
We encourage every member of OPC to serve. If you’re considering that, thank you! First, here are a few points about why Christians serve.
1. You’ve been served!
What Jesus wants most is not for you to serve him, but to let him serve you. Jesus said he came into the world “not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45) and he did that most spectacularly when he gave his life for us on the cross. We are still being served by Jesus today as he intercedes for us in heaven and leads us by his Spirit.* So Christians are to serve as those who have been served and are deeply grateful.
The only way to get our service of Jesus right is to realise that supremely, we don’t serve Him. He serves us.
John Hindley, Serving without Sinking, p45
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
1 Corinthians 12:4
2. Finding your bodily function
The Bible describes the church as like a body with Jesus as our head and where every member has a part to play. As such, we are each called to discover and fulfil our ‘bodily function’. Sometimes we need to try some things out to see how God has gifted us to serve the body. As we do that, we find a way to worship God with the gifts he’s given us so that the whole church is built up for his glory. It’s deeply satisfying as well as pleasing to God. Everyone is blessed. And it’s often a lot of fun!
2. Finding your bodily function
The Bible describes the church as like a body with Jesus as our head and where every member has a part to play. As such, we are each called to discover and fulfil our ‘bodily function’. Sometimes we need to try some things out to see how God has gifted us to serve the body. As we do that, we find a way to worship God with the gifts he’s given us so that the whole church is built up for his glory. It’s deeply satisfying as well as pleasing to God. Everyone is blessed. And it’s often a lot of fun!
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
1 Corinthians 12:4
3. Doing something eternal
Serving in the life of the church – whether it’s admin, helping with events, catering, kids work or music – is participating in a mission to build an eternal kingdom that will last forever. It’s never trivial and it’s always worthwhile. We all have a choice about what we will invest our lives in. But not every investment will endure. The Christian missionary C.T Studd put it like this: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58
So serve because you’ve been served by Jesus. Find the function God has given to you, for your good and that of the church. And be part of something that will last forever, for God’s glory.
If you’d like to do that, please fill in the form below, indicating what area(s) you’d like to serve in and someone will be in touch soon. Thank you!
To think more about why Christians serve, watch or listen to this talk
To listen to the audio of this talk, click here.
Offer to serve by completing this form
Footnotes: *Hebrews 7:24–25; John 14:16–17