth that we are all gifted to serve. Whether in big ways or small, our acts of service can have a profound impact on those around us and on our own spiritual growth. As we shift our perspective to see service as an act of worship and a response to God’s love, we open ourselves up to a deeper, more mature faith. So, what gift has God given you, and how will you use it to serve others and bring glory to Him?

This blog is created from my sermon at Heart Church, you can listen to the full message here