The Church is at its best when _____________________________.
How would you finish that sentence? In my early years of ministry my answer probably would have pointed to worship, financial stability, or attendance at Sunday School and small groups as the key indicator of a thriving church.
However, after nearly three decades of serving in and consulting for churches, I have come to believe that the best expression of the Kingdom of God emerges when everyone in the congregation actively participates in serving others. The church is at its best when everyone finds their place to serve.
This understanding is deeply rooted in Scripture. In Mark 10:45, Jesus sets the example for all of us:
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Similarly, in Matthew 25, Jesus describes the ultimate measure of faithfulness in the parable of the sheep and the goats. The distinguishing mark of those who inherit the Kingdom is their willingness to serve:
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Paul reinforces this truth in his letters to early churches. In Galatians, he writes:
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)
And in 1 Peter 4:10, believers are reminded:
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Why Serving Matters
Serving is not just a good practice—it’s critical to the life of the church. Here’s why:
- Serving is Our Witness to the World
When we serve, we become ambassadors of Christ, embodying His love and mission. As His followers, we are called to have the same mindset as Jesus—selfless, compassionate, and always seeking the good of others. When Jesus tells his followers “You will be my witnesses” his desire was that people would see his love through our words and actions. - Serving Leads to Spiritual Growth
Serving is one of the best ways to grow in faith. We learn by doing. In stepping out of our comfort zones to help others, we experience God’s power working through us, discover gifts we didn’t know we had, and our desire to learn more about scripture increases. - Serving Allows Us to Join Jesus in Healing the World
When the church serves, it brings the reality of God’s Kingdom to life. Jesus taught us to pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The prayer of Jesus comes to life when offer others the love of Christ. Acts of service—whether feeding the hungry, mentoring the young, or advocating for justice—reflect God’s love and bring hope to a broken world.
How to Foster a Culture of Serving
To help everyone find their place in serving, here are some practical steps:
- Talk About It Regularly
Make serving a core value and celebrate it often. There’s an old saying, “You are what you celebrate.” Are you regularly celebrating the servants in your church. In one of my churches a young, successful neurosurgeon shared why he taught middle school Sunday School. Almost immediately the number of people interested in working with children and youth skyrocketed. Every time you highlight a servant you open the door for someone else to serve - Highlight Opportunities
Create and promote a variety of ways for people to serve. Provide easy on-ramps for both newcomers and long-time members, with options to serve both inside and outside the church. Not everyone has the same gift, nor are they wired to serve in the same way. Work to connect people to opportunities to serve in their church, community and world - Encourage People to Dream
Empower individuals to think creatively about how they can serve based on their passions, gifts, and experiences. When people are invited to dream, they discover new ways to make an impact. Ask them to think about where they work, travel, and spend their time. Who knows what ways God may reveal for them to serve in their corner of the world. - Make It Simple
Remove barriers. Equip leaders, provide mentoring and training, and keep the process clear and accessible year-round.
A Real-Life Laboratory
Capital Campaigns are unique laboratories for serving. For a capital campaign to succeed, 40–50% of the congregation is needed to serve in some capacity. It is always incredible to see so many people coming together to serve to make a vision a reality. In one campaign, the children were challenged to to dream of how they could join in serving during that season. They decided to have a bake sale—raising $1,200. When the campaign commitments were announced it was the $1200 raised by the children that pushed the campaign past their goal.
The result was far greater than financial success. Those children will remember that their service in that moment mattered. The congregation experienced what can happen when everyone serves together as the body of Christ. The church was at its best when everyone found their place to serve.
A Final World
Serving brings life to our faith, fulfills our mission, and reflects the heart of Jesus to the world. As you think about your church what would it mean to claim this truth:
The Church is at its best when every member finds a way to serve.