Why Serve?

Last April I was asked to chair the newly-formed volunteerism committee at PTCUMC. The idea of leading this group felt both exciting and a bit overwhelming at first, but I knew it was an important step in finding ways to nurture a culture of service in our church. Over the next five months, nine of us gathered regularly, sharing not just ideas but also our hearts for what it truly means to serve. As we talked, it became clear that we all had a shared belief that serving should flow naturally from the gifts and passions God has placed within us. Together, we shaped our conversations into a mission statement that we believe reflects the heart of service at PTCUMC.

“We honor our commitment to Christ as His church by serving at the intersection of our God-given gifts and passions. We grow in our faith by focusing our talents on Christ’s purpose, allowing His guidance to shape our service. We embody the love of Christ within PTCUMC to our communities and the world.”

As we prepare for our final Sunday of emphasis on serving, you may be asking yourself, “Why serve?” We believe that serving God here at PTCUMC is a foundational part of our personal discipleship. Here are four reasons why serving is important to you and the church:

  1. Serving is one of the ways that God increases our faith. When we take that front row seat of serving, we get a closer look into how God is changing people’s lives. We are allowed to observe God’s power firsthand, which strengthens our own understanding of who God is, and whose we are. You are a child of God.
  2. Serving reveals what we are made for. We are God’s handiwork, the evidence of His love for the world, and the result of Jesus’ call to do good works through the gifts we have been given. You were created to serve.
  3. Serving invites us into an authentic neighborhood of fellow disciples. By serving, you expand your circle of neighbors who become friends who become family for the purpose of supporting, praying, encouraging, and holding one another accountable. You have a place of belonging here.
  4. Serving redirects our focus back to Jesus. The best way to follow Jesus is to become like Him. He, who was the Son of God, became a servant of all. When we respond to serving as an act of obedience, we experience His love for others in a profound way. You have an opportunity to be Christ-like to somebody.

Remember, everybody is somebody in the body of Christ, and everybody is needed! Where will you fit in?

Join us this Sunday in our final week of “Get in the Game” as Pastor Chris teaches us ways to serve on the team.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)