Serving is The Key to Spiritual Growth
Sunday, January 25th, 2009
As I look over the Church of Jesus Christ I find something missing. To be sure some have turned to entertainment and away from spirit lead preaching services. Some have adjusted their focus to meeting “felt needs” rather than addressing spiritual decay. But I believe that the idea of having a church where the “People of God” serve is hard to find!
If we just casually review the scriptures we find many passages that emphasize service. Matthew 20:27 tells us that “whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” Likewise, Jesus says in John 13:15 “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
What have we done? The modern-day church is full of professionals whose job is to “feed the flock” while never encouraging the flock to serve! The greatest thing you can do for the Lord is to serve him in word and deed. If people will get excited about serving the Savior then those that do not know the Lord might just stand up and take notice. We must be willing to stop the old paradigm of “How does it affect me?” to “What can be done to serve others?” At Walnut Creek Baptist Church we believe that church members have a responsibility to serve both in the church and in the community we live in. Think how ridiculous it would have sounded at the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem if the new children of God would have stated “we don’t want to commit right now, we just want to come hear Peter preach.” Just the opposite was so! In Acts 4:32-37 we find church members who are willing to serve and do whatever it takes to advance the kingdom of God.
Knowing the importance of getting everyone involved in service is just the start. The pastor and church staff must be willing to set up a systematic program that allows church members to serve at church and in the community on a regular basis. In addition, the pastor and church staff must erase the “old way” of thinking that the church‘s primary goal is to meet the felt needs of its members! The emphasis should be on showing them how they can help advance the kingdom of God by using their God-given spiritual gifts in serving through their local church.
Serving others can be the most rewarding and spiritually fulfilling thing you will ever do! Rather than saying “I want a church that has programs for me and my family” why not say “I want a church that will allow me and my family to serve and use our gifts to glorify God!” A serving person doesn’t get easily offended, is faithful to church, gives regularly of their tithes and offerings, and desires that others to come to know the Savior.
We at Walnut Creek Baptist have changed our way of thinking and we look forward to empowering our people and unleashing their God given abilities. The results will be up to the Lord but I can’t wait to see and hear the testimonies of those that come to know the Lord because of the dramatic shift in the in the way we view the church.