I recently played Pickleball during vacation. What a great game for someone my age. It has become a big “dill” around the country (Couldn’t resist!). It is like playing badminton, tennis, ping pong and wiffle ball all at once. As with these, a good serve is vital and can make or break your game. When it comes to the Christian life, serving is also vital for several reasons. First, let’s review.
The ministry blueprint/discipleship roadmap remembered as G.P.S. stands for GOSPEL, PARTICIPATE and the final letter “S” stands for SERVE. Believers start their journey by trusting in the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, Next, we participate in the local church in corporate worship, Bible study groups, etc. The final step is to use what you have learned.
Ephesians 4:12 says that pastors and teachers are to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Who does the work of the ministry? Pastors? It says that the saints do. “Saint” is another name for a believer in Christ. That means every believer is to do the work of the ministry. Not every Christian is a pastor, but every Christian is a minister.
God has given every believer a spiritual gift to serve. Whether its teaching Sunday school, leading a small group Bible study, compassion to the elderly, encouraging through worship, discipling youth, the list goes on. How do you discover your gift? Trial and error. Don’t be afraid to fail! The final step in the discipleship journey is to make disciples of others. If you have been a Christian for a while and are not actively serving in a ministry, know that it is part of the cycle of discipleship.
It’s now your serve.
Pastor Phil
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