When Serving Opens the Doors
Over the last several weeks, we've been looking at ways our MCs can serve throughout the Valley. We've talked about recognizing needs, building relationships with local organizations, and involving our entire MC family in opportunities to love others.
But I want us to spend some time this week talking about something that is incredibly important.
How does serving others create opportunities to proclaim Jesus? I think this is a question we need to continually ask ourselves.
We can do a tremendous amount of good in our community. We can provide meals, help families, volunteer at organizations, visit seniors, and spend time caring for people who are struggling.
And those things matter!
When someone is hungry, feeding them is a wonderful expression of compassion. When someone is lonely, spending time with them can make an incredible difference. When a family is struggling, helping meet a practical need is a beautiful way to demonstrate love.
But as followers of Jesus, we also have something incredibly important to share.
We have the Gospel.
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus teaches His disciples to let their light shine before others so that people will see their good works and give glory to the Father in heaven.
I love that picture because it reminds us that the way we live can point people toward God.
Our actions matter.
The way we serve matters.
The way we treat people matters.
But I also want us to remember that our actions can create opportunities for conversations about the One who motivates us to serve in the first place.
And sometimes those opportunities come in ways we don't expect.
Imagine that our MC begins regularly serving at a senior facility.
At first, we're helping with activities, playing games, and getting to know some of the residents.
Over time, we begin developing friendships.
We learn about their families, their experiences, and the things that have shaped their lives. We hear stories about growing up in Alaska, raising children, and navigating difficult seasons.
And eventually, maybe someone begins sharing something deeper.
Maybe they talk about losing their spouse.
Maybe they express fear about their health.
Maybe they begin wondering about what happens after death.
Those are moments when we have an opportunity to lovingly talk about the hope we have in Jesus.
We don't need to force the conversation.
We can listen.
We can ask questions.
We can share how Jesus has shaped our own lives.
We can offer to pray.
And when the opportunity is there, we can explain the good news of His death and resurrection.
That's one of the beautiful things about building ongoing relationships through serving. As people begin to know us, opportunities for meaningful conversations often begin to develop.
But here's something I want us to remember. We should never make our compassion dependent upon someone's response to the Gospel.
We love people because they are created in the image of God. We serve because Christ has shown incredible compassion toward us.
If someone doesn't want to talk about faith, we can still care for them. If someone disagrees with what we believe, we can still treat them with kindness and respect.
And when we're serving through another organization, we need to honor their guidelines and the trust they've placed in us.
We're there to serve people well, and we want our relationships with those organizations to reflect integrity and genuine love.
At the same time, we don't need to hide the fact that Jesus is central to our lives.
If someone asks why we're serving, we can tell them.
If someone asks why our MC spends time caring for people, we can explain that following Jesus has changed the way we see and love others. If someone wants to know more about our faith, we can share the Gospel. And I hope those conversations are happening naturally because Jesus is already such an important part of our lives.
Think about the early Church.
Their love for one another, their generosity, their hospitality, and their willingness to care for people were powerful expressions of the transformation taking place through Christ.
And they also proclaimed the good news of Jesus.
Both mattered.
That's the picture I want us to have at Creekside.
We want to glorify God in everything, proclaim Christ crucified, buried, and risen, and make disciples who abide in Jesus, are being transformed by Jesus, and are on mission with Jesus.
Those things belong together.
So here's my challenge for this week.
As your MC begins serving others, spend some time praying about the people you're meeting.
Learn their names.
Listen to their stories.
Ask God to help you love them genuinely.
And pray that He would give you wisdom and courage when opportunities arise to speak about Jesus.
We don't need a perfectly rehearsed presentation for every conversation. We need hearts that are filled with the Gospel and a willingness to share the hope we've found in Christ.
And let's remember that the Holy Spirit is the One who changes hearts.
Our calling is to be faithful.
We love.
We serve.
We proclaim.
And we trust God with the results.
I'm excited about the relationships our MCs can begin building throughout the area. I believe God can use our faithfulness in some pretty incredible ways, including ways we may never fully see.
Have a great week. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to love people well and point them toward Jesus.
And don't forget to grab another cup of java along the way.
But I want us to spend some time this week talking about something that is incredibly important.
How does serving others create opportunities to proclaim Jesus? I think this is a question we need to continually ask ourselves.
We can do a tremendous amount of good in our community. We can provide meals, help families, volunteer at organizations, visit seniors, and spend time caring for people who are struggling.
And those things matter!
When someone is hungry, feeding them is a wonderful expression of compassion. When someone is lonely, spending time with them can make an incredible difference. When a family is struggling, helping meet a practical need is a beautiful way to demonstrate love.
But as followers of Jesus, we also have something incredibly important to share.
We have the Gospel.
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus teaches His disciples to let their light shine before others so that people will see their good works and give glory to the Father in heaven.
I love that picture because it reminds us that the way we live can point people toward God.
Our actions matter.
The way we serve matters.
The way we treat people matters.
But I also want us to remember that our actions can create opportunities for conversations about the One who motivates us to serve in the first place.
And sometimes those opportunities come in ways we don't expect.
Imagine that our MC begins regularly serving at a senior facility.
At first, we're helping with activities, playing games, and getting to know some of the residents.
Over time, we begin developing friendships.
We learn about their families, their experiences, and the things that have shaped their lives. We hear stories about growing up in Alaska, raising children, and navigating difficult seasons.
And eventually, maybe someone begins sharing something deeper.
Maybe they talk about losing their spouse.
Maybe they express fear about their health.
Maybe they begin wondering about what happens after death.
Those are moments when we have an opportunity to lovingly talk about the hope we have in Jesus.
We don't need to force the conversation.
We can listen.
We can ask questions.
We can share how Jesus has shaped our own lives.
We can offer to pray.
And when the opportunity is there, we can explain the good news of His death and resurrection.
That's one of the beautiful things about building ongoing relationships through serving. As people begin to know us, opportunities for meaningful conversations often begin to develop.
But here's something I want us to remember. We should never make our compassion dependent upon someone's response to the Gospel.
We love people because they are created in the image of God. We serve because Christ has shown incredible compassion toward us.
If someone doesn't want to talk about faith, we can still care for them. If someone disagrees with what we believe, we can still treat them with kindness and respect.
And when we're serving through another organization, we need to honor their guidelines and the trust they've placed in us.
We're there to serve people well, and we want our relationships with those organizations to reflect integrity and genuine love.
At the same time, we don't need to hide the fact that Jesus is central to our lives.
If someone asks why we're serving, we can tell them.
If someone asks why our MC spends time caring for people, we can explain that following Jesus has changed the way we see and love others. If someone wants to know more about our faith, we can share the Gospel. And I hope those conversations are happening naturally because Jesus is already such an important part of our lives.
Think about the early Church.
Their love for one another, their generosity, their hospitality, and their willingness to care for people were powerful expressions of the transformation taking place through Christ.
And they also proclaimed the good news of Jesus.
Both mattered.
That's the picture I want us to have at Creekside.
We want to glorify God in everything, proclaim Christ crucified, buried, and risen, and make disciples who abide in Jesus, are being transformed by Jesus, and are on mission with Jesus.
Those things belong together.
So here's my challenge for this week.
As your MC begins serving others, spend some time praying about the people you're meeting.
Learn their names.
Listen to their stories.
Ask God to help you love them genuinely.
And pray that He would give you wisdom and courage when opportunities arise to speak about Jesus.
We don't need a perfectly rehearsed presentation for every conversation. We need hearts that are filled with the Gospel and a willingness to share the hope we've found in Christ.
And let's remember that the Holy Spirit is the One who changes hearts.
Our calling is to be faithful.
We love.
We serve.
We proclaim.
And we trust God with the results.
I'm excited about the relationships our MCs can begin building throughout the area. I believe God can use our faithfulness in some pretty incredible ways, including ways we may never fully see.
Have a great week. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to love people well and point them toward Jesus.
And don't forget to grab another cup of java along the way.
No Comments